Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Smoothie duly consumed. Work is very full-on, plus I'm now doing another sleep-in tonight... ah well. I slept very well last night!

Yesterday's spending:
Housekeeping £5.90
And today's:
Anti-virus protection (electronics) £64.99
MS:
3 three sleep-ins in a row! Tops up the income nicely.

No decluttering.

I'm thankful for the extra income, church this morning and time spent with DH .

Cherryfudge

Slight change of plans: down to two sleep-ins but I'm shift lead before tonight's, which isn't fun. I have three days off coming up, though, which I'm looking forward to. I'm quite tempted to go in and do some garden jobs at work as I enjoy it so much, but another part of me says stick to my guns and insist it's paid.

In better news, the mortgage payment went through on 3rd (I hope they haven't charged me for the two days of the weekend when they hadn't transferred it: doubtless it will be in the small print). If I save up another £76 this month will bring the mortgage under £5,500! It's exciting.

I suppose I ought to log in to my CC and make a few payments... all fun stuff round here. Also I have a huge pile of ironing and need something to wear before I go to work. Shift lead in pyjamas would be novel (like one of those lovely nursing homes where the staff wear pyjamas at night to show the residents it's bed time) - but I doubt it would go down well as day wear.

HairyHandofDartmoor

That's great news on the mortgage being so low Cherry . I hope your shift goes well tonight.

Cherryfudge

A strange thing is happening - I believe it's called a day off. However it's grey and windy so I'm not going to be gardening. I might try to get a load of laundry done before the weather changes for the worst as the forecast is wet, wet, wet.

A change of plans re DH's auntie visiting: she was going to stay elsewhere but someone there is poorly so she's coming to us and J and L have kindly agreed to stay with A and H so auntie can use their room. For me this means thinking of something for dinner... no inspiration yet but I'll get there. DH has suggested we eat out tomorrow but I have the day off again so it would be no trouble for me to cook (and is cheaper).

The other things to do today are tidy (!) and find a DVD I was going to watch with my friends tonight. Time I got moving then!

Cherryfudge

Rather a spendy day as I bought 'proper' dinner for five of us, including auntie. I think they all enjoyed it and DD helped me by making the Eton Mess.

I'm fairly shattered but managed to meet up with my friends (lots of apologising to our guest but I'd already cancelled on them last week). L helped me rent a copy of the film we wanted to see, which was very good though none of us had ever heard of it before.

Not so good is tension among the younger generation. DS2 is struggling with not having his own space. I do feel for him but I know the others are trying hard to get to the point where they can afford their own place.

Spending:
Film (I might stick that under the 'books' budget as I don't have a film category) £1.99
Housekeeping /entertaining £21.24. (paid on CC - mustn't lose track of that).
MS:
Found three gift tokens while looking for something else - all mine, too. Not sure one is still valid but the others seem to be.
Decluttering:
Again, while looking for other things I managed to get rid of some papers (50 pieces - I counted ), four catalogues/leaflets and a damaged whiteboard.

My thankfulness today: dinner worked out okay, I have the place to myself at least part of tomorrow and it can't rain forever.

Cherryfudge

Another rainy day... if it stops I might try to do a little bit of gardening. Other than that I have a parcel to post, a whole house to declutter and some sewing that I've neglected recently. We are going out tonight but I'll plan a dinner tomorrow so as to save a bit of cash.

Money-wise, I need to sort the credit card.

I would like to browse diaries but I'll save that for later.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I hope it stops raining soon, the weather seems bad everywhere at the moment, and cold for June!

Cherryfudge

I was sure it was going to rain this afternoon but it dried up! We had a really nice meal and I was good and had coffee instead of pudding. Telling myself I can have pudding another day, I really don't need one on top of a parmo (a regional speciality that I highly recommend).

I got to the shops this afternoon but despite doing very little today I am all in. I even went for a lie-down after shopping but I'm still yawning. At least I've posted the baby blanket to my great-nephew. Our Post Office is about to relocate and when I said I'd miss it and asked after their jobs, the member of staff looked really sad and said they aren't all being kept on. This despite the town growing. Of course I said I was really sorry to hear that and I will spare you all my rant on short-sighted planning but spare a thought tonight for those who had a job today but won't have one tomorrow.

Spending:
Postage £3.00
Housekeeping £21.99
Confession time:
I'm already stretching the budget for this week. I haven't worked out how much is entertaining but I doubt it will look healthy even when that's taken into consideration. I did spend massively on coffee today, and the big meal yesterday took half the budget. I really shouldn't be allowed out sometimes: I walked across town to another supermarket as I was getting low on coffee and they often have offers on that have finished at the nearest one - but all the best ones were on offer so didn't I just go and buy some of each? I remember paying for it and being slightly surprised at myself, but it will certainly get used and I was feeling rather under the weather - that's my excuse anyway.
I've also paid part of the CC bill but yesterday's spends weren't through yet so I'll need to go back to it later.
MS:
10th coin = 5p
Decluttering:
Took a bag to the charity shop - mostly clothes that don't fit any more - and posted the parcel that's been hanging round for a week.

Tonight I'm thankful for a nice meal with the family

Cherryfudge

Not a huge amount to report today apart from a good night's sleep after which I feel more healthy. It continues to rain... I guessed there was an inch of water accumulated in a container in the garden and out of interest I measured it: 4.4cm. I think I cleaned that container out about three days ago.

Having slept in till ten, I thought I was too late to follow auntie to visit DFiL but she borrowed his mobile to ask if I could bring her phone so off I went. Nice to see DFiL again after a few weeks: he is looking well and his mobility has significantly improved. I've definitely put in the steps today: I walked back to town with auntie who then went off to meet friends while I did a bit more shopping, though I forgot a couple of items. I did succumb to two tiny tomato plants reduced to 10p each, garden wire to mend a bird feeder that the pigeons were too heavey for and some hormone rooting powder for my rose cuttings. I think the tomatoes will have to go in the open ground as I've not organised any pots - come to think of it, I haven't organised any open ground, either.

Nothing achieved on the decluttering front (I don't think I can count vacuuming).

I'll be back to work tomorrow, possibly for a rest, and auntie is going home. How can someone a generation older than me tire me out so much?! She is a nice person but she must live on adrenaline... It will never catch up with her as she doesn't stop still long enough.

Spending:
Electronics (USB charger cable) £1.99
Garden £3.94
Toiletries £3.50
Medical £2.80
Housekeeping £ about 4.20? Can't find the receipt.

Nothing to report on the money-saving front apart from making soup and crumble for dinner (saving a fortune ) and arriving too late at DFiL's to get a coffee. No decluttering today.

I'm grateful for a little hint of sunshine this afternoon, and being able to put the heating on, on a gloomy day.

Cherryfudge

By way of a PS... I DID declutter something. 7 fridge items that were sadly past it and are now compost. I feel a bit guilty for wasting them but I don't think they were going to get any more edible by being kept.