Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

savingholmes

Sorry you've not been well. Hope you recover quickly.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

@savingholmes, thank you, I'm getting there, got meds for the vertigo but head is still quite 'swimmy' and I'm so tired but I'm On Call so working from home this week which should help.

Having quite a good MSE day today, 2 loads of washing on the line and airer, dinner from the freezer (spag bol that I previously made) and started a massive sort out of my wardrobe.  I have been holding on to clothes from when I was at my lightest, almost 4 years ago before I met OH, I was about 10.5 stones then and I'm more like 12.5 now, I've been holding on to things thinking I'll lose the weight again but realistically I won't, I hope to lose a stone, taking me to 11.5 but even then some of these clothes won't fit or will still be too tight.  I've gone through my jeans, trousers, skirts and some of my day-to-day dresses today, will go through the rest tomorrow, some items I will try and sell and any money put to one side for future purchases, the rest can go to charity.  I've had some more UUs so more money gone in to the savings pot, Radox bubble bath and a L'Occitane refreshing mist used up today.

Had a quiet weekend, fish n chips Friday night, homemade goats cheese and caramelised onion tarts on Saturday (I'd seen them in Lidl, would have needed 3 boxes, had pastry and caramelised onion chutney at home so just bought some goats cheese and made them) and yesterday we had salmon topped with tomato pesto, couscous and sweetcorn.  DS, DIL and DGD came round on Saturday, we spent the afternoon in the garden, it was so warm and sunny, DS and DGD went in the hottub and we all had a little flutter on the National, my horse came in 5th!  Didn't make our millions but it was a bit of fun.

It's my dad's birthday this week and I have absolutely no idea what to get him, he doesn't drink, doesn't smoke, no hobbies and isn't even leaving the house very much at the moment so I can't even get him a voucher for a meal!  I need to think of something fast!

Have a great evening

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Had a busy night with work last night so glad I was organised with dinner for OH and DD, they enjoyed their spag bol, I just had some toast as been suffering from awful heartburn the last couple of days, I did have some greek yogurt which helped sooth it for a while.

More sorting out today and the plan is to pop the majority of it on Facebook this weekend.  Another UU last night, nivea shower gel so another £1 in my tin.  Still awaiting my £150 CT Rebate, my first payment of the year has gone through (DD) so hopefully will receive it soon, CHB due to so enough money in my account to cover the British Gas DD of £200.  I checked my BG account today, they are wanting me to raise my DD to £250pm but we are using the washing line and airer now instead of the tumble drier and the heating is off so I'm hoping to avoid doing that.

I popped to Lidl earlier, picked up a couple of the £1.50 veg boxes, really pleased, loads of potatoes, apples, satsumas, 2 aubergines, a butternut squash, spring onions, onions etc so will make the most of that this week whilst I am home based and possibly freeze a few meals.  I also managed to get some of the Toulouse sausages that were on the seasonal aisle, they are made with garlic and wine and really nice but they only have them once a year.  On the way home I went to The Factory Shop and found a couple of presents for Dad for tomorrow, nothing much but at least he has something to open and they are coming round for a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

Making myself a quick lunch now of egg rolls (part baked rolls left over from Christmas and free eggs that I was given) and tonight we are having wraps with chicken and halloumi at DD's request.

Have a lovely afternoon

MvTMM

savingholmes

All sounding very organised. I hope your Dad has a nice birthday. Glad you found something to give him!

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I was really suffering yesterday with my vertigo and a migraine so didn't do very much.  Mum and dad popped round for tea and cake and so that I could give him his birthday present which he really liked.  DD cooked dinner, Pasta Putanesca.

I've had a couple more UUs, English Laundry perfume and L'Occitane hand cream (which I finished off softening my elbows!) so another £2 into my tin.

DD going to Big Town today with her best friend, she's going to try and sort out the savings accounts her dad had opened in her name, there were 2 but he's now saying there's only one, either way she needs details of how much is in there and how she accesses this in time for Uni.  I'm relieved she's going today as I was going to try and take her on Tuesday but with how my vertigo has been I'd rather not be committed to that, plus it will save me on Fuel/parking etc.

I'm on call for the whole of the Bank Holiday weekend, so nothing planned, I'm hoping the weather will be nice and we can enjoy some sunshine in the garden and some nice homecooked food, might even fire up the pizza oven.

Have a great weekend everyone

MvTMM

savingholmes

Hope you feel better soon. 

Pizza oven sounds fab. 

Hope DD gets savings accounts resolved. 

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Sorry I haven't posted for a while, what with illness, being on call and then having visitors the time has flown.  We had a lovely week with Stepson and his family but ate and drank far too much!  We used the pizza oven a couple of times which was fun. We had a cream tea and a Caribbean take away which was a bit of an indulgence but the rest of the time we ate out of our stores, there is actually some room in the freezers now.  Yesterday we were busy gardening so I popped a beef joint from the freezer into the slow cooker with some red wine and then an hour before we wanted to eat threw potatoes and honey parsnips, stuffing and cauliflower cheese in to the oven and sprouts and carrots into the steamer, went and had a bath and it was all ready for us and yummy.  The veg all came from a £1.50 veg box from lidls.

DD still hasn't managed to sort out the Bank accounts her father supposed had for her, the bank said he would have to go in and close them and they couldn't give her any details despite that fact that at least one of the accounts transferred to her at age 16.  She told her father they would both need to go in (basically because she didn't trust him to go in alone) but the next day he said he had closed the account and put the money in one of his savings accounts.  He still won't tell her how much he has saved even though he knows it is because she is trying to organise herself for Uni.  It's all control and mind games with him!.

I did manage to go and sort out the Child Trust Fund account so she will benefit from that once she turns 18 and I still need to cash in the Family Assurance Bond I have for her.

MSE wise I need to take meter readings again this week to keep on top of the Gas/Electricity accounts, we have been using the washing line but the hot tub has been on more through having visitors.   I've had several UUs over the last few days, perfume samples, ends of tubes of hand cream which I have cut open and used as body moisturiser.  I discovered the English Laundry perfume bottle that I had previously emptied was refillable so some of the L'Occitane mini bottles I had I've decanted from their dabber bottles into the spray bottle as I prefer a spray.

Pay day on Friday, we are supposed to be getting an increase but I don't know if it will be in this month's pay, regardless I will be making my usual overpayments.

It's now less that 2 months until our wedding and we had a lovely email from the venue today checking we had catering etc in hand, which we do, final payments are due over the next couple of weeks but we have that all budgeted for.  We have an appointment for OHs suit on Saturday, he has seen what he wants and just wants to try it on and arrange any alterations etc.

Have a great afternoon

MvTMM

savingholmes

Exciting to be so close to your wedding day - even better to know you have the funds to pay for it. 

Hope DD gets her accounts sorted soon.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi @savingholmes

Yeah, very exciting re the wedding, we started planning it so long ago, before we were even engaged!  An elopement is certainly easier on the pocket, even though we are still having a caterer, photographer, hair and make up etc and combining it with a mini-moon!

Your holiday is looking fab, so very relaxing, enjoy every minute and well done on passing the exam.

MvTMM

savingholmes

Thanks - I never really know who reads my diary unless they comment. I'm certainly surrounded by panoramic gorgeous views! Relieved the exam is over.

What are your plans for your mini moon?