The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Well we made it to the end of the week and the end of the month. It has been so busy with so many things going on. This week we have been trying to finish an art project, visited a college, had a parents evening, rehearsals most of the week and then band and sports club. That along with keeping the house and washing clean, school and work has made for some very tired people. Next week we have the shows each day so even more time running around and trying to be in the right places at the right time.

Last weekend I did the meal plan and we have stuck to it really well. I have spent less than £100 on food and shampoo / toilet paper etc per week which I was happy with (just had a quick add up of receipts). I would like to reduce it more but am realistic about the cost of food at the moment. I will aim for £100 per week again this month but try to meal plan the whole month and hopefully I will be able to spend less. I am aware we had a lot of treaty bits left over from Christmas this month and I know we are out of some basics but it will help having the meal plan. We all knew what was for dinner and that it was in the fridge / freezer ready. I know it works yet I often struggle to do the initial list.

Anyway it has be written and I am going to head to lidl as soon as it opens to do the shop. We don't need to go anywhere else today so basics of washing and homework and preparing for another busy week are all that is needed. A relaxing day hopefully.

slm6002

Forgot to add DD1 got to meet XH after he forgot they were meeting! Turns out karma is working its magic as he is too stressed with his girlfriend (she keeps trying to call him) so wont be with her for much longer. He is also living in a van in his work compound at least 6 days of the week. I know which one of us has the best life

slm6002

And we have made it to the end of another week. The last show is in progress and I have about an hour before needing to go and collect her. Said I would also collect DS from work so that he can get home a little earlier ready for another day at work in the morning.

Work strangely has been quiet and I have ended up taking back some of the hours I am owed. I am convinced there will be a sudden rush next week as there is only 1 week before the half term.

We had another viewing on our house yesterday with different person. We had an hour and a half notice to get the house ready which was madness. I am so glad DD1 was home and able to help. She did upstairs and I tackled the downstairs. The gentleman seemed quite happy once he realised the house came with parking (he is a driving instructor so needs space, which is very limited along our road). I believe he would not have looked round if it wasn't the same day, as he was in the area and would have driven by to see other houses and discounted it due to the parking. Estate agent had told him again that it was a 3 bed not 4 bed. I really need to discuss this with him. He would be moving here alone so the number of rooms really not too important as long as he has somewhere for an office and another room for his bed.

I am looking forward to a calm, nothing planned weekend

debtfreewannabe321

Fingers crossed the house gets an offer soon 🤞🏻

Enjoy your weekend ☺️

slm6002

Thank you DFW, no news as yet but hopefully soon.

It has been quiet here this morning as DD1 was at BF's house last night and wont return until later today, DS was in bed until just before he had to leave for work, and DD2 is exhausted, so while awake is hiding in her room under her blankets and still in pjs. I don't blame her as it has been a crazy few weeks for her, but tomorrow we need to catch up on things and I believe she has some tests this coming week to look at. So I have had the radio on and been catching up on emails, diaries and other paperwork. Looked at the budget and meal plan.

Finding the time and the will to go food shopping has become hard lately so I have signed up for another online pass so I know we will have food. It should also help with the budget as I shouldn't just add what I fancy to the trolley, and I can check if we already have 20 tins of sweetcorn in the kitchen already, so no overbuying. Hopefully (fingers tightly crossed!).

I've cancelled a few subscriptions that we can live without this week, so there should be a few more pennies in my bank. Been looking to see if there is anywhere else I can cut things to give me the most amount possible should we get the opportunity to move. I need to read my gas and electricity meters and give them to company to get an up to date balance and to make sure DD1 hasn't been using too much while I am at work. It sounds like I begrudge her heating but only when she is half dressed! I will wait for a break in the rain but added it to my list of jobs to do (getting long, but I only remember things when leaving the house or driving by the hairdressers for example, so trying to sort my half term list to do!)

slm6002

After 2 days of doing almost nothing I feel much more refreshed and ready for the last week of school. Pizza dough is made ready for dinner tonight, washing is drying nicely, and the house isn't looking too bad considering not a lot has been done.

The kids have been talking about their phone contracts as they are coming to an end in the summer time. At the moment I pay for all of them, but I think I will be getting DD1 to pay for her own as she will turn 21 soon after, she earns plenty of money to pay for it as well as it will look good on her credit score as she is hoping to buy her own house before long. I am working on the kids getting a sim only contract until their phones start getting slow or broken, although they will not be keen as have been used to a new phone every so many years. I need to think of a clever way to word it so they think its a great idea lol.

It is hopefully going to be a year of saving as much as I can on the daily costs, so I can stretch my wages that bit further each month. If and when I need to pay for a mortgage again it will all be ok.

joedenise

Perhaps it's a case of saying something about it being "Greener" and good for the climate as it costs so much to make the phones and getting rid of them again at the end of their life!

Could also say when they are earning then they can choose whether or not to buy a phone each time at the end of a contract - once they have to pay for it themselves they'll probably decide that a Sim only deal is the best option! I know it worked when mine were teenagers with "designer" clothes and trainers!

slm6002

Yay we made it, so now to have a productive half term and get a few jobs completed, as well as having some time to rest and relax and get ready for the next half term (only 5 weeks long - yay). The sun is shining and I have a long list to get done. My only issue is that I have a really painful heel as of this morning. It was fine last night before bed, and I am pretty sure I didn't do anything in my sleep to have caused it. I therefore cant stand on it or touch it in any way without pain.

