Put away your purse & become debt-averse
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Oh, I have been laughing at these comments - yes, I think we've attended a fair few jargon-laden training courses, between us, haven't we? I sometimes used to play 'Bullsh*t Bingo' with a colleague in senior staff meetings, but we didn't write anything down as that could have been incriminating. Instead, we used to agree on the phrases which were bound to occur & we'd look across at each other & wink when we heard them. The trouble was, it was often very difficult to do so without smirking as I'd be trying so hard not to laugh.
F"For each of our actions there are only consequences" (James Lovelock)"For in the true nature of things......every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold & silver" (Martin Luther King Jnr)7 -
Greetings Icicles,
Well, the weather forecast - kind of vague-ish last night, covering all bases from rain through a bit of sleet to possible snow didn't really prepare me for the amount is it actually snowing here today. What began as rain turned to snow fairly swiftly & there is no sign of it stopping just yet, looking at the heavily laden-quality of the sky. It's settling & I've just flagged this up with Mr F, as he works a good bit further north of the county & is likely to see all the snow there, but assume that it will be better down towards us.....well it isn't, so I thought it'd be worth him knowing that things could get a bit tricky for driving later unless it turns to rain. I have already done today's main task, which was my mid-month budget check-in. No nasty surprises, paid something off my 'just for points' credit card & have got my cheque book & building society pass book ready for tomorrow when I am intending to go in & pay the first of our monthly 'account sweeps' into my ISA.
I've had a nice long chat with my sis on Skype & said hello to my nephews, chatted with my S-i-L on WhatsApp & done my daily mouse checks. No sign of any further activity up on the work surfaces, which is good, but lots of bait still disappearing from the bait box at the back of the pantry. This is not being chewed in situe, but is clearly being taken back to the nest, which kind of feels horrible to do, but needs to happen, as I think they are in a space which we are unable to access. I have sufficient bait for one more re-fill, so will put it on our list of essential shopping tomorrow morning. Not much effort required for tonight's dinner, as am trying a new recipe from my new healthy slow cooker book, which only has a very few ingredients & requires less than 4 hours to cook. Gardening jobs impossible as garden is white & still snowing. I don't mind walking in snow, but have no functional umbrellas, so I am going to tuck up on the sofa with a hot water bottle & read my book. Mr F has taken the shopping list & is intending to get our groceries on his way home - he has got into the habit of doing this since Covid struck, as he says the supermarket is far less busy on Thursday nights than on Fridays & weekends, so it feels like it is hopefully a bit of a safer option.
And that is my day - sorry I haven't anything exciting to tell you. It is just about keeping going at the moment, isn't it, & staying motivated.
So I shall say 'bye' & go & motivate myself with some lunch.
Keep cosy, stay safe,
From a snowy F xx
"For each of our actions there are only consequences" (James Lovelock)"For in the true nature of things......every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold & silver" (Martin Luther King Jnr)11 -
Hello Diary readers,
I don't know if anyone remembers that 'Father Ted' episode in which he is having a fabulous dream, then suddenly wakes up to reality & shouts 'I'm still on that fe*king island!!!' Mr F thinks this is an apt analogy for the Covid situation. We wake up, we start to come round.......then we remember it's another day of Lockdown, Covid is still out of control, the most exciting thing that will happen is if the boiler needs re-setting or one of us happens to find a particularly enormous potato in the sack in the pantry. Ah well, we have stayed well so far, we have maintained an income & we have a warm home. I am determined not to get into a downward spiral of moaning. 'Control the controllable'.......must keep telling myself this. OK, so onto brighter things......BARGAINS!
Town first thing with a list of only essential stuff. Still a fair bit of snow around this morning, so wore my walking boots - suddenly finding yourself on your bum in the slush isn't a good look - so even staying on my feet felt a little bit positive. Got all our fresh fruit & veg for the week on the local market & the stallholder gave me some flower sprouts (kale) to try for free, as I was wondering what they were like. Only a very short queue at the building society so I got my (newly agreed) monthly account 'sweep' paid into my ISA. The assistant updated both our savings account passbooks too, which I think is motivating because it makes it so easy to see the amount growing. I was so surprised when we opened those accounts just over a year ago that they included pass books, as everything else is so internet-based, but the advisor we saw said that customers actually ask for them because of that motivation factor. So that was good (I'm getting to the bargains......)
