Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

EssexHebridean

Hopefully you stay negative SSG - we're testing weekly this week - MrEH was potentially in contact with someone on Saturday who got a positive the following day, so he would be anyway, but we'd both decided too regardless because of spending christmas day with my parents. We usually just do the basic two a week. 

We just order tests online now - it's the easiest way of making sure that we don't run out and have to go back to the grim old style ones that use the swab down the throat - ick! 

Seasidegal58

Thanks @beanielou @milann and @EssexHebridean 😃
Luckily I have stayed negative, although my friend and I have definitely cancelled our lunch until the New Year now as I don't really fancy going into central London with the current Covid rates there as I am spending Christmas and Boxing Day with family. 

I spoke to a good friend today who is feeling down as her granddaughter has contracted Covid after returning from uni last week and is quite poorly. The whole family was due to visit my friend's other granddaughter and family in London for Christmas as this granddaughter has just had a little baby boy, but this has been cancelled now. ☹️

On a more positive note, I have had a couple of nice surprises delivered - my ex-boss arranged to send me a box of the Christmas chocolates that are sent to clients at my old firm. Plus DD sent me a box of chocolately bits from the famous York cafe that I love !  So I'm all chocolated out for the foreseeable future!😋

Today I've had my monthly pedicure - everyone all masked up and sanitised. However they were running late with my appointment and I had to listen to Ed Sheeran going on and on from the TV on the wall - my idea of boring hell so I didn't feel very pampered!🤣

Tonight I'm going to begin watching the new series of 'Emily in Paris' on Netflix which should bring a little light relief to the general doom and gloom out there!

MSE SCRIMPY RETIREMENT THINGS
Apart from usual budgeted items such as above pedicure, I have bought a box of lovely bibs for my friend's new little grandson. My retirement vase will definitely be delivered in the New Year, but in the meantime my ex-team head from work has transferred to me the money that was left over from my retirement collection after the vase was purchased - this is on the understanding that the cash will be used for holiday purposes - I have added it to the Holiday category on YNAB. 👍



 

milann

Pleased you are still negative. 

Your boss is very generous….shows how much they thought of you. 

If I don’t get chance to get on tomorrow- have a lovely Christmas 🎄🎄🥂

beanielou

Hurrah for the chocolate.

Seasidegal58

Thanks @milann - you and your family have a lovely Christmas too!🎄🎅☃️

@beanielou - there's always room for chocolate!😋

Today I popped out to post some birthday cards and buy my lottery ticket for Saturday.  It was very busy when I was out and about - it felt more like a Saturday - lots of people dashing around doing last minute shopping. 

This afternoon I rang some of my older cousins to see how they were and then binged on 'Emily in Paris' - such fluff but at least it's happy colourful fluff!😃

After experiencing only a weekly postal delivery over the last few weeks, I had a largish delivery of Christmas cards yesterday and another delivery today! 

Tomorrow I'm meeting a friend for a Christmas Eve coffee in the morning, will drop in on my other friend who works in a local shop to give her a birthday present, and then I'm having my nails done in the afternoon.  

MSE SCRIMPY RETIREMENT THINGS 
Today's spends were lottery ticket and cash transferred over to DSis's account to help with the Christmas shopping bill. 

I received a letter today from my DBS pension administrator to confirm that my pension is increasing slightly next year - every little helps!

Also because my State Pension is paid every four weeks and I work my budget out calendar monthly, I've received two payments within one month this month so can put one payment away into my Ad Hoc Savings. 

My new budget month starts on the 25th December because I was always paid on 25th of each month when I worked, but I've decided to extend it this month by a week and start my budget month on 1st January and will continue this on the 1st of each month going forward.

Munchin

Hope you have a lovely Xmas SSG

Seasidegal58

Thank you @Munchin - all the very best wishes of the season to you and your family. 🎄

Christmas Eve is finally here - a negative LFT this morning so all good.👍 

I did my final errands today and so am settling down this evening to some bubbly, mince pies and 'All Creatures Great and Small' on the box!😃

Tomorrow morning I'm taking a taxi over to DSIs's and then we are off to her SIL's for lunch. I'm staying at DSis's overnight and her and her OH are hosting a Boxing Day buffet the next day. I'm off home Boxing Day evening as I have my packing to do on Monday as I'm flying to DD's in Scotland on the Tuesday. 

Which just leaves me to wish everyone and their families who read this a very happy Christmas!🎄🎅☃️❄️

Xxx

Sun_Addict

Have an absolutely fabulous Christmas 🥂🥳🎄

redofromstart

Have a lovely Christmas SSG, I quite like warm, fresh fat rascals, but like scones they are only nice fresh.

amber03

A busy few days for you SSG. Have a lovely time with family. Merry Christmas and hopefully a happy new year.xx