The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

I have today booked our holiday.  We are going Mablethorpe in the summer holidays for 5 nights.  I have today paid a £50 deposit and will tfr the remaining £350 when we get there.  It is a little 2 bedroom chalet on a small holiday park.  It doesn't have any entertainment on the park and no facilities that I can see but the beach is across the road and the town is a little walk up the road.  We didn't want the hustle and bustle of the caravan parks like last time so I hope this will work well for us.  It seems like a bargain so will see when we get there I guess.  At least we have something booked and to look forward to.  I don't think we will have wifi so hoping the kids can last for 5 days.  I did say we could nip to the local library or somewhere with free wifi lol.

Well I have tried out all of the tests that the plumber has suggested and the floor is dry.  I'm not complaining that we no longer seem to have a leak, but its a mystery.  The floorboards are now dry and I am convinced it is still the heating that was the issue.  We have had the heating on since but not for as long, and as the floor boards were still damp it may have been more difficult to see any extra moisture.  Now the floorboards are dryer I might try the heating again just to see.   I would like to sort it for sure as I will be having the carpet from the girls room put into my room when the rooms are split, and I don't fancy ripping that one up.  On that note, still no news from the builder, but the 'towards the end of January' is any day now really so we will see.

Right time for bed

slm6002

It's the weekend again, where does the time go?  Only 3 weeks left until half term, but lots to do in that short space of time. Met with a friend this afternoon that I had not seen since before Christmas and she bought me some flowers for my bday.  It's lovely as the flowers I got on my bday have now started to fade so I can have some nice fresh ones.
DD2's school is starting to get more and more cases of covid so we are all still on high alert even though rules are relaxing.  She has a party tomorrow including a sleepover which she will enjoy.
Payday on Monday, and my benefits came in during the week so the bank is looking ok.  I haven't bought too many things not planned on so feel like this month has gone ok.
I contacted the builder during the week and got a reply back eventually saying that he is finishing a job off next week but will sort a date after that.  He has also for the first time asked for a deposit so that he can buy the window and other materials.  He said he will work out how much is needed this weekend.  I am hoping that as he is now about to order things that the work will happen soon.  I did say I would like DD1 to have her room sorted so that she can revise quietly for her exams.  We will see

slm6002

I have taken the decision this morning and cancelled my weekly Asda home delivery slot and the pass I pay £6 per month.  The online deliveries kept us from having to step outside when things were bad.  I have noticed that the cheap versions of things are not online any longer and I end up going into the store anyway for the cheaper things like ketchup.  We use so much of it that there is no way I am buying premium brands.  I've also sometimes not needed that much but felt I had to order the full basket so I don't pay the delivery fee. Aldi also arrived in our town a little while ago and we have been in a few times, and think I need to make use of this and lidl as they are cheaper for a lot of things.  I have the afternoons off from work so I need to allocate one day to go and visit the shops.  Anyway its a small saving and I will see how it goes.  I need to make sure I only buy what is needed, which is easier online than in person, but I will take a shopping list with me.  I have heard that the high school will be giving out vouchers again for food for the half term which will be good

Moneywhizz

I hope you get a firm date from the builder soon. It is so frustrating waiting for tradesmen to get on with the work, that probably won't actually take that long once they start. You do a great job of making the most of your money and sticking to a budget so well. A good example for others to follow. Look forward to following along. 

slm6002

Thank you, I do try but sticking to the budget when I have extra money in the bank is much more difficult that when I had to get by with little money.  It's very tempting to think, well its there and not earmarked for anything as such, but then thinking of all of the things that need doing around the house, as well as the fact that everything is about to go up.

As both DD's are out today it is just me and DS who has actually got dressed and ventured out of his bedroom.  We need to go through the options booklet and work out what subjects he would at least turn up to, for gcse.  He doesn't really like school so none of the options really appeal so it's a case of finding the least objective ones.  Also need to do this without scaring him back into his room lol

slm6002

I had a lovely day with DS yesterday and although option choices have not been chosen he knows what he wants to do later in life so its a case of working backwards.  He even knows where he wants to live and the type of house etc.  However still cant decide the GCSE's he would like to do lol.  We are however down to a short list so getting there.  DS retreated back to his room soon after DD1 returned from work.
DD1 had some good news as she has been offered some summer work from the place she already works at, attending to the ice cream stall.  She said yes please as it will mean some more money in her car fund (the next thing she is saving for).  She really is getting the hang of saving and looking after the money.  She did say something sad last night when talking about XH.  Last visit to him she saw the other version of him, the side that I get since he said he was leaving.  She said he was no longer her dad and he had changed.  
Anyway lots to do today while they are gone.  Lots of washing, tidying and cooking to do so must get on

slm6002

Good afternoon, 1st Feb and was paid yesterday from work and today from XH.  Bank is looking ok.  I have transferred money to the correct pots and am about to make payment to the gov savings account.  Still waiting for builder to send bank details over and the amount of deposit he needs for the materials.  Once I have them I can transfer the money to him.
I think I am going to ask another firm to come and price up the under stairs toilet, and if the price is ok get on their waiting list as that is next on the list

slm6002

Good evening, the news about price increases has been pretty bleak today hasn't it.  It has had me thinking again over what we can cut down on.  I've been round switching plugs off where I can.  I am hoping by the time the rise happens I will have solar panels which will bring my costs down and therefore not make too much of a difference, but who knows. 
I did my first aldi weekly shop today and spent £44.95.  I still need some cat biscuits from lidl and will need some more ketchup as they had none at all.  I have a rough idea of the meals for the week and think we have enough fresh bits to go with bits in the cupboards and the freezer.  I did notice that we buy quite a few treat bits.  I am thinking it would be cheaper to batch make muffins and flapjacks once a week and keep them in the freezer until the night before to stop them vanishing.
I also need to walk to collect DD2 from school more often as petrol is too expensive and needs to be saved for when absolutely needed.  It will help with weight loss too, which is needed as plus sized clothes are expensive and cant generally be bought in cheaper shops. Fitting into smaller clothes would allow me to buy clothes from charity shops.
Off to bed as cold and not putting on the heating - will be snuggly and warm once in bed

slm6002

I have this afternoon received information about our water bill.  It is also due to go up in April.  It will go up by about £20 over the year.  I have also looked at this years bill and I am still on track to have paid in full by the end of March.  I am using the slow cooker today for dinner and have spag bol in there.  Hoping not to use oven for a few meals to save a few pennies here and there.
Not yet heard from the builder over how much I need to forward to him to buy the window and don't have his bank details so no further forward as yet. Maybe I will hear this weekend.
As valentines is coming up and no one in this household has another half, I am thinking of having a nice valentines themed meal with them.  We have club on the 14th and will be rushing around so may do it on 13th when they get home from day with XH.  Will think of something nice and heart shaped no doubt.

slm6002

We are up early for the weekend as me and the DD's are off to start looking at prom dresses for DD1.  There is a hire shop in local town so we are going to go and try some on, to see what colours and styles suit her.  We may get lucky and find something, but if not hopefully we will at least have an idea of what to look for.  They never had proms in my day so I have never had this kind of experience.  I didn't even go wedding dress shopping as I was 6 months pregnant and doing things in secret - just found something pretty that fitted.
Will then drop her off for work before coming home to clean and sort some bits