Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

EssexHebridean

Aaaand I'm finally caught up with your diary! I've been reading through from the start so holding off on commenting until I have - it's always fascinating reading through ones that started pre-Covid now as it works as a reminder of how strange 2020 and early 2021 were. You also reminded me that I needed to chase up a ticket I have outstanding for some missing cashback from TCB too - so thank  you! 

I love your idea of a present deadline of when the Santa letters are written too - it's a great way to manage expectations! 

DancingInTheRain

Ah welcome @EssexHebridean well done on making it through my ramblings! Hope you get the cashback sorted.

So far so good on the present deadline, nothing else asked for up to now 

savingholmes

DancingInTheRain said:

So far so good on the present deadline, nothing else asked for up to now 

Fantastic.

DancingInTheRain

Quick update... We haven't managed to stay lurgy free, DS1 and I both have a cold  His is worse than mine as he's got quite a persistent cough too, poor thing he's exhausted.
Went to the boys swimming lesson this morning but DS1 really struggled so go him out of the pool early and got him warmed up with a hot chocolate while waiting for DS2 to finish. Popped into a few shops on the way back to pick up a few Xmas gifts. Still waiting on 1 of DS1's gifts being delivered but other than that we only have cash and vouchers to sort and then will get everything wrapped and distributed next weekend all being well.

Work wise I've picked up a few days on the 2nd job as well as working last weekend in job 1 so I'm very pleased to have a more low key weekend to try to relax and get rid of this cold.
Next week I'm working 1 day for job 2 and 3 days for job 2 and will then be off Fri-Mon so the Xmas break is getting ever closer!

MSE news - £67.55 monthly interest applied to the savings account this week and £24.76 free £'s earned so far this month.

Not a lot more to add so will leave it there 

DancingInTheRain

Is it the weekend yet?
Poor DS1 still has an horrendous cough so has been off school all week, it's all day and night so he's exhausted (as am I as he's sleeping with my so as not to disturb DS2/DH).
DS2 then came down with a stomach bug so we've had a delightful week! Thankfully, after an intense week Job 2 is now finished for the year, this will pick back up early Jan.
Job 1 is relatively quiet so having an easy week work wise and to be honest it's been a relief to get out of the house and away from germ filled children for a few hours 
Thankfully DH is WFH this week and has been able to juggle meetings around my work so we've been able to look after the children between us.
Payday from job 1 on Friday so will pick up the final few Xmas bits then, not much to get so should be a quick fix. I'm not as organised with wrapping gifts as I'd like to be with having DS1 sleeping in my room but should be able to get back on track over the weekend.
Really hoping both boys can get back to school tomorrow or Friday as they're missing lots of the school Xmas activities, DS2 is upset he's missed his nativity bless him.
This weekend DH and I are due to go for a meal with friends on Saturday, this is our annual Xmas gathering, in lieu of us exchanging gifts, it's good to have a get together and have a festive catch up so we're looking forward to that.
On Sunday we're having a family gathering for Mum's 'special' birthday. We've arranged an afternoon tea for her at one of her favourite eateries, there'll be 15 of her closest family/friends there. She has no idea so hope she isn't too shocked when she arrives! Have also got a talented cake baker friend to make a cake to mark the occasion, hope she feels suitably spoiled!

savingholmes

Whooping cough is doing the rounds - so perhaps check out DS's symptoms.

The party for your Mum sounds thoughtful.

sashybo

Sorry to hear both boys have been ill, fingers crossed they get back to school soon and you can catch up on sleep at some point.

I haven’t wrapped any presents apart from a few being sent down to the outlaws so I need to get a move on!

Sounds like you have a nice weekend planned too, always good to have things to look forward to. 🍻

DancingInTheRain

End of December Round Up:

End of December WWOTW figure is £68,820: Mortgage is £64,200, Credit Card is £4620

We've had a quiet Christmas as DS2 has remained under the weather with his cough, took him to the doctors but his chest is clear so just been using DIY methods to try and ease it. His sleep has been really disrupted but the cough finally seems to be easing the last couple of days. DH has also been really ill with a chest infection so has pretty much been out of action the last 10 days too. I was ill last Christmas so it's beginning to be a tradition for at least 1 of us to be out of sorts at this time of year...

