I am being upgraded from Mum to Nan - I need a plan!

Mum2Nan

still_hopeful said:

I'm afraid this isn't actually allowed - you can only choose one other household to mix with, so either your daughter or friend but not both.
Even one is still an improvement for you though, so hope you have a good weekend.

@still_hoping - Thanks for putting me straight.  I clearly misunderstood the new relaxation rules and have been following all the Government advice to date so I would have hated to break the rules at this stage of lockdown, however it's all academic now as I woke up this morning feeling very nauseous and with a dreadful headache and it's lingering so I am cuddled up on the sofa feeling a bit sorry for myself today.  What rotten timing as I had planned to see DD and DGS and went to bed feeling very happy.  I am hoping it's just a 24 hour bug but not sure where I could have caught it from as I haven't been out anywhere, not even for my daily walk Thursday and Friday as I was busy again workwise.

@greenbee - that's is a long round trip for one day.  Hopefully we can look forward to further easing of restrictions in the coming weeks.

I only managed 3 NSDs this week making my total for June so far 7.  I will try and do better this coming week.  I might go to the farm shop tomorrow as not all my veggies turned up in my food delivery today but I will definitely have to wait and see how I feel. I am not quite sure if I now feel nauseous because of the bug or am feeling hungry but I can't face eating anything right now.  Hopefully after a good night's sleep (what's that these days lol) I will feel much better in the morning.  Fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow.

Mum2Nan

We had a totally expected thunderstorm yesterday around 6pm with hailstones and heavy rain which has wreaked havoc with my geraniums so one or two of them will need deadheading.  About half hour later the sky was blue again and the sun returned as though nothing had happened.

It’s been a beautiful day here again today.

I am declaring today NSD1 as I didn’t end up at the farm shop as I just didn’t feel up to it.  Had a night of broken sleep and still feel a bit nauseous although my headache has finally lifted.  I dragged myself off the sofa to do a bit of light housework this afternoon and to test the repair kit which arrived in the post on Friday and I have to say I’m very impressed.  It’s touched the board up beautifully and of course I now won't have the hassle of trying to replace it.  Definitely worth the money.

I didn’t get to Aldi on Friday hence my usual Sainsbury’s delivery yesterday.  I am going to try and make do without the veggies that weren’t delivered.  This is probably doable since I haven’t had a proper meal this weekend.

I have decided to start prepping for decorating Friday week.  Will need to move anything that can be moved out and then put the furniture in the middle of the room and cover with dust sheets.  I will need to disconnect the radiators and I didn’t realise just how many sockets and switches I have so all will need to be loosened along with the light fittings and door handles.  I need to fill in and rub down some of the woodwork, then wash it all down and then I will be good to go for painting.   I will book a couple of afternoons off so I can get it done before I run out of enthusiasm.  I would like to get the windows and sink resealed so I may ask my BIL to come and do this.  It will give him a bit of work, my sister a bit of money and he’s very good at his job when he does it.

Mum2Nan

I had a good work day today and managed to clear quite a lot of queries sitting in my inbox. 

My claim for cashback via the AA has been declined.  I feel very cheated as it was £47.  The excuse given was that I didn’t go through Quidco but I did and received an e-mail confirmation.  This was not Quidco’s decision but the AA.   I won’t be renewing with them in December.

The good news is I am on NSD2.  I am going to try and aim for 5 again even though I failed last week.

Mum2Nan

Yesterday was NSD3 and today makes 4 in a row.  I am not sure I will have one tomorrow as I am running very low on milk but still have the potential to hit my target of 5 on Friday.  We shall see.

I have been looking at a possible debt free date which I have not actually done since I started on the road of debt busting and rather depressingly it’s coming in at December 2022, so still nearly 2 and a half years away.  Of course, other factors may reduce this such as reinstatement of pre-lockdown pay sooner rather than later, a pay rise between now and then and possible savings on commuter costs when our office finally reopens.  This means I will have been in debt for over 7 years by the time it’s paid off.  Over 5 from when I realised it had peaked in December 2017 and knew I had to do something about it.  I am going to have to put more effort into bringing this date forward.

Mum2Nan

I reached my target of 5 NSDs this week but ‘only’ 4 in a row as I needed milk and bread.  This brings my total NSDs for June to 12 so far so not too bad for me.  Target will be 5 again for next week.

Today is shopping delivery day and I have already received an e-mail to say some items I ordered will not be delivered so will need to pop out tomorrow to get those as at least 3 of the items are needed for my meal plan.

Up until last week I was buying 3 bottles of wine a week for virtual drinks with my BF and friends but felt this was far too much not only financially but healthwise so last week dropped down to 2 and made it last as I was determined I didn’t want to pop over the shop and buy their more expensive wine (compared to Aldi or Sainsbury’s) and yesterday went another step further and dropped it down to one.   This feels like a healthy compromise.  I have been temporarily merging my monthly entertainment and clothing budget to my grocery budget which allows me £300 to spend each month and I have spent £172.19 thus far.  I will probably need to spend another £15 tomorrow and then one more delivery next week so am hoping to come in under that this month.  Any money saved will be thrown to the Halifax MC.

I cannot wait until 1 July when I will see my debts under £15K, this will be a big boost for me psychologically because after payments made for July, debt reduction will be reducing at a slower pace.

Off to make a brew, feed the cats, do some housework before having a relaxing afternoon and tonight having a zoom catch-up with my BF.  Tomorrow will be seeing my parents as it’s Father’s Day.  Hopefully we will start seeing a further easing of lockdown soon so I can see my DD & DGS.

