£29,303...Enough is enough!

badmemory

I guess DC1 is doing a stellar job at guilt tripping you.  I think they must hold special classes we don't know about! It is amazing how young they learn how to do it to.

savingholmes

badmemory said:

I guess DC1 is doing a stellar job at guilt tripping you.  I think they must hold special classes we don't know about! It is amazing how young they learn how to do it to.

Love this - so true

Hope your child is feeling better - WelshKitty. Not nice being ill Xmas day. Hope things settle down for you soon. 

WelshKitty85

Ha, yes even the 4 year old knows how to make me feel bad!

She’s much better today thanks @savingholmes - not eating a huge amount but is at least out of bed and no longer throwing up.

savingholmes

Glad your DC is feeling better

WelshKitty85

We’ve done a lot of spending recently between the house move, Christmas, birthdays etc. We still need to pay off the new blinds (50% paid when ordering and the rest on delivery), get a leaky tap fixed, and my car insurance is due soon. But otherwise, I’m hoping to start minimising spending and get back to more frugal ways.

I spent about an hour last night setting up my spreadsheet for next year. Things are tight as I’ve not included business income (as I don’t know how much it will be), but we need to make around £300 a month, or £10 a day which I think sounds pretty achievable. This takes into account my work hours decreasing (I took on extra hours for a year to help with maternity cover) but having the extra time back means I can put more into the business, or even things like surveys (prolific has been quite high paying for me recently).

We’re still pretty much debt neutral but are considering using some of our savings to set up some holiday accommodation on our land. Current thoughts are to do a ‘pop up’ thing next year which won’t require planning permission, then go for the planning and a more permanent structure the following year. We need to make a decision soon though and start getting the land clear so it’s ready for the summer.

I’ve set up a £10 overpayment on the mortgage. I’d like to increase this, but at this stage something is better than nothing. I’ve also put in my application for the winter fuel grant.

DH & I decided to only do token gifts for each other for Christmas and put a bit of money aside for anything we need. I have used some of mine for a few new clothes and some good winter boots (£90 down to £45). It prompted me to have another wardrobe clear out so I’ve got some bits I need to try and sell. I also need to do another sort through DC3s toys and try to sell some of them.

We’ve been eating a lot of ‘with chips’ meals since moving so now we’re settled I want to get back to healthier eating, meal planning and batch cooking. The freezer is rammed full at the moment (see below) so it the perfect time to start. 

I signed back up to Olio and did a collection last week. I was surprised, being more rural, that we had a lot more people collect from us here than we did from the old house. Still lots left to top up the freezer though. I’m doing another next week and then need to decide whether to continue as it takes up a lot of my time.

It was DC1s birthday a few days ago. Thankfully she got over her illness within 24 hours and was better by then. She got a train to go city shopping with friends yesterday (with her birthday money) and my parents are bringing her home today. I usually do a New Year’s Day roast but might do that today whilst my parents are here, then spent the next few days eating leftovers again before back to work on Tuesday.

savingholmes

Happy New Year. 

It's been a busy time. Good luck with your business plans. You've achieved so much. Glad DD is feeling better

WelshKitty85

Thanks SH.

Happy new year everyone.

I was in bed by 11 last night. Noticed some fireworks nearby at midnight so had a quick glance then went straight back to sleep.

Well I’m starting the new year as I mean to go on. So far, I’ve sorted through 1 bin bag of toys and have made a provisional sale for £10. Hopefully they turn up to collect tonight. I’ve listed 2 other items on eb@y and loads of teddies on fbook. Not sure if they’ll go so may be a trip to the charity shop coming up. I’m hoping to have a big clear out and have the house looking less cluttered and more presentable by the time I’m back in work on Tuesday.

The washer is on and I’m struggling a bit to dry things since losing our washer dryer. It’s currently dry and windy out though so hoping I can get it on the line before more rain comes this way.

I cooked a turkey thigh joint yesterday and have some leftover for today, along with some cauliflower cheese and carrot & turnip. I might boil some more veg to bulk it out. I need to do a freezer stocktake and some point and draw up a meal plan.

Right, back to decluttering.

savingholmes

Well done on the sale and the decluttering. You encourage me to list a few more items and adjust some prices. Will see how I get on.

WelshKitty85

Go for it SH! I always find it hard to get going but now I’ve started I’m on a roll. The sold item has been collected so that’s my first ‘£10 a day’ made already. I got some pens and notebooks for Christmas so I might make some kind of chart to colour in and keep me motivated. I’m currently on DC3s bedroom. Considering we had a clear out before we moved, I can’t believe how much stuff he still has!

hugglemonster

Happy new year, glad you're settling in  to your new house ok.

H x