Dreaming of financial freedom!

themadvix

What Jimmy said!

I didn't win on the PBs either, and haven't for some time either. Never mind, there's always next month...

ch4rly2002

I agree, little wins make me smile. Funnily enough I've just started a small change jar - I put it on the hallway table so we can all put little bits in it and then we'll use the money at Christmas to buy a treat for us all

I agree Mad Vix, there's always next month. I like how the premium bonds are like a lottery ticket where you don't lose the money but have the chance to win big. any little wins on the bonds are always a bonus.

I'm doing well with the surveys, Prolific is almost ready for a payout, I requested a payout from Pinecone surveys yesterday and my OnePoll account is adding up nicely as well.

DH and I are going round to a friend's house tonight, she wants to introduce us to someone that's come into her life so we're looking forward to meeting them. We also have our work friend coming tomorrow after work, and also BIL will be down tomorrow so we can all have a nice meal together and then on Friday we're going to the job fair. Then BIL is staying for the weekend too so we will have lots of time to relax and watch some films or TV and go for walks. We're having some other friends round on Saturday night to watch Future Man with us all. It's a pretty busy week this week but it should all be good

themadvix

I feel exactly the same about the premium bonds - gambling without actually having to risk anything, what's not to love?!

Sounds like a very busy/exhausting week ahead! Hope your visit to the job fair goes well.

ch4rly2002

We had a lovely evening last night. my last meeting finished early so I made fajitas for DH, mum and I. It's a meal we all love and one of the (now) rare meals that we eat together. Mum has started eating her meals in her room now as she felt she was around us a bit too much and wanted to get back to something of a bit more normal routine for her. It was nice having a communal meal together but we got talking about Dad and she got teary and said she's lonely. she knows she has us to talk to, but she says it's not quite the same, which I understand. Some days she says she feels really happy and others she gets teary, she's a bit up and down at the moment, which I guess is to be expected. I'm so glad she's not living on her own right now.

After we ate, DH and I went to our friend's house and she introduced us to her new partner. She's known him a few years but they've only recently become an item. We haven't known her long (only a year since we moved in here) so it was lovely that she wanted to introduce us and feels comfortable talking so freely to us about all aspects of her life. We've both said it feels like we've known each other a lifetime. We took some wine up for her, which she opened while we were there, and opened a bottle of whiskey for everyone to try as she is a big fan of whiskey. It's her son's birthday today so we got him a birthday card and some large bottles of Belgian beer. he wants to go to Belgium with his girlfriend and we were talking about the breweries there, so we thought it might be nice to introduce him to some of our favourites before he goes.

Work is slightly better. I had my year-end review last week and my manager told me I am under my pay band, by nearly £1k, so he's going to try and get me a pay rise. There's no guarantee as the company isn't performing very well at the moment so they may stop pay rises again, but at least I am 'on his RADAR' and he is going to try and do something about it. He also said he wants to get me a promotion within the next year, so it'll be interesting to see if that happens. I've been promised the promotion for a few years now by previous manager, but I seem to have had to prove myself all over again with this guy. to be fair, there hasn't been many opportunities as I have to wait until there is a new deal sold or an existing account needs a new Business Manager, so it is also an issue of right place, right time. I'm feeling more hopeful - but I'm still going to go to the jobs fair and look at jobs online!

I've had an update from the letting agent - no news on the deposit. It is still showing as 'awaiting adjudication decision. It's a blooming good job we're not reliant on it. I am really surprised at how long it's taking in what seems, to us, to be an open and shut case,. Oh well, I'll just have to try to be patient!

My Prolific has shot up in the week or so since I started up again. I'm at nearly £10 already. I'm looking forward to moving that into the savings as only survey money and fleabay sales money is allowed in there until we sell the house, so it will be a nice little bonus. I'm now just pondering whether to move it across as soon as my last survey is approved, which will tip it over the £10 mark, or wait a week and see if the surveys dry up again as you can't withdraw unless you have £5 so I don't want to move it prematurely and end up with money sitting there. I'll see how I go. As you know, I'm not the most patient person

themadvix

It sounds like a lovely dinner Charly. Sorry to hear your mum is still struggling, but it would be odd if she wasn't, if you see what I mean. I've heard that grieving for a partner can last as long as two years, and I know a friend's mum, who lost her husband after a very long battle with cancer, is still struggling 18 months on. It must be so difficult for her.

The friend sounds lovely - how nice of her to have you round. And that's good news about work, but definitely go to the job fair still.

ch4rly2002

I've had a lovely weekend. On Thursday evening the B-I-L and a couple of friends came. We had takeaway pizzas from a different takeaway to our usual and it was really tasty. We over ordered though as they send free cheesy garlic bread with orders over a certain amount, which we weren't aware of so we'd already ordered one, and the pizzas were larger than expected (one was square so it was much larger than expected!). It came to £10 per person, which we didn't think was too bad, however we could easily order half as much next time and still be full, so next time it will only be £5 per person We played some board games and had a good catch up, it was really relaxing and fun.

