This is it! 2027 is the goal...

Schoolworker

I haven't tried guosto boxes but we did try the hello fresh when we got good deals. It was good and we use the recipes cards to make the meals again which the whole family love. 

Mrs_Binxtoria

Thanks @Schoolworker, I have tried Hello Fresh in the past too. Still undecided about the other one, will take a look later today and make a decision.

In other news we have an external water leak  I have received all the quotes and asked someone to do the work for £1425.  I doubt the insurance will pay out but we might be able to get £250 from our water company for replacing the whole pipe rather than a repair.  Looking at the insurance they will only pay the cost of a repair and not a full replacement.  We want the replacement as once it has gone in one area it is likely to go in other places as well.  Each of the people that we have spoken to all said that the replacement is the better option so will go with it.

Unfortunately we will have to use the EF to pay for this as our DIY pot is being used for the roof extension.  It is what it is there for but I am a little sad as this is the first time that I have had to dip into it since we had set it up 2 years ago.  This also means that any extra money will go towards reinstating the EF rather than the mortgage, but on the positive side we will still be making progress with the OPs as the S&S ISA is on a standing order and that is ring fenced for the mortgage.

Mrs_Binxtoria

Balanced my accounts this morning and did a small Tilly Tidy to the mortgage o/p pot.  I am continuing with the o/p pot until we have paid for all the repairs for both the roof extension and water leak and then I will start building the e/f back up.  So this gives me a couple of extra weeks to do as many Prolifics as I can, banked £8.81 this week 

I have decided against a Gou$to box, well DH did he didn't think that it was good value for money, instead I am just about to meal plan for the next 10 days and do the grocery shop.  I have quite a lot in the freezer and cupboards so will start there first.  I am back to work on Monday so will need to do some batch cooking / meal prep.  I WFH 3 days a week and 2 in the office but never have a decent lunch at home as I just get sucked into to work, so will need to prepare lunch as if I was going into the office.

I have had 3 weeks off work and during that time I have been doing a lot of thinking/planning and need to focus on my health as well as the wealth.  Working from home has been very detrimental for my health as I used to walk the 3 miles there and back but I can no longer do that, I struggle to walk up the hill from town on some days.  I would like to get back to walking to the office again but now it is such a pain that I have to lug my laptop around with me wherever I go, so that puts me off to start with.  It is mainly uphill walking and I don't want to get into the office all sweaty and flustered, but what I can do is get off the bus a couple of stops early on the way home and walk up the two hills to home.  That will be a good starting point for me. Of course it depends on the heat, there is no way I will be doing this in the current weather 

 

savingholmes

Breaks are good for helping you re-direct your life when it's gone off course. 3 weeks off work sounds lovely.

Mrs_Binxtoria

Yes it was lovely SH, we spent one week in the Peak District and the dog was living his best life.  Everywhere was so dog friendly, one place had cushions and a bowl of biscuits by each table and brought out sausages as well.  He was very spoilt.

Back to work today, the meal prep didn't happen as planned, mainly on account that I haven't been shopping yet.  I will be going later so will knock up something tonight for tomorrow.  We are down to the dregs, even the kids were complaining that there was nothing to eat, I did try putting a positive spin on it and said at least we weren't contributing to food waste 

I have been considering my pension lately, we should be getting our annual pay rise this month so I am considering upping my AVCs but I would like to find out about salary sacrifice first to see if it would be beneficial to do that and then pay extra AVCs with the additional pay that I would have.  Why are decisions so hard to make?

I had quite a run with the Prolific surveys so I am waiting for them to pay up so that I can move the money to my o/p pot.

savingholmes

Good luck with the AVC decision. I am currently trying to sort mine too.

Mrs_Binxtoria

I haven't yet made any progress with contacting the pensions team about salary sacrifice/AVCs but I really should as my salary goes up this month so I intend to make further AVCs.

First day back in the office today and I took my lunch which I prepared last night and my herbal tea so no money spent in work today which was good.  I didn't however get off the bus stop early as I was chatting to a colleague that I hadn't seen for a while.  After tea this evening we went to the beach which was lovely, I tend to stay away from the beach in the summer but felt the need to go this evening.  The dog and kids had a lovely time and then we stopped and had hot chocolate 

Cashed in some Prolific money today, balanced the accounts and did a TT all over to the o/p pot.

I managed to sell some outgrown school uniform which has helped towards the cost of the new things that I have had to buy.  It doesn't cover the cost but it all helps.

I have a day off tomorrow so planning to all go out for a nice walk with a picnic.

savingholmes

Great news on the sales. 

Well done on the taking lunch in too. 

Jealous of the beach trip. I'd love to live closer to one.

Mrs_Binxtoria

Had a lovely day off yesterday, the children didn't want to come with us  to our local NT property so it was just DH, me and the dog.  We took sandwiches and fruit so all very MSE.  DH asked if i wanted tea at the cafe but said no as we had water with us.

So yesterday was a complete NSD - apart from fuel.

Can't say the same for today, i had work in the office and succumbed to a coffee and a snack - £2.35.  I did take my lunch so that was a bonus.  I also swerved the shop on the way home where I was very tempted to buy some cider, but I knew that I had wine in the fridge so didn't need cider. 

Cashed in some more Prolific money today so another £5.41 to the o/p pot  


I am looking forward to going to our local outdoor theatre on Sunday, it is set in the woods with a big covered in shelter and hay bales to sit on.  They also do a pot of vegan stew and have promised DD that she can have some this time as we usually don't. I might feel the need to have a beverage or two watching the play 

savingholmes

Enjoy the outdoor play. I was going to go to some near us... I should probably check out options before I miss them entirely...