The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Chilly this morning and everywhere outside is white, even though still no snow.  I seem to be living in my cosy oversized hoodie currently when at home (I do change to go out and about), but it really is cold in our house.

This morning I was able to cash out another £10 from the survey site and have another £6 ish waiting for when I get to the next £10 mark.  I have changed in to vouchers ready.  In total that is £30 of voucher purchased this year but £10 of that was from surveys last year.

Today we need to collect some school skirts from freecycle (DD2 needed one for school play and I didn't want to buy them).  I also need to claim my free birthday treat from Coffee shop as it runs out today, and I might go up to the other cake shop where I have another sweet treat to collect as we will be in town.  DD2 needs to return a library book so will do that as well.  Oh and DS has homework that needs doing.  I am sure if he could he would be on games console / phone 24hrs a day.  I may take the controllers before he wakes up and only give them back once things are done.   If only he could earn money from it he would be rich by now.

I need to work out what is for dinner - another look in the freezer for today and tomorrows meals.

Keep warm

slm6002

Dinner done and while it was cooking I popped some choc and banana bread in to use up the brown past their best bananas.  Not had a taste yet but they look ok.  I've been meaning to start making treats again as you get much nicer and cheaper bit than if you buy them in the shops.  It is just mustering up the energy for it I need.

Homework has been done, DD1 just finishing off assignment but nearly there.  Next is showers and bed and start the week again.

FtbDreaming

Happy new year! I’ve just caught up with your thread from mid December lol! Well done to your daughter for passing her driving theory test! She’s done great. 

Also I taken on board what you’ve just said about your income reducing as the kids get older! This is such a worry… I am living comfortably-ish at the minute but I know as soon as oh starts work all my tax credits will stop and my outgoings will increase majorly. I’ll have to pay £200-400 a month for breakfast and after school clubs to start and will lose £400 TC so that’s £800 of whatever he earns accounted for straight away. Then come September my midd DD goes to high school and that’s gonna be another £100+ a month for dinners and bus fares. It really is in one hand and out the other. 

Im also gonna take on board you’re doing surveys! I used to do loads then stopped so if I could get back on them that would be a bit of extra money.

you are smashing life and In an amazing place compared to a couple of years ago! Keep at it xxx 

slm6002

Thank you for your kind comments @FtbDreaming, life certainly has changed over the past few years, and for the better I think.  DD1 has amended her driving test from June (I think it was) to April.  She should be confident by then if it all goes to plan. 

With the surveys I have only found one site that pays a decent amount.  It is prolific.  They pay well and rarely screen you out after you've said you will participate.  You do need to be online when then come up, as they go quickly, but well worth signing up with them.  I've suggested DD1 signs up when she turns 18.  I am now only £1.60 away from the next £10.

As for the drop in income, I am trying not to think too much about it, but to keep it in the back of my mind.  Several people including my manager said I will have her job by then so not to worry.  Not sure it is true but nice to see people have faith in me.  I still plan to make the most of the money I have now, by being sensible with spending and making sure I get the most out of every penny.

Today is a relaxing day as no clubs and we can lock the door once home and not need to worry about going out again. Food delivery arrived and was missing a few items.  We did get given a 12 pack of shades toilet rolls (£9.90 I think) rather than the value 6 pack (£1.96).  Normally I wouldn't accept them as anything but the cheap cheap paper clogs the pipes up, but the new toilet will have nice new pipes so I have kept the 'posh' toilet roll for the new toilet and visitors lol.  I do wonder if I can get someone to look at the pipes as i have to plunger the toilet every fortnight at least, or if I wait for the new bathroom which I hope will be next on the list.  I am not sure there is even anything that they can do other than replace the pipes.  Might investigate

slm6002

Just got an extra £1.61 so I will have made £30 for January.  If it all gets agreed I will have been able to cash out £40 as £10 was from last year.  Next month I might see if the money can be exchanged for pub voucher maybe for a meal out when we go on holiday.  I'm not sure what pubs are close by but have got the postcode for the site so will start investigating.  Apparently only 181 days to go

slm6002

I've just finished a quick lunch as been helping out a friend before nipping to the shop to get some missing items from the delivery the other day.  I'm still not sure if it saves me money by doing it online as I still end up going physically shopping at some point for the missing bits.  Anyway it was a late lunch.  Tonight is another busy one as pick up 2 children at 4 another at 5 and then leave for club about 5.45.  Once home about 8 I can relax a little.  Meeting a friend tomorrow and it is her daughters bday in a few days time so I need to find a card to take with me.

