The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Left work at 1pm but only been home 10 min as the car needed recovering again to the local garage.  It is there now but they have no time to look at it until Fri or possibly even next week.  Guess the fuel for this week will be low.  We will be back to walking everywhere again.  No idea what it wrong with it but there was a big clonk and then it almost sounds as if there is a big rock inside the wheel arch rattling around.  Feel it will be another big expense.  This time I may need to dip into the emergency fund as I have only just started filling the car fund back up after the mot / repairs in Jan and the breakdown / repairs in Nov/Dec time.  Fingers crossed it is something cheap and simple.

Kids club will be cancelled so saving me £4.50 as we cant get there.  Only afterschool clubs other than that and DD2 will have to just walk home.  There are several who walk this way so as long as they are in a big group hopefully it will be ok.

Not sure what to do next - had a big long list before I left work but now that seems like to much hard work lol. I need to figure out what I am doing with the defrosted chicken in the freezer  but think it will be an early night, ready for the early start tomorrow morning

slm6002

The heating is on and the house is warming up.   Found something to do with the chicken that uses up some more of the mountain of rice that we seem to have.  Not too nutritious but will add extra goodness tomorrow.  

I am going to have to do some shopping soon as we are running out of fresh bits.  There is still some money in my purse for bits as I've only bought the odd bits here and there.  The only problem is they have been bought at the more expensive shops rather than budget shops so less has cost more.  I have received DD2's free school meal voucher and will await them from the other children's school.  I might still withdraw the cash as planned but it will become a buffer for future weeks.  We will see as I might need it for the car as yet.

The other day I signed up to scan the shopping for points.  I am all now signed up and just need to complete their training before I can get started.  I am hoping to earn a few vouchers here and there.  Surveys have been quiet while I have been online so might not get too much extra income this month

slm6002

Good evening.  Today went well as we were able to get a lift to and from school and work.  We cancelled clubs and I met with a friend for lunch.  She bought the savoury course and I paid for cake.  It was a lovely afternoon and good to catch up.  I still have money left in the food purse and tomorrow is the day I take out next weeks money from the bank.  I do really need a proper food shop as things are getting very low.
Tonight we had mini toad in the holes with mash and veg.  All bits that we had in the freezer and cupboard.  We are now out of eggs, potatoes and carrots (main veg that everyone actually eats).  I received the vouchers for the older 2 children so we now have £75 of vouchers for Aldi.  I just need to work out how to get there and back with the food.  We need to feed my brothers cats from Saturday as they are off on holiday for half term.  I might see if I can borrow his trolly he uses to help cart the shopping home if the car isn't mended by the weekend.  I need to look in the freezer to see if there is anything I can defrost for tomorrows dinner.  If not it might be pasta bake as we definitely have the ingredients for that.

slm6002

Another day of lifts thanks to some very good friends.  Fingers crossed they at least look at the car tomorrow and work out what is wrong with it, so they can order parts if needed or let me know that I will need to go car shopping this weekend. 

We had pasta from the stocks today for dinner with any veg we could find to throw in there.  Next door asked if we had any tinned hotdogs (which we do and don't particularly like so handed them over with a few other bits and bobs - he is off work sick and struggling so I don't mind helping out plus its helping me to clear some of the excess).  He actually rang and asked if we would like him to pick some bits up at the shop for us as he had noticed the car wasn't here.  He then mentioned that I would need to collect from the top of my path as he gets out of breath too easily at the moment.  Not sure how he planned on walking around the supermarket for me but I appreciated the offer.

I managed a £12 survey earlier and along with the £3 ish I already had I was able to cash out £15 and change into a voucher.  Still more to come but its a waiting game.  No money spent today as I've not been anywhere, but I have also been unable to withdraw any money either for food shopping.  Over £35 left from last weeks £80.  There would have been more had we have not shopped in local shops rather than heading to the supermarket where the prices are cheaper.  We have also been using up a lot of bits.

I have started moving some of the freezer bits back to the defrosted freezer so that I can get to the bottom layers in the chest freezer that is next to be defrosted.  We need some more cheese and I am sure there is some in there somewhere.  We have already found the butter.  I will continue to transfer bits tomorrow and see what else I can find.

