The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Well another very lazy day, and a small cat nap mid afternoon.  I am guessing it is my way of catching up and getting ready for work.

DD1's car is making funny noises and the fumes coming from the exhaust do not smell good, so it has been dropped off at the local garage.  Only problem is that this leaves a very social young girl without transport until 10th Jan.  She is not a happy bunny right now, but no point keeping it here and driving it around so it can get worse.  No idea on what is wrong or the cost to repair.  I guess we will just have to wait and see.  It didn't go down well when I suggested her new years resolution could be to learn to walk to again rather than rely on the car so much.  Nasty mummy I am.

She is off out tonight to the local pub for the first time to see a friend of a friend play in a band.  I feel my nap later will help with the late night I will have.  She is having a drink at home now so she only has to buy soft drinks all night.  Hopefully that will make it a little cheaper for her, and wont be so bad in the morning.

I have been looking at the budgets again today.  I have moved things into the correct places and amended a glitch in my spreadsheet.  It is going to be a different year as XH will no longer need to contribute to DD1 from Sept, plus her child benefit will stop.  I then may possibly have 1 in uni and another in college, both requiring a bus to get there each day (in different directions), plus anything else that these adventures may cost.  DD2 will be the only one still in an actual school.  I am hoping I will still be able to afford things but we have been worse off before (when XH barely gave me enough to live off), and he caused a lot of wasted money, but then they were smaller and less aware of what they maybe missing out on, and the latest toy.

Anyway today the first voucher was purchased as I cashed out the survey earnings of £20.98 (really close to the 2nd one as well). 

I still have some money on vouchers received from schools to cover the school meals in the holidays so that will help with next weeks food shop. I need to figure out some good meals to take for lunches on the days when I work the whole day.  Need to be made in advance as I am still half asleep when I leave for work, I am in no mood to make lunch then.  I am thinking pasta, soup or risotto that I can reheat in the microwave when there.  I am hoping / asking for a toaster for the staff room too.  That way maybe beans on toast?

Going to continue to read diaries and discussions on here to pick up more tips, while I wait for DD1 to return home.

joedenise

I used to take in jacket potatoes which only take about 5 minutes in the microwave and have with some beans or tuna mayo when I was working.  Leftovers from the night before can be reheated easily as well.

You can make sandwiches up and freeze them and just grab from the freezer in the morning, or defrost overnight in the fridge to take with you.  Most things except eggs and salad freeze well. 

I think I've seen a thread on here somewhere with lunch ideas so might be worth looking for that.  

Edited to add:  just did a Forum Search for Taking Lunch to Work and quite a few threads came up.  Might be worth a look for some ideas.

slm6002

Thank you @joedenise I will take a look.  As with most things it is the getting organised and thinking ahead I need to work on.

I have only just woken up as DD1 didn't end up coming straight home as requested.  So it was a late night.

Absolutely nothing planned other than catching up on washing, clearing away.  I picked up a few more items from olio last night to tie in with items we will eat tonight.  Last night I was looking at fakeaways as the takeaways are starting to creep back in as energy levels are low.  Not only would this be better for the bank balance, but I am sure it would be better for our health.

Anyway I think today we need to sort a meal plan - especially as we have been living off picky bits from the fridge since Christmas.

slm6002

Last night we had an actual meal which was nice after lots of picky meals.  Tonight we are having homemade pizza so will pop the dough on soon to make use of the discounted energy today.  I also have more washing to complete.  At least the sun is shining at the moment, even though we are due to be hit with a storm later and possible tornados - I really hope not.

I am so tired it is crazy and I am playing taxi later apparently to collect DD1 from her party.  Maybe she will decide not to go (wishful thinking on my part).  I will be advising her that she needs to start think of others next year as it has been all about her recently, and not thinking of the consequences for others.  This needs to change.

Younger 2 struggled to get up today and get going, but it is a XH day.  They don't want to go.  Have suggested they maybe drop into conversation, that maybe once a month would be better for everyone.  It might seem more like a treat then, rather than a chore that it is becoming at the moment.

