*sigh* this may take a while

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Half term has been relatively painless, I've had my usual 2 days off, OH covered 1 day and grandparents the other 2 days.  I don't tend to take AL during Feb half term as the weather is poo and we're always skint after xmas!
Took kids to a museum on Monday, it's a lovely one that we've been to before.  Cost £45 for 6 of us, but ticket is valid all year, so will make sure I take them again a couple more times this year!!  Went to McD for lunch, £25 spent there, but I don't feel bad as it's the only day out this week. 
Tomorrow, I've let them each invite a friend round.. so I'll have 10 kids in the house, but they'll each be occupied.  I don't mind doing this, but it does grate that many parents aren't quick to reciprocate.  Also, a couple of them were 'well, we're at work, so if you have x it'll have to be all day' so I've got 2 of the kids from 8-6!  I'm such a grouch! 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Survived half term. kids went back today... it was actually a nice week, just a shame the weather was so rubbish.
We saw some friends at the weekend, which was lovely.  Got a takeaway in, so worked out at £20 for OH and I, much cheaper than eating out and no need to pay for a babysitter either!
OH's bonus is paid tomorrow, I can see it pending.  Couldn't resist setting up advance payments to the planned accounts, so that they go out straight away tomorrow.  Feeling very lucky that he gets that every year, it really helps our finances.
Looking at H@ven breaks for later in the year, they seem really reasonable

savingholmes

Great news on the bonus. Exciting times. I would be there with the advance payment set up too....

ohdearhowdidthathappen

All transfers/payments made  , so:

• £4.5K to family loan
• £1K to CC
• £1.5k to holiday fund
• £1.5k to renovation fund 
• £500 to Christmas fund

Also, out of this month's salary I've paid all remaining school trip balances, which totalled £395 across them all.  So that's a nice feeling as between them, they were very expensive.
We've started the renovation of the 2 bedrooms, the electrician has done his stuff and the plasterer is coming next week.  Carpet is paid for and is coming in 6 weeks, so gives us a strict but achievable timeframe to paint the rooms.
We were going to get fitted wardrobes for our room, but the quotes were horrific, so we've gone for some nice free standing ones that the shop put together for you.  They virtually fit the space perfectly and were less than 25% of the cost of fitted ones.  The have an 8 week lead time, so should arrive just after carpets are fitted.  We're going to keep some of our existing furniture for the time being.  I've ordered a shutter for our window and that's got a similar lead time too, I've already paid for the wardrobes and shutter, so no big bills coming.  Looking forward to seeing how it all looks.
For my daughter's room, her furniture all needs replacing, so I'm looking at ike@ or Dune!m over the next couple of weeks.  She's so excited to be getting her room done.
Have updated signature to show new debt level

Chrystal

You must be so chuffed... well done you   
When you've finished do you fancy coming up and organising mine ... pretty please! 

XSpender

ohshithowdidthathappen said:

Looking at H@ven breaks for later in the year, they seem really reasonable

We have a week at a H@ven every Easter and have had some summer holidays there too over the last 7 years or so.  Great locations and spotless caravans.  We usually go to the South West. 

We very rarely use the on site facilities so can't vouch for them but the pool is warm.  They aren't the cheapest of holiday parks but then there is only 3 of us so more expensive per head than a larger family. 

savingholmes

Hi - glad to see those payments being made - and your FIL loan halving. The decorating sounds cool too although I imagine it will be quite disruptive, I'm sure it will be amazing when it's done.

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Thank you all... really pleased with payments made and plans for next few weeks/months.  
The decorating is disruptive, OH and I working out who will be home for trades etc.  Had to get rooms as empty as poss for plasterer coming tomorrow.  Amazing how time consuming it is to sort out 2 rooms and I'd consider them both quite tidy anyway!

savingholmes

If yours were tidy to begin with you have a head start on me. I'd first have to make the place respectable!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Plastering done and it is looking lovely (or as lovely as it can at the moment!!).  I'm busy with work and study this week, but next week I'm going to paint my daughter's room next week.  It's just going to be white, so nice and easy.  She's having silver grey carpet and carpets, so then she can go as colourful as she likes with accessories, bedding etc! 
I'm feeling a bit 'meh' at the moment, difficult to motivate myself at work and the studying is boring me.  When I'm at home I want to chill with my kids, not do research and write essays.  I tell myself it will be worth it, but I'm unconvinced!  Still, at least with the weather being so rubbish, I'm not missing out on anything particularly fun!