The toilet blocked again today so I think I will need to get someone to come and have a look at it.  I have some money in the house maint pot that isnt allocated to renovations so will hopefully cover that.  

Not quite reached the £10 to be cashed out yet as it is still going through processing, but maybe before the end of the month.  Right must go as time for 1st collection of children 

slm6002

Yay another week done.  I must admit I am exhausted and glad I have nothing on tonight.  Throughout the night I had an upset tummy so spent most of the day feeling a little delicate.  It feels ok now but have limited my food just in case.  Everyone at work is dropping like flies.  Several off with covid, others just general flu like symptoms.  Only 2 weeks to go until half term - fingers crossed we all make it lol.

Met up with a friend I haven't seen since the beginning of the school year.  Had a walk around the shops on the outskirts of town.  Only spent a few pound on some suet for the dumplings and a box to store the weetabix, both bits being things I had on my list to buy anyway.  No lunch out as I didn't want to risk it.

As I didn't get round to making dinner before leaving for work I need to rethink things.  Need something quick and easy really

slm6002

Finally the money has cleared enough to cash out another £10 from surveys and turned it into a voucher.  I still have £3.54 waiting to be cleared. A pretty successful month survey wise.

I ache today but unsure why as not done anything too athletic in the past day or so.  I have quite a few little bits to get done like taking meter readings, wrapping my mums bday bits.  I need to see if anywhere is selling mothers day cards yet as my brother is off to see her in the half term so taking bits with him.  The ground floor of the house is just a mess so big tidy up needed here, and of course it wouldn't be the weekend without washing and homework would it lol.  I would also like to make a list of what is in the one freezer to try to meal plan around it.  I have used a few bits but not enough to get things used up.

This wed I believe all 3 children are off school because of the strikes.  I still need to go in as we are aiming to keep our school open.  They will have small amounts of work to do so will leave them with some housework to be done as well.  It also means I will not be doing the school run which is great as all 3 children finish at different times and I end up just going from home to school all night long.  I will only have my class to do in the evening.

Slow cooker has the beef and ale stew in it cooking away ready for tonight once we are all back home.  Need to decide if I am going to carry on with home delivery and if so place order.  If not I need to cancel the delivery pass.

Right I better get on

slm6002

I'm sat down as my fitbit needed charging.  No point wasting steps while I'm not wearing it.

* Found a mothers day card but still need to wrap bday gift for mum and then take to brother to pack.
* Done all the running around dropping off and picking up for the day.  Once the cats come back in the door is being locked and curtains all drawn for the night.
* Meter readings read and reported.
* Found cheap child's keyboard in charity shop for a few £'s for DD2 as she seems to be doing well in the music lessons and was wanting something to compose on - this will do for now.
* I've cancelled the supermarket delivery as I always end up having to go to pick something up anyway.  I also don't think I've saved any money either from doing it this way.
*  I opened a savings account on Zopa to trial out their savings as it is much better interest rates than I currently get
*  The washing has been started
* More surveys completed

I also had a missed delivery notification from something I ordered online.  It looked a little odd as it was from Wales, I like in east of England.  I looked at my order and the address was correct apart from the postcode which was indeed a welsh postcode.  I am not sure how this happened but tried to speak to royal mail to either post to me (happy to pay the postage) or to send back to company.  I also let the company know but haven't heard back from them as yet.  Royal mail will post back but not for 14 or 21 days (cant remember which) as long as no one claims it. I guess I am lucky the person at the address wasn't in.

The beef stew is smelling very nice currently.  Need to add the dumplings and sort the mash and veg out next.

slm6002

Well I have the day to myself.  DD1 decided last night to see XH with the others.  I think she is only going to get the gossip as the other 2 barely speak to him.  Anyway what to do with my day?

I still have the freezer to look at, and maybe it will give me an idea for dinner.  I have piles of washing to do and more piles to take to bedrooms. Lots of cleaning needs doing.  Just wondering if I have the energy for it lol.  I need to update the calendar for the next month, cant believe its almost February which means its almost half term and then the builders will be here.  Got lots to sort before then, still not chosen the tiles as yet