Then finally to Wilk*'s to purchase more mouse bait, where we discovered some amazing reductions on their Christmas stuff. I bought two packs of festive paper napkins for 10p each, two lots of wrapping paper (one of the designs is also suitable for birthdays) also for 10p each and two strings of white fairy lights - good long strings which plug in, not those little battery sets with about 10 bulbs on. We have fairy lights up all year round. Anyway, they were selling off these lights (boxed) at just 50p. I've popped them away in the settle for now, but I know they will be useful, either as a replacement when needed for our Christmas tree or when I fancy a bit of a new look somewhere. There were several other lines all at very low prices too, but nothing else I needed.
Mr F's day off today, so we've cleaned the house between us & it's his cooking night, so I am going to curl up with my book.
Take good care all of you,
F x"For each of our actions there are only consequences" (James Lovelock)"For in the true nature of things......every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold & silver" (Martin Luther King Jnr)12 -
W*****s nearly always have some amzing bargains about this time. I usually take full advantage of them but I am avoiding the local town like the plague at the moment. Covid is getting too close as my next door neighbour is ill and has tested positive. I did go to get her some food for her rabbits and bread and milk today. I think she may be a little better as her downstairs light was on tonight for the first time. I'm not spying on her but can see her window when I go down my garden to the recycling bin.Hope everyone is well and staying safe. Have a good weekend.11
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You're not spying you are keeping a close eye on a poorly neighbour. I am sure she is pleased you care and she is able to ask you to get her the basics.Fashion on a ration 2024 66/66 coupons remaining
80 coupons rolled over 0/80 coupons spent - using for secondhand purchases
One income, home educating family10 -
Yes I know I am not spying but it does sometimes feel like it. My dh never notices such things and always gives me funny looks and tells me I am nosey when I mention things. I only found out she is ill when I noticed her bedroom curtains were closed and there were no lights on at about 6pm when her car was outside. I dropped a note through her letter box as I didnt want to disturb her if she was asleep and she rang me almost straight away. So glad I did check up on her and nuts to dh.
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Ladyholly - I agree that checking on your neighbour was the right thing to do. That wasn't being nosy, it was being a good neighbour.
F x"For each of our actions there are only consequences" (James Lovelock)"For in the true nature of things......every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold & silver" (Martin Luther King Jnr)9 -
Thank you. DH climbed on the wall today to see if the bunnies were out as i haven't heard her and the bedroom curtains are closed. She puts them in their hutch at night. I offered to do it but she is a very independent lady. I can't do much more without being intrusive.9
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Hello diary readers,
Well, it's been a bit of a mundane old day...very relaxing this morning reading one of the books I received for Christmas. This afternoon lobbed a bit of a spanner into the works when I discovered one of our new radiators was leaking. By lucky hap, our builder who installed the system was woeking on a house on the next street! He came round & made it safe & took the faulty radiator away for replacement. Mr F busy roasting a big pork joint - it's not even out of the oven yet & I'm already eyeing it for several more meals.
Have today frozen 1kg of yellow stickered cranberries. When they appear in the shops in December, they are usually around £3.99 for a pretty small punnet, so it works out quite expensive to make cranberry & apple jelly or cranberry chutney for gifting as you need such a lot. So as berries freeze perfectly well for a year, I thought I'd just stick a kg in the back of the freezer to turn into nice festive scarlet jars in the autumn.
The last of our Thursday snow had melted by lunchtime today, but I have still welcomed a hot water bottle tucked up behind my back while sirting reading. Watching some more of the final series of 'Vikings' tonight - I'm sure all that long hair & leather will warm me up!
Stay cosy, m'dears,
F x"For each of our actions there are only consequences" (James Lovelock)"For in the true nature of things......every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold & silver" (Martin Luther King Jnr)8 -
I'm glad you were able to get your radiator replaced so quickly. There's nothing much worse than water leaks!
It sounds like you had a relaxing day. Sometimes you can't beat a day of reading on the sofa .Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally
Debt in July 2017 = £58,766 😱 DEBT FREE 31 OCTOBER 2017 :T 🎉
EMERGENCY FUND 1 = £50/£5,000. EMERGENCY FUND 2 = £10/£5,000.
CHRISTMAS SAVINGS = £0/£500. SEF = £1,400/£12,000 PREMIUM BONDS ME = £350. PREMIUM BONDS DH = £300.
HOLIDAY MONEY = £0 TIME LEFT TO PAY OFF MORTGAGE = 5 YEARS 1 MONTHS7
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