Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

PurpleFairy26

brizzlegirl wrote: »

All sounding good. I am keeping up the exercise, not every day, but several times a week and alcohol free and avoiding sugar, crisps, biscuits and so on. Think it is making a difference and its keeping my blood sugar more level which has to be a good thing.

How did the blender turn out? A workable solution? We lost our kettle last week and I am ploughing on using a hob one. Know its more expensive in gas, but I am just not prepared to buy a new one..just yet. And despite some groans we are adapting

It's amazing how you can 'cut your cloth' when you need to isn't it. Plus you can then not be rushed in to just getting 'any old kettle' and fine a decent one, right price.

Exercise continues, definitely have a new found focus, long may it continue. Plus the food thing too, were still eating from freezer and veg box which is providing amazing meals and the bill down. If we can do Feb for the same as Jan I'll be thrilled and don't feel hard done by at all and feel surprisingly comfortable with half empty cupboards.

Also had a realisation (post recycling about 20 jars as we don't have short term storage space) that I'd quite like to have my spices and herbs in glass jars rather then old plastic ones we have (from wholesalers years ago that are just refilled so have bb date sheet of say 2009) but some are on their last legs and obviously don't wash as well as glass. Oh well, it's not the end of the world as well soon have more glass jars, but still

Got some truly barginous presents that will be great teacher presents for the summer/Christmas. Have updated my list and stashed them with other gifts.
Done some research for some pillows to replace the gr0upon ones which frankly are not the 'hotel standard' they claimed! Luckily they were cheap. - should have been a sign but they'll do for spares when I've saved for the new ones.

Also sorted my bedding to:
One pillowcase filled with matching duvet cover, appropriate sheet and relevant number of other pillowcases needed. Happy days.

Lovely day out this afternoon using our annual membership. Managed a long walk that we've not done before with little legs, would definitely do again. Good for the step count too

Let's hope for another productive day tomorrow, I'm planning a run at least

PurpleFairy26

Managed a run yesterday and other productive stuff, including a roast dinner using left overs from Christmas that were in the freezer so efficiently 'free'

Today I've managed to take some returns back, drop some things at the charity shop and put some shoes in the recycling scheme all good to have things out of the houses plus another small sale on the bay in the post.

Weekly shop for £17 which is also pleasing. Only thing they didn't have was cucumber but I'm sure we'll survive :rotfl:

Payday on Friday so not much happening money wise between now and then. Hoping DH gets paid more than we've budgeted as that would mean we could over pay some more.

Had our BTL mortgage statement today and it's the first one since overpayments. Feels good to see the number coming down in black and white.

brizzlegirl

Sounding good PF. Kids in school today? When they are small I can well remember juggling to get cover to look after them.

Keep up the exercise, am hoping that despite a shorter month I fit in 16 runs again.

Xx

PurpleFairy26

brizzlegirl wrote: »

Sounding good PF. Kids in school today? When they are small I can well remember juggling to get cover to look after them.

Keep up the exercise, am hoping that despite a shorter month I fit in 16 runs again.

Xx

No snow here thankfully although our school prides itself on always staying open, even in the worst snow and (touch wood, so far so good) I think you have some down your way, so stay safe. Bet you're glad of no commute on days like this. 16 runs would be amazing. I'm aiming for same mileage. Hoping I might get a trundle in later to start me off.

PurpleFairy26

So 2 runs a,ready this month. Including a 5km PB :j I'll take that. Will go again onTuesday.

Managed another visit to the cinema free on our rewards points today. Happy days, was able to park for free too

Took the carpet up in our landing which I've hated since we moved in (frankly calling it carpet is rather overstating it :rotfl: it was once carpet but had been flat and lifeless for a very long time) as man coming to put skirting up tomorrow :T. We can then use an off cut for one of the bedrooms to have it carpeted. Am so tempted to take the 'carpet' off the stairs although it's likely to be several months before we can get this recarpeted for various reasons so it might be a bit cold and noisy.

