And so it begins: The Pig Vs The Mortgage

pinkypig

Karmacat wrote: »

Another great post are you working on getting the train fares down as much as possible? In SE England, for instance, there's a NetWork card giving reductions to everyone, even adults of working age (as opposed to students and over 60s, I mean). Advance fares can help, but they're so rigid, not always useful.


I'm okay, thanks! Stitches out yesterday, and the healing is itchy, but I'll take healing over the alternative

Really glad to hear that Karma - wishing you a speedy recovery xx

pinkypig

Evening:wave:

What a day - it’s been endless, torrential rain here . Apart from going to a spin class this morning I’ve just hunkered down and had a cosy day at home and it’s been lovely
It was so dark and cold and miserable it felt appropriate to go into autumn mode.
I think I’ve confessed before that I rather like autumn, particularly getting the fire on, making our favourite comfort foods and getting out my chunky knits
In money news it’s pay day ! My new part time salary is a bit higher than I thought but my additional pension hasn’t been deducted this month so I’m still not sure exactly what it will be. I’ve decided to buy some additional pension through the Teacher’s Pension Scheme (it’s guaranteed and index linked unlike the Teacher’s AVC ) which will make up the shortfall from going down to four days plus a bit more so I can retire early if I want.

Today’s small steps to freedom and happiness included;

A good sleep

Coffee in bed whilst reading my new book

Drank enough water

Did a spin class and had a free shower at the leisure centre

Finally got around to putting the laundry away

Changed my bed and put my goose down winter duvet on

Made spicy bean soup in the sc

Made a cake for a friend whose had some sad news and another for DS’s lunch box next week

Did a pile of filing so all invoices and receipts are up to date

Booked my free front line worker flu jab

Ordered my free replacement tumble dry as my own is on the fire hazard recall list. I use it once in a blue moon but if they’re offering a free one I’ll have it! I only use it to fluff up the feathers on my down jacket when it’s been washed:rotfl:

Prepped some healthy foods - salads, grated carrot, homous and red berry overnight oats

Sprayed my new to me kitchen sign chrome

Sorted out presents and cards for all my October birthdays

Had a lovely chat on the phone with a friend

Made DD her favourite dinner - chicken fajitas and Mexican rice

Hoovered, mopped the floors and dusted and decobwebbed the lounge

A NSD :j

Less successful things included;
Not getting into town to do some errands that really need doing and eating the last of the birthday chocolates whilst lying on the sofa - nice at the time but now I feel quite sick:eek::rotfl:

Happy Friday to you - have a lovely weekend

PP xx

rtandon27

pinkypig wrote: »

...I’ve done another meal plan based on using up the freezer contents and so all I need was fruit, veg and salad...

Just love a good freezer challenge PP!

We are much the same - tend to fill up the freezer with bargains & 'forget' to use it up until it's too full to get anything into!

Every few weeks we now do a self-imposed freezer challenge to use up as much as we can!:D Amazing how good homemade ready meals are!

wishingthemortgaheaway

Homemade ready meals make up 50% of my meal plans, if it's just Pickle and I, I just nuke one of those rather than cook properly.

pinkypig

rtandon27 wrote: »

Just love a good freezer challenge PP!

We are much the same - tend to fill up the freezer with bargains & 'forget' to use it up until it's too full to get anything into!

Every few weeks we now do a self-imposed freezer challenge to use up as much as we can!:D Amazing how good homemade ready meals are!

wishingthemortgaheaway wrote: »

Homemade ready meals make up 50% of my meal plans, if it's just Pickle and I, I just nuke one of those rather than cook properly.

It’s the best isn’t it? Saves a fortune, not to mention time. I haven’t cooked anything since I went back to work - just defrosted and boiled or baked a carb!

pinkypig

Evening:wave:

Better weather today - eventually! It was actually quite warm this afternoon:)
I’ve had a really productive day that’s felt fairly relaxed - win/win!
DS is our for the day (and night) with his friends and DD is having a weekend away with hers so once I’d dropped her at the station at 1 pm I was home alone ( apart from the dog )
I’ve generally just pottered about and done things when I’ve felt like it and stopped when I’d had enough.
I also did a CS run with some surplus packed lunch kit that we don’t use now the kids have left school and have access to a microwave at lunchtime and some paperbacks that we’ve read over the holidays. While I was there I had a look around (rude not to right?:rotfl:) for treasure.
I was glad a did as there was some great stuff. I got a storage unit with baskets for DD’s room (think it’s meant for a bathroom but it’ll be ideal for her make up, toiletries etc), two cookery books (Nigella and Mary Berry) £1 each, a glass pot for cotton buds ( fed up of them scattered everywhere), a lovely pewter vase, a rectangular plate (to put Christmas cake given as a gift on) 50p each, a local print and a hessian bottle bag with cane handles (Christmas is coming !!! Will need to stock up:rotfl:)£1 each . The best however was boxes of what looked like surplus shop stock at 50p each or three for a £1. You needed to rummage but amongst the tut was some gorgeous expensive looking note books (for my gift stash) shabby chic wooden letters to personalise gifts etc and three packs of 10 candle bags ( will be lovely in the garden next summer). A total of £12 spent - very pleased

Other small steps to freedom and wellbeing included;

A good sleep

Drank enough water

Went for a run and went a bit further and had no pain or stiffness from my damaged muscle so I think it’s healed

Cut back a large overgrown shrub in the front garden and filled the green bin. I’ve also gained more parking space :rotfl:

Had my work boots heeled.£8.80 but the are a good pair of knee length leather ones that are a perfect fit and so comfy for work. I wear them every day in the winter so worth it.

