Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

Savvy_sewing

Crumble was edible but a little too much crumble compared to the fruit but DGD had it with ice cream and I had it with UHT cream.
I used up the cheese, cucumber and some of the humus in a wrap for lunch, along with some boiled eggs and tomatoes all needing using ip.
I have been keeping the washing going and I did have a sleep earlier!
Some of the paperwork is now in labelled files, and there is some still to do.
But I need to go to my Mums soon.
DGD's clothes are all put away, and we can see the gaps in her needs. So school shoes, more socks???, possibly a couple more jumpers and pjs.
So a trip to the shops after Mums.

Savvy_sewing

Got socks, tights and shoes. That was enough of a challenge today.
Just got back from Milton Keynes. I have a headache and think I'm going to have to have An early night again.
DGD had a McD on the way home as the thought of peeling the potatoes etc when I got in was not so appealing. I'm off to make a cup of tea and have some paracetamol.

Savvy_sewing

I had several cups of tea and some rich tea biscuits. I didn't fancy anything else. I came up to bed around 8.30 and "studied" some self development things via video links, before turning out the light.
-all that tea had me up several times in the night.
I have been awake since 6.30 and read for 45 minutes before I started the routine of banking, emails, and so on.
I am planning to leave a little later today as there is little work to rush for. I will plan to arrive at about 9.15 to open up at 9.30 instead of getting in as early as I can.
I am trying to slow down my hectic pace. Sort of sit up and smell the roses kind of moments. Give myself time to notice the autumn leaves as I walk up the hill later.
Time to ponder rather than react, firefighter my day as is the norm.
I used the SAD lamp last night. Possibly not the best time, but I didn't want to let the day slip by without using it at all.
I have changed from hormone pills to patches again now that my skin is fully recovered from the rashes and has been for a while.
Apparently they are safer than the tablets.
Tonight should be the last sewing session of the dresses class, however I think they are a long way off completely!
So I must work out a fee to extend the sessions if they want to finish in class.
Perhaps today is a day for thinking about what I should be doing next in the lessons too.
Betterget dressed and have time to do the packed lunch etc so we don't waste more money and food.
Mum is excited for Christmas now, although her Annual Insurance didn't cover all of Europe, I noticed Cyprus wasn't covered and so we had to pay £69.69 extra for them to cover it!
Becoming 80 this year more than quadrupled her insurance charges from the year before!
The only thing to sort out now is the Taxi transfer from her house to the airport. I can then relax and focus on finding myself some spending money.
Time to reserect a MSE saving challenge, or a boost my income one anyway.

Savvy_sewing

I have had a busy day because my staff were'nt in today and sodds law the shop was busy with drop offs, collection and sales of habadashery.
I have managed to get DS some hedge trimmers today, so hopefully he will now manage to get the hedges done.
I am back to work again in a few minutes so no real rest for me.
I joined the FSB today, I can access a lot of things from them if I need them, including free banking, cheaper card machines, lower insurance policies and legal help.
Time to check if dinner is done, I am hungry now.

Savvy_sewing

Well I was not surprised that the ladies didn't finish their garments. One lady didn't show up at all. Two were 20 minutes late, compared to one 20 minutes early. However nobody was anywhere near finished, so I have arranged one more day in a fortnight for them to come back, but told them any further would have to be chargeable.
(See I still got it wrong as I should have charged for the extra lesson first). I'm just too soft.
I didn't sleep that well, lots on my mind, and have set the alarm later this morning as I was so tired.
I have a few jobs that will keep me busy today at least. However unless a miracle happens in the next 3 days I will have to use savings to pay the rent and one of my suppliers as I only have the wages and the insurance funds in the current account. That shows how quiet October has been.
So here is hoping that things are picking up and November is busy.
I have got to remain positive about it.
My personal accounts are lower than I would like but at least I am confident in the fact that I am able to budget between now and Christmas.
- I have allocated £10 each for some gift bags a local lady puts together for the lads and lasses, like the bfs and gfs of the family, and that will save me from going out and being tempted to buy loads of things. It's still £160 as there are also my kids, and my friends kids, and I thought I'd get staff the same.
I know I probably could have found a cheaper way of doing it, but it is about time for me as well as anything else.
I will still need to sort out DGD, but all the other grandchildren will be getting their Silver coins.
So that leaves me with my friend and my Mum really. My brother doesn't really expect presents or give them. I have my sister a cross stitch kit.

Looks like the easiest Christmas ever for me then.

ognum

Mooloo, you are without doubt a kind and generous person but you really need to stop spending.

Forget friends of friends at Christmas, they really don't need presents from you, they will say thanks and put the stuff in a cupboard. None of us need stuff.

You are having a financially tough year. Say to people exactly that, ' it has been a very tough year so I am happy to wish you a good Christmas but sadly no presents this year, I hope you will save your money and not buy any thing for me'

I have recently written to some distant family members saying I wish you all well but I won't be sending presents this year. I have said to them ' It is hard to know what you would find useful and I hope it will ease your stress at Christmas not to have to find presents for us.'

Please reconsider!

Slinky

Hi Mooloo

Don't expect to open a bank account via FSB in a hurry. I applied in July and am still waiting for it to be sorted. They contacted me about once a month asking a simple question, I was told it had been approved about a month ago, still no sign of the paperwork!

Feral_Moon

ognum wrote: »

Mooloo, you are without doubt a kind and generous person but you really need to stop spending.

Forget friends of friends at Christmas, they really don't need presents from you, they will say thanks and put the stuff in a cupboard. None of us need stuff.

You are having a financially tough year. Say to people exactly that, ' it has been a very tough year so I am happy to wish you a good Christmas but sadly no presents this year, I hope you will save your money and not buy any thing for me'

I have recently written to some distant family members saying I wish you all well but I won't be sending presents this year. I have said to them ' It is hard to know what you would find useful and I hope it will ease your stress at Christmas not to have to find presents for us.'

Please reconsider!

I completely agree! Funds are tight for me too this year so I've already informed the family that I'm only buying presents for the grandchildren this year and allocating £25 each (£100 total) which I think is more than generous.

Like you, previously I'd have bought for the kids plus their partners, as well as friends and their children. However, one must draw a line somewhere, especially when the funds aren't available.

Savvy_sewing

I will honour my order this year, it is a lot less than I spent on them all last year, and I do have money in the Christmas Fund. As I won't be here now, I won't have to spend on any expensive Christmas food or drinks, or even have the heating or water on etc at home. But I will tell them all that this year is the last year, and that it will only be the grandchildren next year.
I already have silver coins, i can use the ones I have and replace them when the funds permit.
I also have £200 in my holiday funds. So I can use that and rebuild for next year.
My personal funds are lower then at the beginning of the year but I have had some major purchases. I am quite relieved though that with EE's help, and my persistence the council have finally sorted out my bills.
So I am toasting the victory with a meal deal, DGD chose chicken pie with a potato topping and profiteroles and I chose the vegetables and the wine.

So drum role..
The 2014/15 council tax has reduced from £280.57 to £2.62
The 2015/16 has reduced from £555.01 to £257.32
And the rest of this years will reduce by £15 a month for December and January.
So it's worth arguing the toss. the council is not always right.

mellymoo74

That's great news mooloo!