And so it begins: The Pig Vs The Mortgage

Cheery_Daff

Excellent work PP! And I will join you in advocating for Fridays off! 😃😃😃 I did it for a few years in old job and was most vexed at having to go full time - took me almost 6 years to get back down to 4 days and I am thrilled 😃😃😃 Yes I miss the money... but it's only been 5 months for me so still adjusting (and they've been an expensive 5 months!) But gosh I love Fridays 😃😃

pinkypig

Hello 😀

Fridays off are the best Cheery, I hope you’ve had a lovely one 😀.  I’ve had a really nice day, I seem to have got a lot done but I’ve also managed a day bath and have watched a film!  I’ve also had a batch cooking day which I’ve really enjoyed,

I haven’t managed a nsd as the car needed a bit of maintenance work done . I’ve paid the bill (that wasn’t awful) but I was thinking to myself that now I’ve restarted my annual costs pot, I’ll not have to do that for much longer as the money will be there!  I’ve got two council tax free months (we make ten payments a year here) so this month’s will pay for the car repair.

I’ve no other money news apart from its pay day 🥳🥳.  I’ve set up my new spread sheets and I will do me savings totals on the 1st which is OS mortgage shuffle day.

Today’s small steps to happiness and freedom were; 

Coffee in bed 

Went for a run and a dog walk

Took some things from the attic to the CS and never went in 😇😇!!

Made veggie bolognaise and dhansak to use up some of my lentil mountain.  That’s four easy dinners in the freezer 😀

Made naan bread and flat bread for the freezer

Listened to a free audio book whilst I was pottering

Changed the bed

Did two loads of laundry 

Filled up the log basket and kindling bucket

Had a chat with mum 

Had a day bath and watched a really good film with my tablet propped up on the laundry basket!  

Cheap, healthy eats (banana, yogurt and granola for breakfast, hm soup and sourdough for lunch and will have some of the dhansak for dinner)

The fire is on and I’m not planning on moving off the sofa until bedtime 😀

Happy Friday 😀

PP xx

pinkypig

Hello 😀
Goodness  me, it’s blowing a hooley out there and they’ve just issued another warning for Sunday night/Monday morning 😱.  Hope everyone is cosy and safe indoors.
My weekend of pottering and trying to get a few things sorted out so I can have a complete weekend off next weekend is going ok so far.  I had a really good sleep after a spell of not so good ones so I woke up feeling properly rested which was lovely.

I got up and sorted the dog out and then went back to bed with a coffee until about 8.30.  I got out for a run which was windy and muddy but I felt great for going (and doggo enjoyed it too).  I feel like I’ve got my exercise mojo back this week, I hope I can keep it up because I feel so much better when I exercise regularly.  

Other than that, I’ve given DS a lift into town for a birthday get together of the liquid variety, hoovered downstairs, did some laundry and a bit more batch cooking ( the freezer is now full again 😀).  

I was so cold after my run that I had a bath rather than a shower.  I love a day bath, they always feel so decadent!   I had the works today, scented candle, bath salts and a face mask 😀. After that I got straight into my comfy  but not terribly stylish clothes and had a nice, cosy day.  

In financial news I’ve had notification that my broadband contract is coming to an end and is going up in price.  I’ve done a bit of research and found a package cheaper than the renewal by £12 a month with £125 cashback 🥳🥳. The broadband speed is the same but there is no call package but I’ve got unlimited minutes on my mobile so I don’t need that anyway.  I tried to cancel my contract but need to speak to another department on Monday apparently 😡. I’ve got the number so I’ll call in my lunch break on Monday.  I also requested a £9.37 TCB payout.  Having waited months, everything has paid out in the same week!  Once I’ve got this I’ve only got 37p pending😀
 Today’s small steps to happiness included;
a good sleep 
a run 
lots of water drunk
LO for lunch
cooked a load of chickpeas and made two Thai green curries for the freezer with some of them
used up some of the LO Stilton in broccoli soup.  I used a bag of frozen broccoli and it was really nice.
made a batch of Katsu curry sauce using the Wagamama’s recipe 
washed the dog’s beds 
did a load of laundry and folded and put away dry laundry 
had a bubble bath and watched another good film.
had a chat with DD 
Unblocked the bathroom sink and put washing soda and vinegar down all the others ready for a flush out with boiling water later 🤢
Tonight is going to be making pasta bake, watching a bit of TV and then an early night and a bit of reading .

