Giving every £ a job

ladyholly

Yes I have been taking the girls to the panto for 25 years now. I thing the older dgd was 2 when we started. Every year iask if they want to go as I did think during their teenage years it would tail off but no we are still going. Partners are not invited as this is just for me and them. I used to also take them to the carnival but I cant stand for long enough now.

Blackcats

@ladyholly - that's such a lovely family tradition.  

2 savings accounts matured today so I've used the proceeds for our 24/25 ISA's.  We got a reasonable interest rate and the process wasn't too fiddly. They can sit quietly now until next November.  It's still a novelty to receive interest rather than paying it.

enjoying doing the border on the crochet blanket and I'm on track to have it done by DGD's birthday.

savingholmes

Well done on the crocheting. I love the Board giving you xmas gifts!

lucielle

Are you able to tell us who you got in the secret Santa…. Asking for a friend.
Ive finished all my crochet squares and need to decide on the pattern and then join them up. A task I’m not looking forward too. 

L

Blackcats

Thank you @savingholmes.
@Lucielle - if you promise not to tell anyone then I can reveal that after putting our entire company names into a hat I drew - drum roll - MrBC! 

I used Attic 24's sewing up crochet squares method.  I set myself a target of a strip a day (not that kind of a strip 😉) but a strip of squares a day.  I think it helps that I've got a deadline for completion for DGD's birthday.

went for a swim this morning.  A fellow swimmer in the slow Lane said he was using me as his pacesetter.  Lord help him, he must have been desperate.  Spurred me on to do 2 extra lengths though.  Brunch in the local cafe and then a trip to Lidls.  Admin this afternoon including opening a nationwide regular saver which will fund next Christmas.

lucielle

Wow that was a surprise!! Wonder if there difficult to buy for?
L

Blackcats

@lucielle - he is almost impossible to buy for.  At the moment I'm trying to think of a CD I can buy him (although last time I bought him one he didn't want to ruin it by taking the plastic wrapping off so I'd need to do that before I wrap it up).  Otherwise it's a packet of chocolate sprouts as he isn't a fan of real sprouts.  

I went to Zumba this morning whilst MrBC was due to be swimming, however, he forgot his trunks apparently because I rushed him and the car was frosted up 🤷‍♀️.  He did use his time to go to the garage and get the car booked in for 2 new tyres and something to do with brake pads.  There is a car expenses pot but that doesn't mean I want to use it!

inspired by @PennysIntoPounds I am going to set aside a couple of hours to sort through my jewellery and make myself an advent jewellery calendar.  I have a lot of mostly costume jewellery but tend to wear the same few things so it will be fun to have some variety.  I shall wear the things I got from my mum on Christmas Day.

Sun_Addict

That’s a great idea with the jewellery. I love Mr BC’s excuses for forgetting his trunks 🤣

PennysIntoPounds

Aw I'm glad I inspired you, it's such a nice (and useful) thing to do. How lovely to wear your mum's things for Christmas day.
I vote your Tiffany piece for Secret Santa Swap day 😁

Blackcats

Great idea to bring out the Tiffany jewellery for secret Santa day.  I've bought MrBC a CD which I shall remove the plastic wrap from before wrapping it up for the swop or he won't ever play it.  Apparently he doesn't know what to buy me.  Honestly I'm so easy to buy for - candles, hand cream, toiletries, chocolate, wine, fancy teas .....I stood him outside our lovely local gift shop and hinted/told him that he would definitely find something suitable in there.

A stay at home pottering about day today as we didn't want to venture out and battle Storm Bert.  I've been hankering after a nice roast dinner for a few weeks now so we spent some of our eating out money on a piece of beef from the butcher and MrBC made a fab dinner. Roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and green beans.  My rationale for using the eating out money was that this was our at home pub lunch.   Sunday lunch out works out so pricey if you add in a glass of wine, a coffee, a pudding etc.  our last experience was expensive (nearly £70) and you could have used the beef to sole your boots.  Inspired by Levi Roots' recipe we had griddled pineapple with a warm rum, lime and vanilla syrup for pudding.  My goodness it was yummy.  Oh and I realise it's Saturday not Sunday today but we go to my dad's on a Sunday evening so we wouldn't have the luxury of sitting back and relaxing in the warm after lunch tomorrow.

Money matters are all tidy and ready to switch across to December budgets.  How can it be nearly December again?  This year has flown by!