Keeping our options open

becky170

I'm so looking for having a week off at half-term. Normally I'd hate having a week off in February but with lockdown and home schooling I'm just looking forward to not having the daily battle of trying to get DS to do some school work. Our productivity is definitely decreasing as the weeks go by. Hopefully after a holiday we'll limp through another couple of weeks until hopefully schools go back (please please please let schools go back on the 8th march). 

Anyway I need to think of some nice things to do over the holiday. I've been pretty rubbish about having things lined up over the last couple of weekends so the kids have just ended up watching lots of TV. So far I've planned a valentine's afternoon tea and obviously it'll be pancake Day so I'll get lots of different toppings in to have a more extravagant pancake Day than normal. Just got to think of some non food related things now   

I'm debating booking to go to a national trust site. The only issue is that the closest one is 40mins away so don't think that counts as local. We have a country park closer but I'm guessing it's a bit of a mud bath at the moment but I think we'll just have to give it a go. I really should buy some wellies then I wouldn't have any excuses   

becky170

Wellies ordered 

savingholmes

Wellies sorted - no excuses left then....
I think a lot of people are eager for half term - parents more than the kids!!

becky170

Phew I am glad that week is over! We've had DD at home as her bubble at nursery burst, DS to homeschool whilst I had to go into the office. Luckily I took some half days annual leave to make it slightly easier, but definitely a very stressful week. I burst into tears after we did our last home schooling lesson and got called a cryee pants by DS (he did give me a cuddle too)  so definitely not my finest hour but it's done now....and yes I did have a glass of wine to celebrate

Anyway we have spent a fortune on food shopping so far this year so that's my next task to tackle once I've got the house in some kind of order again. £261 has been overpayed to the mortgage this month. I have worked out that to reach our target of cutting 5 years off our mortgage term we need to overpay £250 per month so that's going to be our aim going forward

savingholmes

Glad that things will soon settle down with school and nursery. Well done on the OP.

becky170

Thanks Savingsholmes! Much happier here now things are getting more 'normal'. Really looking forward to the rule of 6/2 households outdoors so that we can start seeing friends and family too. 

I've overpayed another £9 to the mortgage as I had a £9 payout from Quidc0

becky170

Operation get the food shopping bill under control is now underway. Our spending on food shopping has spiralled out of control and as the next month is going to be tighter money wise it makes sense to start tackling it now. Our budget is £110 a week. £10 goes on the milkman, £15 on a veg box which leaves £85 on our supermarket shop. Our online shop for Monday is estimated to be £84.65 so fingers crossed next week looks on target. Going to make sure I meal plan and try to reduce food waste as much as possible

savingholmes

All sounding good. Well done on the OP. Nice to have free money. 

becky170

I haven't got much to report this week. Had our shopping delivered today which was £83.65 so within budget we've just pottered around this weekend with time out in the garden, a trip to the park and a lovely roast dinner. Everyone seems happy so that's good enough for me! 

savingholmes

Well done on the shopping budget. The trip to the park sounds fun and roasties. DH and I took pooch for a walk and it really cheered me up. Nice to get out of these 4 walls - but getting harder the longer lockdown continues.