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MeandO

Thanks Chrystal, I think you’re right about the saving, as frustrating as it can be not seeing the mortgage go down as quickly. 

I’ve struggled today. The boredom has kicked in, my mood is low and I am finding today really difficult. DS wanted to have a pj day so he hasn’t actually got dressed today and has just wanted to mooch in front of the tv and play games on his console and tablet and I’ve just let him do so. I feel incredibly guilty about the screen time but have not been the most enthusiastic parent about doing much else today as I am running out of ideas. I have also done very little today. I’m finding it difficult to know what to do - there is no point me doing any DIY or decorating as the house will be sold as soon as feasibly possible, so it is a waste of time and money. Same goes for the garden - I’m not buying plants and materials just to leave it all here. I’ve cleaned out every drawer and cupboard and cleaned and cut the grass this week. I really don’t know what to do with myself and I hate being bored. Both OH and I were a bit irritable with each other on the phone today’s too which hasn’t done much to make me feel any better. 

The thing that has really pee’d me off today and made me so angry is the discovery that my Dad is STILL going out and making trips for prescriptions and food when he doesn’t need to do it. My siblings have arranged for prescriptions to be done online now and they are picking them up and delivering the medication, but my dad is stubborn and has already gone over their heads and taken the prescription to the surgery. It turns out he has also being going to the supermarket, despite everyone else ready shopping for them. I am furious with him. He is putting my mum at such risk, but there is no reasoning with him, he will not listen to us and just gets angry. I don’t know how to make him listen and understand the risks. About to call them shortly, should be interesting... 

MeandO

Morning all,
Hope everyone is still managing ok.
DS and I are still fine, thankfully, we have plenty of food in our cupboards and a warm home to stay safe in during these times, so that I am very thankful for.
I am still feeling quite low, but it's to be expected. I seem tired constantly and have been a bit short tempered as the balance between working from home and looking after a child is quite tiresome day after day, so am making a real effort to be more tolerant and try to be as happy as we can. 

It is another sunny day but there is a cold wind outside so it's great for the washing which is hanging on the line, but not so good for spending time in the garden today. DS was kindly given a few kids growing kits by neighbours, so we will sow those seeds today - cress and chilli peppers.   

The milkman delivered milk this morning but unfortunately did not have any bread or apple juice available but they were wants rather than needs. There is bread on our list for a tesco click and collect order on thursday so hopefully they have some in stock. We do have slices frozen in the freezer too so it's not the end of the world if we can't get any this week.

The £200 refund from being overcharged has it the credit card account, I also tried to pay off some things I purchased with it this week, but the site seems to be down as it keeps throwing me out at the payment stage. I will try again later.

I have placed an order with a local butchers for delivery, including some bits for OH's parents and OH so that we met the free delivery threshold. It wasn't cheap, but has great reviews for quality and is all sourced locally, so that is a plus. I need to watch my money though as being unable to shop around really does cost more money and I am noticing the increase in money spent already. After this week, I shouldn't have to shop again for some time. I'm praying that Mr tesco comes up trumps with the shreddies though as DS has rediscovered his love for them and is having them daily at the moment!

Honeysucklelou2

I’ve noticed a rise in food costs too. It’s great that you have a butcher close by who can deliver.

MeandO

The butcher won't actually deliver to me HSL as I'm out of area, but I've arranged for it to be delivered to OH and he will drop it all up to my doorstep for me. As it is, we don't usually eat a lot of meat, other than mince and chicken, but DS seems to be willing to try a lot more new foods at the moment so I am getting some meat to slow cook and some to freeze. The more he tries, the better!

I'm so tired today, I didn't sleep well at all and have been awake since around 3am, so once work is done, am planning on an easy day and an early night. I cooked a sausage casserole in the slow cooker yesterday for today, so tea is sorted, I just need to peel and mash some potatoes. 

DS seems happy for now watching 'new' episodes of his favourite shows that have come out today. We will do some more schoolwork later - after I have finished work - and a bit of exercise thanks to Joe Wicks on youtube. I've ordered some craft supplies for us to make some easter cards and birthday cards for those coming up within the next few months, so am looking forward to those arriving so DS and I can get crafty. 

The mortgage payment has come out of the account today, so after interest is added it's down to £100,275.37. I know I said I would save the H2S money, but I will be paying off enough to get it down to under £100K. It will give me a psychological boost if nothing else.  The extra tax credits payment will help towards it, so should only have to pay £150 ish of the H2S bonus to it, so should still have around £450 to save.

So very sad to read about the 13 year old who passed away from this virus this week, with the worst part being that he was alone. I just can't imagine what that poor family, and thousands of others who have lost loved ones, are going through. I hope it scares those people who are not taking this seriously enough to change their ways and stay home.

