The mindful MFW: A healthy, happy journey to a mortgage free life!

museumworker

Hi CathT, good to see you here. Yes, it's five bedrooms, two flights of stairs and a landing (so basically the top two floors of the house). Includes underlay and all fitting costs but not disposal of old carpet.

Feel much better thanks, I have a few niggling health issues which I'm slowly starting to understand a little better.

A lovely weekend, trip to local farm and playground with DD2 (£1.50 ice cream) whilst DS at party, evening out with friend with dinner and drinks (£30 pocket money), and an afternoon at a steam fair (£20 of days out budget). I think we may have spent all our days out money now!

Dinner from freezer and more defrosting for tomorrow. We have overnight guests Weds then Fri-Mon so probably need to get things in for them but will have a proper dig round tomorrow to see what we can use up. I've cleaned three rooms so will need to finish up the rest tomorrow, which might be a bad idea as I am working late. Ho hum!

museumworker

Quick update before I completely get out of the habit!
* DS party went really well last weekend. Over budget on food unfortunately by about £10, but it was a brilliant day and everyone really enjoyed it, and I thought it was the easiest one we've done yet.
* over budget on groceries *sigh*. I think running down supplies last month has caught up with us
* YNAB up to date
* £86 work expenses refund
* Reading The Urban Monk (for free), and really recommend it. Am already starting to make some small changes
* DS summer scheme booked and deposit paid
* two school trips arisen hadn't budgeted for (£30)
* realise that I haven't budgeted for supplements, almost all of which have run out. £100 spent *eek*
* DD1 hated the course we booked and refuses to go, however DS getting a lot out of it and helping him understand himself, so we are continuing with it
* off camping this weekend, cheap getaway and planning a digital detox

themadvix

Hope you had (assuming digital detox happened!) a lovely weekend - and the weather was as good as it is here.

Will check out that book!

I know what you mean about running stores down - while I'm sure it helps in some ways, stocking back up is painful!

museumworker

themadvix wrote: »

Hope you had (assuming digital detox happened!) a lovely weekend - and the weather was as good as it is here.

Will check out that book!

I know what you mean about running stores down - while I'm sure it helps in some ways, stocking back up is painful!

Had a proper digital detox, and it was great! Weather was amazing, great chat and company. Being outdoors so much was really relaxing, had beautiful walk through Ashdown Forest too. Took some advice from the urban monk and made sure I had some barefoot on the grass time too. Only downside was that the site was on a slight slope so slept badly due to finding myself curled up at the bottom of the tent all night!

Been an extremely busy work week, lots of unanticipated media work and a two day full on work trip. It was amazing, learnt a lot from places visited and got to know work colleagues better too. I am now completely shattered though and DD2 under the weather so it's a sit in front of the telly kinda day. Need to pick up a prescription for her later and collect DS but doubt will manage much more.

The house is in chaos after trips, but that will have to wait til I've recovered :rotfl:.

themadvix

Glad you had a proper break, but you have my sympathy re the tent slope!

Hope you've managed a rest over the weekend.

museumworker

Finally catching up a bit Vix, I was floored for days!

I'm working on a Dla application for DS which is time consuming and emotionally difficult.

Next weekend we have DD2's birthday party, bouncy castle booked and Mr T grocery shop with party food booked for Fri. I've managed to step away from some nice but unnecessary purchases, like themed paper plates and cups (we have plenty of plastic ones), and themed banners (I have one I can reuse). However I've decided making our own cake is non-negotiable, and we will splash out on some fizz for the grown ups. Looks like total cost will be around £170 including bouncy castle hire, we have put aside £150. £10 is for the toy as a cake topper though so I might take it out of her present budget.

Worked yesterday so have an extra day off this week, which will give me time to clean and tidy house.

We have now built DS bargain bed up which he loves and DD2 has his old bed. We now have her old bed to sell, and a chair from her room to go too.

Just getting ready for a family day out, £10 from budget.

themadvix

Proper cake and fizz are definitely necessary!

museumworker

I completely concur! Got some fizz for just over £5 a bottle, full price £11.99 :eek:!

Mr T shop came missing some vital baking ingredients and more annoyingly delivery man dropped whole pot of yoghurt over the rug in the hallway. One phone call later and have the cost of the rug on its way to our account. We'll be popping into the Swedish store tonight so that'll go on the shopping list. Counted our plastic plates and we need another £1.25 set of plates and bowls, OK for cups.

£1.20 per child spent on party favours, a paw patrol themed lenticular notebook and pp choc bar each.

Have nearly 4 year old to entertain, back later

museumworker

Party all done and dusted, overcatered and no time for pass the parcel but bouncy castle a massive hit and kids all very happy so let's call it a win! DD2 quite subdued, think she is bit under the weather, but she definitely enjoyed it and looked gorgeous in a rainbow dress, £2.25 from CS. After party just quick clear up then hung out finishing the fizz and listening to music, lovely chilled afternoon.

museumworker

Arrgh, think DD2 left new toy bought her on the bouncy castle - which has been collected! Sent an email and am hoping it is found.

Just tried to update YNAB but our current account website down. Grrr. Mainly I have overspent on clothing due to doing the uniform shop earlier than planned and finding amazing clothes for kids super cheap eg a load of Boden tops in immaculate condition for DS for £2 each! They are a size or two up so will be stashed away. I have just been offered some uniform for DD2 though so might be able to get some refunded, if same size, or if smaller will put this lot away until she grows into them.

Notice given at nursery will have 3 weeks before starts school so a few hundred pounds saved there.

To do this coming week:
* free festival tomorrow
* thank you card and gift school
* thank you card and gift nursery
* thank yous for DD2 presents
* list DD2 bed on fleabay
* list chair on fleabay
* nursery outing with DD2
* DD1 repeat prescription
* DS DLA claim - complete
* DD1 passport application
* day out and long walk with friend
* send 3x bday cards
* DD2 birthday (must order gift!)
* DS friends party (order gift!)
* finish blog post
* promote a blog post