Went to get a sympathy card and The Card Factory had their 29p occasion cards on offer at 4 for £1 so I got some retirement , new home and leaving ones for things that are coming up. 8 nice cards for £2

Iced the cakes I made yesterday

Cleaned and upcycled the unit for DD’s room using £land car paint - it looks so nice

Hung my upcyled kitchen sign and a picture in the living room.

Did two loads of laundry

Did a to do list for DS’s birthday party - he wants extended family round for a curry . I need to get organised as I’m away a few weekends this month and then I’m on holiday leading up to it so I’m going to do as much in advance as I can. Tikka masala sauce is in the sc ready to be frozen tomorrow

Paid my £500 cash back check from my SIPP into the bank

Cheap, healthy eats ( overnight oats for breakfast, hm chilli bean soup for lunch and lo chickpea and peach curry and lo Mexican rice for dinner)

I’m currently on the sofa, the fire is on (keeping the house cosy and drying the laundry ), I’ve got a cup of lemon and ginger tea and I’m settling down to binge watch some TV - a real rock and roll Saturday night :rotfl:Is it sad to admit that for me it’s bliss?

Happy Saturday to you, I hope it’s been a good one

PP xx

CathT

You're so productive and organised. Sounds like you're striking the balance with that 4 day week too. Glad it's not affected your pay as much as you thought. I'd love to drop a day but the thought of losing 1/5 of my salary is a bit scary!

pinkypig

CathT wrote: »

You're so productive and organised. Sounds like you're striking the balance with that 4 day week too. Glad it's not affected your pay as much as you thought. I'd love to drop a day but the thought of losing 1/5 of my salary is a bit scary!

Hi Cath - it does sound scary when you put it like that but it actually feels ok . The time is also proving priceless - a feel like a different person
Hope you and yours are all well xx

pinkypig

Evening :wave:

I seemed to have missed Sunday- no excuses - just forgot!
It was a fairly busy day in the end. The weather was just awful and I had an outdoor work event. Wasn’t the most uplifting weather but it was so bad it was actually good if you see what I mean. It did take a big chunk out of the day though.
As it was in the big city I made the most of it and went to the huge £land, B&M and Home Bargains while I was there (it’s quite a drive so I rarely get there).
It was a bit spends but good value. I got a load of stuff for school which I can claim back plus a few bits for us in £land. I hate to mention the C word but some of there decorations were amazing for £1. I got some tealight holders, some present decorations that I’ll use on wreaths and Christmas cakes, some ceramic reindeer (really simple and stylish) and some lavender pillow spray to try and encourage good sleep . I also got the kids some bath bombs as stocking fillers. A box of three ducks or three unicorns for a £1 ( they are usually a £1 for one and I dread to think what they’d cost in lush :eek:). Total spend was £10
In B&M they had coconut milk for 50p so I got four for DS’s birthday curries and the splurged £3 of my personal spends on Jo Malone dupe wax melts. I used this one last night and it was gorgeous. 9 in a pack - such a bargain and a real indulgent treat £7 spent
Home Bargains was a large dupe candle for a friend’s birthday, two packs of fire lighters, 2 bags of kindling, an extension lead for my bedroom so both the lamps can be used , 10 light bulbs and some farm animals for a birthday gift £21.95 spent Glad not every Sunday is spent shopping :eek:
Mum then came for dinner and the rest of the evening was getting sorted out ready for work and watching a bit of TV.

Today has been a good day . Work was without incident which is always nice and my potentially troublesome treasures were great . They’ve been real monkeys in the past but they’ve settled in really well and far quicker than I could have hoped . Let’s hope it lasts!
Mortgage updates tomorrow - really excited (sad I know!!).

Today’s small steps to freedom and wellbeing included;

Slept well ( but went to bed an hour later then I would have liked)

Drank enough water (trying really hard with this at the moment)

Did a spin class

A nsd

Cheap, healthy (ish) eats (porridge for breakfast, baked sweet potato and salad for lunch and sausage, mash and veggies with onion gravy for dinner

Took coffee and snacks to work

Marking up to date and classroom tidy

Laundry folded and put away

Tomorrow’s lunches and breakfasts ready and roasted red pepper quiche defrosting for tomorrow’s dinner ( baked potatoes were done when the oven was on for cakes so dinner will be a quick heat up as we are all busy tomorrow night).

In bed nice and early with a hot chocolate- hoping this and my lavender spray will work their magic:)

Happy Monday to you, I hope it’s been a good one:)

PP xx

Cheery_Daff

Excellent work there, I'm very impressed! :applause:

I remember when I dropped to four days a few years ago, it wasn't as scary as I thought either in terms of salary - you end up paying less tax, national insurance, pension etc too so it's not quite a fifth of salary that you lose. And goodness me was it worth it! :j :j HOWEVER I didn't have a mortgage back then :rotfl: Changed jobs a few years ago and worked full time since, and won't be dropping a day any time soon because of our new ginormous mortgage, but as soon as things are more reasonable I'll be right back down there in the Fridays Off Gang :j :j