Getting it together...one £ at a time!

[Deleted User]

I just sat and read your whole diary I always pick a lengthy one to read through when I'm looking for motivation/inspiration, and found plenty in your diary! X

Homegrown0

teafor2 said:

Hi HG I know everybody has their own preference and we don't eat a lot of fish, but I tend to buy frozen because I'm sucked into believing the ads that tell me it's fresher than fresh I bought a bag of king prawns from Iceland a couple of weeks ago and they were absolutely delicious. 

We always have a choice of cereal as well and tend to go for Mr T brand but it's only recently I've managed to get some delivery spots so we've had to buy the well known brands instead. Not only are they expensive but we find them overly sweet, no matter which we choose. 

I usually have a 'Christmas activity pot' and already had something in mind before lock down but I'm not bothering to book anything this year. If the DC's want to do it and I can book it there and then that's fine, but I'm not keen on booking anything in advance. We've already had a birthday experience and a theatre trip cancelled and although we got the money back without any problems it seems pointless booking anything else at the moment. 

Good news that your husband has been paid and you're pretty much back where you started. Did you hear anything from the builder yet? xx

Not  peep from the builder, I'm afraid. Which is of course frustrating me, no end! I know I need to relax and just let it happen when it happens, but I'm just eager to get it started. I feel like the later they start, the later they'll finish and it MUST be done before my son's birthday mid-December or i'll crack up! They said it'd be a 12 week job, and working back 12 weeks from my son's birthday means they have to start it a week on Friday. And that's without any delays that crop up! You can see how I work myself up about these things... 

You're right about the Christmas activity pot - I think it's pointless booking things even if they are available. So much is uncertain that I'd hate to have all these grand plans and nothing ends up happening. I do love to make the run up to Christmas special for my two, so i think i might start a list of fun things that we can do (or that I can organise) that doesn't rely on big events. I'm sure a Christmas treasure hunt in the forest near us would be just as fun for them as going to an organised event. 

I suppose I can look at it in a positive way - my Christmas activity pot can perhaps be redistributed elsewhere or used to start a lapland fund for next year wishful thinking...

I have started thinking about Christmas over the last few days, so opened up a new tab on my budget spreadsheet to store ideas... it's early, i know, but life is so busy that if i don't start early, December would just be miserable. 

Homegrown0

SSDD23 said:

I just sat and read your whole diary I always pick a lengthy one to read through when I'm looking for motivation/inspiration, and found plenty in your diary! X

@SSDD23 thanks so much for stopping by. Can't believe you got through all those pages of me waffling on! Glad you found a couple of things to help on your own journey. 

abba1772

I'm surprised your builder hasn't been in touch I would have been messaging all my customers to keep them updated xx

teafor2

Hi HG You're obviously a lot more relaxed than me, I'd have rung the builder by now asking him, in a nice way of course, when he was planning to start the work. I'm just thinking from his point of view if you're a customer who seems happy to wait and you aren't bothering  him with phone calls etc., there could be other customers who are badgering him that he's putting first so as to keep them happy and get them off his back. 

I've also been thinking about Christmas a little bit but it's really more about what I'm not doing this year lol. I do want to try and get most of it tied up earlier than usual though just in case things go bonkers again. I'm only talking stocking up on a few bits but with Brexit in the mix as well it would help me to at least have a plan of action. 

A Lapland fund sounds fantastic and your boys would be at a perfect age for something like that xx

Homegrown0

Yesterday was the first working day of August so my account was depleted significantly, thanks to the mountain of early-month direct debits. All expected, all budgeted for and all accounted for (except the after school club direct debits, I'm unsure how they'll invoice for these for a mid-month start). 

The spending account is looking ok so far - not too many spends other than food, and I'm hoping it stays that way for as long as possible. Last month was really spendy so trying to rein it in this month. 

Husband had another payment for work that he did a while ago (and payment was on hold during lockdown). It has been added to our savings, but I'm earmarking it for a trip away next month. My husband and I have a significant wedding anniversary so I want to get away just the two of us. Babysitter is all lined up, now I just need COVID to not waste it! Fingers crossed. 

