New Empty Nest Mum starts battle of mortgage ...

shopaholicnumber1

I'm not sure I'm brave enough with the scissors :eek: I am growing it at the moment though (with half an eye on eventually just getting it sorted a couple of times a year!). It is a bit of an indulgence I know and one I shall give serious thought to in my new MSE mindset

shopaholicnumber1

Morning MFWers :wave:

Bit of a non-update today. Yesterday was almost a NSD - just the cat food.

Fish, potatoes and green beans from freezer stocks for tea - so not used to being cooked, eaten and cleared up before 7pm! Soooo much quicker for one!

Watched the first episode of a new drama about the war that started on Sunday night - enjoyed it. I love autumn for that - its the only time we get decent dramas on TV!

That's all for today folks - pretty boring really Have a lovely day!

shopaholicnumber1

Morning peeps :hello:

I didn't post yesterday as am aware my diaries are a tad boring! They do keep me on track though and keep motivation levels up

So, spending ... not too bad! £25 petrol on Tuesday night and a NSD yesterday.

Had a work conference type thing yesterday which is always nice seeing people from other services that are miles away. But it was a bit death by powerpoint Added bonus was a 2 course lunch provided plus tea and coffee all day - so no freezer diving required last night!

It was such a beautiful day (if a little cold) that I seized the opportunity to mow the rather damp lawn last night - am so pleased I did as the forecast today is awful with this Storm Lorenzo thing supposedly hitting later. Can't wait :laugh:

I also called Next last night as they had managed to completely lose a lamp I had ordered for DD's uni room for delivery to store (in the sale in true MSE fashion!) so that will now be refunded to me as DD has bought something else now.

Should be a NSD today too :T

Have a lovely Thursday folks - final slog to the weekend

shopaholicnumber1

Morning folks! Its Friday at last!

Well, yesterday was NSD which I was pleased about. But Next still haven't credited my account so I'll have to call them again over the weekend :mad:

I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully it will be dry enough to take my pup on a nice long walk as she is really missing the DC's

Have a lovely weekend MSEers:beer:

longway2go

How are you doing?

shopaholicnumber1

Hi all

Longway2go - I'm good thanks - had a really chilled weekend so ready(ish) for the new week How are things with you?

Well, I had an "issue" I never anticipated at the weekend! Now the DC's have gone and all their remaining clothes, bedding and towels have been washed I found that I had 3 very small piles of knickers and socks and not enough to run a wash! I ended up stripping my bed and adding whites and coloured to that (as bedding is pale silver) just to justify running the washing machine! The first time in 21 years that I've not a) had 5 loads of washing to deal with and b) no ironing! I didn't know what to do with myself yesterday morning!

On the spending front, Friday was a NSD, Saturday was my extravagance at the hairdressers so that was a bit spendy, but Sunday was a NSD too so kind of balances out. I do have to withdraw some cash today to pay for a work thing which is a bit annoying, but goes to a good cause (breast cancer research) and we get a pie and peas lunch thrown in, so I need to stop being to mean!

I installed the YNAB app recently as I'd read about it on here, and am slowly getting my head around it. It is a totally different approach and I think it could work for me, but I'm so impatient it's hard to not budget money that hasn't physically arrived yet! Makes sense though (eventually!). We shall see how I get on with it

longway2go

Hi,

A nice treat at the hairdressers is needed from time to time. I'm good thanks... Interested to learn more about ynab... How does it work and is the app linked to a bank account in anyway? Is it free?

Have a good day. Just about to do an update of my own.

shopaholicnumber1

YNAB has a free trial for 34 days after that you need to pay - I'm a bit undecided as it's early days but will see how I get on! It doesn't link to your bank account in UK, but is really quick and easy to enter transactions so not too much of a hassle. Plus the app and the desktop site are linked to each other so any changes made on one are instantly changed in the other (if that makes sense!)

I do feel a bit more in control of things, but will give it the full month before I decide - I'll let you know!

longway2go

Thank you. I am finding monzo helpful for categorising spending and seeing where money actually goes so I can budget better... Wondering how similar it is.

Have a good day.

shopaholicnumber1

Morning all

My daily update (to myself really!)

I popped into Tesco on the way home yesterday as I needed some milk and some cash for work. I had a little browse in the ys section and -for once - managed to grab some bargains. Lovely chunks of stinky cheese reduced - Cambazola, Brie and Saint Agur - full price over £12 :eek: but total came to £3 exactly so I was well happy :T

Brie was nibbled for my tea and the others tightly wrapped and popped in the freezer ready for Christmas - I feel ridiculously happy about that!

I also did a proper freezer inventory - despite living out of it for the last 2 weeks, I still have 29 meals in there - without touching my DD's veggie stuff :eek: so I have literally no excuse for blowing the grocery budget this month!!

Didn't do much last night (apart from eat brie!) as I was on-call and had to take a few calls up until about 2am so feeling a bit tired this morning

Have a lovely day MSEers