santas Challenge 2016... Gifts, chat, challenges

chanie

katie I sympathise with the washing machine problems, as we replaced our one a couple of weeks ago. A couple of years ago, the door wouldn't open and I managed to fix it by opening the top and fiddling with wires. It started playing up recently and me and OH were debating whether we should wait until it packs up completely or replace it now. We decided on the latter and the old one packed up in between ordering and delivery of the new one, so I guess we made the right decision.

This weekend,I'm going to buy my 2016 greetings cards - I have made a list of who I need to buy for. Plus a trip to Home Bargains - they always have good value presents, but the nearest store is quite far away, so I only get to go when I'm visiting family.

chanie

I managed to buy most (but no all) of my 2016 cards today. I know a shop that sells 3 cards for £1, so I bought 12 cards. They didn't have all the cards I needed, but I managed to get the majority for a good price, so I can't complain.

I also popped to Home Bargains and bought a few bits and pieces for Ds birthday. He isn't 6 for a couple of months and I like to buy a couple of bits and pieces when I go shopping to lighten the load (both financially and in terms of planning). I kept the table cloth and banners from last year (very frugal of me) so I've made a start.

mum2one

As Miss Hoodie wold say (if she was awake!!), pinch, punch the 1st of the month,...

Where did January go, sounds daft but this yr it flew by, normally drags on...

Finished off the end of the month with a treat, went to a local hotel for Sunday lunch with a friend, (even better as voucher for main course - raffle prize), we both had trio of melon and sorbet for starters, she had roast beef, I had chicken breast in mushroom sauce, all the roasties and veg, pud was lemon tart with vanillia cream, she had apple and rhubarb.

It sounds daft felt more posh as it was a hotel rather than a pub, you wanted to make an effort.. back to reality quickly thou when I realised I got charged £5 for a bottle of cider....

ts sort out the holiday tomorrow... Tunisia been cancelled, I could get the money and run... but if I put it in the bank just get spent, one option looking at is Morroco, never been but fancy it...

Shoudn't laugh.... but last yr I had a brainwave....we'dnsave the 2p's that we win and have a count up in jan....as it was over 6 visits up the coast, didnt realise quite how many we got.... £65...

I've got the job now of drip feeding them into the bank £5 a time... luckly her accounts are childrens account the bank have to accept the change... weighs a ton xx

mum2one

See how I'm doing with the challenge..


Christmas / Birthday Prep
Spreadsheet set up, a copy in notebook, - got bday prezzies under dining room table... xmas got to put up safe...
I've got one special bday - my friends sons18th - I'll pop £20 in an envelope for him

Birthday Cards
I have my shopping list for cards to last to July... I have a wack of plain ones, need special friend / aunty / 18th



Smoke Alarms
Battery was changed December, - hoovered weekly... as for testing the downstairs one average once a week... u know dinners ready!!

When did I buy it
Diary ready - not needed it yet... have put notes in re ins etc - I shopped around - need to ring towards end of policy to stop auto renew

Review Christmas...
Communicate.... I'm the one who does all the organising for the house.... but we overstocked on tubs of choc.... when Mr M had the offer on Nanny Hoodie sent Grandad Hoodie and Miss Hoodie to both take advantage of the tubs... we had 8... I never want to see a creme egg choc again....
Bar that we did ok.

Miss Hoodies corner
The freezer - been trying to run it down after Xmas... seems to become a big mess. The plan is get that done this week.

xx

springdreams

mum2one wrote: »

As Miss Hoodie wold say (if she was awake!!), pinch, punch the 1st of the month,...

Where did January go, sounds daft but this yr it flew by, normally drags on...

Finished off the end of the month with a treat, went to a local hotel for Sunday lunch with a friend, (even better as voucher for main course - raffle prize), we both had trio of melon and sorbet for starters, she had roast beef, I had chicken breast in mushroom sauce, all the roasties and veg, pud was lemon tart with vanillia cream, she had apple and rhubarb.

It sounds daft felt more posh as it was a hotel rather than a pub, you wanted to make an effort.. back to reality quickly thou when I realised I got charged £5 for a bottle of cider....

ts sort out the holiday tomorrow... Tunisia been cancelled, I could get the money and run... but if I put it in the bank just get spent, one option looking at is Morroco, never been but fancy it...

