New year plus new decade equals, new diary

charhen19

My big monthly supermarket shop is due to be delivered tonight and I'll make list upon list of cupboard and freezer contents plus a few bogof items which I'll be putting aside for "no spend January" next year. 

I've ordered my contact lenses which should last me until around the end of August.  I got a "recommend a friend code" for £5 credit towards my next order (and 10% off for them) so have forwarded that onto a few people.  Fingers crossed someone will use it within that time. 

I've paid my penny-a-day jar and my £1 a day jar up to 19th March (I get paid again 20th March) and TT's all up to date also. 

charhen19

Mini targets for up to March payday (20th):

EF to get up to £250 from current total of £211 £39 to find

Furniture balance down to £80 from current £106.29 (£15.29 DD to come out 1st March) £11 to find

Keep up to date with everything else! 

charhen19

Another very busy weekend and a few organisational things went to pot but nothing too disastrous so it's time to get back on track now.  I've done a meal plan for the next couple of days, few fresh bits to get on the way home tonight.  TT's have been kept up to date (that's the one thing I'd never like to let slide).  Budget is pretty much on track but I should have a better grip of it once my bills come out in a week and I can see what I'm left with. 

We have a pretty much free weekend coming up which is unusual, so tonight I'll get to making a list of things we need to get round to so as not to waste the opportunity!  Number one has to be to get a battery for my watch - it's driving me mad, I keep looking at it!!  We also have a few DIY jobs to do so will need to pick up the bits we need for them at some point too.  

charhen19

I'm not planning much at all for tonight as I need to get back on track with the day-to-day housework (laundry is overflowing) - plus I'm tired so hopefully an early night too.  Nice dinner, bit of tv watching and bed. 

charhen19

I've received a letter from one of the original creditors on my dmp (debt has been passed to DCA via the DMP) stating there was a hiccup on my account years ago and if I send a form back they'd like to credit me with £75 for any "distress and suffering" caused.  I have no idea what they're on about but I'll happily take the £75 thank you!!  Have sent the forms back and if it materialises I think I'll pay the £75 off the DMP as that's what it's for and I wasn't expecting it anyway so it makes sense to. 

Let's hope these things come in threes like they say and I've another 2 little bonuses to come! 

charhen19

Before my big monthly supermarket shop last week on payday, I went online and downgraded several items to "value" range which shaved a fair bit off the total.  Most items I have are already the most basic range and some items are no longer available in basic Still we're happy with the downgrades we've made so will stick with them from now on (cotton wool is cotton wool right?  And eggs are eggs, however when it comes to eggs that's something I'll probably upgrade as soon as I can as I'd prefer to support the chickens having led a happy life). 

We nipped into another supermarket (walking distance so savings weren't wasted in petrol or parking) to get the bits which worked out cheaper when I'd checked online.  Deodorant (sensitive skin - there's only one I can use) was £1 cheaper.  I was shocked so stocked up on a few of those.  Will continue to not be loyal to just one shop all the while time allows for it within the logistics of the week/month. 

I found 2 chunky fish fillets for £1.08 on yellow sticker down from £4.00 so they've been added to the freezer list  and I have breadmaking and jelly making on my list of things to do tonight whilst OH is at his sports club.  I only recently remembered jelly existed!  It's a cheap lunchbox snack filler and so long as it's sugar free it's not too naughty.  I have some berries to mix into it to up our 5 a day intake too.  I think we'll try some different bread at the weekend, maybe ciabatta or some flavoured bread rolls.  I must have saved money by not buying bread already (breadmaker was gifted to me a while ago) and I see no reason to stop making our own, it's so easy. 

charhen19

Well I managed to get 90% of my chores list done last night whilst OH was at his sports club which is a massive achievement! 

Storm Dennis had managed to bring down 2 of our fence panels.  The fence is shared with a public building and I thought I may have to claim off our home insurance or even their insurance but they made sure they replaced them in a speedy time - I was worried about our security.  Also, how would we have paid the excess?  Really reminds me how much I need to work on building the EF.  OH had emailed them and they'd done it within 5 days whilst the building happened to be closed to the public.  Last night I got home to a letter saying they would be replacing the remaining old ones really soon as they're pretty old and then the new ones won't stand out so much.  Great result for us and we keep a good relationship with them. 

charhen19

We've had a super busy week so I'm hoping to get on here to catch up soon. 

charhen19

DMP balances have been adjusted following the most recent payment - signature updated.  The end is now very near in sight!

charhen19

We've been plodding along doing all the things we normally do but with a few other commitments chucked in there too and things are starting to calm down again now. 

We had a friend round for dinner Saturday and baked some fancy Italian bread which worked out really well so will definitely continue to experiment with different recipes.  Has anyone made a decent garlic bread in a bread maker?  Or dough for flour tortillas to have fajitas?  I would love a good tried and tested recipe to be recommended if possible. 

Daily clicks are slow but steady.  I think it's just something you have to build into your daily routine and sort of forget about the total until you reach payout amount.  Otherwise it seems frustrating but once that money comes in I'll be grateful I bothered.