The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

Happy New Year to you Tilly, and also to everyone on the MFW board.

I had hoped to kick start my walking year with a decent walk, but its been very wet again, so haven't been able to get out at all, which is disappointing. In order to do a 1000 miles in 2018, I need to average 83.33 miles a month, so I'll be doing a total at the end of each month.

As usual on the 1st of the month I've done my account funding transfers. The interest rate on current accounts is lower now, but I still get just under £700 interest a year on current accounts, so it's still worth the effort. Currently we both have monthly savers with Halifax, Kent Reliance, Virgin Money, Santander and TSB, so I've paid the monthly amount into all of those accounts. The rates on fixed term savings bonds is generally rubbish these days, so, I keep money in a Tesco savings account at an interest rate of 1.26%, and then gradually transfer it to the monthly savers.

I booked the excursions on our cruise. Four excursions, at a total of £700, and that's after we cut a few. However, these are trips we really want to do, and we are unlikely to do this trip in the winter again, so we decided to go for it.

I went on the Halifax eligibility checker for the Halifax Clarity card, and have a 95% chance of getting one. However, I already have a credit card, with a limit that is almost as much as my current yearly income. This could be looked on as a negative when they underwrite an application in full (even though I only spend a couple of 100 a month and pay it off in full each month). So, at the moment, I'm not sure I will apply, as I'd hate to be declined!

Watty1

I had a 95% chance Goldie and I got on (went for the clarity too) and they gave me double the credit I asked for!

Goldiegirl

That's encouraging, Watty. I may apply in due course.

Today we did an Aldi shop. Apart from picking up the turkey and veg just before Christmas, the last grocery shop we did was on 19th December. I spent £50.44, but that was only because I bought a large tray of chicken breasts which will last several weeks.

We took the Christmas decorations down, so everything is back to normal.

No walk again today, as the afternoon has been very wet. I'm not exactly hitting the ground running with my ambitions for walking this year.

As we've got major plans for decorating this year, we've decided to get a few sundries to start us off. We got three items from Amazon, then started looking on various DIY sites for a couple of electric sockets and some wiring. I often find shopping on the internet rather mentally fatiguing. There's so many sites and so much choice, it can be difficult to narrow down what you want, and at a site you want to buy from, and it takes ages. By the time we had worked it all out, I had got bored, so we'll come back to it tomorrow.

I had hoped to take photos of a fitness thingy I'd going to sell on eBay for my friend, and type up a description of it, but I'm going to shelve that for another day too.

We have 'Provencal Cod' for tea (just cod, sprinkled with dried dill, baked in the oven on a bed of peppers, courgettes, tomatoes and red onion). It's very simple, but it's a favourite of mine

Karmacat

Sounds nice - I hear a lot about dill these days. And I know what you mean about getting bored by buying stuff - I got so bored trying to compare prices of fuel for a camping stove, I gave up ... as you say, I'll try again tomorrow.

Have a lovely evening.

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello Goldie, yes, the application for the Indian visa was a NIGHTMARE. You hear correctly. We tried to do it ourselves but gave in and asked a very IT savvy friend who has also travelled to India quite frequently. Without his help we would have had to use one of the websites which do the application for you for an extra fee. To begin with, I was so frustrated with trying to do it that I would have cancelled the trip if it was not non refundable!

michelle09

The problem with the northern lights is that you try and tell yourself that you won't be in the least bit disappointed if you don't see them, because you can't guarantee it. But it's all lies. We were so lucky that our first night in Reykjavik (after a delightful soak in the Blue Lagoon) that we were able to watch them from our hotel room window. Shame we can't afford to go back!

We have two overseas credit cards a Halifax (OH) and a Postoffice (mine). They are much better than taking cash and the exchange rate you get is better than changing cash here in the UK. For most countries I've discovered that you get better deals in that country than changing here. (My mother didn't believe me until I walked into an exchange with her in Izmir. She spent the rest of the day complaining how much more I got than she did from home. ) So highly recommend them!

Goldiegirl

Secret_Saving_Squirrel wrote: »

Hello Goldie, yes, the application for the Indian visa was a NIGHTMARE.

When I was working, we had to send payments all over the world, and it was a nightmare sending money to India. They wanted to know so much information, and we only had a small space to enter all the info!

Now you have your Visa, I'm sure the trip will be fantastic, so it'll all be worthwhile

michelle09 wrote: »

The problem with the northern lights is that you try and tell yourself that you won't be in the least bit disappointed if you don't see them, because you can't guarantee it. But it's all lies. We were so lucky that our first night in Reykjavik (after a delightful soak in the Blue Lagoon) that we were able to watch them from our hotel room window. Shame we can't afford to go back!

It must have been thrilling to see the Northern Lights. I think we have a reasonable chance. They say that activity is more intense near the time of the equinoxes and we'll be there at the time of the spring equinox. Also, we are there at the time of the new moon, so the skies will be at their darkest. One night, we are going on an excursion to be taken out into the wilderness, so there'll be no light pollution at all. We also have the chance of seeing them from the ship. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, big time!

Goldiegirl

My walking programme has commenced. I've been able to get out for a walk for the last two days, so I intend be out every day that weather permits. I need to do an hour a day, at least. Some days, especially when winter is over, I'll do much more, so it should all even out by the end of the year.

Our walk today took us to the shopping centre, where we used two M&S coffee vouchers, and I bought a top from M&S in the sale. It was £8.50, and will be ideal to wear in the evening on a cruise.

We're looking ahead to the changes we intend to make in the living room and dining room, and have made a couple of online purchases. We want a flame effect fire to create a focal point. We've been looking for ages, and a new model has just come out, which is ideal. It will retail at £199.99, but the pre-issue price is £159.99, so we ordered it. We've had our eyes on a couple of floor lamps, and I noticed today that one of the colours has sold out. So we decided to order the colour we want, as we'd be disappointed if we couldn't get them. So we ordered those too - another £131 spent, but they were at a lower price than when we first saw them. I'll get Quidco cashback on the lamps too.

We picked up two application forms for the Kent Reliance monthly saver. Our current monthly saver finishes next week, so we'll do it for another year. I think the current interest rate is 3%, so quite decent for today.

The only money in news - 25 point survey on You Gov. Prolific has suddenly gone quiet on me.

Goldiegirl

Another walk achieved, and I've now worked out my basic walk route which is 2.8 miles long, which is just right for my minimum needed daily amount of 2.74 miles. Therefore, if we haven't got anything else planed, I can do at the least this basic walk, and know that I'll be on target.

I walked by myself today, as Mr Goldie was stripping paint off a door (don't ask) and I was thinking about my diary and MSE in general. In future, I will probably do updates to my diary every week or so. This will give me a chance to read a few more diaries.

Just done a big Healthy Supplies order for my seeds and nuts. Previously it was £40 for free shipping, but this has gone up to £50. I also got some herbs and spices and came in at £51.36. However, I'm unlikely to spend that much every time

Karmacat

It's sounding wonderful, Goldie

Interesting that you have so many monthly savers - Kent Reliance? Must go for them myself, otherwise cash rates are so pitiful.

I'm so glad you've got the walking programme going - I'm joining in a little walking programme run by the council - I do more with my sister, but I need to meet people in my town.