Small shop at L1dl for a week and a bit hopefully. Ys chicken for tea and carcass in sclowcooker overnight for stock. Leftover chicken for another meal in fridge

Payday on Friday and pots all topped up and various things paid for. EF now at 96% of target :T sold another thing on the bay which has gone off in the post today. Funds to savings, along with monthly interest amounts. Hoping for another tight month with spends so I can stash some more to savings

We now have a date for the build so need to be extra focussed with every penny. So thrilled (and a little bit nervous) it's finally happening

PurpleFairy26

Managed another sale on the bay. 4056th time it was listed but shows it's worth it. That and some c/b in the pennies fund. £50 c/b claimed from another site that was paid earlier than I expected. I was carrying that on a 0% cc so will pay off as soon as it comes in and update my tracker

Man came and cleaned oven yesterday. Looks good as new and replaced bulb too. Well worth the money to prolong the life. Must look for cheap liner to go at the bottom. DH sorted 2 cupboards in the kitchen so that's good news too.

This weekend will be about sorting the last of the few items in the out building, will need a tip run too, well then be good to go likely another trip to the charity shop too but that's all positive news.

Still managing to run, 3 this week and have increased my distance. Planning on increasing again at the weekend. Long may this continue now my mojo has reappeared.

Food spends remain low and in control. Hoping no need for a shop this weekend with veg box coming today. Will finalise meal plan post arrival

House is reasonably up to date and have researched a sim only deal for when my contract ends in a few weeks. Think will overpay the diff to the BTL mortgage :T

PurpleFairy26

Morning diaryland

Quick update, another 50p cashback available so have withdrawn that. Also won £30, so have earmarked that to go to some carpet that's sat on our 0% card, so I'll make a little overpayment to it.

Have managed not to shop but did manage to get to zero waste shop that I wasn't expecting so bought one item as I didn't have any pots with me. But I'll know for next time.

Gave blood yesterday so I'm not going to run today which a shame as I love a good run in the rain. Oh well.

Planning on a roast using some left over Christmas ham. Project freezer use up continues. Need to put 4 bags in car to go to charity shop. Tip run probably a no no in this weather, unless it brightens up as well just get soaked the stuff is all in one place though so easily enough if we change our minds.

House is tidy, so just bathroom to clean and a small amount of washing to put away. Not much happening on the money front unless I can find some more stuff to list as we're in the mid month lull. Will have a look.

brizzlegirl

All sounding super productive. Well done. Very exciting about the build too :T

I have crashed a bit with diet - too much travel for work really- and not as much exercise, but will go out this afternoon for a short run. Have also listed some stuff and put some items in the CS. Will update my sig soon xx

PurpleFairy26

Managed another run today, was tough but me and my head definitely needed it and felt so much better for it.

Another £2.82 cleared from cash back. Have requested it. Will look through fleabay bag and see if I can list anything else or move to charity or gifting bag.

Going to move my loan to a cc through money transfer. Will save us £400 I think, just need to double check calcs.

Alarmed that someone we know has moved to a rented house (whose rent is over twice our mortgage :eek:) and decided to replace all the carpets as they don't like them. Some people definitely seem to have more money than sense. I guess it's their money and they can do what they want with it, but I just don't see the point.

PurpleFairy26

Happy weekend frugal ones. Another small item sold on the bay, will be posted today so out of the house. Have found a few more to list, will try and do between activity runs for small people today.

Bank looking tight but we need nothing other than food between now and payday in 2 weeks, so should be doeable.

Am also planning a run too, looking forward to the fresh air, not managed it since Tuesday but have more time (famous last words) today

Some more stuff to put up in the loft today, hoping it'll give us a small corner of a room back.

We're due a refund for an insurance policy we cancelled, so I need to make a note to call them next week as they're not open on a Saturday.

We've finally had a bill from our old energy supplier (left in October, no bill since last June :eek:) need to check the numbers before I begrudgingly pay it. Cowboys. Current supplier much better.

House fairly clean and tidy for the start of a weekend and one small already done her homework for the holidays. Will encourage the other to do theirs today so we can forget about it for a week

Mr Purps did small shop last night, so hoping not to go until later next week now for the other bits. Must also investigate cost comparisons of non bulk bought stuff. We bulk buy lots of things but won't have space to store them whilst we don't have an outbuilding, so need to look at alternatives. Washing powder is first on the list.

Have a great weekend. Purps.