Trying to get on track

RainbowBridgeReturns

A great coat is a fantastic investment, it will last for years and make you feel good, ditto frugal breaks with OH, you can't beat the memories.

You are doing great!! Those £12.00 off vouchers have been fantastic. I managed to use 4 in January too.

in_need_of_direction

So today I managed a full six hours in work, the first since 02 jan. Tomorrow will be 10 hours. Fingers crossed my knee doesn't misbehave. No spends on food today but... I was due a pay rise backdated for three months and had decided to split 3 ways between me and my offspring. Notification came through today. My daughter had demurred as she felt she would just waste it. There was however a picture she had wanted. Despite haggling, the cost was £90 more than her share but it was so worth it for her reaction. She has also agreed that her room needs a good clear out before hanging the picture so this will hopefully help my decluttering goal. My ebay item closed at £1.50 last night and OH dispatched today. One more thing out of the house and £1.50 to add to next OP.

mfmaybe

That's a lovely surprise for your daughter. And I agree on the good coat. I put both of my old ones into the clothing bank as I was waiting on a new one arriving (really good price from Brand Alley). It finally arrived (after 6 weeks) and was 5 sizes too big :mad:. I got the refund eventually, but am still making do with a summer weight coat. Brrrr.

in_need_of_direction

Well I made it to dublin and back and managed a full day while there. Feel totally shattered but I did it. Not sure my knee appreciated the driving. Still, nearly NSD as only outlay was on tolls and car parking that I can claim back. Things to be grateful for include

OH getting up at six so I would have a packed lunch
A nice client who appreciates what we do
Getting to know two junior staff member

in_need_of_direction

So, this morning had fasting blood tests then straight to a client meeting. Was absolutely starving so treated myself to a lunch shared with my daughter's dog. Then felt guilty about spending even though it was well within budget. This OP lark is seriously addictive. Got home to find my tax code for next year here. It shows and adjustment for £48 I owe that I've apparently been contacted about. News to me and something to chase up tomorrow. Grrrrr

in_need_of_direction

And the three things to be grateful for today are

An exuberant greeting from some wee ones I hadn't seen for a week
A visit from a friend bearing treats
Finding a convenient parking space.

RainbowBridgeReturns

I am glad that your knee is beginning to improve. That must have made January very frustrating, but you have still stuck to your plans. Well done!

in_need_of_direction

So this week I did 5 working days that included 2trips to dublin. I'm absolutely shattered but still managed to do the sainsburys run and filled up on diesel while over the border where it's about 20p a litre less. Have lots to post / confess but I need sleep. Tomorrow should be the day for catch up

in_need_of_direction

Quick post in case I forget. Thanks to all you lovely people, I've just signed up for nectar ad points. I just got 100 bonus points plus have earned 44 points in next to no time. Only prob was that I got so caught up watching the animals in the London zoo ad, I nearly missed confirming that I was still watching. I'm aiming to get enough points to cover my weekly shop in the next few months and to pay the equivalent amount of my mortgage. Thanks to the recommendations found here, that has just moved a bit closer.

in_need_of_direction

So, made it to the end of jan and payday. It seemed like the longest month ever. We both received our pay increases and, as agreed, each transferred half of the increase to overpay the mortgage :j.

I need to start contributing to a pension which will leave my salary from end of next month. Downside is, with the 5% to be matched by my employer and the commitment to overpay on the mortgage, I'll actually be worse off:eek:

Arising from Wednesday's travelzoo, I recklessly booked and paid a significant deposit for a holiday in September. It's to one of OH's bucket list destinations. In real terms, we should manage to stick with the OPs while paying for this and the Canadian trip but I'm now experiencing my usual rush of s**t to the brain. We had a fairly big cc bill this month that meant there was only 300 to go to the savings pot. This pot will have to be raided next month to pay next month's bill but I will have a few 100 extra at end of March from expenses owed.

I have the budget done for next month and would love to shave some more off that as we've family weddings looming that may require new shoes:j

I have also set out six pounds from my purse to go towards a £108 outgoing this month as I had it left at month end in my purse. Deep down I know this is something that should be paid as an op to the mortgage. I'm gonna do it tomorrow before updating my 2014 goals. I've realised the reason I'm in this forum rather than mortgage free is that unless I treat the mortgage as a debt, it will always just be an outgoing

So, things to be grateful for

My long suffering OH who endures my money related wittering
The box set of ally Mcbeal I spent an afternoon watching
An NSD especially when the weather is filthy
My son's gratitude
And, another extra but it must be said, the advice and support from people here