The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Well I reached my first £10 of the month for surveys.  Not cashing out as yet as not sure what I want to do with it as yet.  It will probably go into the bathroom pot but I did empty the clothes pot today so maybe that is where it should go.  I also wondered if the monthly amount for clothes needs to raised as I often use it all up and then more.  Will have a think.

DD2 enjoyed the art session, they then had club so £6 spent in total for that.  We didn't get that much done staying at home so need to make a better effort tomorrow.  DD1's present did arrive and she has guessed what it is and as expected wants it now!  She will have to wait.

Need to get the cats in and then it is bed time.  Need to be full of energy tomorrow

joedenise

Certainly sounds to me like you need to up your clothing budget if you are often emptying it.  Can you check your bank statements and see how much you've spent over the last year to work out how much it needs to be and perhaps add another 5 or 10% before dividing by 12 to get your monthly amount.  This of course would only work if you use cards and not cash!

It's not always easy deciding which pot the extra should come from so better to have it there in the first place I think!

slm6002

Thank you @joedenise, you are right.  Will search out the figures and have a better look.  Currently I put it in the pot and then almost instantly its back out again as someone needs something.  I haven't had the clothing pot for long as was just taking it out of the general pot of my spending money or we had hand me downs.  Now the children are older there are less hand me downs passed on it would appear so more is needing to be spent.  We do still go down the charity shop route before the new but still costs.

Anyway we overslept this morning by a lot.  The plan was to be up and ready to get going.  I woke up at 6 with awful stomach pains so stayed in bed and must have drifted back off to sleep.  I then woke up at 10am!!!  Quick panic as DD1 was supposed to be feeding friends cat.   I still don't see much movement upstairs but we need to get doing something soon.

I have a list of little bits and bobs to get done today as well as sort the garage out (will be more than just today I think) and collect some bits from Dads.  I need to nip to several different shops for things on offer for us and for work bits I said I would get.

Finished our 1st puzzle of the holidays last night.  I love the fact that they all moan about them but not long after they are all working on it to finish lol - but they don't like them  .

Ok apparently it will be dry this afternoon so thinking out and about jobs until about 1 and then garage after that so we can get things onto the driveway.  It is a plan if nothing else

slm6002

Good evening, while I wait for the water to heat up for my shower I thought I would update on here.

It was not dry this afternoon so we had limited space in the garage to move ourselves and the rubbish / belongings that we had put in there.  We managed to clear a good amount and lots has been taken to the tip once we separated it out into the different bins.  I have booked another slot for Tuesday pm so have more to work on.  I think tomorrow I will work on the bits that need to be sent to the charity shop from our garage and perhaps deliver some and then load car for deliveries on Monday.  Then I can take the next load to the tip Tuesday and hopefully the garage will be looking better by then.

We also crossed several mini tasks off the list and then had our free cake and used a free drink voucher as well as the voucher from the survey.  We all got a yummy treat and only needed to pay £2 ish. 

We didn't get to my dads to finish that lot of rubbish / donations as didn't hear from him as when would be a good time.  It might be a job for Sunday.  We did unpack the bits we bought back from his earlier in the week and put them away, so we can move in the kitchen again.

Made a nice easy dinner of chicken nuggets.  Chopped chicken, coated in bbq sauce and then coated in crushed crisps.  Saw it online and thought it was worth a try - really tasty and all 3 approved.  Served with wedges and salad.  Had a game of monopoly and lost to DS so he is happy.  Once the water is heated I will have a shower and then bed, as its another busy day tomorrow too.

slm6002

Another wet day here - will the sun ever appear again this summer? Just had yellow thunderstorm warning text ping through. Today all of the children are 'working' as such.  DD1 is feeding the cat and then has work at the pub, DS is volunteering at the museum and DD2 is volunteering at the library.  I feel like doing nothing for the day but the house is very messy and if anyone turned up unannounced I would be horrified to let them in.  It is time to tidy up.  

I will be having a proper look as DD1's present as haven't had time to myself since it was delivered, and maybe can wrap it so that is isn't available for little eyes to peek.  I also need to make a start on the photo book and see if that is possible in the time.

Feel like something warm and comforting for dinner.  Maybe chicken stew with dumplings, mash and veg.  Kind of goes with the weather.  No salad today.  Will see what we have and what we need and collect bits when I go out to get DD2 again.

