The End May Actually Be in Sight...

Crumpets

Hi RT, i've just been having a catch up on your diary, I think my alerts haven't been coming through properly so I've missed a few updates. It sounds like you're all sorted for Christmas :T I was feeling really organised about 6 weeks ago but I've slipped. The kids are sorted but I still need to buy for the adults plus my SiL's birthday. I've brought my Christmas pud already though, I went for an aldi one:p I think we're going to use aldi for most things this year to keep the budget on track.

I think I must have missed where you posted about your OH taking industrial action at work, thats not good I hope it gets sorted without too much stress or expense.

Well done to Mrs RT for the slow cooker solution :T I'd be gutted if mine broke

RoaringTwenties

Ah that's interesting Gg, I didn't know that was a theory that abounded! My step-mother once sold something on eBay & when the address came through it was: "Oona King, c/o House of Commons" . Virtually everything I've sent north of Inverness has been hair/face moisturisers, I used to live in Aberdeen & can quite see why it's useful up there!

Thanks to all who've sent good wishes re: the industrial action, update to follow

Funny how we've all had a panic at the thought of smashing our slow cookers :rotfl:

RoaringTwenties

Hello all!

Well it's been a bit up & down but the industrial action has been halted until after Xmas :T. Am glad we stuck to our guns but pleased & relieved that things are calmer for now

My credit card bill came in & ran to four pages :eek:. All budgeted for, mostly little things like books for the kids bought online. I have to admit I've bought a few extras for them for Xmas, but who could turn down a Transformers backpack or My Little Pony socks at 70% off?

We took our french window curtains away as our garden is very private & DS kept messing with them & pulling them off the pole but DD - who sits opposite the big window at the dining table - has started panicking at shadows when she's eating tea! I've ordered some basic boring brown replacement ones from Asda as I don't know what colour scheme we'll eventually choose for the room [STRIKE]once the kids have finally finished destroying it[/STRIKE] :mad:

Our gardener has pretty much finished for the winter, he's just going to do one more hour to tidy up then that's it till spring. We won't save money really as from Jan little DD is starting at nursery :A. Just one afternoon per week, it's the nursery DS went to, very small & sweet - there will only be 6 other littlies there . Am hoping it'll just give me time to whizz round town and sit in a cafe with my iPhone & natter on here

The weight management seems to be going well, I *think* I've sort of reached an equilibrium now in terms of what I can get away with [STRIKE]which doesn't really include the lemon drizzle cake I've just polished off[/STRIKE]

Think that's it for now, hope everybody is well & not feeling the Nov blues (eloquently expressed by Vic Wood as that "had bonfire night long time till Christmas" feeling :rotfl:)

Crumpets

Hi RT :j

Good news about the industrial action, hopefully that will make the run up to Christmas a bit less stressful for you all :T

I'm really envious of you having a gardener! My friend also has one and her garden always looks so neat and tidy where as mine has been ransacked my chickens and children :eek: I might investigate maybe having someone come once a month once Ds has his funding for pre school. I find it really difficult to keep on top of it all although I did buy some pansies the other day so I'll plant those today

Great news about dd starting nursery :T I bet she'll have a great time, not to mention giving you some time off! Sounds like a lovely small nursery. I'm a bit unsure weather to increase Ds's hours after Christmas when he gets his funding through. He does 8 hours a week at the moment and I could increase it to 15 hours but I'm not sure I want to, I think I'd miss him:)

Well done on the weight management :T I've still got 10lbs to lose, I think I need to try harder on my non fast days, I do like my cake though

BudgetTastic

Hi RoaringTwenties I just read your whole thread. 'Twas a fabulous read.

I really enjoyed reading about your partner and your kids. A fantastic moneysaving effort so far!

Please keep posting!

RoaringTwenties

BudgetTastic wrote: »

Hi RoaringTwenties I just read your whole thread. 'Twas a fabulous read.

I really enjoyed reading about your partner and your kids. A fantastic moneysaving effort so far!

Please keep posting!

Hello! Thanks for reading my diary, glad you've enjoyed it . I really should update more regularly, am just about to do so now! Welcome again :beer:

RoaringTwenties

Hello all,

All continues much the same here really! Christmas is done & dusted pressies-wise, I've done my usual thing of sticking to a tight budget for the kids through Oct & Nov then splurged with 'extras' at the start of Dec . Mrs RT & I have taken the view though that a) the kids are only little once, before we know it they'll only be wanting extortionately priced technology that we don't even understand & refusing to get up on Xmas day until they smell lunch being served up; b) we can afford it; c) we've had some major bargains, with 30%-70% off & only about 3 things not bought at a discount; & d) we've still spent considerably less than most of our friends!

The item I'm most impressed with is a Fireman Sam transformer which I tracked down online, it's a German import so the packaging is all in German, it's called Feuerwehrmann Sam :rotfl: I'm going to tell DS that Santa must have picked it up on his travels. I can say hand on heart I've never been to Germany :A. It doesn't talk thank goodness, that might have been a bit problematic

We've had to have a bit of work done on the house, DS managed to detach one of his new shelves [STRIKE]by doing an impression of Buzz Lightyear[/STRIKE] :cool: :mad: but my wonderful odd job man managed to fix it & only charged me £15. Two of our electric sockets started making an alarming fizzing noise :eek: so the lovely electrician we have replaced those, awaiting his bill now, which won't be cheap - he knows how to charge but he always does a good job.

I did buy the Gtech handheld vac that was the QVC TSV a few weeks ago & that has been a brill investment, will deffo get the upright Air Ram next time that's the TSV I hope someone knows what I'm on about, Goldiegirl are you reading?!

Mortgage is down to £16,761 now & we have still managed to keep our mitts of the MOS [STRIKE]despite wanton vacuum spending [/STRIKE]:D. It dawned on me the other day that our mortgage statement in Jan is going to be *amazing* - it's nearly a year since we got the inheritance & paid it off & other than an official letter we've not seen anything about it since (given that Skippers are not exactly cutting edge with their web presence ) so when we get that statement it will be quite a moment :money: :j

Thats it for now I think, I know there are people with far more interesting & regularly updated diaries on here but to those of you who keep checking in on me - many thanks for hanging around!

gallygirl

RoaringTwenties wrote: »

The item I'm most impressed with is a Fireman Sam transformer which I tracked down online, it's a German import so the packaging is all in German, it's called Feuerwehrmann Sam :rotfl: I'm going to tell DS that Santa must have picked it up on his travels. I can say hand on heart I've never been to Germany :A. It doesn't talk thank goodness, that might have been a bit problematic

Ah, but can it dance :rotfl:.

Goldiegirl

RoaringTwenties wrote: »

I hope someone knows what I'm on about, Goldiegirl are you reading?!

:rotfl:I saw the magic letters 'QVC' and thought RT's at it again!:rotfl:


I'm being very controlled with my QVC spending, but I'm not sure what'll happen if they have some sort of Yankee Candle sale after Christmas. All control could be lost!

greent

I like the look of the Air RAM - what impresses me most is the compact bundling of the dust and dirt