Since getting rid of the understairs cupboard we haven't had a coat rack.  This is starting to become a problem so a space in the hallway needs to be created.  I therefore need to get rid of a shelving unit that is currently holding DVDs and toot.  We have a dvd player but only in my bedroom, and no one watches them as we have enough streaming sites to keep us entertained.  I have downloaded an app and will see how much I can sell them for.  That will then just leave me with piles of stationery and paperwork to go through.  Just quickly scanned a pile of dvds and about 3 in 15 are acceptable and then only 11p each.  Not sure if it is really worth it, or if I just drop them off at the charity shop / put on free sites.  Will keep thinking.

I wonder what 2024 will hold for us all.  Finger crossed it will all be happy, healthy and financially stable.

slm6002

Happy New Year to you all.  I love a new year - not the celebrations or resolutions, but the new set of financial figures and spreadsheets etc.  Lets hope there will be lots of bargains this year that we can make use of, and free items for us to repurpose.   Maybe a nice win on the premium bonds too lol.

I have the bathroom being completed this year (if I ever decide on the bits I am buying for it), and I would like to find some new lights for the living room.  The ones we have now on the walls keep blowing the bulbs and the ceiling light hangs low enough for DS to hit his head as he walks through.  If I can find some new ones that would be great.  The living room seems to be slowly getting its makeover bit by bit.  It's had a carpet, curtains, new side tables but still needs lights and wall / ceiling paint as there is a water mark from the bathroom on it.  I have been concentrating on the bigger jobs mainly up until now, but as I spend most of my free time in there maybe this should be next on the list.  It should be a fairly cheap project and will then just leave me with the kitchen to sort out and save for.

Unfortunately I went to sleep angry and woke up this morning in a similar way.  I don't like this feeling.  DD1 again messed me around and did what she wanted without any consequence to others.  I am waiting for her to return at some point today with lots of apologies but I need to try to put the anger to one side and enjoy the fresh new year.  The sun is out and although looks cold outside it is better than the grey miserable days that we have had recently.

Right positive things for today.  Our 4 slice toaster will only let 1 side heat up.  I have had a quick google and it suggests giving it a good clean out and then maybe both sides will work.  I think that is my job for today.  I was looking in the sales for new ones, but if I don't have to spend £25+ for a new one that would be a bonus.

I also need to get the Christmas decorations put away and get the house back to some kind of normality.  Very aware the holidays are almost over and I am not in a place where I feel ready to go back as yet.

slm6002

Cleaning the toaster didn't work

Jessy103

Happy New Year, all the best for 2024 🙂

slm6002

Thank you @Jessy103 I hope yours is great too.

I must admit day 1 of the year was not the best,  DD1 still has no apology for me, but I am feeling better than I did yesterday - probably because I had a good 12 hours sleep and can deal with things now without feeling like I want to cry at everything.  No one else is awake so I am having some time to myself.

So today I must take the decorations down and clean the house.  There is no need to go out at the moment, which is good as the weather is horrible.  We have weather warnings again for wind and rain, and it is so grey outside.  Tomorrow is my MOT so I will need to get the car cleared out today.  

I hear movement upstairs so expect others are now awake.

slm6002

Well day 3 of the year hasn't got off to the best of starts.  I slept really badly last night and kept waking up for no real reason.  I had to be up and at the garage for 9 this morning, which after a break seemed hard to do.  The car failed its MOT.  Needs a new drumstick which is £100 + vat or around that.  This will be done on 15th and then re MOT for the deadline of 18th.  Car seems to be costing a lot at the moment.  Thankfully I think I should have enough to pay for it in the car fund - although that will be wiped out then.

Still waiting on test results from second blood test.  I have been taking extra Vit D and folic acid now for a few weeks, as well as having the holiday, but feel more tired than before.  Maybe going back to work tomorrow will help?

And to top it off the builders are back at work, parking in our spaces and blocking access to our driveway.

I really don't feel very positive at the moment and I don't like it.  I am really hoping things start to improve soon.  Going to go and do some surveys to at least earn a few pennies and try to cheer up

slm6002

That is it, the holidays is over and the Spring term is starting.  I still do not feel rested but maybe getting back to work will help.  The decorations are still up, so I really need to sort that tonight when I get home, in between taking the kids to club.

Right best go encourage the children to hurry up