Tightening the belts for unpaid leave

[Deleted User]

We've spent £10.82 today on a brush for the cat - his fur is all matted so it is a necessity.  Other than that, NSD.  Have a Zoom call with friends in a minute so DH making some home made pizzas (from stores) and we have cracked open the wine.  We had our delivery of wine/meats/cheeses last night but the wine had corked when we opened it!  We rang the place and they replaced it for us but had originally said it would be replaced today so we cracked on with dinner.  Then they rang back and said they'd replace last night instead but by then we'd eaten all our food.  So we now have a naice bottle of wine to have next time we have something fancy.

[Deleted User]

OMG we were SO hungover on Sunday - great zoom call with friends - we lasted until 1am and some of them continued past 3!  Almost drank ourselves out of wine.  So Sunday was tough with the kids to look after.  NSD sunday and yesterday (bar milk delivery).  Today should be though I do need to order a bag of cat food which is about £35 (he's on a special diet vet prescribed) and am also tempted by a whole box of Malteser bunnies from good old A!  I've put so much weight on since second DC, Christmas and lock down and do need to start shifting it as just look and feel awful.  But I kinda want to wait until lockdown over as tempted to do Bodycoach 90 day plan but that requires stuff which probably means going to more than 1 shop which I want to avoid at present.  I should just get my bl00dy joggers on and go for a run but I am far too lazy/unmotivated at present.  

[Deleted User]

Another groundhog day which at least should be NSD (bar milk/yoghurt which were delivered this morning).  Cat food was £35.99 and out of budget.  Thought I wouldn't have to go shopping until next week but transpires DH didn't put branflakes for DC1 on the list and he has those every morning.  Plus we are out of wine bar the nice bottle.  So think I will go Friday (which is still within this month's pay so hoping it stays in this month's budget) and may as well do a big shop so as to avoid having to go again early next week.  Also want to send my parents something as a thank you for the cash they gave to DC2 and me.  So just need to figure out what to send and order it.  Pay day Friday but will run my new budget from Saturday to keep consistent.

Will be a less than usual paypacket as all my pension contributions up to and including August will be coming out.  However, the way things have fallen, I will get 4 days pay end March so can give that to DH towards house costs as he will be picking those up from then.  Will also get my bonus paid end March but planning on putting that towards house savings (though if we need it for household costs we can use it)

[Deleted User]

I may have just ordered a box of 32 Malteaster bunnies (and added on a pack of giant skittles).  I am going straight to hell.

Blackcats

Hi Rebecca - I went back to your post about the white company and I'm going to "tell you off" for calling yourself useless.  No negative self talk please 🙄.  Seriously we should never speak to ourselves in a way that we would not speak to our friends and family.  I bet if a friend told you that she had already bought some Christmas pyjamas in the sale you would think she was super organised and had got a bargain.  So tell yourself the same thing and just remember where you put the pyjamas in 10 months time 😂.  

I really want a malteezer bunny now.  Wouldn't it be fab if those 32 bunnies bred like rabbits in the box - you'd have hundreds before Easter.  

[Deleted User]

Awww thanks Blackcats, you are right that I shouldn't talk to myself in such a negative way.  The pyjamas arrived and they are absolutely gorgeous - embroidered with christmas theme and just lovely so am very pleased with them.  DH said the same as you about remembering where I've put them (or that we even have them!) - I'll write it in the diary for week before Dec 1st.  The gifts for my friend arrived as well and are so lovely.  It would be so great if those bunnies bred!

Tonight is fajitas from stores and we are going to watch the Red Sea Diving Resort on Netflix.  I've seen it before but think DH will love it and it was so good so will watch it again.  Made a shopping list/meal plan so will go Friday.

[Deleted User]

Yesterday was a NSD.  We had left over fajitas for lunch, then meatballs and garlic bread for dinner from stores.  Today won't be a NSD as doing the "big shop" and we do need wine.  We are definitely drinking too much at the moment but life is pretty stressful so we are using this as an excuse.  I have been up since 4 with DC2.  He is normally a brilliant sleeper and sleeps through the night but he does have the odd night where he wakes at 4 or 5.  Today was 4.  I could go back to bed as he is now asleep on me but I don't think I'll get back to sleep before DC1 wakes up so may as well sit it out.  Plus, the snuggly times like this are few and far between so thinking might just enjoy snuggling my baby for a while (typing this over his head!)

[Deleted User]

Arghhh, forgot that nappies had come out on subscribe and save so that was £18.09/2.  We don't actually "need" any as we have a full pack left for DC1 (and he now only goes through around 3-4 a day - hoping to start potty training soon!) but I have nightmares about running out so always like to have plenty in stock.  If we somehow manage to potty train him before nappies run out we can just keep those and use for DC2 when he gets to that size.

Been paid today and it wasn't as bad as I thought so should still be able to hoof some cash over to savings this month.  Am just holding back for now however as hoping the london flat sells.  Tenant due to pay her rent 29th and, if it somehow completes before 29 March then I'll need to hand some of that over to the new owner by way of apportionment.  So think I will just hold some money back and not whack into savings for now, just in case that happens.

Hoping to hear today/early next week if all now expected to go through.  Survey was done Tuesday.  We've offered an indemnity policy re the lack of building control and freeholder consents so am just hoping that they accept that and all can go through smoothly.  They've apparently now exchanged on the property they were selling so that ought to be completing soon I guess.

[Deleted User]

Did the big shop yesterday.  Was more than would've liked again but have ended up the month £29 within budget so that got hoofed across to savings.  Not much obviously but at least it was something.  So shiny new budget today and my last month of splitting costs with DH until Sept.  We have already bought some steaks today (as the ones in the supermarket didn't look great) which DH said were about £15 for two (he never gets receipts!) but don't need anything else.  Going for a drive this afternoon and going to post a malteser bunny through friend's door as he is not very well at present and think it will cheer him up (they arrived today - woo hoo!).  DC1 spotted them immediately and so he tucked into one early doors!  So steak with home made peppercorn sauce and chips for tea.  DH is making a large batch of the sauce which we can freeze to have the rest another time.  Might have the "fancy" bottle of wine tonight too but tbh I am shattered as was awake from 1-5 last night as just couldn't sleep so might lay off it in favour of a good night's rest!

Fancy starting that "Devils" on Sky Atlantic tonight

Blackcats

Fingers crossed on the sale of your flat - it's sounding positive.  

Keep a close eye on those Maltesers bunnies - sounds like it's not just you that likes them 😋