Love to you all xx

MeandO

I've just phoned HMRC about my H2S bonus as it is now showing as £0 for the first two years online and says I cannot earn a final bonus as I have not saved £1200 - very peculiar. The guy I spoke to said it is wrong and should be paid within 14 days, but I will be nervous until it actually arrives.

crazy_cat_lady

Hey  
Hang on in there - you're doing brilliantly.

MeandO

Thank you CCL, same right backatchya x

MeandO

Good morning all, I hope everyone is doing ok today. DS and I are fine, both tired as neither of us slept at all well last night so it's an early night all round tonight.
I'm finding the juggling of issues all a bit stressful this morning. The long distance managing of trying to keep extremely vulnerable parents safe is proving such a horrible situation when one of them is not co-operating. It is such a worry.
My colleague also phoned with reports of 'inside politics' amongst my workplace this morning and other colleagues are stirring up trouble. Really? With everything the world is already dealing with, can't people just be grateful for what they have, how fortunate they currently are and get on with it!! I have no time or patience for it and won't be getting involved. Combined with childcare and normal chores, I'm worn out.

DS and I picked up our click and collect grocery order early this morning. Most of it was there, but a few things were unavailable - ketchup, wipes, easter eggs for gifts - nothing major. We won't have to go out again for some time which is good as I going out makes me nervous at the moment. Everything has been wiped down before being put away and I changed my clothes. DS was fine, he didn't get out of the car or touch anything.

I signed up for the year long disney channel subscription for DS this morning and he is currently in his element watching star wars. I have told him that if he doesn't think it's worthwhile or that we will use it often, then we will cancel after the free week's trial, he is good in that he will tell me honestly if he's not impressed, he understands it costs money. 

I've got one load of washing outside on the line, the sky is a bit grey but windy and the sun does keep popping in and out so I hope it dries out there. We've had an early lunch as were both hungry; dinner will be something from the freezer tonight, there's plenty and I need to make a bit of room in the freezer for the meat delivery tomorrow.

There is no sign of the H2S bonus yet, nor the train ticket and concert ticket refunds,, but I guess these things are taking longer than normal at the moment. I'll be glad when it's all been returned though.

MeandO

Hello all
Another bad night's sleep last night so am still very tired. I seem to be getting pain in my back and hips at night, am not sure if it's a sign of my mattress needing replacing or something? I hope not. It is around 8 years old, but was very expensive at the time and I was hoping it would last a bit longer. I'll try rotating it top to bottom later if I can, it's a no-turn mattress but is very heavy.
DS received a package from my parents today, something my Mum had made him. So lovely and he is thrilled, but it must have meant them going out to the post office in the last few days... I wish my Dad would just stay home. 

This morning I've cancelled an item ordered on Amazon as the delivery date changed to now be too late for the intended use, so that's £20 saved. YNAB has been updated with the latest spends and another payment made to the credit card after spending half an hour on the phone to them trying to find out if the error preventing payment was site wide - it was - shame they can't just put that up as a note on the website as it would save an awful lot of phone traffic for them. Anyway, I have managed to pay them by setting them up on my online banking, so it's done now.
Still waiting on the refunds and H2S funds. 

MeandO

Morning all, hope everyone is still doing ok, in good health and keeping safe indoors.
We’ve been finding the past couple of days quite tricky and there have been tears from both of us, but am determined to make today a better day and I’m always very aware we’re incredibly lucky compared to many others. 

I have the week off work this week and although we obviously can’t go anywhere, it’s helping not sitting in front of the laptop each morning. 

Good news today, is that the Help to Save bonus of £600 has been paid into my account.  I’ve sent £276.37 of it to the mortgage so it is now under £100,000. It now stands at £99,999 I’ve added a few pennies to the remaining amount and bought another £325 of premium bonds, so there’s now £750 of bonds in the account. Total savings now stand at £3225; once the extra tax credit and child benefit are paid this month, I may be able to top that up by another £200 as long as I don’t need the money elsewhere. There is other money saved in my online pots for annual expenses such as insurances etc and one for gifts, but I don’t count those pots as savings.  There’s around £250 in those at the moment and I add £200 (£100 to each) to those every month if it is affordable, less if money is tight. That is the normal arrangement, but if I end up being furloughed or something changes because of the current crisis, the savings will be the first thing to be paused as  it will be unaffordable. 

Back to today, I’ve stripped my bed this morning and the washing machine has just stopped so I’ll hang it all out to (hopefully) dry outside next. It’s a bit grey, but hopefully it won’t rain just yet. 

DS and I are going to make some cookies later and paint his papier-mâché creation we started yesterday. 

I need to update YNAB so that will be done shortly too. Feel it important to to keep on top of the finances at the moment. 

Have a good day all xx