The Road to Financial Security

amycool

I'd have to agree with you. Holidays in the summer tend to be horribly expensive and busy. Maybe just have a few day trips over summer (or a few single nights away?).

I wonder what you'll do when all of the work is finished on the house and garden? You've been so busy this year!!

Good news on your OH sorting out his pension.

I went to a eurovision party. We were very pleased when the smug Russian girl (who thought she'd won) didn't.

Pushkin

Thank you Amycool nice to know others feel similar, my problem is the older I get the less I enjoy the heat, DH and I both get bored just sunbathing so like to go sight seeing but go to Spain, France or Italy and it's so hot I don't feel we get the best out of sight seeing. Just end up hot sweaty and very irritable! The dreaded H word still hasn't been mentioned since we missed our Monday deadline so we'll see what transpires. I have tentatively booked the dog into my parents first 2 weeks of August so whatever happens we will do something then.

Feeling summery today as I have had my feet done so I can whip off my socks and move to f1t flops, by happy coincidence the nail salon does a special deal on a Wednesday so it was only £20 which for removal of hard skin, nail trim, bit of a massage and nail polish is a bargain I think.

Took DH shopping but he got bored quickly so didn't even want to look for clothes for himself - maybe an advantage to having a son! Just ended up getting him a pack a mac, also bought some toiletries, and a birthday present for a friend. Found an M&S voucher from Christmas that hadn't been spent so bought some trousers and a top for myself which was only £18 as the voucher paid for most of it - didn't try either on so they'll likely go back. However for first time in ages have been really healthy and not eaten very much today and actually feel motivated to lose some weight. May well not wake up feeling like this tomorrow and of course it's a marathon not a sprint but would sure feel better about a holiday if I managed to shift a few (well a lot!) pounds.

L£goland and vets appointment tomorrow so the spending continues....

amycool

I downloaded the MyFitnessPal app and am currently really enjoying using it. You get graphs!!!! :rotfl: My trousers already feel a little looser!

We're not really beach people either and tend to stay in the UK. I would recommend Iceland for a holiday. We loved every minute, even in the autumn when it was quite chilly. A friend of mine went a few weeks ago and despite it being 0 degrees she really enjoyed it too. They're very proud of their history there so lots of great museums and for a bit of luxury there's the Blue Lagoon. Virtually no crime too!

Pushkin

Hi Amycool - I would love to go to Iceland, I read a series of crime novels by Arnaldur Indridason set there which really peaked my interest. Is it not very expensive? I heard about £6 for a glass of water in a restaurant?!

The other issue with our holidays is that DH is a terrible flyer - he absolutely hates it, as we flew last year we agreed not to this year. Feel like I'm treating you as an agony aunt, but for that reason I'm not sure Iceland would be too appealing to him.

I also agree with you about the UK - a lot of people have this drive to travel abroad, often to check countries off their to do lists and have barely explored their own country. Again DH not keen on UK for summer holiday due to the unpredictable weather - this is why he vetoed Ireland. Not making DH and me sound very compatible am I!

Pushkin

Manic morning and I seem to have ground to a halt now. Dropped DS at my parents to go to L3goland with my sister and her kids - I dived out which I feel a bit guilty about however upon discovering his entry ticket was £43 I am pleased to have saved the money.

Took dog to the vets - £73 as she has more eye problems - conjunctivitis for which she has eye drops, however he is concerned about how red and sore her eyes were so she has a follow up appointment next week.

Spending the day pottering in the house....

Pushkin

Am determined to list something on eb@y this weekend - long overdue and am sick of the few bits I have decided to try and sell cluttering up the house.

Quite lovely to hit Saturday with most of the usual chores done due to me having been off work. Took DS to the cinema yesterday but used my work discount site so it cost £11 for us both however did succumb to drinks and snacks while there :eek: So all in all quite an expensive week - thats the trouble with being off work - more time to spend money! Still back to work Monday so will not spend any money until next weekend.

DH is getting 2 new tyres today - thats around £300 - the delights of expensive German cars
still I've had the money saved in the slush fund account for a few weeks now so not an issue to pay - just not an enjoyable thing to spend out on.

Pushkin

Finally booked a summer holiday yesterday :j Just booked a house for a week in the Dordogne, we'll drive down so also booked a hotel en route to make the outbound journey less tense. Managed to go through a cash back site for the ferry crossing which is about £10 back. As we are only going for a week are thinking of another week away in October half term - determined not to leave that one so late to book. Ordered a French guide book and also one for Scotland as I fancy going up there in October and want to do some research.

No spend day today :T lots of jobs in the house and a fair bit of boredom to be honest - should have gone out somewhere.

Finally listed an item on ebay after weeks of saying I"m going to (there is definitely a theme with DH and I - we talk a lot about what we are going to do and take ages to get round to it! :rotfl:)

Launched an appeal on T0p C@shb@ck as I still haven't been paid an amount for a purchase in January that was estimated payable in 12 weeks i.e. mid April. That would be good to get.

Few spends coming up (apart from the holiday we've just paid for ) my MOT is due, DH tyres now being done this Saturday and DH has announced he wants a new suit. Can't quibble most of his (leisure) clothes come from a certain orange supermarket so he's not exactly sartorially expensive and working in an office he should look smart and could do with a decent suit.

Back to work tomorrow and the gardeners are starting work (:j:j:j:j) so expect to have an unhappy dog for a couple of weeks.....

cookie9

Always good to have something to look forward to and your French trip sounds lovely.

Pushkin

Did a big update yesterday that then got lost :mad:

Anyway in summary:

Financial spreadsheet is screwed - I've had to close 1 account and stop using another due to drops in interest rates - I find all this chopping and changing so annoying. I've opened up a new account (with advice from MSE of course :money:) but am struggling to reconcile things again. I am happy that I am saving actually a little more than a couple of months ago but I need to reset the spreadsheets and possibly draw a line under it and start again rather than waste time trying to fix it all.

I will likely have to start saving a little less, DH has upped his pension contribution starting this month and I think it's a stretch, he may also have to increase further once we assess in a few months. Don't like the thought of saving less though

Work is hell this week - always rough getting back into the swing after time off, plus I've started my new role, DH is away and the garden is now being done - it's all a bit stressful! Still DH is back tomorrow, I'm now over half way through the week and the gardeners are really cracking on and making great progress Sadly the dog is not enjoying the whole garden experience though!

amycool

I started a new spreadsheet when we moved to this house as there were bits that needed changing and it just wasn't working. It was quite nice designing a new one with new colours!

MSE has been weird the last few days - it keeps not loading. Luckily I didn't lose anything I'd typed.

Glad to hear you decided on a holiday! I don't envy all of the driving, but it can be fun stopping over on the way to somewhere and I bet you'll have a lovely time.

Hope the garden turns out just how you imagined it!