Keeping our options open

savingholmes

HI Becky - I can relate on the spending. I think we are spending more during lockdown as you can see everything that needs doing or that you would use more if you had the right 'stuff'. As long as you are cashflowing rather than increasing your debt it's okay for now. Just need to not go mad... 

becky170

Oops i'm not quite sure where the past month has gone. I realised yesterday that I hadn't topped up the regular savers for July and I usually try and do it on the first! At least I set up my mortgage overpayment to go out as a regular overpayment so £200 went off the mortgage at the start of the month

DS is very happy it's now the summer holiday. As all the holiday clubs are closed around here we're covering the summer holidays with annual leave and unpaid leave. Not ideal but needs must.... luckily we have built up a surplus in our current account over the last couple of months so hopefully that will cover the unpaid wages and we had planned on paying for childcare over the summer anyway. 
I've not got much other news. Our garden furniture has been ordered but won't be delivered for another month. Hopefully they'll still be some warm weather to enjoy it with! We've been making use of the good weather and national trust membership to do some days out. It's been good to do some things that feel 'normal'

savingholmes

Hi Becky - well done on the mortgage OP. New garden furniture sounds good to look forward to. We went to our first NT property since March yesterday and it was lovely. 

becky170

I've done a little bit better this month and remembered to top up my regular savings in the first week of the month. Our £200 overpayment has also gone out so we're all sorted

I've ordered DS' new school uniform ready for September. I haven't ordered any PE kit as I'm not sure whether they'll need it or not....in all the covid-19 planning emails nothing has been mentioned about it so I assume PE won't be going ahead. I can easily order some of it turns out he'll need it.

 I've got to sort through the next size up clothes for DD to as she'll be needing it soon. I've been given lots of stuff for her so I've just got to see whether I have any gaps. I can't believe she's nearly two now... Definitely not a baby anymore. One of my friends has recently had a baby and the sleeping newborn pics are making me broody, but luckily not broody enough to suggest having a third

becky170

I can't believe it's the third week of the summer holiday already. We're having a low key week at home this week. We've spent lots of time in the garden and have had the tent up as a play den. We've also been doing crafts (my son has a subscription to toucan box which he really enjoys), playdoh and eating lots of ice cream I've also been trying to make progress on the washing pile, one of DS school jumpers has been missing in action since march and I'm pretty sure it's buried in there somewhere! it's meant to be 34c here tomorrow so going to get the paddling pool out. Hopefully we may even get to the beach this weekend

Hettyhound

Ooh I’m glad I’m not the only one sorting school uniform.  I’ve got  school sweatshirts on the line that we’re passed on to me a couple of years ago and should now fit.  I also did an order last night for school shoes and trainers.  My son’s school have told us that on the day they have PE they have to go to school in PE kit, so basically joggers and sweatshirt plus trainers.  Just hope school tell us what day PE is as I don’t trust my 7 year old to get the right day 😆

becky170

Going to school in their PE sounds like a better idea than them all getting changed at school Hetty! Yes hopefully they will tell you which day as little ones aren't always the best at passing messages along. I'm hoping DS won't need new school shoes as I had to buy some for when he went back to school on June... knowing my luck he will have had a growth spurt over summer though 

We made it to the beach yesterday. We went early to avoid the crowds, which was good for social distancing but meant the tide was in. At least we didn't have to walk far for a paddle DD had her first paddle in the sea and loved it, and DS was in his element. We've decided that we're definitely going to do a UK beach holiday next year. DH wants to book now, but I daren't ask for any more time off, even if it is for next year, as I've got 3 weeks off this month. 

becky170

We've just been away for a couple of days at a well known lodge place set in the woods. We had a good time on the whole....well apart from DS complaining that he was hungry or too tired to walk constantly! It was great to be able to watch the squirrels and ducks from our lodge and the kids really enjoyed the pool (we were allowed to visit twice for a two hour slot due the covid-19 restrictions). We had a takeaway twice as I couldn't face cooking, but to be honest they were expensive and didn't taste fantastic so I was a bit disappointed and it felt like a bit of a waste of money. I did make use of the eat out to help out scheme to get coffee from Starbucks though it was so nice to get takeaway coffee, it's one thing I've missed during lockdown. The only thing I didn't like was people not bothering to socially distance so I'm happy to be home so that I don't need to go near other people  I'm glad we still kept our booking and went as it was good to have a change of scene.
Now we're back we're going to have to look at our spending and try and rein in some of the food spending and internet shopping. DS uniform has arrived so I think we are mainly sorted for him. Just got to measure his feet to see if he needs new school shoes...we got his last ones in June so hopefully not. Got a feeling DD needs new shoes though! I also need to start thinking about cutting down on wine and goodies as my weight and slowly been creeping up during lockdown too

savingholmes

Glad you got to enjoy some time away. Good that uniform is nearly resolved.Glad I am past that stage. I did have a panic over possibly having to buy new text books but DD thinks she's got what she needs. Really hope she is right.

becky170

Well I've not had the best start to the week. My car wouldn't start so I had to get a new battery fitted, I have maggots in my general waste bin and one of my plant pots has been blown over and has broken. I've also had DS being very angry and lashing out and I've been feeling down about not being able to see my parents because of the whole Covid-19 situation. 

On a more positive note we have made progress on our garden. We've now had a tree cut down and the rotten sheds removed. Now we just have to decide what we're going to do in their place. I've got no clue about garden landscaping so I'm feeling a bit out of my depth. We want to get a summerhouse, the only problem is that the ones we like are £4000 plus! There's also the slight problem of laying the base for it....I've never laid any slabs before, in theory it sounds easy to do but not sure about in practice