B-I-L, Mum, and I went to the jobs fair on Friday. We weren't sure what to expect but it seemed to be aimed at reducing unemployment so there was a big focus on getting people back into work and apprenticeships, not really too much for B-I-L and me. Mum found it great. There were multiple organisations offering to create a CV for her and go through interview techniques and she got advice on how to get the kind of job she is interested in (she would like a few hours a week in a call centre,that way she can meet new people and earn a bit of money). They recommended contacting an agency that recruits call centre staff for a local, but very large company, as they said with her experience of taking calls for the police they would snap her up. There were a couple of employers of interest to B-I-L and me. There was a large I.T. company there, which is actually one of my company's largest competitors, so it was good to hear that they have an office fairly nearby. That would also be of use to B-I-L as he works in I.T. There was also DWP/MOJ that had a stall with some more experienced jobs advertised and a link to their website so I will be taking a look this week. it feels good to be doing something pro-active, and Mum walked out feeling rejuvinated and more positive. When we got back home we had leftover pizza for lunch

On Saturday we had a lie in and then we went out for a walk and played some Pokemon Go. We then had friends round in the evening to watch Future Man and discuss our joint holiday. We've been talking about going on holiday for a few years now so we've decided this year we're going to make it happen. DH's cousin has a house in Spain, which she has just put on the market and expects to sell in June, so we're going over in May to make the most of it before it goes. For the dates we were looking at, the flights are cheap, we only have to pay for a night in a local hotel on the first night (£30 per person) as we can only collect the keys from the property manager during office hours, £100ish between us all to cover the cleaner and a hire car. For a 10 day holiday, it will be very reasonable. When we get there we will cook some meals in the house, mainly because our friend has some food allergies so it can be difficult for her eating out abroad but also because we wanted something cheap and cheerful. We will eat out a bit and spend some money on activities, such as getting the train into Barcelona etc. It was fun planning that as DH and I are in desperate need of a break and it's always nice to have something to look forward to.

On Sunday, we had the in-laws down. We haven't seen them since they went to America so it was great to catch up and hear about their trip. Mum cooked a roast meal for lunch and we all had a good natter. They brought DH back a bottle of pumpkin spice alcohol (I can't remember which now, maybe Jack Daniels) that he has tried before but can't get over here, and they bought me some 'itty bitty' toys from the Walking Dead, which I love.

We got our council tax bills for our house and the old house over the weekend too and they've gone up again, as expected. It's 9.5% in the last 2 years. It's a lot, and possibly more than needed, but I can't complain too much - the services round here really are good. We can get appointments to see the doctor very quickly and when the neighbour's ex was kicking her door down 3 police cars turned up very quickly (I'm guessing that's because 3 of the neighbours called the police - I know at least one other did).

I'm also going to contact the solicitor today and ask if they can agree a completion date in March, is possible, so we can hopefully start making plans and getting some much needed jobs done in this house.

Survey sites are progressing well, so hopefully a payout is imminent. I am also applying for another 0% credit card as my current one finishes soon.

themadvix

Sounds like a lovely weekend Charly and interesting about the jobs fair.

ch4rly2002

We received the final contract for the house sale yesterday, along with 3 queries from the buyer's solicitor. We went round to our friends' house last night and they witnessed us signing the documents so I can send the signed documents and answers today. Fingers crossed things move quickly now. We also had a coffee and chat with our friends while we were there. We were talking about the holiday again and one of our friends is nervous about going away together for 10 days as she had a bad experience when she was younger and went on holiday with her friend to Thailand and they never spoke after the holiday. It sounds like that was a particularly intense situation and there will be a lot more of us to dilute any tensions etc. so I don't really think she has anything to worry about, but I understand why she's nervous. She's going to have a think and let us know what she wants to do. We also talked about all the places you can go there and some of the things you can do. It'll be good for her to have a look and get an idea of what things she'd like to get done while she's there so that might help make up her mind too. I got my holiday approved by the two people I work for on my accounts, now I just need to submit the request to my HR manager. I can't see him having an issue with it.

Prolific is currently at £12.96 with £4.87 awaiting review and OnePoll is at £21.60, so they're coming along nicely. I haven't had a Pinecone survey in a while though so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I get some more through soon.

Still no news on the deposit

themadvix

Hooray to the contract signing! Here's hoping it goes smoothly and fast from now

I can understand your friend's concerns. Is it worth setting some ground rules - e.g. 'we'll eat together every night, but if we want to go and do different things during the day there's no pressure'/'if we want some time to ourselves it's not going to cause upset if we say so' type things? I know if I was going away with another couple at this point that I'd want expectations about time together etc. to be set beforehand so that we didn't wind each other up while away (I'm not saying this is you *at all* and obviously I don't know what your relationship is like, but it might help?)

the_cross_rabbit

When we go away with other families the general rule do what you want and don't feel pressured into doing something and cook for your only family. Worked so far.
CRX