Mortgage free and finally in a forever home

TallGirl

So far so good with exercise been to yoga last night and it was really good. Would have been to Pump and Pilates tonight but had a wisdom tooth out today so not good to be jumping around.  

Not spent anything just the dentist so that's all good managed to resist all sales etc. 

Going for a walk tonight then healthy dinner. Dg is doing really well too dietwise so feel like we are on track.  

Still feel I need some aims for 2022 I think these  would make sense:

• Join the £12k saving challenge on MSE fill up Premium Bonds once I have enough cash savings. 
• Avoid expensive coffees out only use points, free such as loyalty points or O2 app. 
• Start reading again just need to find a book that interest me or thinking of looking audible as we have prime.  

TallGirl

Checked and I've won £75 on premium bonds this month. That means I've averaged £25/pm since I bought them in Jan 21. I had £20k for most of the year now I've got £28k plus £300 in winnings. Max is £50k that's where I would like to be but need savings pots for car, holiday etc filled back up. 

Really struggling to get back into work again. Got some tricky projects but good ones too. Looking forward to the weekend for sure but need to be productive tomorrow. 

Took cat back to the vets today £32 he is fine now but eye might never close properly again poor gentle giant we think he is being picked on. Also dg was in a car crash taking me to the airport. Been without the estate for two weeks finally picked up today then got a message missed call saying there is an issue with the suspension  need to check with insurers. Well it's a 2018 so I hope they don't scrap it.  They finally gave us a curtesy car today bit of w joke it's a Corsa tiny really just as well we are not planning any longer trips. Might get on the phone to them tomorrow to moan I think it's really bad or should I wait until Monday. The other party admitted liability so nothing for us to pay I just want my car back really.  Well that is two bad things when is number three let's hope it doesn't arrive. 

Food going ok been naughty eating liquorice sweets I brought from Denmark. Dg hasn't noticed and she's been good at least. So hungry today might have my dinner soon. 

Tahlullah.H

What happened to Kitty's eye?  Hope he is ok.

TallGirl

Tahlullah.H said:

What happened to Kitty's eye?  Hope he is ok.

Thanks Tahlullah he has been in yet another fight and got a bite in the corner of his mouth that affected his ability to close his eye. He is better but there might be permanent damage so still doing eye drops. They think he is being picked on by other cats as he is do gentle and friendly. 

Friday today cannot wait for the weekend didn't do any exercise yesterday my tooth still hurts but is getting better. 

Auto renewed my Gardeners’ world magazine only £27 for 6 months and I do enjoy it but have asked for it to be cancelled next time.

A while since I've done a picture of the boys here they are together which is rare. You can also see how small Elmo is and how huge Stitch is on the cushion he is the one with the bad eye. 

TallGirl

Done super well in the gym this week 1 workout session, 4 classes and 2 PT session feels good did have Friday off. Going to just have 1 PT session a week now saves £150 every 5 weeks. Dg did well too 5 in total from nothing. 

Thursday dg tested positive for Covid I was negative. I'm ok but getting a sore throat which is how hers started. Only place we go out is gym and we did different classes so I'm likely to get it but guess we all have to at some point. All triple vaccinated. 

So no golf today had to cancel so diy sorted out the upcycle projects. Dg had bought a new unit for the office.  No real instructions and although cheap it is total Chinese rubbish. Asked for a refund but you have to pay for postage so £26 might be wasted. Never seen such a poor unit the bottom of the draws nail on and you have to screw right through the sides so the screw heads a visible from the outside. Yuck yuck yuck. 

Stitch is back on antibiotics another abscess . Otherwise everything is fine. Got good reviews at my q3 check in at work and I'm doing my weigh in tomorrow. 14 days since we started. 

TallGirl

So I'm now positive as well and took yesterday and today off work. Runny nose and cough plus headache feels like Omicron. Dg is still positive so we're staying in. Might have to cancel PT Saturday have already cancelled golf. Just want to get better watched two films yesterday which was nice but also quite bored now. 

Have been upcycling our little chest got a new lid which was £50 so not cheap but it's wood and the original one was broken. Used spray paint we already had plus sandpaper. Going for quite a rustic look with rusty iron wear and shabby chic paint possibly with a sage green wash over it.  

Car has had to go back as it made a noise so got a lovely 4WD instead shame we can't drive it lol. 

Spendwise obviously not going out so quite good. Got paid today will need to check if I've got my work from home allowance back which they did not pay me last month. My pay is about the right about higher but it's the back pay I'm not sure off. Car being delivered back now so hopefully now noise free. 

TallGirl

Oh dear bored and now spent on an odd box fruit box as dg bought a new smoothie blender. Got 50% off but would have been better to have done a referral. Here is my link if anyone wants to try it.  I've not had mine yet so can't say what is like but good to save fruit from the rubbish pile just because they are small. 

TallGirl

Actually done some money saving today while still off sick

My Santa regular saver matured now it used to give £60 then it was £30 and wait for it got £6.58 this year on the £200. So set up SO with Premium Bonds instead for £200 and moved the January payment over. I get paid around the 23 so it will move over on the 25 so will wait one month they count in the draw. Total balance in there is £28,500 plan is to have £50k which is the max. Winnings since I started which I think will be just over 1 year is £300. I did win £75 in Jan so I am sure £200 regular savings will make more than the £5.58 over the year if not not a lot lost lol. 

I still have a regular saver with First D it's £300 but as it's not matured yet I'll leave it and then decide. Likely I'm going to up it to £500 but l do rely on the annual lump sum to pay for holidays etc. 

Now that's my next dilemma I feel my budgeting is not really working that well. I was short for the holidays and I would quite like to pay for my golf membership up front annually as it saves £120 a year.  I used it use Santa for that problem is they are changing the way you'll pay so might just wait until May which is when the changes comes in. They are also building a pool and gym up there not that I'm planning to change over.  

Still not feeling well took the day off sick again really hope I start feeling better too need to test again but dg is still positive and she's on day 9.  Frustrating starting to be so bored. 

TallGirl

Feeling a lot better ready to tackle the week for sure and back in the gym. 

Finished the chest cost £70 due to the new lid but had we had better diy skill a lot Cheever. Did find chalk paint in Aldi for £1.99 run out so fab for next few projects. 

Let me know what you think. 

Before 

In the actual room 

Also sold our tall boy that came with the house £25 pick up tomorrow. 

Too big in small bedroom so nice to get rid. Office looking great with new second hand unit and cat bed on a different base. 

TallGirl

Morning should really have started work but still sitting in bed next to a purring Stitch who unusually is on the bed. It's normally Elmo so makes a nice change.  

New month 4 weeks until our holiday really cannot wait.  Need to do some money shuffles and pay off my credit card from my dentist bill. Also need to pay DG for her cousins Christmas present. Hopefully find the last £300 to make sure I meet my savings target this month. 

Doing well with gym and food. Didn't loose any weight in the last two weeks but over all lost 25cm in 4 weeks I recon that's a dress size. Still a lot more to go but in the gym every evening and we have PT Friday mornings now so 5 days plus golf at weekends. 

Work is ok getting busier and learning a lot. Still doing the business planning with the overall manager which is hard but again learning a lot. Second meeting today hopefully go ok.  DG got up at 6am this morning to go to a business brunch. I'm proud of her no way would she ever had done that before so nice to see. Also getting more attention online plus being good with food and exercise which will help her self esteem no end. 

Money shuffles all done credit card clear £300 topped up for savings plus £500 for Feb. Allowing myself £300 spending money I have haircut and it's our anniversary but nothing else should be expensive. Right now I really must get up.