I might also look at plants for the garden for winter and spring

slm6002

Well the house is still a mess as I have had little to no motivation today.  It has rained for most of the day.  I did look and wrap DD1's main gift so that is sorted even though she has guessed what it is.  I have been working on her photo book and asked around the relatives for photos that I perhaps haven't seen.  I need a photo of her in her car really to finish 1 page off, but she has refused several times already over the months.  Getting grandma to ask even though that probably wont work either.

Chicken stew has warmed us up nicely.  Not sure what is on the menu for tomorrow, but I did see some of my homegrown beans that need picking.  It was too late to grab them today but they need doing for tomorrow.  I think the children will request roast so might get a pork joint out of the freezer ready.

Other than the potatoes that I needed to buy today has been a no spend day, plus I picked up my free bag of dried mango from lidl whilst there.

slm6002

Woke early again after a good nights sleep and came down to let the cats out.  Still in my pjs but will get dressed shortly as all very quiet upstairs.

The weather app says no rain today and the sun really is trying to come out I think, so fingers crossed we may get some sunshine.  I am going to put a load of washing on and keep my fingers crossed I can get it dry outside.  It is really windy so that should help.

I need to meal plan today and head to aldi (with the vouchers) as there are several things that we are out of now and DS is eating us out of house and home.  I would like to get some more bits in the garage sorted if it is going to be dry, but also hoping to get some more of DD1's photo book done.  Might fire up the old laptops and phones and see if there are any photos I need to save on there.  DD2's clothes order has also arrived at the shop so will collect that today as parking is free.  Her shoes arrived super quickly and fit well (glad I went for the next size up).

When looking at the bank this morning I noticed that XH has paid the new weekly rate for child support.  Only another £10 ish a week but he will not have been happy with that lol.

Right off to get dressed and set the washing going

joedenise

I've got a machine load of washing out on the line in the hopes I can get it dry by lunchtime as it's forecast to rain this afternoon here.  Like you it's really windy so pretty sure it will be dry by then 🤞

slm6002

Well the washing went in the dryer because every time I went to hang it out the very black clouds started to come over.  It never rained mind you.

Not done too much.  Went food shopping but not a full shop, quickly cleaned the living room as friend popped by (half hours notice), booked next years holiday and tickets for the barbie movie.

The cinema in town does 2 for 1 meerkat tickets so I bought 1 days worth of travel insurance to qualify for a years reduced tickets.  This cost me £1.01 - bargain.  So off I went to book the tickets for Tuesday but then I had to figure out the meerkat app,  and by the time I did that I had lost my place for the tickets,  Back I go but put them for tomorrow.  DD1 cant do tomorrow, so as well as paying the full price for the wrong day (deal not on Mondays) I then had to pay to change them to Tuesday.  I shall know for next time but not the cheap deal I originally thought I was going to have.  Next time I will not make the same mistake that is for sure.

The holiday is Mon to Fri next Aug and is much cheaper than this years holiday, but still has a hot tub.  The journey is much shorter and there are less hills so maybe I will manage a bike ride.  I am not sure what there is to do around but like I said to my friend, if nothing else we have a garden, a hot tub and tv and wifi.  I'm sure we can amuse ourselves and relax.  Plus I have a year to investigate the area online and to find any hidden gems - anyone live near Boston in Lincolnshire?

slm6002

Washing is on the line today and I even stood there hanging it out thinking to myself that it is too hot (only for a second then realised what I had just thought!).  The clouds keep coming over but thankfully no rain as yet - fingers crossed it stays this way until we are finished outside.

We have been in the garage today and have now sorted almost all of the boxes out.  Very little is coming back into the house which is good.  The car is now full ready for the tip.  I have booked yet another slot with them for today at 4.30 to get rid of that car full.  There will still be enough for tomorrows trip too.  I have put the charity boxes by the garage door ready to load up and take - maybe tomorrow, maybe wed - not sure yet.  Either way it is ready and waiting.

I have hung the un-used, light weight mower up on the wall - currently next door does the mowing for us but his health is declining so will need it at some point.  The bikes can now go in the bike racks, wellies and outdoor boots are on the shoe rack that can be reached and there is space in there to move and fit the new bathroom as and when I buy bits - toilet may arrive before the holiday is out.

Late lunch has been had, so best get back to it before I get too comfy!