Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

PurpleFairy26

So, another month has gone by (payday to payday at least). Good things:

Just down to 1 card of our original debt :T snowballing means higher payment there now until it ends next year. On 0%
At 66% of new EF target
1p fund at 85% of target and now where near that much of year passed
A reasonable amount of fleabay sales made, not going to be able to retire on it, but even so, money in and stuff I don't want out
Boss has told me I'll be getting a higher than normal pay rise in January :T ideally I'd get it now, but due to internal politics we need to follow 'process'
Getting ahead last year and budgeting for 2 weddings this means I have money for a few things I've need :T
Was bold and moved £609 of my budget to debt overpayment on payday :eek:
Food budget massively under control for 2nd month in row. Amazing how not going to shops saves money, simples.

Not so good things:
DH new job randomly paid him in the middle of last month, but this month nothing yet, now saying it'll be the end of the month but can't work out what time period that's for so don't know how much it is, also as he didn't get paid in middle of this month, means effective,y he didn't get paid in this budget 'month' which made it very lean and I couldn't pay extra to savings as I would have liked to
Vacuum broke, had to buy new one. This likely to come out of EF so target will take a hit, but guess that's what it's for.
Had two weekends away, and really missed my family, one was massively overpriced (I didn't organise it) good job other was particularly frugal and the other one was a one off type thing, but annoying that money couldn't go to house savings


In other news, lovely weekend, quality family time. Free ticket out on Friday evening, lots of free activities for smalls, will definitely do again, even if we had to pay, within entertainment budget. Managed a small run today, better than nothing. Ordered stuff in sales, nearly all gone back. One item for DH is too big :A and it's gone down in price in sale again, so another £10 sale.

Decided to wear a pair of hand me down shoes from sister for weddings, suprisingly comfortable and saves buying any (needed a particular base due to location - don't ask ) also took pair for each of the smalls back and decided they could wear some already have.

We're away next weekend, so need to think ahead and make sure we have stuff we need washed and put aside (and ironed - might even rock out my ironing board :rotfl:) so I'm not rushing round the last minute.

Right off to make a veg curry for DH and I for work tomorrow as it's cheap and quick

PurpleFairy26

Just read my last entry and despite best efforts I still haven't done the ironing, need to iron a few items before we leave today plus a few other tasks, quick tidy round, pop and get catfood. Good week if not really busy, looking forward to a weekend of different surroundings and quality time with family and wider family.

Weather doesn't look great so need a variety of clothes with us. Spends shouldn't be too bad, will take some snacks and drink with us. Banking all as it should be. Will be nice when DH gets paid at the end of the month from his second job as accounts will look healthier in our 'budget month'

Right off for a few tasks to get straight. Have a good weekend peeps.

brizzledfw

Well done on the grocery spend and enjoy the hols

crazy_cat_lady

Enjoy your hols and time away

PurpleFairy26

So we're back from our weekend away to relatives wedding. Was lovely much less stressful than it could have been. Save the rain :eek: oh well, spirits were not to be dampened and was lovely to see some people we don't see very often. Very glad we did it the MSE way and booked a hotel a year ago, saving us £££

I'd saved some money and even with family dinner out Friday night and two breakfasts and some drinks yesterday, I still came back with some loose change I also came back with some snacks too, so all good.

Spent time with someone who is hugely materialistic this weekend too. :eek: it's just not an attractive trait and I think she thought I was impressed by her telling me her shoes were £200 and all I could think was, I'd rather wear something I had and overpay that on my mortgage :rotfl:

Back on it today, made dough in bread maker for pizza tomorrow night, will freeze half. Need to check menu plan for week. Think all ok and should be able to not have to buy anything, at least until Thursday or Friday, especially if I make some snacks/pudding tomorrow

Watching a craft programme on catch up, will see if it gives me some inspiration. I have registered for a dress making course

PurpleFairy26

Evening diary world. Slightly frustrating day today, given the timing of the holiday and DH new job, I don't have enough in my voucher account to pay for childcare in full this month so had to find £42 from budget. Doeable but annoying. Other nursery final bill due on 15th but don't get Next vouchers until 18th so will ask if I can pay then. As we've been there 7 years, I know it'll be fine. We've never missed before.

I was trying to be too clever at tea time and making malt loaf whilst cooking yellow curry and hm pizza and forgot to put the paddle in the breadmaker. After getting over strop one as I though BM was broken, I ended up chucking contents as I just couldn't get paddle through squish of stuff. Again, annoying.

Seems our local c1arkes shoe shop are surprised it's school holidays and people may want school shoes. Had appointment so wasn't like they didn't know I was going :rotfl: they suggested I go back in 4 weeks when they will have more stock. Hmm, day before school starts, don't think so. Went today to avoid mayhem! Anyway, ordered online from JL as I know what size she needs and she had some on today, they just weren't quite the right style. Why do they insist on putting wedge type soles on shoes for reception children! Maybe I'm old fashioned!