Mum2Nan

Beautiful weather here today.  Went for a nice long walk in my lunch break.  All my plants have bloomed and look quite lovely even though there are not as many varieties this year.  Some of the lobelia has come through and it must be from last year as I didn’t plant them in the tubs that they’ve grown in.

Had virtual drinks and catch-up with my BF on Saturday.  We have agreed we are going to see each other in the next week or two.  It feels like an age since we’ve seen one another, and that’s because it has been.

On Sunday I popped to see my parents as it was Father’s Day and what a lovely afternoon it was.  We stayed for a late lunch and although I am not really a fan of eating in the garden (due to flies and wasps) it was a case of needs must.  As I was eating and we were laughing, I was reminded of just how much I had missed seeing my parents regularly, having what could be considered a ‘normal’ afternoon with them under the current circumstances.  We have all agreed to meet there Sunday week.  I can’t wait to give them a big hug and a kiss.

It was also a bit of a spendy day as I finally made it to Aldi 😊 and picked up shopping that’s cheaper than Sainsbury’s such as washing-up liquid, cat biscuits, sugar etc.  I will not need to buy these items for a while so should have a much cheaper shop this weekend.  I must confess I treated myself to a bottle of prosecco which is still sitting in the fridge. 

The strap on my Fitbit broke so I ordered a replacement but not from Fitbit!  I bought a much cheaper version on eBay.  This came out of my grocery budget.  I also had to buy some glue remover which has come out of my £100 decorating budget.  Talking of decorating, if the weather continues like this, I may have to delay the start as I don’t want to be stuck in doors in this heat painting and with paint fumes. 

Yesterday was NSD1 and today makes 2.

Mum2Nan

It's been another glorious day here at Costa del Nan's flat and long may it continue despite WfH.  I do so love this weather but appreciate some don't.  Yesterday was NSD3 and today could and should have been 4 but I have had some work expenses.  I am not including those but I spent money on two ice lollies and an icecream for me.  I've not long been back from cuddles and kisses with my DD and DGS.  It makes me mad that I've been deprived of seeing them for so long.  Apparently the rules only apply to some of us.  I am definitely seeing my BF this weekend but that's because I know I'm not seeing my parents.

Mum2Nan

I finished off with 4 NSDs for last week and 3 for this week (so far) taking my June total to 19 for the month.  I have really noticed the difference.  My grocery budget came in at under £300 brought about by reducing alcohol, sticking to my meal plan and more careful spending so am very happy with this. I am aiming for 22 NSDs for July.  Perfectly achieveable if I keep focussed.  The definition of a NSD for me is no discretionary spending including food.  Work expenses are also not included as they are reimbursed.  I've been so much better at submitting these on time lately.  I have already completed my next one but am not putting it through early as I have been caught out before and think I will accrue another £50 before the deadline so am waiting.

I was up early to check my bank accounts this morning and all bills and debts have been paid for this month including overpayments so have moved into the £14K, ok only just but I've paid more back in 7 months this year than I did for the whole of last year so definitely feel progress is being made.  I slightly overpaid B/C to see it drop under £4K.  I need the small wins to help me keep on track.  I have amended B/C D/D to just over the minimum so I can target H1 for the next few months.  I know it won't be paid off by the time the 0% deal is up but I want to get it down to as low as possible so I can do one last balance transfer and it really will be the last.  I am determined it will be.

My BIL has done a fantastic job of resealing 5 of my windows.  What with my floor repair kit I bought and actually worked, it's tided my flat up but I still haven't got to grips with starting the painting. BIL only wanted paying for petrol and the materials but I wanted to pay him for his time as well, so we agreed a flat fee.  BIL has other work for the next few weeks so didn't want him to proritise me over fully paid work.

Today could get off to a great start with NSD1 but am very, very low on milk.  I might have to increase this in my weekly shop to prevent top-ups.

I may hear some news on the pay cut front later this week so should have a better idea of how my finances will be looking for the remainder of this year.

Off to make a brew and feed the cats.  Need to log onto work shortly as have a lot to get through.

beanielou

Your debts are fairly coming down. 😀

Mum2Nan

Thanks @beanielou they are slowly and surely heading in the right direction.

I am stuck at NSD1.  I bought milk as I couldn't bear the thought of waking up in the morning and not being able to have a brew and yesterday needed vegetable oil.   This proves I still need to plan better but they were very LSDs.  I have upped my milk on the food delivery.

I have now found out that pre-lockdown pay will be reinstated on 1 October, so this is very good news as I had adjusted my budget for the remainder of the year on a worst case scenario.  As I will only be returning to the office a couple of days a week in the future, I should save some money on train fares too.  However, the dreaded word redundancies was brought up and it looks like we are going to lose around 10% of the workforce.  This is clearly very bad news.  We shall find out more about this next week.

I am starting to look into re-mortgaging deals as my current one expires at the end of this year.  I am going to stick with the same provider so I hopefully won’t have to worry about affordability checks.  The interest rate on my mortgage at the moment is 3.19% and the deal on offer is 1.38% fixed for 5 years so should see a drop of around £75 per month from January depending on how much mortgage remains outstanding.

So, shopping delivery arrives today and I have bought the absolute bare minimum for this week’s meal plan.  I have included only one bottle of wine again.  Tomorrow morning, I shall get the slow cooker going although I am going to visit my parents tomorrow so shall have dinner there.