Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Happy Wednesday!

I'm feeling good today, used some birthday money to pamper myself and have had my hair cut and dyed today for the first time in a while, looking a lot more human now

The 3rd book selling money came in today so the 'free money' pot is at £81.22.

Other spends today £10 on Ama$on for a retractable washing line for the yard, have been putting washing out there on an airer as a temporary solution as our line snapped last October but now we are getting a bit more daylight we need a new line up.
 
Will spend another £2 later for DS1's football training but no further spends planned.

I've just finished making a steak pie so we'll be having that for dinner this evening with veggies and will be freezing an extra portion for a future meal.

I don't think I've mentioned we've ordered an under counter freezer for our utility room? We've been wanting one for a while to help with batch cooking/stocking up on yellow sticker items but never really had the space. Now that the room is better organised and we no longer need to store prams in there we've used some savings from the 'appliance replacement' line on our budget to buy one. Looking forward to it arriving tomorrow

Bubblesmum

I couldn’t live without my second freezer for batch cooking x 

good for you re haircut and colour it makes you feel fab doesn’t it 

savingholmes

Great news on the free £. I need to try book sites again... 

DancingInTheRain

Thanks guys x

I have referral codes for those book sites which may help boost what you can receive. DM if interested.

A cold but sunny and breezy day here today so lots of washing blowing dry in the yard ☺️

New freezer has arrived 👏👏 looking forward to getting that stocked in the next couple of weeks.

Took some bagged small change in to the bank, £7 sent to the free money pot along with £2.50 from L!dl vouchers (spent £24 in there today on mainly cleaning and toiletry items which are running low) so the pot is now at £95.90, new stretch target is to get to £150 by the end of the month.

Bubblesmum

Love the free money pot
- and that you are able to stretch it this month - cheering you in to make it 

DancingInTheRain

Thanks @Bubblesmum cashed out £6..09 from Prolific so the pot is now at £101.99, time to start on the £50 stretch. Have just requested a £5 Te$co voucher from M!crosoft rewards so the cash equivalent will be transferred to the pot once I've spent the voucher, might eventually get around to listing the boys clothes on V!nted too - they've been sat in a pile for a fortnight.

Took Mum for food shopping at A$da this morning and did a stock up shop for us to include a few extras with the boys (aka the bottomless pits) being off next week. Picked up the £15 valentines meal deal as it included Prosecco which was on the list anyway and thought it would make a nice treat for me and DH as was lacking inspiration for our usual Friday Fakeaway so this saves me having to cook too much, he's happy as I got steak for the mains.

Mum and I also enjoyed a cuppa at the nearby cafe before heading back to collect DS2 from nursery. He played happily in the garden while I put the shopping away and did a quick tidy. Heading out soon to collect DS1, planning on letting the boys play for a while before taking DS1 to Beavers later. Looking forward to not running around on the multiple school runs and DS1's clubs next week as they're all having a break for half term, it'll be nice to not be so tied for a week. No plans for the week just yet but there's money in the budget for soft play if the weather is rubbish.

savingholmes

Sounds like you are juggling things well. Great when there's money in the kitty for soft play

DancingInTheRain

The £5 voucher has been redeemed so £5 sent across to the free money pot along with another £10 as cashed out an Ama$on voucher from SnapMyEats which we haven't spent yet but there's usually something ordered from there on a fairly regular basis.

Also have a little win pending, I was organised and had ordered the boys some costumes from A$da for World Book Day next month (I don't normally bother but as they missed last years due to lockdown I've been more lenient AND ordered in bigger sizes to get more wear from them ) I was instore this morning and noticed they had the costumes on offer 20% off so have bought them again and when I take Mum for her shopping later in the week I'll return the others. Only £5 difference but better in my pocket than theirs and as you know, I love my small money wins!

Monthly interest has been applied to DH's student loan balance so have sent £7.23 to round the balance down to end in 0.

It's been a very quiet weekend, the weather has been appalling here so have stayed in and watched lots of films, played and generally relaxed. We've had a couple of visitors too so they've stopped us getting too bored of our own company Woke up this morning to yet more torrential rain so I booked soft play for the boys. Hadn't even been in there 10 minutes when the rain stopped and the sun came out and has shone all day, typical! It did us good to get out though and the boys had lots of fun so it was worth it.

We picked up some canvas storage boxes while were out to add to the ones we have and have spent the afternoon sorting through toys, we now have a few less toys downstairs as we've moved some upstairs to their bedroom to encourage a bit more independent play -they're both up there now so I'm having a little bit of peace downstairs while I can!

DancingInTheRain

Both boys were up through night saying their tummies hurt, both have then had loose bowel movements today so they must have picked up a tummy bug. They both look really pale and haven't eaten much. Have kept their fluids up and they've either played quietly or just been watching TV today. They both fell asleep an hour ago, which is unheard of so although I'll probably regret it tonight I'm going to leave them to wake naturally in hopes that a good nap will help them feel better.

Will see how they are before deciding what they'll have for supper but I'm thinking they can have something easy like toast and/or cereal, DH and I will probably have some freezer use ups for easiness as they boys are likely to be up later than usual.

Had a walk to our local shop earlier to buy stamps and also bought a £1 scratch card, won £12! More free money!

Also caught up on some chores while the boys have been relaxing or asleep. I've got the kitchen tidied, mopped & hoovered downstairs, put the dishwasher on along with a load of washing and also put a pile of laundry away so the house is in reasonable condition given its half term.

DancingInTheRain

The boys woke not long after my last post, had cereal for supper and then were bathed and back in bed asleep by 8pm. DS2 was a bit unsettled through night, woke up a few times. Brought him downstairs at 6.30 where he proceeded to be sick all over the sofa
Stripped him and the sofa cushions and got them on to wash and dry, just managed to get them all back on.
DS2 was sick again around 9 and promptly fell asleep for 2 hours. He's still not quite right and is happily lying down watching Bing Bunny at the moment. 
DS1 hasn't been sick thankfully but has been lethargic, he's just had some toast which is his first meal of the day so hopefully he's on the mend.
Storm Dudley is making its presence felt here so it's not such a bad thing that we're wrapped up warm indoors, we're all in our PJ's and dressing gowns with blankets for extra comfort. We're going to watch Encanto again this afternoon so that will fill a couple of hours in.
DH kept an eye on the boys while I took Mum to an appointment earlier so as I was out I popped into L!dl to pick up some fresh supplies to see us through the next few days, £24 spent.
Feeling tired now, hopefully will get the chance for a snooze at some point during the film