Busy Mee's Last Leg

enthusiasticsaver

On the subject of Christmas presents it is such a relief to cull the present list.  We stopped buying for friends a few years back and this year even my mum suggested no presents so we have agreed no presents at all for extended family either so just each other, our DDs, SIL and grandchildren.  As SC says it is difficult to know what to get people especially if you don't see them that often.  

themadvix

I'm normally a big fan of experience-based gifts as I think it's far better to do something than get something. But this year it's trickier. We've got my mum a cherry tree (rented, you get to go and pick the fruit in Kent!) and have got a night away from Buyagift for my Dad and GF - it has a two year expiry on it, so fingers crossed it'll be OK! Not sure about others though - although I have an actual list of things I'd like (virtually unheard of!), so maybe it's the same for others?

Suffolk_lass

Last year I bought a short flower delivery subscription for my DM so she had them every month during the dark months of winter. As she is miles away and we see her only on Zoom (this year), I sent her homemade jellies (as in jam) from fruits she had stopped eating because of the pips (which got under her denture plate or something) for her birthday - I also got my Sis to get her some fresh flowers and truffle chocolates. She does not need possessions and I was particularly pleased with the flower subscription (I used Bunches) and intend repeating that. My local rellies get a pot of jam or pickles and have had fresh garden produce sent over the months, via my cousin who I regularly see.

QueenJess

Ooh - I love the flower subscription idea! What a lovely thing to receive... I might steal that!

South_coast

Me too 😀  

Busy_Mee

Me too, I would love a flower subscription and I think my Step Mum would too

Mr Mee also got a subscription to a Travel magazine for his birthday, which we both loved. Even in Covid times we have loved reading the articles of far flung places and adding to our list of places to visit. I am thinking of getting FIL a subscription to a gardening magazine for Christmas.

Busy_Mee

Good Morning. This is day two of my long weekend. I had the day off yesterday as part of my new nine day fortnight and I am already feeling the benefit. I have decided that we need to make plans for my day off to make it count and also ensure that I don't log on or offer to join work meetings. 

Yesterday we went to the coast, to a place we haven't visited before and had a very enjoyable day. The pup loved a run on the beach and a swim in the sea. It was a bit rainy, so rather than fish and chips out of the paper I found a pub that was dog friendly and we had a very nice lunch there. 

We are making a list of places we want to visit for my future Fridays. I actually think this will be as good for Mr Mee as it is for me, as his retirement hasn't quite turned out as planned and he has ended up working on the house and garden a lot. 

The extra day has made a difference. I was very stressed on Thursday, but doing something different and being out in the fresh air blowing the cobwebs away has taken all of that stress away.

DD returned from holiday on Tuesday and is now in quarantine. I am so glad we did the bedroom makeover. I have never seen her so delighted with something and I think it has helped with the post holiday blues. 

Nothing much to report financially. I did a bit of a bank account patrol yesterday to scrape up enough into the odds and sods account to reach the extra £500 to chip off the mortgage. That has been harder than it should have been, given that we had an extra £200 from the Lloyd's bank switch. I am going to have to really focus over the next two months to get the next £500 together.

I will be honest I am a bit bored with the finances. I am forecasting too well and meeting all the targets, so there are no exciting nice surprises or nothing more to dig out anywhere. The O&S account is the thing that is keeping me interested.

Not too much planned this weekend. It is a bit grey and blustery today. I am off to Sainsbreeze in a while to pick up my nectar deals ( thanks South Coast). I am up to £37 worth of nectar points now. I have promised DD a Mexican night tonight, so need a few bits for that.

Have a great weekend.

beanielou

Enjoy your weekend. 

savingholmes

Glad the makeover was well received. You seem incredibly disciplined with money. Glad you got time out at the beach too.

Suffolk_lass

Don't be bored with your finances. I know what you mean but while the debt sits there you could continue to challenge yourself. Maybe set yourself a really stretching thing to achieve before you stop work, so that you feel more under pressure with the money for the next few months.

I'm not sure what we are going to do now ours has gone. I need something or I will be bored.