First Steps to Solvency

alt80

Day 80 - @RelievedSheff day 81 is tomorrow, stop wishing my life away lol.

Decided to have a device free day; all of us me, my wife and son been nice tbh. Weather been mixed and just stayed in really had a roast chicken and made another cheesecake. No money spent, almost month end both wife and I said we are just going to spend on food shop and nothing else. I was expecting her binging Love Island ready for the final tomorrow I think but she's said she's not bothered - not watched it for a few days. We are back on the annual new iPhone realise countdown though ha she knows more about Apple products than the !!!!!! staff in the shops lol. She's not sure whether to upgrade her phone or not I've said it's up to her - her contract is up and tbh I don't mind if she upgrades it this time. Half tempted myself - get mine through business and contract due up so might be nice. Like the sound of the new iPad mini too does sound like it's going to be a cool product. Wife's got her eye on the redesigned Apple Watch fml got her one last year idk that's one product I really don't understand she wears one as her daily watch and a lot of my staff do but I just don't get it at all. I like a proper watch on my wrist and I don't want to know my steps/ see my messages etc on my wrist - just not interested and never thought they'd take off when my wife got her first - she was def an early adopter of the tech but they have. 

@getmore4less thanks mate that's a different way of looking at things. I do actually really enjoy the weekends away when I get there, this past six months has been amazing for trips away. Idk what's wrong with me been on a lot more expensive hols that I've never really enjoyed did for wife but these little trips away in UK have been brilliant. 

Where you going on your hol? I have actually really enjoyed the planning too - something to put some of my energy into.

alt80

@Sun_Addict thank you my son is enjoying it very much. Wife said today she's always wanted me part of the family in the way I am now actually thought today maybe she wants me and not just a lifestyle idk.

@RelievedSheff my son loved it - he likes seeing the old buildings lol got something in common with me fml.

getmore4less

Weather today messed  up our stay in plans.

Had lined up some meat for the grill and it was sunny most of the afternoon but by the time we got round to cooking it was chucking it down, I think I feel a BBQ shelter project in the making so i can get from door to BBQ without getting wet.

could not be bothered so had Pizza.

Forecast is dry/sun today from 11am, eat early then then go out, will be enough left for a snack in the evening.


We had been looking at various options Spain Greece etc some decent deals but still hesitant due to testing and red risk.
Will keep looking we can pick up at short notice if something looks OK, after nothing for nearly 2 years happy to pack in a few trips before the end of the year.

For this one stumbled on a cruise(not new to us) that is a bit of a bargain visits places around the UK, we can day trip at those either organised by ship or DIY at most, get transported to somewhere else while eating drinking and getting entertained, no driving, we had been looking at a road trip this will be a lot easier if nothing goes wrong.

It is AI but we will upgrade some meals and drinks, if weather gets bad we can stay on the ship, done that before on a trip where it rained heavily every day, not a lot of planning for this as we already know most of the places we will go.

Reports are ships are behind UK on the rules so masks will be needed, only table service and social distancing in place, happy with that if it keeps people safe.


New week try to redress the balance, pick a day to have another trip with son while still off, could try a wind up on the wife if she comments on too many boy trips,  "need to get good at this dad game just in case you do decide to FO".

warby68

That's all great weekend news and wife seems in a better place too.

This is all you need to be a family man and good dad, being present and enjoying life with each other. It really is about time rather than money.

Day 81 as well - a fantastic achievement. I think we all get how very hard it is.

Those 'L' plates will be coming off soon

alt80

Day 81. 

No spends planned apart from food, no plans for after work apart from dog walk. 

@Willowtree222 thank you I just need to keep with the programme - you’re right re the addictions remaining just have to keep reframing how I’m dealing with it. 

@getmore4less ha that’s not a bad idea mate my FIL has something like that. He’s !!!!!! mad for it obsessed lol. I’m still looking into this treehouse thinking plan for next summer. Idk half stressed because there’s a lot of things can do outside work when you look into it places, projects, breaks etc overwhelming really. Probably why some look for retirement - can’t fit the work in haha. 

I’m not sure about a cruise esp with Covid rates - they are going up and from what I know cruises are particular vulnerable to viruses. Re Greece - if you go and go from island to island or mainland to island you need to produce evds of 2 jabs and fill a form out idk if the form is in English or not suppose I’ll find out when I go. Cases are rising in Greece esp in the popular tourist hotspots. Spain I’ve no idea, not planning to go there. Flying once maybe twice a year quite enough for me lol. 

Going to have Friday, BH Monday and Tuesday next week off. BH Monday is BBQ at in laws all her family turning up last time I went to one of those I lost the !!!!!! plot entirely so I’m not thrilled about it but wife wants me to go. Just need to not be a !!!!!! about it and let her siblings and in-laws say whatever the !!!!!! they want ha. Probably won’t have a full day out with son only this week. 

@warby68 thanks. She is doing well idk see if it lasts ha. 

Yeah I’ve not spent money for a long time apart from some family lunches out, few entry fees etc looking at budget which needs a bit of updating coming in under estimations - mainly just been on walks, drive out to places. Did go to RHS garden but that was in the EQC which is something like £8 for full charge, not even worth talking about and looking at getting some charge points at comm office not just for mine but a few staff going to be swapping to EV soon. Tesla 3 popular ha think it’s faster than my EQC but I couldn’t live with that interior and no where for dog - son does not need my dog sitting on his knee lol. Idk quite enjoying the low budget lifestyle haha fml. 

RelievedSheff

Those are words I never thought I would hear you say

alt80

@RelievedSheff you aren’t the only one mate. Have to make the most of working like a !!!!!! to see £20 spends max but only if expensed. Literally have no !!!!!! money of my own anymore and no plans to apart from company cards. Seriously idk what’s wrong with me but I am quite enjoying not having any access to money still a novelty when we go out saying it’s on the Mrs fml lol. 

alt80

@RelievedSheff not saying I’d do it in a Hyundai though lol 😜

getmore4less

Ships are so scared of an outbreak they are being ultra careful

Your next BBQ challenge could be beer can chicken  you eat enough of the birds.

For the big family do if her siblings kick of,  just say now your sister is not spending like she is married to a footballer things are a lot better.

Then throw some eco talk into the mix, got the car now need the wind farm and the solar panels.
(Does not mater if you don't care about them)

stymied

@getmore4less good plan, go prepped with topics to change the subject to. Talk about your days out with son, plans for the treehouse. If you know what your trigger topics are (anything spend related) then you know when to ‘go and check on your son’, ‘wife asked me to get her a drink’ etc. Volunteer to cook if possible to give you something to do.