I have the car in the garage on Monday to finally sort out why after having the breaks done months ago, they are still squeaking when I reverse. It has been back twice already but not sorted. This time I will not be settling for 'we've done everything we can' as it was fine before they touched them.

I also plan on some painting to freshen up some areas that are not as good as they could be.

No new leads on the house sale, but it looks like the house we originally wanted is back up for sale, so there is still hope, but we just need to sell ours and soon. I will be asking why its suddenly back on the market but not sure agents can or will say why.

We have decided to visit my mum in Spain at some point over the easter holidays. This is a big thing as I still feel XH holds some control over me when it involves the children. We haven't left the country since he left as I felt we couldn't. I am also slightly concerned I will not fit in the plane seats as I am a lot bigger than last time I flew. I don't mind asking for a seatbelt extender but will I physically fit in the seat?

I have just bought a new sofa as the one we have is older than DD1 and now beyond repair (I have tried) but it still really hurts my back to sit on. The new one is a classic shape from Ikea and has washable covers. I don't expect it to be the best quality but it has good reviews and will be ok for the next 5 years and comes with a 10 year warranty so cant be too bad. It has been a long time coming but I don't like spending big chunks of money after years of not having any to save. I need to sort the disposal of the old sofa preferably before the new one arrives on Thursday. I also need to have a think about when Uncle comes to visit as the old one was a sofa bed but the new one isn't. We need to think of an alternative.

Right time to hobble up the stairs and wake DS ready for his day at work. Happy half term everyone.

slm6002

Well we have been painting today, but not finished as yet. Probably half way there and maybe tomorrow it will be finished. DD1 has been helping, and while grateful it has been hard work supervising and being told to get out of the way. I have been allowed to do the bits she didn't want to do. We are out and about quite a lot tomorrow but hope that we can finish it. Council bulk collection ordered. They said they were full this week, but when choosing the date it showed this wed so if that is right, I will need to move the sofas to the end of the drive tomorrow evening and then perhaps bring the garden chairs in until the new ones have been delivered. At least it would make finishing the painting a little easier without the furniture in here.

My foot is still not great but at least today I can actually rest it on a pillow rather than hanging it off the bed / sofa or using the ball of my foot. Looking forward to bed and it already feels much later than it actually is. TV is off the wall so no watching that tonight. Might watch some on the laptop.

Tickets have been booked to visit mum. What with that and the sofa my bank balance is looking a little sorry for itself. Guess I had the money (at least most of it) in the pots and what I didn't have has been borrowed from other pots. No credit card or money borrowed for me. DD1 has me and DS on a healthy eating kick in the hope we loose a couple of inches each and can travel a little more comfortably.

Right I'm off to listen to the radio and then bed

slm6002

Well yesterday went by in flash and no more painting was completed, but I did message someone who owed me a favour or 2 to help get the sofas out of the house and onto the drive. To be honest he was the only person under 50 that I knew without a bad back and while he owed me a favour this probably went above and beyond. Oh my goodness, doors had to be removed and half the sofa taken apart. I was very grateful that he agreed to help but blimey it is safe to say no more favours are required. They were so heavy to move. The council called yesterday to explain that even though it gave the option of today as free to select they were full so it will be next Wednesday that they are collected. Our back gates will be open until then and I feel a little vulnerable with it open. We have only had the gates maybe 5 years and they have clearly made me much more relaxed than I realised. Our kitchen door will be locked all day and night until the gates are back in place.

I am hoping that the new sofas are a little lighter so I can move them. I have realised though, that when we move house there will need to be a lot more strong body helpers or actual professional movers on the day, because if we struggled with the sofa how will we cope with everything else? Something else to cost up.

DS had a free games design workshop and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. It was about 30 mins away and he talked non stop on the way home and was still going through the remainder of the afternoon. He also had his haircut and passport photo taken and then sent off the application, so more money from my account.

The garage had kept my car overnight in the hope that maybe they could hear the squeak. They asked me to go in and demonstrate, and of course not a sound. This car has been squeaking non stop for months now every time I have reversed and as soon as I have to prove it - nothing! I am not convinced they didn't do something to help it, but they charged me nothing as they said they did nothing, so I guess that is a win. I guess the proof of the pudding will be on my next journey out when I reverse up the road.

I feel it is going to be a very frugal rest of the month, much like years gone by where I checked the bank account before spending each time I was in a shop. I have a refund to chase up today which will give me a little money back as I need to get the cat more medicine. These will hopefully even themselves out. I also have £75 in food vouchers that can be used. I am sure we will be fine as long as nothing silly happens.

Anyway todays job is hoovering the living room where the sofas were and then painting the last 2 walls. It will all then be ready for when the new sofas arrive tomorrow. I need to build them slightly so will check what tools are needed in advance and make sure we have those ready. The tv can then go back on the wall and other than taking all the rubbish to the tip Friday morning, I aim to sit and enjoy the new sofa for the remainder of the holidays.

Ooh and I can finally stand on my foot and walk, even if it is still more like a hobble.