Second Time Lucky

amycool

debtfreeoneday wrote: »

Hi, haven't read all of your diary yet, but will subscribe.

Good luck with the adoption process, we started that a few years ago, but didn't proceed.

Will pop in regularly!

The adoption process is definitely quicker now! We sent in the official expression of interest last week and already we're on a course next week and have our second social worker visit! I've been told it can be crazily quick and then everything stops and you get tired of waiting.

debtfreeoneday

I have friends that waited so long, but very much a happy ending in the end.. Good to hear it is moving fast - how long is the course?

amycool

debtfreeoneday wrote: »

I have friends that waited so long, but very much a happy ending in the end.. Good to hear it is moving fast - how long is the course?

3 full days in Stage One then another day in Stage Two. There are e-learning modules to complete too. I've been doing loads of reading as well on forums and books about trauma and therapeutic parenting. I know nothing can prepare you for parenthood but I'm trying to do as much as I can!

amycool

I've had a busy old week so today I'm trying to get caught up and sort everything out in my head.

The big shock of the week was that I was so knackered after day 3 of adoption training that I...

...failed to take the meter readings!!!! :eek::eek::eek::rotfl:

I'm dreading taking them this week as they will seem massive. It's been freezing cold so the heating has been on virtually constantly.

Okay so, what has happened:

• Used lots of petrol to get to training, but saved on OH's train tickets
• Free lunches and coffees - good saving there
• Had my birthday and received more money for my driving lessons
• Got 3 cakes!!! Not helping me to eat more sensibly
• Plasterer had to put us back to tomorrow due to a bereavement so still waiting for the ugly brick wall to disappear
• Got my £70.70 cashback
• Got myself a huge bargain at Tesco Opticians thanks to greent - free test (lovely optician too as I sometimes find them a bit scary) and then bought a £15 pair and a £20 pair including lenses!!!!
• Treated myself to a cashmere sweater reduced to £25 as I'm in desperate need of a jumper and this was the first I'd seen in months that I didn't hate (foolishly did it at the self-service and nobody took the security tag off so will have to go back to get it removed!)
• Spent £2.50 on a 60th birthday card - I never normally spend that much on cards but the others were awful.

Looking at the spreadsheet, it looks quite bad at the moment due to the holiday and car costs, but technically the holiday is being paid for from our savings so we're actually at about -£120 with my OH's wage still to come at the end of the month and only the gas and electric, council tax and food to come off.



Okay, I shall use the £70.70 cashback as my first overpayment for the year and see what else I can add on the 29th.

amycool

Normal service returns...

Meter Readings!
Gas - 29 units (58 for 2 weeks)
Electric - 33.5 units (67 for 2 weeks)
Water - 1 unit (2 for 2 weeks)

It's been so cold that I was actually pleasantly surprised by the gas reading. Very much looking forward to seeing what the electric will be once the plaster has dried and we won't need the dehumidifier on all of the time. In the winter it might be wise to sometimes run it on the landing if it gets very damp.

Picked up my new glasses - I like them. Even got a free case!

Need to apply for my provisional license now.

Damp patch news - The damp patch is now a wet wall of plaster. Should take about a week to dry and then we'll know if it's worked!

Only other thing to report is that I treated myself to some Frijj chocolate milk as it was reduced to 65p.

amycool

Hmmm...my spreadsheet keeps not adding up. I'm wondering if Santander update the total on the credit card before listing everything individually. It's easier to just add everything once I get the actual statement, but I like to know exactly where I'm up to.

Today I overpayed £529.30 to make the total up to £600 for January. I've actually broken my own rule this month. The plan was to see what is left over at the end of the month and 50% goes to overpaying. But we have paid for a holiday and some work to the house, so actually there's going to be virtually nothing left by the end of the month. However, the savings are supposed to be there for holidays and house stuff, so I have disregarded them. Next month normal service should resume.

Yesterday we spent the £25 gardening voucher we got for Christmas. Nothing very exciting (compost, cloches and plant food), but it did mean that my first raised bed is up and running! I had some peas that were desperate to be planted out, a broad bean plant and then some lettuce and spinach. There's snow forecast for later in the week so I hope they don't all die.

In annoying news, we have a plastic edging on the roof (along the bits where there is no gutter) and the wind has blown the corner off. There is always something!

Today my provisional driving license arrived so I need to actually do something about driving now. I was much happier putting it off. To save on time I agreed to use my passport photo and somehow I look even more like a serial killer on this that in my passport.

Newly plastered walls are drying nicely so hopefully next weekend we'll go and buy some paint.

My 2015 goals are coming along nicely!

amycool

I've just remembered that we're giving my Mum £500 for her birthday next month so normal service will not resume!!

Muser1

£500! Wowzer come and be my daughter!

amycool

Muser1 wrote: »

£500! Wowzer come and be my daughter!

I won't be making a habit of it! . She needs lots of things doing to the house and it's stressing her out so hopefully this means one or two jobs ticked off her list.

amycool

Oh dear. I have begun February with spending!

A trip to B&Q led to buying a huge tub of white paint for the bedroom (and whatever is left is for my Mum's hallway). We also bought a tray of pots for sowing seeds into. A polythene sheet for decorating. A packet of coriander seeds (OH's pick as he uses tons of coriander). A small tin of white gloss. Some sticks for growing the peas up.

I think that's everything. I've also used the rest of the amazon voucher to buy more coir and perlite as it makes a big difference to the amount of plants that germinate.

On the plus side, we got some free cheese and chocolate from my mum.

My average gas spend for January was humungous! Somehow only 39p a day for electric but £2.29 a day for gas. We used to sit freezing in the old house to save money but I've decided that being warm is probably worth a few pounds a day in the winter. We still only really heat a few key rooms and sit with blankets on, although I've been home a lot so more heating.

I'm looking forward to seeing where the mortgage is up to but that usually takes a few days to update. I can't wait to colour in another brick on my house but I suspect I'll be just short this month (£1000 per brick).

In growing news, the plants under the cloches have all survived the snow and frost. The peas are looking a bit worse for wear but still not dead. The extra lettuce that didn't fit under the cloche are nowhere to be seen and still under snow. I don't hold out much hope for them!!

I've been looking at my seeds for this year and for February sowing I have Leek, Lettuce, Spinach, Peas and Broad Beans. There are loads for March but I'll sort those out nearer the time. The issue is always space as I don't have a greenhouse so there's always a month or two where the windowsills are overflowing but it's still too cold to plant outside.

I'm waiting for better weather to start looking for driving lessons!