Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

ognum

Mooloo wrote: »

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.

Of course you know best what is right for you and yours but you are giving away your assets, things are tough at your shop at the moment and you really need to keep what you have.

Well done for making the choice for this to be the last year of adult presents, of course you will buy something for your lovely Mum but otherwise the children can manage without.

My kids now only buy for nieces and nephews not for their parents, they all do the same and it works out. They also only spend a limited amount. Perhaps you can encourage them to do this, it will certainly save them money too.

Well done on your success with the council!

Savvy_sewing

Having a cuppa before I start my sewing for the day.
Have been updating my personal accounts etc ready to balance my books at the end of the month.
I have managed to reduce the amount of money spent on foods for myself and DS this month by £250. Down to £222.00
Which means that I have managed to support DS and his family only spending £22 over my own budget. So I am pretty happy with that.
I shall be aiming for a further reduction during November as I am aiming to eat from the stores I have. Although I can't expect DS to be able to do the same yet, as they are still on the learning curve to shop regularly.
The fuel bill has gone up from £60 to £90 a month as I have been taking DS to work and going out places with my Mum. Along with the recent rise in fuel too.
I am pleased that I have kept my records better and can analyse rather than just looking at the balance at the bank.
I am hoping that this will help me to slow down on my impulse spending during November.
I will have the twins birthdays this coming month, but I will only be giving them a token amount.

Savvy_sewing

With the help of my friend we finally got the felt on the shed roof. Now I need to treat the shed with the preservative next. Fingers crossed for a dry day Wednesday.
I went to see Mum this evening, she's really absorbed in her sewing these days.
I have to up my game this week. I need November to be a much better one than October has been.
I want to make sure that I am able to capture as much of the Christmas sales as I can. So I want to work on the gifts and the things that may sell as gifts if I market them properly. things like the scissors etc but perhaps some of the fabrics wrapped in ribbons etc.
I have a lot to look at, and try to see if I can create some sales from what I already have.
I will need to be as smart as possible with the shop as well as with the personal budgets.
I am excited to see what I can create with any spare time and remnants etc
And I have plenty of ideas to keep me busy.
I am not going to stress about the month before. I have confidence that the work will come.
On the home front I really still need to do that decluttering and I need my motivation to stay rather then diminish like it has over the last few weeks.

Savvy_sewing

One of my lovely folk here has asked for some costings for some Christmas makes, so Halloween is over and it's time to turn our thoughts to Christmas celebrations.
So I have been in to the back of the store cupboard to see what fabrics etc I already have. I have also the red and green felt for hats, like we made last year, with fleece/fake fur trims and traditional pom-poms.
I found a few stockings and aprons left from last Year, which will help me on my way.
So tomorrow between the hems and other jobs, I shall be photographing the fabrics and hoping we can create some special Christmas items that will become traditional "heir looms" rather then throw away items that can be bought so cheaply on the internet these days.
I cannot compete with MR T's £1 hats!
Without charging for labour my hats better quality felt cost me £4 per hat!
But they will last!!!
I have a lot of embroidery patterns for Christmas on the sewing machine and or ready to download.

Staff was back today, and work came in at a steady pace, so I am hoping that it is the start of a better week, and month!

Feral_Moon

To be honest I'd rather pay £5-£10 for a hand crafted item I know will last many years than cheap throwaway supermarket tat.

Savvy_sewing

Morning,
DGD actually got up when asked. Came down dressed for school and when I was in the shower she made me a cup of tea and a piece of toast. I even had a flower on the tray. Feeling loved.
Now to focus.
I am going to try to stop my spending during November.
I will need to get fresh bits and pieces food wise but I am hoping that I can really dig deep and have a good go at stopping spending.
Not because I don't have enough money, just because we have too much stuff.
For years I have said that I was going to declutter but don't actually succeed, so at least No Spending should stop me from bringing more stuff home! Perhaps I will get around to decluttering as I start using what we have. I would like to think that I could actually get decluttering through November as well, but being realistic I tend to start but don't get very far.
But if at first you don't succeed, try, try and try again.
I am going to be trying to do the same at work and resist adding to the stock!
Those of you who know me will know that this is a big ask for me as I am such a hoarder!
But I will try.
Nearly time to go to school.

dktreesea

Clutter - the bane of my life! Clutter is a bit like weight - it takes years to accumulate but then people want it off/out the door in days. I've found just focusing on one bag a week is actually working, after years of feeling overwhelmed and inaction. Plenty of "useful things", but I haven't used them in years so they can go and make themselves home in someone else's space. Every bit of floor liberated I see as a victory, even if it takes 7 or 8 weeks to get to it because the clutter is stacked high. I've even found stuff I don't recognise on the way through.

duchy

You know the rule, if you bring a new item in........two existing ones have to go !

Savvy_sewing

I think I will need to take 4 out if 1 comes in!
Well I managed a no spends day on food etc, taking my lunch, and I made bread in the bread machine this afternoon, so I just had warm bread and butter as I was hungry. I never have enough food when I am at Biggests as it's too early for me when feeding her kids.
I did have to pay Council Tax, as the new amended bills have to be tackled.
But I knew that was coming.

Savvy_sewing

Morning. I woke extremely early, around 4am someone was scraping ice off their vehicle and then revved the engine before driving off. Although I tried to get back to sleep it didn't really work and I gave up a few hours ago.
I have written in my diary, read my email, checked my bank accounts and all the usual things that I do, as well as had my lamp on beside me for 15 minutes.
I can feel the chill in the air and am loathed to get out of my warm cozy bed.
Today will be a challenge to not spend as I take DS to Aldi, and my Mum out later.
I don't count having to make payments on my account for the credit cards etc.
I am conscious that funds are still limited at the moment so that will keep me on the straight and narrow I hope.
I will see about starting again in the decluttering game, with my clothes as I seem to have rather a lot that I can't fit into the wardrobe and I think the summer clothes can be packed away now, and sorted out so I only keep the ones I really wear and like.
I would like to have some really good items for my holiday as we are going 5*. So I may have to remake, adapt and create out of what I have!
No buying new clothes! ( but nobody said I couldn't make them out of what I have!).
But that will have to be AFTER I have sorted out what I have and in my own time in the evening at home.
I think that finally as the weather turns the work will start to pick up again now. I have had several coats in for shortening this week.
I am going to be optimistic that this is the start to a better month.
Have a good one. I better get out of bed!!