Time for a shower and then bed.  Only half a day before the holidays

slm6002

Yay it is half term.  We have made it to half way through the school year.  So far no money spent today but we may do before the night is out.  I am going to ring the garage shortly as I have still not heard from them.  I would just like to know the cost really and when it might be fixed. 

*** Just rang them and it is on the ramps now and has a suspension mount issue as it has corroded off - think that is what they said.  They will call me back once they have a price and know when they can get the part.  At least it is not terminal, but still no idea on the cost***

I am about to sort a little more out in the freezer and then wait for everyone to get home from their school days.  We have nothing planned for tonight so it will be a relaxing one (Fridays tend to be).  I will need to write a shopping list and will probably do a food order to be delivered - typical that we cancelled the delivery slot a week or so ago.

slm6002

Ok so £89+vat to have the part on my car fitted.  This is a big relief re the cost.  Obviously not enough in the car repair fund as I have already had to have things done, but I was starting to thing it might be £500 + and then that would change quite a lot.  The work is unlikely to be done until Monday but at least I know and can plan.  I have done the online shop and food will arrive tomorrow morning bright and early, so we will just have to stay home and local for the next few days - no plans anyway to do anything but this anyway lol

joedenise

Glad it's not going to be too expensive.  Looks like you'll need to Roll with the Punches as YNAB says and move some money from another pot which you can repay later.  It's really annoying isn't it when these curve balls cause problems.

slm6002

Well we got a surprise call at 4.45 and told they had fixed it already.  I guess the part arrived quicker than expected.  We walked up the hill and arrived just before they closed, but the car is mended and now sitting on my driveway - yay.  Yes @joedenise I will take the money from the emergency pot for now and refill next month, or from the petrol pot if there is any left at the end of the month.
I am going to keep the food delivery for tomorrow as it is all done and paid for, but will need to nip to Lidl for my diet coke as I have used my little stash from the garage this week, and wont make it through the week with out it lol

slm6002

Well not a great nights sleep as felt I was awake for most of it.  My fitbit seems to think different and has recorded the best nights sleep in ages.  All I know is I am still tired but didn't see any point laying in bed awake, so got up and had a read on here.  Maybe another early night tonight.

Nothing much planned for today.  Feed brothers cat this afternoon (they have just left on their hols), washing, nagging about homework, Asda delivery scanned and put away, just the usual. Need to collect a book from the library too so will do that when we collect DD1 from work, before seeing the cat.  Oh yes and collect some diet coke to replenish my stocks.

We need to look for DS work experience as the ones we have applied for have not come back with a yes.  We are waiting for a letter from one but have had no post at all this week.  I am wondering if the sorting office are struggling with sickness again as have had this before when no one was available to do our round.  Expect to get some rubbish through the door each week but nothing.  Just seems odd.

The freezer will be the other job for today.  I didn't order any frozen food as I know we have enough chicken I believe for meals in there that can be used up.  Will see if DD2 would like to help me organise things.  I also have the cat food cupboard to do as that now has a new shelf in it (thanks to my dad cutting the wood for me).  Hoping to get twice as much in there now.  Maybe the Tupperware bits can go in there freeing up a whole cupboard, for which I have a shelf for that one too to go in.

slm6002

Much better nights sleep last night.  Realised this morning that we are out of cat biscuits - poor cats - so have given then a tin of meat and will get some biscuits when the shops open.  I don't think they really care lol.  I have fed brothers cat too early this morning.  I noticed how hot it was in their house as they obviously have heating on, on timer.  It was too much for me and had to get out quite quickly.  Oh how the other half live lol. 

Woken DD2 and DS up ready for a day out with XH.  DD1 and I will just potter around the house and then buy cat biscuits.  Still some organising in the kitchen needed.  Tomorrow we are off to the bank in a local town as ours has shut.  We will also be visiting Poundland for a few bits and a trip around the charity shops - can already feel the shopping budget slipping through my fingers.  Will try to be restrained.  I need to make sure I have all of the banking bits ready today.

More washing and clearing up / sorting out cupboards.  More surveys if they appear.  Will enter some competitions too as not done many this month as yet.  Cant believe we are almost half way through the month already.