The Final Furlong

Dottles1

You are not far from the truth there Doingitanyway We had a lovely walk, very windy but quite mild. It blew a few cobwebs away as well.
I'm trying to keep up the level of walking I did whilst away but it's hard finding the time on work days.
I ended up going back into work on Tuesday but I have logged that I didn't use my lieu time and will try to take it next Thursday. There is lots of marking backing up but my teaching contact hours are being changed so I'm hoping to have a bit more time for marking and planning going forward. Now that I have made my decision it is all easier to manage as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have also had some information about the pension money owed me by my ex. I can't say much here but it looks like it should be sometime this year. So, onwards and upwards I say.

On the financial front I have managed 4 NSD's so far this month. Tomorrow won't be as I am going to the cinema with friend P to see "The Knives are Out". Looking forward to that as I've heard good reviews and I love a good murder mystery. it should still be a low spend day as the tickets are concession @ £6.50 at our local arty cinema (who said that getting older is all negative?) and we will only have a coffee while there.
Budgeting is tight but I'm still on track and have worked out a couple more meals I can make with what I have in. I have one birthday to buy for this month but I have some vouchers to use up so I should be able to get something suitable with those.
All in all not too bad and feeling very positive.
I hope you are all well
Take care
Dottles x

Dottles1

Morning all
I've had a good couple of days overall, another NSD on Thursday and (planned) spends yesterday. I bought myself some new pyjamas with the M&S voucher my brother gave me for Christmas and used the rest towards a birthday present for GD2 saving me £7.50. I have another small item to buy to go with it but it all helps. I also used some Boots points to buy 2 packs of xmas cards which were half price as my stash is sorely depleted now. I still have £5.94 in Boots points and £6 in WH Smith vouchers so will save those to use for birthdays etc. I also now have £44.61 in PA so not far to the £50 cash out limit I planned.
Studies are very slow coming in though.
I have £20.11 left in the food budget and £20 in spends. It's not a lot but should be ok I will merge them if necessary. I have plenty of food in but will need to check if DS and family are coming for lunch tomorrow as may have to spend a little if so.
Thursday's cinema was great. The film was a tongue in cheek murder mystery with some well known actors and very entertaining and I had a good catch up with friend P. She bought the coffees this time so I had a night out for £6.10

So to today.
I am meeting friend H for a coffee this afternoon, I arranged it for 2pm so that it will be just coffee. Then I MUST do some housework as I've done very little since I came home and I want to sort out my bedroom to make it feel more comfortable. Not quite sure what I will do but probably start with getting rid of some "stuff". Tilly and I will also go for a brisk walk and try to stay upright in the wind. At least the sun is shining but I'm not fooled that it will mean that it will be warm ! Hopefully I will have some time to read my book and I have ear marked a couple of things to watch on catch up this weekend.
Well I'd better make a start
speak later
Dottles x

cathybird

Dottles1, sounds like a very pleasant day, and you seem to be being very economical on the spends

Dottles1

Afternoon all.
Hi Cathybird. It's needs must on the frugal spends, the dreaded January, but I'm determined to get through it unscathed (by that I mean without incurring and further debt). I had a lovely day yesterday as DS, DDiL & DGD4 came for lunch. As they didn't want a roast I made pasta bake with salad and garlic bread followed by a jaffa cake dessert that I found in Mr T for £1.50. All was delicious and easy prep so I got to spend time with them rather than I the kitchen. Also I had everything in so it was another NSD making 5 so far this month.

While he was here my son sorted the ipad I was given by DGD1 in the summer. He updated it downloaded the Skygo app giving me his access code so I now have Sky tv, all free and all legit.

This morning I woke up feeling more like my old self with energy levels returned, probably due to my sleep patterns getting back to normal. To take advantage I have swallowed a couple of frogs this morning, sent for pension forecasts, chased up an appointment with the skeletal clinic and booked telephone consultation, paid in private work money from last week and found ballet tickets that I had mislaid-phew !
There are still a few things I want to get out of the way today but I'm taking a coffee break first.
Some goals for this week:
Get back onto healthy eating pan
Complete 7000 steps each day
Select weeks main meals from the meal plan
Mark 21 assignments
Sort through toiletries and donate any surplus
List 3 items for sale on FB
Place one advert for private work

That should keep me busy and also make some headway in getting sorted. I have been approached for more private work so if I can build on this I will be nearer to achieving my goal of retirement from employed work in July.
The weather is turning colder, windier and looking like rain so I think I might take Tilly out before anything else.
Speak later my frugal pals
Dottles x

Dottles1

Evening all.
I slept in this morning. I distinctly remember my alarm going off but I must have fallen back to sleep as I woke again at 8:30. Still, I managed to get in at a reasonable time and got cracking. The students aren't back until next week so mostly marking today, and one or two meetings. I was offered some extra hours until the end of April which will amount to around £100 per week. It's on days that I will be in anyway so won't impact on my private work so a no brainer really. All of that will go to paying off debt.
After work I popped to the local retail park to buy birthday cards including one for DGD2 who's birthday is on Friday. I also bought 2 for next month's birthdays and spent a total of 80p as I used up the remainder of a voucher I discovered just before Christmas. While there I called into Mr M to buy sweet potatoes, quinoa and bread (YS @ 39p). That should do me now for groceries until the weekend.
I'd better get off to bed now so that I don't sleep in again tomorrow.
Goodnight all
Dottles x

Dottles1

Good morning
I've woken up to beautiful sunshine this morning though a bit cold. Still that's to be expected as it is January after all. I slept rally well too which helps me feel that I could tackle anything.
I need to do a bit of housework this morning and perhaps a bit of marking before friend P comes over. We are walking into the village more a spot of lunch then coming back here to complete an application form to take part in a tv show (the one that involves 2 teams searching out items to sell and make a profit). Who knows, it could be fun.
I took GD2's birthday present over to her mum's last night and had a coffee and a catch up with DD1. She works away during the week so it was good to see her. She has had a small windfall and gave me £20 to treat myself. I don't know why I find it so hard to take money from my kids, maybe I just need to accept that they are all adults. Anyway it was a lovely gesture and much appreciated and means that I can by a soup and a coffee with P today. I find it awkward saying to friends that I can't afford something like lunch, not because I'm embarrassed but because they will offer to pay and I don't want that. It's ok on the odd occasion and I would do the same, but I like to cut my cloth according to what I have available and sometimes that means puling the purse strings a bit tighter.
I have been day dreaming about what I will do to my house when my debts are paid off. Some, like the kitchen will need to be saved up for but I've realised that some, like my bedroom, are just a lick of paint, rearranging furniture and perhaps some new bedding, which are do-able without much expense involved. I feel a to do list coming on.
Right, I needto shake a tail feather if I'm to get anything done before P arrives.
Have a lovely day all and hope you get some sunshine too.
Dottles x

cathybird

Dottles, have a lovely lunch and that was good of your daughter to share her windfall

lucielle

The game show sounds exciting. I'm always shouting at the telly when I watch The Chase and think I could do better. I think the reality would be rather different!
L

beanielou

I know what you mean about friends offering.
Enjoy your lunch:)

doingitanyway

Your daughter sounds lovely. Enjoy the sunshine.