Renovations and Repayments.

AlexLK

Thank you, Kelpie.

Well, after saying I had no financial goals for the end of the year and owing to a very quiet evening I've discovered a good template on Excel for budgeting. Covers absolutely everything (and then some). Worth searching for templates if you can't work out how to create all singing, all dancing spreadsheets yourself.

I've also plans to review our diet for the coming year and stop going to my parents' for dinner (ongoing for a few months now), drinking far too much wine and staying over. We've spent more time there than here which might be why I seem to have no time to do anything. I think I need to start cooking again.

Advent targets for the coming month ....
20th Dec. - Finish Christmas shopping / lunch with in-laws.
21st Dec. - Start filling 2018 diary - sync with 'phone diary.
22nd Dec. - Avoid going anywhere near civilisation.
23rd Dec. - Baking with wife and son.
24th Dec. - Wrap presents, remember to put a carrot out for the reindeer and a generous measure of Scotch for Father Christmas. Put carrot back in kitchen, drink the Scotch.
25th Dec. - Eat, drink and be merry. :beer:
26th Dec. - More of the same. :beer:
27th Dec. - Recover.
28th Dec. - 37 today... eat, drink...:beer: :eek:
29th Dec. - Complete Dec. spreadsheet.
30th Dec. - Make plans for January if not done so.
31st Dec. - Eat, drink... there's a theme here. :beer:
1st Jan. - More of the same... :beer::rotfl:
2nd Jan. - Give up drinking.

AlexLK

CathT wrote: »

Starting a new diary due to progress is really positive. It sounds like you are in a different place in so many ways compared to when you started your diary.

Will keep an eye out for your new diary.

Thanks, Cath.

I will post a link when I start it.

I am fortunately in a very different place. Perhaps enough of a different place to finally grow up a little and start saving / overpaying properly, though perhaps childish enough to just save enough to buy myself a '70s AMV8. :rotfl:

newgirly

Blimey Alex, you have some seriously lazy days planned there :beer: it takes one to know one, I too have high expectations to relax, eat, drink and plan when I won't relax, eat and drink in the new year

AlexLK

Christmas shopping almost finished. Had an early lunch with son and in-laws. Father-in-law said we should go to their place for Christmas day next year. We're going on Boxing day evening for dinner, it's never enough for them though and they don't want to spend Christmas with my parents.

:rotfl: I think you're right, NG. I'm rather looking forward to the Christmas break this year and don't want to do much at all. I'm cooking lunch on Christmas day, staying in what seems to have become our part of the house, cooking a less substantial lunch on Boxing day before going out in LRs then going to the in-laws. Mrs K has arranged for us to stay over that evening though my parents aren't pleased about my son or I staying. I'm sure it'll be fine. If not I'll likely be too drunk to care.

Red-Squirrel_2

AlexLK wrote: »

Christmas shopping almost finished. Had an early lunch with son and in-laws. Father-in-law said we should go to their place for Christmas day next year. We're going on Boxing day evening for dinner, it's never enough for them though and they don't want to spend Christmas with my parents.

Have you and your wife ever spent Christmas Day with them in all the years you've been together?

newgirly

Have I misread your last post Alex where it says your parents are not happy about you and your son staying at your inlaws boxing night?!

What on earth does it have to do with them and how selfish when you are with them Xmas day, I'm shocked if this seems normal to you.

AlexLK

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Have you and your wife ever spent Christmas Day with them in all the years you've been together?

We used to visit them Christmas day evening for supper but they live in a different county.

newgirly wrote: »

Have I misread your last post Alex where it says your parents are not happy about you and your son staying at your inlaws boxing night?!

What on earth does it have to do with them and how selfish when you are with them Xmas day, I'm shocked if this seems normal to you.

You haven't misread it. My mother isn't happy with the idea of us staying there for no other reason than we're staying with the in-laws in their property and father isn't happy because he wanted us to be with them from Christmas eve to 2nd January. He's convinced himself he won't live to see another Christmas / year - I don't think that's the case but he is now living on this presumption. This leads mother to her "how dare you be so disrespectful...", "the amount of money we've spent on you..." and "...must be the influence of Mrs. K.('s family)" rants because I apparently "don't care" and "won't be there to look after them" now they are getting older.

Karmacat

Good grief, Alex, the **rants** you put up with! I've never had to do that, but I've had my share of hassle in other ways, and Captain Awkward changed my life, very much for the better.

Live Long And Prosper, Alex, Mrs K and your son

Debsnewbudget

Stay strong Alex
You had moved away from the parental expectations ..... Do not go back there

Red-Squirrel_2

AlexLK wrote: »

We used to visit them Christmas day evening for supper but they live in a different county.

So you've never had a Christmas dinner with them or spent the whole day there, but have done one or both of those with your parents every year?

I don't think your father in law is being unreasonable at all. I think its a shame you aren't willing to consider his request.

Anyway, I'm pleased to see you feeling happier and more optimistic about the future, I hope you and MrsK and LittleK all have a lovely time together over Christmas, whichever members of the extended family you are with!