From debt to freedom...

Drawingaline

The only branded medicine I buy is night nurse. But I worked in a pharmacy for years so know all about different brands of medication. Just check the age rating in them, but all supermarkets and pharmacies will have an own brand equivalent for most otc medications. I find places like wilk0 and home barg@in are handy for things like generic zovirax, allergy tablets and indigestion remedies.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge and Drawing a line...I hadn't really looked too much at medicines except to buy own brand paracetamol, but the price difference between own brand and well known brand did surprise me.

Today has been a lovely day. A family member who lives abroad is in the country for a week so I was able to catch up today . We ( the adults and 4 of the children and 2 elderly dogs ) went for a walk in the woods which did us all a world of good. It seems to have been constantly raining for the last 2 or 3 days so really good to snatch the opportunity to get outside while there was a gap in the showers! The elderly dogs were clearly trying to relive their bouncy youth by jumping off a footbridge into the stream and dashing around. Unfortunately one of them found getting back out a little harder and had to be persuaded to try an alternative route. He was fine but a reminder that he is not a spring chicken .

Back at home we had a simple lunch and I finished off a birthday cake for my mum. It worked out ok, looked homemade and definitely not a pristine bake off creation but still a passable cake with icing and, candles and sparklers. My mum was pleased with it and that was the main thing!

The Christmas cake has finally been mixed today, not quite stir up Sunday, more Stir up Saturday! I've had the fruit soaking in brandy for a week which smelt amazing as I tipped it out of the bowl and into the cake mixture.

Work tasks were sorted out last night so it's been really nice to feel able to completely relax today .

Honeysucklelou2

I ended up having a sort out last night. I found 2 magazines that were still in their plastic wrappers, unread :eek:. It's a good job I don't pay for them- they come free every month as a bank account reward . The editions I found were Dec 2018 and Jan 2019, so I can look forward to reading and relaxing by the fire this evening. I found 5 or 6 magazines that can be recycled and a missing drink platypus, used for D of E treks.

Lemon drizzle cake made this morning and a batch of muffins that DS3 was desperate to make...it's an eclectic mix of flavours , but no doubt the teenage boys will polish them off.

enthusiasticsaver

Sounds like a nice weekend. I am fed up with the rain and have not managed to get up on to the coast path for weeks as it is either raining or after a few days of prolonged rain so will be very slippy up there. I did do a 10 mile hike with my walking group on Dartmoor this week though and thankfully it stayed dry.

Lemon drizzle cake sounds lovely.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you ES. I must confess I haven't made it to the coast path recently as the path can be very slippery. I tend to head inland during winter. Dartmoor must be beautiful in any season .

savingholmes

Glad you got your DS to help and contribute. Good too that you managed to make some time to relax. Have fun.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Saving Holmes.

I feel thoroughly rested this weekend. It has really helped getting all work tasks out of the way by Friday night. I know it's not possible every week but if I can regularly get into that time organisation, the benefits are a relaxed weekend where I can totally focus on the children. The ex hasn't been round or in contact with the children for the last 3 weekends, so I've had no tense feelings to deal with either .

Today I've been out this morning, back home, made lunch and then got out for a walk with DD2 and our respective dogs. We did a 2 mile circular walk across the fields and looping around some lanes. I just love getting outside whenever possible :j. DD's dog was able to bounce around to her heart's content while mine plodded happily beside me . The moss really stood out today, the rich greens clinging to the stones in the hedgerow. The bracken is a spectacular colour now, rusty reds and vibrant oranges line the edges of the fields and the hedgerows.

Cooked toad in the hole for tea and all children liked it :T. DD3 let me know she was cooking tomorrow at school so we've had to scrabble around for ingredients. Fortunately she has an open choice so has chosen to do cupcakes based on the available ingredients .

I've been thinking a little about the year ahead...one 18th birthday (DS), then 6 weeks later DD1 turns 21:eek:. There will hopefully be a graduation to attend and the inevitable round of school trips. All in all a few expenses to really start to consider planning. One school trip requires the deposit by the end of this week so some rejigging is going to be in order.

Cherryfudge

How lovely that you had such a relaxing weekend. I think you've more than earned it!

magicgirl

sounds like a busy year ahead for you! mine will be same in 2021 (including the 21st, 18th and graduation!) which is why I am so desperate to get myself organised before then but you are doing an amazing job and the effects of the changes you've implemented since starting this diary is pretty incredible - and motivating to ppl like me. I hate the timing of deposits and they always seem to tell us at the last minute so its hard budgeting but hopefully you will be able to sort it without too many difficulties. (I hope so!) xx

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge and Magicgirl for your kind words.

Today has been spendy without even hitting the shops! The CB came into my account on Tuesday so have used it to pay the deposit for DD's camp today and paid an extra £100 off the nursery fees. DD2 reminded me that it was late night shopping in the nearest city tonight and would I like her to pick anything up. A sweet offer but I need to clear the last of the bills before I get too deeply into thinking about Christmas.

That said, I did have to nip to Mr T's to do an emergency last minute ingredients drop at school today for DS2 and spotted that a particular toy that DS3 has seen before was reduced by 50% to a much more manageable £7.50, so I confess I did take advantage of being there today without DS3 in tow and bought it. We're at the end of November and 1 present is bought :rotfl:.

My days are all muddled this week as to which I'm working and which I'm off so I have actually been on my own for most of today. It is very strange and extremely quiet. I wish I could say I'd been brilliantly productive but only seem to have got a load of laundry sorted, put the dishwasher going, washed up pots and pans that can't go in the dishwasher and hoovered the kitchen and some of the living room, though to be fair I was doing work tasks at work until 11. I feel like curling up by the fire with a book but must head out and collect children from school:).