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Pink_Butterfly

Happy new year to you my lovely 💜 xxx

Mrs_Money_Penny

Happy New Year to you.Here’s hoping for a better year for us all xx

Chrystal

Wishing the Very Best for you, and yours, in 2021.  (((hugs))) XX

crazy_cat_lady

Happy New Year - I really hope that 2021 is your year. You deserve it.

MeandO

Thanks for the new year wishes everyone, it’s so lovely of you all. Xx
Only a quick update to report a small overpayment of £25.20 to the mortgage to round it down to exactly £96,200. I’d like to get rid of that £200 ideally, but will carry on boosting the savings instead for now. It’s frustrating though. 

MeandO

It's been a while since I updated as there really hasn't been much to report, other than the spending of money like water.  DS's and OH's birthdays are coming up soon and I really had no idea what to buy either of them this year so I seem to have been buying bits and pieces constantly this past month as I have seen them - all online of course which usually requires spending over X amount to avoid paying delivery charges. 

I'm also trying to generally eat better and lose some weight, no crazy diet plans, just keeping a track of calories via a little app I have used in the past. I'm finding that making sure I have healthy food in is expensive and I seem to be shopping more often, whereas before I used to be able to stick to once every 10 days or so. I've lost just over 4lbs so far this month, I could have lost more as I haven't been good all the time, but I want it to be sustainable and manageable - a change in habits as they say, rather than a diet. Hopefully by this time next year I will be happier with myself and notice the health benefits too.

Whilst popping out to pick up some household & pharmacy things in wilko the other day (much cheaper than Tesco and I know that store will be quiet, unlike home bargains or B&M!), I noticed they were selling off a lot of stock, probably from Christmas. I picked up 4 big gift boxes of really nice chocolates which are usually around the £12 mark, reduced to £3 each, to save for birthday gifts this year as the dates were fine until late 2021. That's my neighbour's and two of OH's relatives birthdays sorted and one box spare for a thank you gift or present for my friend. I WILL NOT EAT THE SPARE BOX!!!    They also had 'smellies' gift boxes reduced to £1.75 from £5 so I bought 4 to put away for birthday/christmas gifts for 4 family members this year.

I painted the utility room last week with paint I already had in the garage and was planning on tackling the bathrooms next as I have plenty of paint. For some reason, the utility room looks exactly the same as before it was painted though... the paint was a blue/grey/white colour, but just looks white!  At least its freshened up a bit I suppose, but felt like a waste of an evening and a lot of effort for not much result! I'll be painting the bathrooms a more noticeable colour...

I was hoping to save another extra £400 when I get paid this month, but the credit card bill will be around that amount, so I will pay that off first. If I use it, I always make sure I pay it off when I get paid now, I hate being in debt now, although the mortgage is unavoidable. I have to double check, but I think that this next month may be the month I get two tax credit/child benefit payments as it's paid every 4 weeks, if so, then I will be able to boost my savings with that after all.  The council tax free months coming up soon will help too as well. I really want to get to the £10K before staring to overpay the mortgage again. I also would like to save for a new sofa. Ours isn't that old - just over 4 years now - but it was a bad buy as is so uncomfortable that anyone sits on it ends up with backache after a while. Even DS can never get comfy on it and it's killing my back. It will have to wait for a while longer though, and I want to wait and see what I decide to do about moving too as there's no point buying one if we end up moving this year after all, best to wait and see what space we may have first.

MeandO

I sold some items for £25 on ebay this week - a bundle of brand new clothes that DS was kindly gifted at Christmas but unfortunately didn't fit him and no receipts. I used the money made to make a payment off the credit card. DS seems to have had a growth spurt and grown out of A LOT of his clothes almost overnight, so I have lots more to put on ebay as well as saving some for a family member and some for charity.
I have spent £78 on new clothes for him this morning from mandm,   hopefully with some cashback if it tracks. My parents have asked what they can buy him for his birthday, so I will suggest paying for a couple of the hoodies and I will wrap them up from them. 

MeandO

I must have had 2 hours sleep at the most last night thanks to the raging storm battering the house and my brain not switching off, so today feels a bit like swimming through treacle. I only had about 4 hours the night before too and haven't slept well all month tbh so am feeling less than fresh at the moment.

DS is (reluctantly ) doing some of his school work online whilst I'm downing my third coffee and trying to do some work. I really can't wait for bedtime, it will be an early one with my book tonight.
It's a week until payday and I'm willing it to go quickly. Although I have money in the savings, my day to day bill account is the skintest it's been for a long time and I hate living like that. I also hate using the credit card as I have been this month, even though I know it will get paid off soon enough.
The healthy eating has gone out of the window the past few days too, mostly due to tiredness and exhaustion I think, but I will get back on track in a day or two hopefully.
Urgh, home schooling has just gone pear shaped with an argument and tears from DS. I've just about had enough of today!

Four_Seasons

Things will get better, you have been so strong dealing with everything, if you can get a good nights sleep tonight hopefully things will look different tomorrow.  sending you hugs xx

MeandO

Thank you Four_Seasons. Life is always much easier to cope with with a good night's sleep under your belt isn't it. Unfortunately, I didn't fare much better last night either.  We live high up and this house is very exposed, so whenever the weather is bad the windows of three of the four bedrooms take an absolute battering and the house feels like it is shaking in the wind. My room is at the rear of the house so I don't get it quite so bad, but DS's room has two windows on adjacent walls so his room gets it from both angles. I often lie in bed at night worrying the roof won't last the night or the windows will get blown in as they are banging and creaking so hard (remember, this house has been poorly constructed  ), but last night was something else. DS eventually came into my room at 4am as the noise was terrifying him and neither of us got much sleep after that. The wind is still howling through the (closed) windows and the blinds inside are moving! Top quality build this...

I have quite a few bits of clothing to list on ebay this weekend before the £1 final listing fees offer ends so I may start that later when DS has gone to his Dad's for a few days. I also want to tidy the smallest spare room as it has been used as a bit of a dumping ground since I switched the desk and computer from there into the larger room for DS and I to work in. I was hoping to paint the bathrooms, but OH still has one of my roller handles and I'm too tired to start the work tbh.