Shoudn't laugh.... but last yr I had a brainwave....we'dnsave the 2p's that we win and have a count up in jan....as it was over 6 visits up the coast, didnt realise quite how many we got.... £65...

I've got the job now of drip feeding them into the bank £5 a time... luckly her accounts are childrens account the bank have to accept the change... weighs a ton xx

Glad you enjoyed your day out mum2one. Unfortunately £5 seems to be the going rate in most places for cider.

Definitely go to Morrocco. We went 2 years ago and loved it! Going to Iceland this year though - totally different climates!

As for the pennies, Metro Bank have machines that you can use to exchange your coins for notes, even if you are not a customer.

Katiehound

There are also machines which change cash in Tesco etc- called Coinstar? but they take a % in commission so not very MSE!

Oh, aching knees. Effect of anti -inflammatory drugs wearing off- that's in less than a week. Time to grit the teeth.........

On the bright side the washing machine man has been, managed to get the pump to work so no flood in kitchen! Needed either a new machine or a new circuit board. I settled for the latter- this is only the 4th call-out the machine has had in its 23 years, hey they were built to last, so long may it last! Cost is £85 due to be solved on Weds.I also managed to get the load spun in about 5 smaller loads and on the line so nearly dry.

Stunning sunset tonight. looking at it now, gosh the days really are drawing out. Wonderful

mum2one

Katiehound - thats brill news about the washing machine, def sounds built to last, hows the knees, have they given u any more anti-inflam's. I dont know if would be any good, but I use a tubigrip to support my knee... my left knee useless, but they wont operate too young / not suitable for the op.

Morroco is booked.... We have Marrakesh for July, then Agadir for Oct.. so daft it was cheaper to do 10 ngts in Oct rather than 7... Not that I need any excuse....

Springdreams - which part of Morroco did you got to, wow to Iceland, sounds amazing, one place love to explore...

Chanie - hows the bday prep going...

We've started the bank run with 2ps... cheated and sent grandad Hoodie in, they were fine... Theyve got the machines in Asda - they charge 7%...

Cards are brought upto March... they even had mothers days cards... I'll wait for that xx

chanie

Katie good news about your washing machine.

Mum2One its always nice to have a holiday to look forward too.

Spring I've always wanted to go to Iceland and its on my bucket list.

I bought a Lynx set today for my nephews stocking which was reduced to £2 in Boots (in the 70% off gift sets). I doubt I'll buy anything else this month now.

In terms of DS birthday, it will probably be a bouncy castle in a hall type party as that way, we won't be limited on numbers. I'm going to buy a few bits and pieces with the weekly shop e.g. sweets, crisps, party bags etc. We won't be going overboard though as the children will be more interested in playing.

mum2one

dont know whether there will be anything really left but 2mor is the 90% discount day in Boots... xx

springdreams

mum2one wrote: »

Katiehound - thats brill news about the washing machine, def sounds built to last, hows the knees, have they given u any more anti-inflam's. I dont know if would be any good, but I use a tubigrip to support my knee... my left knee useless, but they wont operate too young / not suitable for the op.

Morroco is booked.... We have Marrakesh for July, then Agadir for Oct.. so daft it was cheaper to do 10 ngts in Oct rather than 7... Not that I need any excuse....

Springdreams - which part of Morroco did you got to, wow to Iceland, sounds amazing, one place love to explore...

Chanie - hows the bday prep going...

We've started the bank run with 2ps... cheated and sent grandad Hoodie in, they were fine... Theyve got the machines in Asda - they charge 7%...

Cards are brought upto March... they even had mothers days cards... I'll wait for that xx

Well done on booking Morocco :T

We went to Marrakesh. We climbed Atlas mountain, went to a Berber camp in the desert, went on a very very long camel ride, visited the market, had a massage and also went quad biking in the desert.

It is worth reading up on it, as there are a few things to be careful of, for instance in the market the local ladies dab you with henna then expect you to pay for it. Likewise, if you take photos of the snakes and snake charmers you are forced to pay for the privilege.

Overall though we had a wonderful time, and I would highly recommend Marrakesh