Hope is not an Effective Financial Strategy

Suffolk_lass

That's lovely. We did too. I only got the email just before 4pm and curious what time you heard as another on here knew first thing yesterday. How unexpected. I rushed to the computer to log in, thinking maybe it was a bigger win but it was £25

Cheery_Daff

Suffolk_lass said:

That's lovely. We did too. I only got the email just before 4pm and curious what time you heard as another on here knew first thing yesterday. How unexpected. I rushed to the computer to log in, thinking maybe it was a bigger win but it was £25

I use the prize checker - it usually opens at midnight the day after the draw i think (certainly before the emails!) You have to know your holders number, but then it tells you how much h you've won. 

https://www.nsandi.com/prize-checker

The list of high value winners is released on the first day of the month but I've never been on that 😂

shangaijimmy

Just checked and the email was at 2.42am on Tuesday.

Cheery - thats a lovely thought being on that high value list!!

shangaijimmy

Well the end of the week, or the start of a new depending on how you view a Sunday...

I've made my usual Sunday overpayment of our payments round up pot, and then added a nice whole £1 whilst the current account was already tidy. So £4.98 paid off the mortgage. £4.98 that will never be charged any interest and accounts for 1 days worth of interest.

Our current account is looking a bit skinny. We have £25 left in there which will cover Mrs SJ's petrol. Thankfully we have a full fridge, and even fuller freezer and even fuller still food cupboard! We'll need to dip into over overdraft for next weekends food shop, however payday is Monday so no harm done!

Up on the horizon is buying a new fire for our fire place. We removed our old gas fire a few months ago and have been typically lazy in not going buying a new one yet. So we really need to pull our fingers out and just go and buy one!

I'm heading into work for a few hours when I've finished this cup of tea. Then this afternoon I have my Sunday long run to slot in, before feet up this evening with a few cold beers and some great food.

shangaijimmy

Well spurred on by my post on Sunday morning that referenced buying a new fire! The deed has been done! New one arrives tomorrow meaning I'm in Mrs SJs good books  I won't go so far as saying brownie points have been earned, as we all know they are a mythical and unredeemable notion anyway 

Cheery_Daff

What do you mean, brownie points are mythical and unredeemable?? I have about eleven million of them and am hoping to cash in for early retirement with no housework or domestic chores at all!! 😮😮😂

shangaijimmy

I'm afraid you'll find that no-one will accept them...In my experience any attempts to cash them in is met with one can only be visualised as the 'rage virus'.

Cheery_Daff

shangaijimmy said:

I'm afraid you'll find that no-one will accept them...In my experience any attempts to cash them in is met with one can only be visualised as the 'rage virus'.

Hmm, not sure I like this turn of events. Must check the marriage contract 😠😂😂

shangaijimmy

The fire is in! And Mrs SJ is delighted. I dared to comment that I'd wasted a potential Christmas present... luckily I came away with limbs intact as she was still basking in the ambience of our new fire whilst drinking gin 

We have a few half term days out with the kids planned, alongside a couple of pj's and movie afternoons. We're both off for the week as well so hoping for a nice relaxing week. I do intend to powerwash the patio at some point so keeping my eye on the weather for a dry day.

Moneywise we're doing ok I suppose. I keep holding off from adjusting our budget due to all the recent price rises but I suspect that something will need to give at some point. Mrs SJ is on a pay freeze until 2023, I had a pay cut last year and a payrise is extremely doubtful for me. The only thing that I can see us being able to claw money from is our mortgage neutral/pre retirement savings pot. I'll try and cling on till the New Year (and hope that our energy provider survives especially as we have 9 months left on our fix).

shangaijimmy

Payday today 
Paying out day tomorrow  

A few little money shuffles done this morning that include £50 to emergency fund (gradual top up of funds after buying a new fire), £125 to car replacement fund (hopefully not needed for another 3yrs) and £100 premium bonds bought (this is our holiday savings but I've held some back to pay for our half term activities).

I added a £25 OP, which was an exchange for out premium bond win this month. And then polished it all off with a 61p TT 

Pumpkin picking and nature walk this afternoon. Forecast is mixed, but secretly I'm hoping for some rain as sploshing round in the mud with wellies on creates extra memories/stories!