The Best Is Yet To Come

debtfreewannabe321

Glad you had a good christmas slm, I am having a similar boxing day to you, a few surveys, quick clean around, washing and simple foods. Nice and slow and lazy. 
I can't believe your luck at booking the cinema right behind your ex's sister! That would be the sort of thing I manage to do  

slm6002

Well I have been fairly lazy but have managed 1 load of washing, making an apple crumble (as promised DS), sausage rolls (meat and pastry needed using), and finding DIY bits so uncle can help paint a door before he leaves tomorrow.

Felt so tired all day though.  Only done a few quick surveys as looking at a screen made my eyes want to close.  I guess some is better than nothing.  I will sleep well tonight I think, although starting to wake up a little now.

Tomorrow once my uncle has gone home I am going to go for a walk with my best friend.  Think we both need  some fresh air and time away from family with a natta.

slm6002

My uncle left around 7pm which was much later than expected (I was thinking around lunch time).  Some of the door and the frame has been painted but it isn't that good so I may end up sanding it down and trying again.  I need to get several jobs finished off around the house so he doesn't feel the need to help each time he visits.  At least I think I have all of the paint etc that I think I need.  But for tonight I am relaxing with no visitors.

Not known what to eat today as not really hungry (I keep snacking on naughty things) but know we need to eat what is in the fridge before it goes off.  Finished the bubble and squeak off, uncle finished the trifle so there is a little room to put things in there now.  Had more cheese and biscuits for dinner.

Started taking a few bits down today like the advent calendars and some of the cards that were falling down anyway. 
Feel the need to declutter and get the house back to normal again.  Tree can stay a little longer but any extras can come down tomorrow I think.

Been flicking through recipes again to try to find something that we all might fancy, but is different to the normal meals that we eat over and over.  They also need to be cheap, healthy and filling.  Not much to ask for lol.

slm6002

Well I had an easy morning and woke up around half 10.  I did get up at 7.30 to let the cats out but went straight back to sleep again.  I've had too many late nights recently and need to get back to my 10.30 bed time so I get enough rest.  As DD1 has been finishing work at 11, I have found myself waiting up to see how the day went and to make her dinner,  but as nice as that is, it is not doing me any favours.  I need my sleep to function well.

Still no news from the boiler man.  By the end of the year I will have £1000 in the emergency fund and then another £1400 from the DIY/ House doing up pot, so if I need a new boiler at least we will be a little closer to what it might cost.  We will then need to build the emergency fund up again

slm6002

Today we went off to Dad's for a mini 2nd Christmas.  Nipped and got a baguette on the way to go with the cheese that we took.  A bonus though was that Dad had the heating on.  I am really hoping our boiler man returns from his holidays soon and gets in touch so we can get ours working again.

With my sister there any rude comments from Dad's OH were stopped immediately.  I often hear it but am so shocked at what has been said, that by the time I do feel I can say something the time has passed.  My sister is much better at saying to stop right there and then.  Thankfully she was mainly on her best behaviour today.

DD1 is now on earlies so we will all be in bed by 10pm hopefully.  I need to be at the supermarket early to get some non Christmas food.  The plan was to have homemade pizzas for new years eve as a treat, but DD1 is out so will do them tomorrow instead.

Washing machine is on, dishwasher needs emptying, but the house generally doesn't look too bad.

Other than the baguette no money has been spent in the past few days.  Got another Amazon voucher for my Christmas present from my sister.  Always comes in handy.

slm6002

Wondered why it was feeling colder than it has been.  Went to the kitchen to find that DD1's BF had obviously left the back door wide open.  It is so cold, I am under a blanket and duvet and have my warm hoodie on which is normally enough on its own.  Fingers crossed everyone that the boiler man returns from his holiday and is back at work tomorrow.  It has been a  week since we realised that the heating wasn't working.  Going to see if I can find a hot water bottle / wheat pack that I bought a while ago (it's in my bedroom under piles of Christmas things I think.  We also have cheesy mash and beans for dinner which will warm us up.  The children are also hoping for their Christmas lunch puddings that we never ate as we were too full.  I think I have enough custard to go with the chocolate or syrup sponges.

debtfreeoneday

Our Christmas puds got consumed today as everyone was too full on the actual day!

slm6002

Another late morning waking up, DD1 is at work but the rest of us made the most of it being the holidays.  I did come down the stairs to find every single light on from DD1s bedroom to be back door!  She is a nightmare for leaving lights on.  Anyway it was quite nice waking up to daylight and some sunshine - first time in ages the sun has appeared.

I am off to meet a friend for a cup of tea and then heading to the supermarket with my voucher to buy some essentials.  Better get dressed.  Once home I will see if I can reach the boiler man.

slm6002

Caught up with my friend and paid for our drinks as it was my turn.  I then popped to the supermarket and bought some food to make meals with things we already have in the fridge / freezer / cupboards.  Used the voucher from the school too.

When I got home I received a demand from the council tax people saying I owed them money.  Got my dates and payments ready, but the lady on the end of the phone was lovely and could see that I didn't owe anything.  She thinks the system hadn't updated from the past 2 months as well as all the chopping and changing of DD1's jobs etc had confused it.  Warning letter taken off my account and balances updated.  The amount I have to pay has gone up but because of DD1 working.  An extra £60 per month.

As I was on a role and had not dealt with benefits letters I received on 23rd Dec re the overpayment, I thought I'd give them a call too.  They passed me on to the debt people who were actually able to find me on the system this time, and tell me which of the 3 amounts that I had been told I owed in the 3 different letters, was right.  Seems it is slightly less now which is nice.  I was also able to ask how much I would be paying.  They then gave me the option to choose.  I set it at £50 deducted straight away from the benefits and then if I have any extra each month I will throw it at them.  He sounded quite surprised when I said this, as if most people don't choose to pay it back quickly.  I would like it gone asap and aim to get it gone by this time next year.  He also said they don't normally get to choose how much is taken on the first payment as normally the payment date is too soon, but mine are paid on the 25th so should be plenty of time to talk to each other (although he did say their communication between each other is not the best).  At least I have a rough idea now and can plan a little better.

So after todays phone calls I am £110 worse off each month, but glad things are sorted.  I better not make any further phone calls today.  Although if plumber rings (no news after todays email) I will answer it.

Dishwasher is on and pizza dough is doing its thing in the bread maker.  DD1 should be home around 5.30 today so another early night hopefully.  Tomorrow I am taking DD2 and friend shopping to a local town to spend their vouchers.  I am taking the opportunity to go to the beautiful recycling centre (much much nicer than the one in our town) on the way there.  Booked a slot and have boxes ready to pop in the boot of the car in the morning.  DD2 will be able to move again in her room.

slm6002

Yay boiler man is arriving around lunch time tomorrow.  Fingers crossed everyone for a cheap and easy fix.