I filled in an online form for egg PPI. I realised last night why I didn't do it before, I got a fault when I tried to complete it a few months back. Did it on work 'puter today instead.

Will maybe print off some templates tomorrow and I can fill in the blanks hand written for others if I get time.

Advise on strange local fb-er please. I'll give you the short version am selling some curtains, big ones, listed at £50. She said she would like them. Asked size. I said size is in listing, she said she needed to know it in inches. So I went online and converted it for her she said ok could she have matching cushions (hadnt listed any) but said I had some similar but not matching. She said all good could she have cushions and both pairs of curtains. I explain I only have 1 pair and she says it's ok, she will get them made in to two pairs. She then starts asking about price and delivery and stuff and anyway, I start getting inundated with messages, including things like I'm in now if you want to deliver (haven't said at this point I would) and then 10 minutes later asking where I was?

Then yesterday she messaged me to say she came round Saturday to collect but I was out (she's passed on the curtains by this stage btw) and I've now wasted her petrol money as I wasn't in. Well I was away and hadn't agreed to meet her and also ask her how she knows my address as I've not told her. She then says she's been round twice and I did tell her (double checked the message thread and definitely haven't) :eek: she's now getting really arsy with me saying she can't drive and get her and I've wasted her money and when am I going to deliver. Am I being mean thinking no £5 is worth this (even though I love a good sale! ) I'm concerned that even if I did drop them off she would not have the £5 and I'd be guileted into just giving them to her. I'm not mean but I just think she's a little crazy :rotfl:

PurpleFairy26

Silly busy week but interspersed with some good moneysaving been out twice one for blackberries. About 6kg picked I think. Going to make some jam tonight and lots frozen. Fed chickens at daughters nursery today and got some apples and plums from their trees :T no eggs from the hens though. Will see tomorrow. Picked rhubarb from garden, hope for one last batch maybe. Beetroot looking healthy, hopes it's just as good under the soil.

Need to see if there is anything else I can plant for winter or if not, just start planning what might go where next year. Also thinking of buying a couple of fruit trees, possibly to put one out the front. Outer neighbours have just built a fence instead of some horrible conifers we took down, so thinking an apple and plum tree might make lovely replacements and we have lots of space out the front :T

Wardrobe gate is nearly over :rotfl: DH finally screwed them to the wall yesterday meaning I can get one with the insides. That will be Sunday afternoons project. It's insanely exciting, feel like I've been talking about it forever. It will finally give us a spare room back and over the next couple of weeks I can take down our wardrobes and we can then decorate our room :T

DH 2nd job have promised they paid him Friday, money yet to hit bank so we'll see tomorrow.

Despite project freezer use up its full of stuff as it's got leftovers galore in there despite us using stuff up. Plus 50 large sausage rolls DH has made for bil wedding. Which means I don't have any plastic tubs for anything :eek::eek:

This weeks meal plan is all about anything in a tub

Only working 4 days this week and 4 days next :T can't wait need to plan some more holiday in too, otherwise I'll be taking it in the depths of winter which is always depressing.

Nothing yet from architect, may have to check in with him this week if nothing through.

PurpleFairy26

The architect has sent the plans :T:T:j:j he's done an amazing job, if it looks as half as good as his drawing I'll be thrilled there's a bit to go back on him on, he got a bit too exited upstairs and has moved a wall, which whilst would seem like a good idea, would leave us sans bathroom for that part of the build which just won't work

I printed them off on A3 at work today. Tempted to stick them on the wall so I can see what we're working towards every day.

Need to get back on some surveys, sold another item on fleabay today, must post tomorrow and take 3 items back to n3xt for a refund.

Made blackberry liqueur with some leftover wine and picked fruit. Is lovely even if I say so myself. May buy a couple of extra bottles and make some as a gift for Christmas. Am going to make left over fruit in to some booze jam so as not to waste it.

Rhubarb and plums stewed and frozen, 2 apple and blackberry cakes made (1 eaten - oops :rotfl:) still big tub of plums, may stew also, just for ease as running out of time.

Was planning on doing some work tonight, to get ahead for tomorrow but not feeling it now.

DH got a timesheet today with an amount on that says it was paid today. Nothing showing as pending, will see tomorrow.

crazy_cat_lady

Fantastic news that the plans are done :j So exciting.

PurpleFairy26

So DH finally got paid :j he had to chase which is annoying but we got there in the end hanging on to month end (our month end which is this Friday) and have a little cash in my purse (not a lot in the bank )

DH is off this week and with the smalls 2 days but hoping he can find free things to do with them. He's very good at this so shouldn't be a problem.

Off out for a picnic today, will use up stuff we didn't eat yesterday so all good there :Thopefully rain will hold off.