Queen Bee fighting for her Hive!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Just two days after 'giving myself permission to eat sweetstuff' I've decided to go back to the diet with a realisation I'm actually happier when I'm not eating it. This is a big turn around in thoughts and actually better for my health. My mental health has been a bit rubbish this weekend so hopefully will now get back to normal happy self. 

Not quite sure what to do today. I have to post some correspondence to a friend locally so a walk will be good and need to do some more work on my rabbit craft activity. Trying to go for a no spend day today as I'll end up spending more cash with it being school holidays. I'll post an update later. 

Drawingaline

I wish I was happier not eating cake! Unfortunately baking and eating the results are one of my happy things.

missymoo81

Hey just caught up! Sorry about OHs secret debt. But it’s great you’ve made a plan to get rid of it! And what amazing news that you have prospective tenants! Whooohooo! Loving the sound of the seed planting too! Well done you’ve really got a good handle on things! 

I was very envious of your cake for breakfast!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Morning, 

Just realised I haven't done a diary update since last weekend. I didn't stop with the bad eating until Tuesday and tbh I wasn't in a good place. The 'black dog' had descended and it just wasn't my time. I did however get out for a walk, potter around in the garden, venture to the garden centre, crafted rabbit legs for a current sewing project and binge watched some box sets so all was not lost. Thankfully feeling better now.  

Finances are all over the place, can definitely feel we are coming out of lockdown and getting back into spends on kids activities, trips out etc. I have started to switch over to Tesco credit card for day to day spends, balance is paid in full each month to save the clubcard points for railcards as I do most of my travels by train and love it! So hopefully this will be a wise switch. Just to cover myself I made sure to set  up the direct debit straight away paying the balance in full.  

This week we've had our first proper day out - made the most of English Heritage membership and visited a ruin outside of London. This was really great fun, we learned some history and the ruins linked with my eldest's current history topic. Took a picnic including flasks of hot water to make me and OH cuppa's. Worked a treat. I don't take milk with my drinks but he does so we need to work out how we can take a small amount of milk - maybe one of those small insulated flasks. Will do some research later. The kids love their tablets and we made the error of forgetting their headphones - so all in all a well needed day out. We realised we'd all not been on buses for over a year (except my partner whose still travelled into work). 

My parents surprised us with an early birthday gift for the little one - a bigger bike! They insisted he could have it now - even though his birthday is not for another couple of months and so when my partner is awake this morning from his night shift sleep he is tasked with bike building. So today will be a trip to the park with the bike. Original plan was to visit one of the main London parks for a picnic but this will have to wait until tomorrow instead. 

On Tuesday its return to monthly finances review so need to prepare for that. Kids are in holiday club for a couple of days this coming week, swimming lessons will start again and a table booked for later in the week in a beer garden so a fun week ahead. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Today turned out to be a good day. Watched films with the kids which was fun in the morning and partner built the bike and let smallest play outside for a bit before he went back to bed. 

Didn't realise it was Grand National day so we watched this in the afternoon followed by fajitas for tea. I am happy my eldest got stuck into a game of scrabble. We played it simple - no scoring and it was all about making a word for the board and spelling it correctly. We helped each other to make words and we had a lot of fun. English is his weak subject so this was great. 

Didn't spend anything today so all in all a winner.

Queen_of_the_Hive

This morning's theme is gardening and I love it! 

Very excited to say the broad bean and pea seedlings are in the veggie plot so we will see how we get on with these. Bit more organised this year with canes etc.

Skim read MSE blog post https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/team-blog/2020/10/how-i-turned-my-flat-into-a-jungle-on-the-cheap/. So will read this properly later with a glass of wine. 

Summer is on its way! 

dawnybabes

Is it coffee or tea you drink ? If coffee would coffee compliment work ? 

You can buy the little ‘pots’ of milk you get in hotels / services etc from B and M for about £1 for 12 ish (we’ve shielded so a long long time since I’ve been in!) or just ‘borrow’ some. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

dawnybabes said:

Is it coffee or tea you drink ? If coffee would coffee compliment work ? 

You can buy the little ‘pots’ of milk you get in hotels / services etc from B and M for about £1 for 12 ish (we’ve shielded so a long long time since I’ve been in!) or just ‘borrow’ some. 

I didnt realise B&M sold the little pots of milk. Something to consider. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello! I was meant to post diary update on the 13th but work was busy! 

So this month I have now paid off more than 50% of my original debts - its 52.41% yay! This was accelerated because of my partner's hidden debt. I owed him some money I had borrowed when I was struggling and I gave it back to him to put into his debt. This means my debt is down to just over 5k and all of this is on 0% balance transfer. The battle now is to get this paid of in the time remaining which is approx. 15 months. Its doable but does mean I am spending savings in this time period which I don't really want to do but its better to spend some savings rather than getting more into the red. 

On the savings front - this was boosted by a mini inheritance so I am pleased to be able to show some updates in the 'saving 12k in 2021' thread. Still on negative numbers and will continue but hey ho the financial picture is improving. 

I have a tenant wanting to move into investment property but the checks are taking an age to come through - it is happening though and this will certainly free up some spending on the utility bills, council tax etc. 

Attached is this months updated debt chart... the blocks are getting coloured in

Queen_of_the_Hive

Its Sunday and this weekend the kids are with their dad. I find the weekends without the kids difficult and because Easter hit me hard I have tried to be in a better headspace this weekend. So yesterday I found myself enjoying watching the Royal Funeral for all its pomp and ceremony etc. I have also enjoyed gardening, going for a walk and doing a lot of reading. Not quite sure where the urge to read came from, probably from the sun being out. I was reading in the garden yesterday, takng care to find the sun spot where it was 'warm'  its was blooming freezing in the shade. 

This week as a family we ventured to the pub for the first time, this was an experience in itself. Little one refused to eat his food because of the 'green stuff' ie herbs on his dinner grrr kids and it was freezing! Table was booked for two hours but we left after an hour as it was just too cold. Friday was one of those well over due meet up with friends  who we've not seen for a long time, the kids played brilliantly and us two adults made a vow we must do this again very soon! The kids swimming lessons resumed this week as well so all in all we've had a good week. 

I am feeling the pinch - I needed to book train tickets for our holiday. This is a trip to my parents who handily live on the coast & as there isn't enough room for us all to stay I have a holiday home booked too. Anyway had to book the train tickets as there is so few trains currently running so that was a £170 for a round trip with travel cards eek. In addition the kids swimming lessons are due for renewal so thats yet another big expense and driving lessons start again next week so and I need to get myself sunglasses so all in all I am broke