Hoping to be able to save £1,400 this month. It'll be a stretch but if we remain sensible then it's definitely achievable. Our savings fluctuate a lot depending on how the month rolls - whether husband gets paid 4 or 5 times, some of our bills are quarterly so that affects it a little too. I know £1,400 is a lot of money to be saving, but I'm just hammering the savings as much as possible right now. As soon as work starts on the house, we will have a lot less to throw at the savings so will make the most of it now. 

Not a lot else to report - kids going back to school next week (assuming just for a day) before starting properly the following week. Husband only has two weeks until he starts back work too. It's been a long 5 months but i'll miss them being around for random chats during the day and having lunch together every day. I might've had to work throughout lockdown, but I can be thankful for being safe, being healthy, being at home, and catching these moments with the kids. 

Anyway, not one to shy away from restarting a countdown... 

Days until pay day: 24
Days until kids go back to school full-time: 13 
Weeks until short break away, child-free: 7
Weeks until Christmas: 20

Homegrown0

abba1772 said:

I'm surprised your builder hasn't been in touch I would have been messaging all my customers to keep them updated xx

He called us back in mid-June to let us know he was just about to return to work and it'd likely be into August before he could start and that was the last we heard. If it was me taking the lead with the builder, i'd have called for an update but my husband is a lot more chilled than me... 

Homegrown0

teafor2 said:

Hi HG You're obviously a lot more relaxed than me, I'd have rung the builder by now asking him, in a nice way of course, when he was planning to start the work. I'm just thinking from his point of view if you're a customer who seems happy to wait and you aren't bothering  him with phone calls etc., there could be other customers who are badgering him that he's putting first so as to keep them happy and get them off his back. 

I've also been thinking about Christmas a little bit but it's really more about what I'm not doing this year lol. I do want to try and get most of it tied up earlier than usual though just in case things go bonkers again. I'm only talking stocking up on a few bits but with Brexit in the mix as well it would help me to at least have a plan of action. 

A Lapland fund sounds fantastic and your boys would be at a perfect age for something like that xx

Haha the only reason that I haven't is because of the relationship my husband has with him. They have worked closely for 15+ years and they know each other well. Plus, my husband knows how he works and how these things work, so he's not too bothered about it. "He'll call when he's ready to start". I trust him with it, of course, and trust that he knows what he's doing. 

But I'm an impatient, need-to-know mess and he's a laid back, 'it'll happen when it happens' sort of guy. 

I totally get what you  mean though about those who shout loudest get seen to first. I'm pretty sure that's not what's happening here (we know he's still trying to finish off two other large projects from pre-lockdown right now) and we were assured that we were next on the list. We're paying customers, so it's not like this is a favour or anything. 

Anyway, i'll stop moaning! 

teafor2

Hi HG Hopefully the builder will be in touch soon and the works will be completed by the time your DS's birthday is here. I've tried to shop mindfully this week as I'm feeling more relaxed about not having to stock up on things, but I've still managed to spend £110 just to get us through the week. I didn't even need any cleaning stuff ! 

Your countdowns are like my pots, I don't know what I'd do without them Only 20 weeks until Christmas is obviously why The Works have already set up their Christmas crafting section!! Must admit I did have a good look at it but now the DC's are older our celebrations are pretty basic really so no excuse to buy anything. 

I'm not looking forward to DD going back to Uni, I'm really going to miss her so I can understand how you feel about your hubby and DS's not being around. I think the only bonus to this whole thing has been we've been able to spend a lot of relaxed family time together and for the most part it's been pretty good. 

Have a great day. xx

Homegrown0

Some positives from today

1. I'm on a clothing selling group on Facebook and someone put out a request for a particular brand of dress. I have four of them - one was a size too big and was never returned and the other three were too short on me (I'm pretty tall). All bought off 3bay. I shared the dresses and 3 out of 4 sold almost immediately. £73 after postage is taken off! 
2. I set up a Monzo account and added some pots in there for savings for different things. Started a pot for car MOTs and services, one for annual insurances, one for extra Christmas spends, one for holidays and one for 'treats for me'. From small acorns grow mighty oaks - that's what I'm going for
3. Husband is returning to work on 17th and will likely be working with the builder so will ask him then for a more realistic timeframe. PHEW!
4. Plans firmed up for kids returning to school - now we know exactly what is happening and when. I'm comfortable with the school's plans. 

Hope you're all well! It's a dreich day here today...