The Road to Financial Security

Pushkin

Hi Jodles - thanks for the comments - hope you are well.

I did have somewhat of a meltdown over work at end of last year. Feel much better about things now as they are more in perspective - it's a job in IT so not exactly life threatening!

No news really, just work, dog walks and telly all week. No money spent and no petrol used. Hmm hibernation mode again:rotfl:

amycool

I love hibernation mode.

I always think things like theatre trips are more than worth it, assuming they're any good. Before DD came along we used to go to the NT live events where it's in a cinema but watching a live play. I saw Benedict Cumberbatch as Frankenstein's monster and it was brilliant. We saw lots of comedy too and I miss it hugely!

Pushkin

Hi AmyCool - I too love the theatre, I enjoy cinema too but theatre is much more of an occasion for me and local theatre is a fair bit cheaper than London. I haven't done any of the live theatre shows they screen at cinemas - that would be a good way to see a show that would be difficult to get tickets for & at a much lower price! I might have a look whats coming up.

Pushkin

Haircut at 8am this morning, as my hairdressers is half an hour's drive away it was a very early start and the poor dog was left with crossed legs until DH took her out around 10.

Met mum for a coffee in a garden centre afterwards and managed to buy a wine rack. Total impulse buy - sick of our wine being on the floor by the fridge. £25 though -that what you get when you buy on impulse without shopping around :eek:

While I'm in the confessional box I had to admit that we have bought a new bean to cup coffee machine. Won't say how much it costs but I will say it's an Am@z0n warehouse deal which is a return meaning it can no longer be sold as new but is unused and in working order. So there was a discount.

Off out to the post office now - was amazed to find our local sub office is open until 8pm and I need to post a birthday present to a friend. In all honesty I am a little dubious the information I found is correct so suspect I may get there and find it closed.

Pushkin

Took DS to the Imperial War Museum today - he is doing a project on WW1 and thought this would provide inspiration. Am usually shocked by how expensive London is:

£23 car park fee at Park Lane - DH paid
£29 - 3 tube tickets from Park Lane to Lambeth tube :eek:
£18.05 - 2 coffees, 1 diet coke & 3 pieces of cake in museum cafe

Don't think the journey could have been done any cheaper - I think train tickets from our local station are nearly £30 each - DS is more expensive now he is a teenager.

We could have foregone the refreshments (and probably should NOT have had cake!) but I kind of justify that by thinking the museum makes a profit and spends it on the museum and as entry is free that is us making a contribution. Good way to justify eating cake right? :rotfl:

Always walk more in London too and then I had to walk the dog when we got in - so am pooped now.

All part of being less of a couch potato... :T

amycool

Pushkin wrote: »

Took DS to the Imperial War Museum today - he is doing a project on WW1 and thought this would provide inspiration. Am usually shocked by how expensive London is:

£23 car park fee at Park Lane - DH paid
£29 - 3 tube tickets from Park Lane to Lambeth tube :eek:
£18.05 - 2 coffees, 1 diet coke & 3 pieces of cake in museum cafe

Ruddy nora! £23 for parking!!! I almost had a heart attack when we went to the York Railway Museum and it was £9.

The IWM is good value though - albeit harrowing and sad!

Pushkin

amycool wrote: »

Ruddy nora! £23 for parking!!! I almost had a heart attack when we went to the York Railway Museum and it was £9.

Yes its shocking isn't it but still probably cheaper than x3 train tickets, the tube prices actually shocked me more!

I went to York Railway Museum about 10 years ago - enjoyed, had a lovely weekend in York - lovely city.

Pushkin

Hump day over and feel like I"m on the wind down to the weekend (talk about wishing your life away!).

Work is busy but I have it in much better perspective than I did last autumn, if anything I probably need to react a little more - for me I am being very laid back! Nobody's complained though so will just carry on doing what I'm doing.

Wed is pizza night for the boys (I know sad little routine but they love it) and poor housewife that I am there were NO pizzas in the freezer. DH went to the supermarket, I felt guilty so gave him some money - unexpected mid week spend. Also had him buy me some monkey nuts so an unhealthy, weak, expensive evening all tolled!

Radiators hot all day today as it was so cold outside, hoping BG mirror Eon and announce they are to reduce their prices especially if this cold snap continues.

Am half way through Making of a Murderer which is both fascinating and horrifying.

Pearla*Merle

Pushkin - look into getting yourself a network railcard (1/3 off tickets - you won't need one each, up to four people can travel on one card) and see if you can get a London Travelcard (train tickets plus all travel on tube and bus). Usually with that combo you only pay £2-3 for all within London travel

You end up paying off the £30 railcard in no time Well worth it :T

Pushkin

Thanks PerlaMerle - I'll look into it, not a great lover of trains but its worth doing the cost analysis.

The whole train ticket structure really annoys me as it's so complex!