The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Nana visit completed and then we scurried home via lidl and into the safety of our little bubble.  Tomorrow will be another day of delivering gifts, but they will just be handed over at the door so less time to pass on germs hopefully.  I thought that I had bought everything that i needed but it looks like we are a couple of bits missing.  I need to get a few bottles of something for neighbours and then that's it (I think).  
The bulb in my oven has gone and I keep leaving the oven on after I have finished cooking.  I normally see the light and it reminds me to turns it off.  I have today ordered one off amazon and hopefully it will arrive tomorrow and I can fit it, and stop filling my kitchen with smoke!
I realised that I hadn't allowed for school bus for DD1 next sept onwards.  She has changed her mind completely re her college, but either way will need £200-£250  per term to get to whichever one she ends up at.  I did suggest to her that the current school does sixth form and all of the courses that she would like to do.  It was a definite NO.  I cant blame her as the standard of the school is very poor.  Only suggested it as she can walk there.  I don't mind really as long as she enjoys what she is doing and studies for the exams.  She is convinced that she wont actually get to do exams this year and it will be based on mocks, but I think that is wishful thinking.
Right must get going and start clearing the wrapping bits off the table so we can eat tonight

tryingtodobetter

Regarding bus costs lots of colleges and sixth forms offer a bursary and/or help towards travel so maybe look on the websites of the ones she's applying to.

slm6002

Thank you, it looks like we just about fall over the limit of income allowed after all benefits have been taken into consideration.  I will however take a better look once DD1 has made up her mind
Today we have delivered all of the remaining gifts and dad has checked over the car.  He seemed surprised to find it in reasonably good shape (makes all the difference when XH has nothing to do with buying it! and it actually making it to a service).  It's now all go to pack and wash clothes ready to go to my sisters tomorrow morning, hoping that we can fit everything in the car

Jessy103

Have a lovely Christmas slm 🙂

slm6002

Good afternoon to you all.  I hope you all had a great Christmas break.  I was very chuffed with myself as for the first time in years I drove to and from my sisters house all by myself.  I suffer with panic attacks when driving places that I am unsure of and XH used to drive us because of this, so now I have no choice, and it was a big achievement for me.  DD1 kept me calm and reassured me when the sat nav pointed me in the wrong direction (due to the maps not being quite up to date and a few diversions due to road works).  We did it, so can now venture a little further afield for holidays etc.
We had a lovely time walking along the sea front in between the rain, and also got in a game of badminton and ping pong and a little swim at the local sports centre (sister is much healthier than we are).  Their new home is very nice even if there are a few more finishing touches needed (such as locks on the toilet doors lol).
Today we are having a very lazy day and putting our lovely gifts away and trying to keep the house moderately tidy for a little longer.  The second batch of washing is in the machine.  We do not plan on going outside in the rain.  I have had a quick look online for any bargains but not found anything worth buying as yet.  I have lots of reading to do on here to keep me busy

slm6002

I am aiming to do quite a few more surveys this year as it has certainly helped with the Christmas budgeting (I turned them in to vouchers along the way).  I have £89 in the Christmas bank account still plus about £30 in vouchers to carry forward to next year.  This will give me a head start if I happen to see things in the sales or throughout the year.  Today I have earnt £1.81 so far from surveys which brings my total up to around £17.  Will wait until £20 before cashing out and turning into another voucher.

Honeysucklelou2

Well done on your driving success  and glad to hear that you were able to have a lovely Christmas at your sister’s house.

slm6002

Thank you honeysuckle I really am happy with myself still.  Today is another day of just pottering around the house with no real purpose.  Yet more washing is being done, pizza dough is in the bread maker ready to use for dinner and I am sitting watching a children's film alone (well with the cats) as the children have all disappeared upstairs lol.
I still have the Christmas tree up as don't feel its been up very long, so leaving it for now.   My mind is however looking to the future and making some extra money, booking a small holiday and doing the house up.  I would like to be mindful of being as green as we can be while still being able to live life.  The solar panels (no news on when this will happen as yet) will hopefully help with that and the ever increasing power bills.  The main aim for 2022 is not to waste things, be it food, power, money or anything else.  I want to make good memories and take some lovely pictures of us as a family as this is one thing I forget about when I'm having fun and then regret not having taken any once the day is over.
I am keeping my eye on Olio and freecycle for things that we need and getting rid of things we don't need any more.  Food rarely comes up near us but every once in a while it does so I'm ready when that happens.

FtbDreaming

Merry Christmas I’m glad you’ve had a good one! And we’ll done on overcoming the driving anxiety. I’m the same but do it anyway on clenched bum cheeks 🤦🏼‍♀️ 

Love the 2022 goals... I’m hoping for similar. I feel like I’ve gone from good at the beginning of the year to awfully wasteful now xx

slm6002

Thank you FtbDreaming.  I have reserved my latest Olio collection of a magnetic cow puzzle in a milk carton style box.  It says it's an unwanted present so may not even have been opened (we will see).  DD1 has a slight obsession with cows so this is a nice little filler gift ready for when I need it, and totally free as well as saving it from the bin.  I will continue to keep an eye out for more bits.
I am feeling ready to take down and put away the Christmas bits tomorrow ready to start the new year with a clear slate.  We are not bothering with anything exciting tomorrow evening, and to be honest I will probably be snoring by the time the clock strikes 12.
It's payday tomorrow so I will be putting money into all of my different pots and getting 2022 finances ready to go