Happy Saturday 😀

PP xx


 

pinkypig

Hello 😀
Goodness, this weather 😱. It’s pouring with rain and so cold.  The wind is starting to pick up and I’m very glad that we’ve got nowhere we need to be.  The fire is on and doggo looks the picture of contentment lying in front of it .  She has certainly landed on all four paws 😂
The weather this morning was so different, frosty and sunny with blue sky.  I wasn’t going to run this today but it was so lovely it seemed a waste not to. It’s was bitterly cold but I really enjoyed it.  I wouldn’t fancy heading out now!
The rest of the day has been a combination of domestics and laziness 😂😂. 

I thawed out after my run with a nice hot bath and then coloured my roots with half a £land dye which saved a few bob.  It’s that long since I’ve had it coloured by a hairdresser that I’ve no idea what it costs but I’m presuming it’s more than 50p 😂. I’ve also managed to paint my toenails so I’m feeling very put together!
DS came for a visit which was nice and when he’d gone I really fancied baking so I made some scones.  I then got on a bit of a mission to use stuff up.  I used the dregs of some caramelised onion chutney and some odds and ends of Christmas cheese to make a quiche.  I haven’t tasted it yet but it smelled lovely.
LO baked beans, a bit of cheese and the scrapings out of a bottle of
BBQ sauce made four pasties for the freezer and the LO coconut milk from yesterday’s curry has gone into split pea and sweetcorn chowder. 

As the oven was on I baked some sweet potatoes for Deliciously Ella’s shepherdess’s pie for dinner on Tuesday ( I’ve got things on after school and need something to just heat up) and roasted some green beans with garlic.  My freezer is now officially rammed!
After that I watched a film on Netflix and had a little snooze .
I’ve no money news other than a NSD.
The rest of the evening is going to be get snuggly on the sofa, watching a film and enjoying a pre made dinner .
Happy Sunday 😀
PP xx

pinkypig

Hello 😀
I feel like I’m coming up for air!  We are still really short staffed due to covid but hopefully this will be the last week of extra duties.  I’ve managed to keep up my extra curricular clubs which I’m pleased about as the kids need it more than ever after the last few years but it’s been a flipping juggling act fitting every thing in !
The good news is, I’m now half way through my working week😀
I’ve also just heard that due to changing covid procedures that I can go and see my mum 🥳. I’ve not seen her since before Christmas.  So I’m going off budget tomorrow to go and get her lots of treats😀😀.  Mind you, like mother like daughter, she’s got very frugal tastes 😂
I’ve no money news other than 2 NSDs and I’ve had an email from the folks dealing with Arvo’s administration.  I switched a week before they went bust (phew) but my account was in credit and I didn’t get it back.  Anyhoo, it looks like I’ll get it within two weeks.

I’ve also done my offset shuffle so that the OS pot doesn’t exceed the mortgage as any other extra earns no interest.  I transfer some of it to the annual bills pot and the rest goes into savings.  My new spreadsheets are done and I’m ready for February 😀
Today’s small steps to freedom and happiness are;
OH is home 😀
A good sleep 
went for a run
cheap, healthy eats ( overnight oats for breakfast, hm soup and sourdough for lunch and batch cooked blackbean bake, sweet potato mash and roasted veg for dinner)
laundry done and will go in front of the wood burner tonight 
took coffee to work
downloaded enough podcasts to cover my journeys to and from work
had a chat with DD about her tax and savings - she’s amazing !

has had a bubble bath and watched a simple living vlog
I’m now off for a very late dinner, a bit of tv and an early night - life on the fast lane 😂

Happy Tuesday 
PP xx

rtandon27

Phew - finally all caught up on your posts PP!

Your frugal meal planning is so impressive - the OH and I have been mulling it over for inspiration - do you freeze your pasties cookes or uncooked?

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, lots of exciting things from your there PP! Most jolly. I'm half way through my working week too, and they are going just tto fast for me to fit everything in this week 😮 I too love a decadent daytime bath 😁

Karmacat

Mmmm ... pasties.  I was dreaming of Yorkshire puds today, but they never miraculously happened around me.  Might try dreaming of pasties  

Sleep well, PP.

pinkypig

rtandon27 said:

Phew - finally all caught up on your posts PP!

Your frugal meal planning is so impressive - the OH and I have been mulling it over for inspiration - do you freeze your pasties cookes or uncooked?

The are quite long and rambling RT - soz 😂
Meal planning and batch cooking were two the best things to come out of my MF journey.  It saves a fortune but it also takes all the stress out of midweek meals when you are so knackered you just can’t be bothered to think never mind cook!
I freeze my pasties cooked and they have always defrosted ok.  I also sometimes use them for picnics so you can just defrost them and go 😀
Hope you and OH are well x

pinkypig

Happy Friday Cheery 😀😀😀😀😀