the hedgehog's balloons.

Karmacat

I'm sure that will be positive in the long run, CR. Can I just pipe up one bit though? You've just temporarily "retired" from the OU because you were very near overwhelm, or actually in it. Personally, I don't think this is the right time to look at doing voluntary work - catch up on yourself and your family first! I know its an unpopular viewpoint, but put it this way - if you make yourself overwhelmed again, it could well be worse, and then you'd be one of the ones needing help, when it could all have been avoided by taking care? Does that make sense? I hope this doesn't sound horrible, but its an issue I was told about, and then ignored, to my peril

the_cross_rabbit

Thanks Karmacat totally agree with you about the voluntary work at the moment. Family is the main priority. Voluntary work is further down the pipeline, probably in a couple of months I'lll start looking, probably will start with just one morning a week/month depending on what out there. Thanks again.
CRx

Crumpets

Good advice from Karmacat there CR, don't take on too much. It sounds like a good decision to put your OU course on hold, it will still be there in the future.

I'm envious of your allotment, I'm going to try harder with my raised beds this year, I had very poor results this year which is very demoralising.

Have a good day :j

the_cross_rabbit

:hello:Crumpets I love my allotments but they are really hard work to be honest, especially keeping on top of the weeds and last year insects was a massive problem. But the positives outweigh the negatives, lots of organic veggies and fruit, fresh air and free exercise. Starting to plan what to grow and what to just buy in. Sweetcorn was a disaster last year and to be honest the birds love sweetcorn more than I do. I'm thinking this year of trying a scarecrow. We try and grow most things and some years are more successful than others. Last year was year of the beetroot, tomato and potatoe. Disasters was the afforementioned sweetcorn, blueberries and sprouts (although no great loss as I hate sprouts) oh forgot parsnips. This year hopeful will be more successful.
I've volunteered to help out at our transition town's potatoe day as its only a couple of hours on a sunday and then a full day on a Saturday. I went last year as a consumer rather than a seller and it was so busy but good to see people wanting to grow their own.
TT of 80p. Child benefit letter has come:D so on Monday I can send that off as well as passports to the mortgage broker and hopefully get the remortgaging moving.
Booked DH and my Christmas/wedding anniversary/birthday present last night, we're are going up near leighton moss for 3 nights in a little cottage about 5 minutes walk from the RSPB reserve. Can't wait, will need to start counting down soon:j.
We were supposed to be going out walking today but nobody felt up to going so turned into a mooch day:o.
Well off to mooch some more, hope you all have a good day
CRx

greent

Another vote from me that if you've scaled back not to add back different things too soon. I have been guilty of that - and with volunteering if you then need to scale that back there's an possibly added guilt too (or maybe just me! ) Plus the allotment sounds like very busy work! xx

the_cross_rabbit

We were turffed out the house today which was a bit unexpected. The girls decided they wanted a sister day and we were told that we should go out and enjoy ourselves and the bonus was that they would do jobs whilst we were out. Left them both a list each and came home and they had done more than was on the list and they were both still alive/no injuries (they argue like cat and dog normally). Then DH announced he would cook tea. Not sure if we've moved into an alternative universe but i'd like to stay if possible.
We had a lovely afternoon on our own, we went to a wildlife trust reserve and the to top of a nice visit we were treated to a mummeration against a beautiful sunset. Its the little pleasures in life like the above that keep us going, another pleasure is making a TT of £2.88.
Hope you've all experienced a little pleasure in your lives today.
CRx

themadvix

That sounds like a lovely day CR!! You're so right about the small things - I do love a good murmeration, they are so beautiful to watch.

