The Road to Financial Security

katiegizmo

You remind me I am meaning to get a food parcel together - I also live in a fairly well off commuter town in SE London and it upsets me that we need a foodbank here which by all accounts is pretty busy!
Adding a little food box shop to my to do list now....

Pushkin

Am loving DH and I being off work and pootling round doing jobs in the house in a lazy fashion rather than having to frantically fit them in after work.

Lots of spends however went to B&Q and bought dull stuff - mainly lightbulbs yet somehow the bill came to £95.

DH's car is also back, as its Christmas present we have spent £931 on various repairs for it Not really very happy but had steeled myself for it being around that. Paid on my cc so thats already looking huge for February.

Didn't manage to find either the bedside table or the desk for DS, have decided to look on line or possibly also do a trip to Ikea between Christmas and New Year - if we can face it - I do so wish we lived closer to one.

DH has made a Green Thai curry in the slow cooker for dinner - the house smells amazing....

FacelessNumber

We spend a fortune in B&Q every time! Lightbulbs, light fittings and skirting boards mainly!

Pushkin

Hi Faceless Number, a reassured by your comments - B&Q is my least favourite shop - I normally let DH go alone.

Expensive day today in doing the food shop - both at M&S and Sainsbury's. M&S was more than estimated mainly due to DH picking up some new jeans but Sains came in about £10 under what I had in mind.

Aside from that a good few days:

All items on the job list have been completed - this is a first for us and mainly down to DH to be honest.

Have completely relaxed and unwound and not even given work a thought until typing this and mentioning it - doh!

Am however waking up at ridiculously early (5am today, 4am yesterday). It's the excitement of anticipation - which as I get older I find is often better than the actual event. Not a problem as I can nap in the afternoon but bit bonkers really and I really shouldn't be like this at my age.

amycool

Pushkin wrote: »

Am however waking up at ridiculously early (5am today, 4am yesterday). It's the excitement of anticipation - which as I get older I find is often better than the actual event. Not a problem as I can nap in the afternoon but bit bonkers really and I really shouldn't be like this at my age.

You're not the only one! My Mum (aged 55) has been waking at a similar time too excited, and I've been waking at 7am even on my days off. :rotfl:

I went through a stage of being really disappointed every Christmas Day because it never matched up to when I was a kid, but a few years ago I just changed my expectations and now the excitement is back!

Pushkin

Amycool - so nice to hear of other adults who get excited and wake early this time of year - my family think I'm mad:D

We got back from Germany last night after our trip the Christmas Markets.

It was a good trip but I think we both underestimated how busy Cologne would be the weekend before Christmas and to be honest I don't have the tolerance for those type of crowds any more.

The bad news is we came back with very little money and did spend more than I anticipated. On the positive though we did do the entire trip on cash and didn't put anything on the credit card. I think a city break in winter means (for us anyway) a fair few trips to cafes and bars and of course that all adds up. Did buy a few Christmas decorations and some of our favourite German food bits as well.

Glad to be home and that we made the effort to work through the job list before we went. Tonight we are going out for Chinese with my parents, we will pay as they are hosting Christmas so I feel that is the least we can do.

Pushkin

Haven't been on here in a few days probably through guilt over the excesses of Christmas. If this was a spending diary I would have had a lot to say!

We had a wonderful Christmas and both DH and I are lucky enough to be off work through to the New Year, we both have stinking colds but its still lovely to have a prolonged break.

No news on any money saving activities as to put it bluntly there haven't been any.

I bought a few sets of diffuser sticks (I love them and use them in strategic places around the house) they were half price in House of Fraser but I bought so many the cost totalled £80 - at least we should be good for a while.

I am also getting back into candles and bought some lovely holders and a few candles - creates lovely mood setting in the dark evenings but its a total extravagance as you are literally burning what you buy


We are hoping to go to Ikea today (depends if DH feels up to it) to get a bedside table and new desk for DS - so yes the spending continues.

Am trying to feel ok about this - I know it is ok and its the final 2 things to finish off in his room but with some mahoosive credit card bills due Jan & Feb its a little scary.

I think in many ways I'll be relieved to get back into the work routine, do some surveys and have a few NSD days!

Pushkin

Still suffering with a stinking cold that came on Sunday and has left me doing nothing but lie around and eat chocolate (why do I never lose my appetite when ill?). Didn't even have any alcohol last night - not sure if that's good or bad! Haven't done any of the jobs I wanted to while off work either. Not much spending though and we are still eating leftovers from all the food shopping pre Christmas. Hoping to feel up to taking down the decorations tomorrow as I am now at the 'wanting to get back to normal' phase.

Haven't put anything together yet but want to have a really low spend January with only essential purchases (food & a birthday present). Need to put a target in place.

Goldiegirl

Pushkin wrote: »

I am also getting back into candles and bought some lovely holders and a few candles - creates lovely mood setting in the dark evenings but its a total extravagance as you are literally burning what you buy

I love the candles as well - I got a half price Yankee Candle in Clintons this week. But I am looking to see if I can find some cheaper ranges which smell nice



Glad you enjoyed Christmas and your pre-Christmas break, even though it was busy. On our cruise, we went to a Christmas Market at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen. I bought 3 unusual tree decorations...... but I thought it was worth it, as they'll remind me of the Christmas we did a cruise, when they go up on the tree every year in future.


Hope 2015 is good for you


PS - sorry to hear you have the dreaded cold - nearly everyone seems to have suffered at some point over Christmas

Pushkin

Thanks Goldie - yes I am big into diffuser sticks too - I think having a dog I am a little paranoid about the house having 'dog smell'.

Congratulations on your retirement - 2015 must be really exciting for you.