On the plus side I think it's done us all good to have forced lazy days to relax, spending has been kept to a minimum and it's been nice to not 'have' to do anything although I have been going stir crazy at times listening to persistent coughing  The weather has been awful but have tried to get out for fresh air during gaps in the rain, which resulted in a couple of soakings but well worth it!

The boys were very happy with their Christmas gifts and were also lucky enough to receive some money too, they've been given a small amount to boost their pocket money accounts and the rest has been put into their ISAs. Mum enjoyed her little surprise party and was very spoiled for her big birthday as she deserves

We'll be having a low key NYE celebration with DH still not being well. The boys and I are going to visit a couple of family members this afternoon then we're having a small buffet and watching movies and playing games. The boys are most excited about the fact we're letting them have  'sleepover' downstairs, small wins!

End of Year Round Up:

Mortgage 31.12.22 £42,800 now £64,200 - increase due to borrowing £25,000 for home improvements which should be completed in 2024, borrowed at 2.52%, currently sat in an account earning 5.08%

Credit Card 31.12.23 £5,250 now £4620 - focus in the early part of 2023 was paying off DH's student loan, which meant minimal payments on the CC, these payments are now higher so this balance should come down more quickly in 2024

DH Student Loan 31.12.22 £5,285 now £0 - Gone gone gone!!! Don't miss the ever increasing interest rates and this has provided a welcome boost to DH's monthly take home pay.

WWOTW 31.12.22 £52,240 now £68,820 - so we owe £16,580 more than this time last year but Savings were £2,500 this time last year are now £14,500 - with this years home improvements, having to buy another car and my change of job and drop in income I'm pretty pleased with this.

2024 Goals

Keeping it simple:
- Reduce Mortgage Balance
- Reduce CC Balance
- Add to Savings monthly (accept some will be spent on home improvements)
- Add to Pensions

Wishing everyone who reads along a Happy New Year xx

 

savingholmes

Hope your DH and DS fully recover soon. Not easy when family members are ill. 

Great scores on the doors after a year or two of lots of upheaval. Huge congratulations. Best wishes for 2024.

DancingInTheRain

Well hello 2024 👋

New Year's Eve saw the boys and I taking a train ride to the next town for lunch and to buy a couple of 'party' items (balloons, glow sticks, party poppers) as well a few nibbles. It was lovely to get out for a while and spend some quality time together.

DH had a good rest while we were out so once we got home we set up our party bits and made a small buffet for us to graze on before playing mario party on the switch, having a mini disco with the lights off and glow sticks on as well as popping a party popper each hour until midnight. Simple pleasures but we had a fun evening.

DH caved and went to bed at 1030 but the boys and I saw in the new year although they were both fast asleep by 1215. Thankfully this translated to them sleeping to an unheard of 10am ensuring I had a lovely quiet and relaxing start to the new year!

Yesterday was spent packing up the last of the Christmas decorations and getting on top of washing and ironing, DH and the boys spent an hour at MIL's too so I squeezed in a little nap while they were out 😊

Back to earth with a bang today as have completed hours on both jobs. I was at my main job longer than planned as a colleague called in sick. Came home, made tea and got the bits ready for bed before completing 2 hours for job 2. Just catching up on here before heading to bed.


One perk of doing both jobs today is that I discovered that they've both given me a £25 voucher as a Xmas gift. Also received a bottle of wine and 2 tubs of chocolates from job 1 which were part of a huge stash of gifts given to us by customers and divided up between the staff. Very unexpected on both fronts with being new to each job but much appreciated.

These Christmas holidays have seen both boys FINALLY discover the pleasure of having a lie in, which has been amazing for me after so many years of extremely early starts but does mean that they're going to struggle getting up for school tomorrow, I expect DH and I will be on the receiving end of some overtired attitude from them both 🫣

On the money front our first annual bill has been paid, DH's car tax paid in full on new year's eve. DH was paid early so we'd popped it into savings before moving it back to the bills and variable spends accounts on new year's eve when he actually should have been paid. Small overpayment of just over £7 made to the mortgage account to round it down but other than that this year has not seen us spend anything so far 🙂 also had a small Vinted sale so that's another item out of the house.