the_cross_rabbit

Thanks for dropping by themadvix.
Had a refund from our water company of £21.89:j so have used it to OP the mortgage. This has takes me over the amount I need to OP each month to met my £800 for the year. I'll keep doing my TT as later in the year I might only be able to pay the minimum. Buying the additional water butt and other water saving habits appear to have paid off.
Yoga and walk done. Been to the allotment and we are at least successful in growing weeds this winter:rotfl:. Harvested beetroot, spinach and kale, plus got several squash out of storage. Spent a happy couple of hours cooking various meals for this week. Meal plan sorted although it can and probably will be altered depending on mood and grumblings from the girls.Tonight is green mac and cheese mmmmmmmm. Went shopping and managed to get what I need for this week spent £95.66:eek:, however this did include dog food, flea treatment, toothpaste, reduced milk and meat. At least its not over £100:cool:, so pleased with that.
Visited c/s to see if I could get any planters as I have several plants that need potting on.Zilch . Did however get a small saucepan (£1)which I can use to sterilse my m/c rather use a food saucepan. Will add planters to my charity shop wants list.
Sent info this morning to mortgage broker by recorded delivery (£2.33).
Not struck off much of my list today as felt really tired as DD2 was up for a couple of hours in the night, but she went to school and thats the main thing. I expect she will hit the wall probably Wednesday. She currently making my mum's birthday present with her PA and catching up with each other as her PA was on annual leave over the Christmas.
DD1 and her dad are out running which hopefully will improve her mood. she like this :mad: (she does have a headache) so hopefully she will be more when she gets back. Really proud of the fact that she is carrying on with her running.
Hopefully you are all feeling but if not I hope you will soon feel .
CRx

Karmacat

the_cross_rabbit wrote: »

Harvested beetroot, spinach and kale, plus got several squash out of storage.

I know you've got a lot going on, and I sympathise, but this is **really** impressive! To be harvesting as well as getting from storage.

Visited c/s to see if I could get any planters as I have several plants that need potting on.Zilch . Did however get a small saucepan (£1)which I can use to sterilse my m/c rather use a food saucepan.

What's m/c, cross rabbit? Sorry!

the_cross_rabbit

:hello:Karmacat an m/c is a mooncup. The weather is so mild and to be honest lack of time has meant the beetroot is still in the ground instead of been put into sand. The kale and spinach are winter varities.

So finally got round to creating a Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet had to alter it abit as some of the things on there didn't apply.
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 2
Total monthly income.................... £2,975.69

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage............................... 502(new deal will be £450)
Council tax............................ 170
Electricity and gas are combined 76
Water rates............................ 34.57
Telephone (land line/internet)...... 33.81
Mobile phones (4 in total).............. 25.00
TV Licence............................. 12.12
Groceries etc. ........................ 440(Includes £20 school lunches and £20 bulk buying power)
Clothing............................... 30
Petrol/diesel.......................... 350 (includes £80 bus fayre)
Car (road tax, insurance etc) 200 (we put this into a separate account)
Medical……………………………… 22
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 3.20
Buildings/contents insurance...... 27.07
Life assurance ......................... 79.42
Other insurance......................... 12.40 (boiler)
Presents (birthday, Christmas etc) .. 50
Haircuts................................ 8
Entertainment.......................... 60
Holiday................................. 50
Emergency fund......................... 150
Pocket money 55 (includes £20 clothing allowance for DD1)
Help to save 100
DD1 future uni fund 42
OP on mortgage 50
Parental loan (£2350) 250

Total monthly expenses............ £2,843.60

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................£2,975.69
Expenses £2,843.60
Created using the SOA calculator at stoozing. Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

Although we are in budget, things will alter in the next couple of years as the girls get older which will mean waving bye bye to Child benefit and Child Tax Credits plus any DLA we get for DD2 will become hers. However we also won't be paying things like pocket money, school lunches, clothing allowance, bus money or mobile phone contracts and will be charging board. Our loss will be greater than our gain financially. Hopefully by then we will be able to guage whether DD2 can be left on her own for short periods of time and this will enable me to return back to work:j:j:j. This is a few years off and why I'm doing an OU course. The parental loan will be finished October 2019. The £42 future uni fund may either stay the same or be reduced depending on how much DD1 will get for living expenses (S/F loan) and if she gets a job. So over the next couple of years I need to trim back the expenses, build up a healthy emergency fund (approx £6000) or the extreme would be to downsize (always an option as not that overly attached to where we live) if I'm unable to return to work due to DD2 needs. Like to have several plans in reserve if plan A doesn't work out,
Had to alter plans for today as felt really ill in the night, still feel very sick and headachy. Poor DH had to juggle getting a grumpy DD2 ready for school and everything else this morning:A.
TT 90p
Hope you all have a good day and feel free to offer constructive criticism/advice on my SOA
CRx