Pay for the future and not the past

MissRikkiC

Oh yes the planning involved and gaining control feels amazing. Another year and I’m sure it’ll be even better. 

I got out into the garden for my lunch break today and gently pulled up as much marestail as I could.  Due to the heavy rain my borage had toppled over and a few stems had snapped so I’ve staked that today however when looking it up, it seems to have something in the hairs on the stem and they’ve made me itchy all afternoon! I really love it and the bees do to but a few heads have gone to seed now and I’m not sure I want it to self seed there! Unless it only produces another plant in the place of the mother next year as that is what I’ll do anyway. 

Speaking of mother plants. My strawberries have started to send out runners and we got into SUCH a mess last year with them that I had to throw a lot away. Everything got really tangled up! I’ll research how best to manage them. 

This was todays harvest today. Very happy indeed and finally a red tomato! 

Floss

Borage is a bit of a bully when self-seeding - if you can, cut off the seed heads so you don't end up with a garden full of it!

MissRikkiC

Oh gosh thanks for the warning @floss

I’ve removed one already as it was shading the sorrel growing next to it and also the strawberries however it’s prompted some thoughts about that area and how inaccessible some of the beds are when everything is in full bloom. In turn I think over the winter I need to consider another change around which Is such a big job. 

Yesterday I had half an hour to spare so sowed carrots, lettuce and the last beetroot. I want to sort another bed out and maybe build something for the brassicas but it’s unlikely I’ll manage that this side of Christmas. The bed is easy to sort but it’s next door to the other brassicas and the brolly cloche I use isn’t quite big enough to cover both beds when in full bloom but I want some Kale in there for the colder months. I probably should do it today however I might have used up my chances of P&Q already. 

This week I’ve used our bulk fund pot and bought some millet to have as porridge, quinoa for that but also meals too and some vital wheat flour in order to add protein to the bread I often make. The bread turned out really well, we have 4 small loaves and it should yield about 6g protein per slice. 

Money stuff. I went to the bank and withdrew what is owed for the utility so when my friend is next over I can deal with that frog. 

My husbands expenses are in so that’s another £170 to pay over to the credit card when I get chance this week along with the £250 I have in the pot. £580 total inc the monthly payment to be sent over is depressing but also feels good. 

His target of making an extra £300 for this year is surpassed, so I’m really happy especially since he was given 2 pay rises this year and it’s all gone into the Joint account. 

Meal plan is done for this coming week. I didn’t factor into the grocery budget that the children are home an extra 3 days a week every week throughout the school holidays but hoping we can manage still. Especially as my daughter has refused everything except rice carrots and broccoli this week. At least it’s healthy! 

MissRikkiC

Hi readers. Nothing much to report this week, but thought I’d check in. I’ve forgotten to send a few payments to Monzo from the main account so I’ve had to use the main account for them which has meant despite knowing a budget I’ve felt temptation to push against it because there isn’t a limit if that makes sense, however I haven’t. I have got some juggling to do though. 

Today I’ve had my hair cut and got into town early so treated myself to a glass of wine and a few chapters of my book in a nice wine bar before heading across for my appointment. I’ve tried hard to read more this last couple of days, when I can, but I do find it challenging to switch my brain off for the time period I have. With the children it’s so few and far between that I get time to myself but yet it takes me probably half an hour to switch off so by the time I’ve started reading or doing anything, my time is up and I’ve hardly achieved much at all in the way of head space. But I’ve been trying to find more time to read this week anyway, in the hope it builds a type of muscle memory to relax quicker the more I do it. 

We’re trying to plan a little holiday before the end of the year. It will be camping but we’re going to borrow a tent and see how we go with 2 Little’s and if it’s achievable then we will purchase our own tent for next year. I may need to make some enquiries as to places to stay with a few people who I think read my dairy….. I used to be so good at researching but now I’m too short on time and I’d rather take someones recommendation instead. 

Debsnewbudget

I love listening to audio books as I can do that whilst doing something else, like sorting out the washing etc

Floss

If you're planning to go camping with small ones, have a look for family sites no more than an hour away for your first time. Then if it really doesn't work you can get home easily.

My boys loved camping holidays in Tenby, Cornwall & Whitby when small - good resorts with lots of wet weather attractions 😉

MissRikkiC

I have previously listened to audiobooks and definitely will have another go. I find that I can’t engage my brain enough to pay attention when it’s background noise. Probably from years of just having music on regardless of what I was doing. 

Yes camping within a couple of hours we’ve said so that we can be back at home should the need arise.

MissRikkiC

Good afternoon from a dry part of the Midlands!

I woke up today feeling pretty good for a Monday despite a disturbed nights sleep. My OH is home with the children today whilst i am working, so that meant i had longer than normal this morning to get on top of things that aren't really what i want to spend my weekend doing. I emptied both cars of stuff and found an entire load of washing, 4 carier bags of various toys and 6 packets of baby wipes. I recently posted about them literally disappearing the moment i buy them but it just seems that they're left in the car all the time! Anyway, my children we happy as they felt like they'd got new toys to play with and ive added to the washing pile! However feel better for having got it sorted and without disruption. 

I also remembered to discard and feed my sourdough starter although we have a few loaves already on account of baking them ahead of the week yesterday so im almost a bit reluctant to make a sourdough loaf a well. I might just pop it in the fridge now that its been fed. The loaves i made over the weekend are just traditional sandwich loaves but with extra protein and we got through 3 of them last week! It was nice to not be out of bread and needing to run to the shop though.

My daughter and i picked some produce yesterday from the garden, a few dwarf beans but they not really ready yet, 1 courgette, 1 tomato and 1.2kg of rhubarb! We already have 4 pots of approx 500g of stewed rhubarb in the freezer so instead made a christmassy chutney. It made 6 jars, of which 4 have sealed and no longer have a pop top so the other 2 will need eating first. Anyone know how long those 2 will last in the fridge? @Suffolk_lass im looking at you

I feel a bit of anxiety over my insurance claim for my phone. I broke mine and sent it off to be replaced and the phone they sent me had a tiny crack on the screen, only a hair line but over a few days as i pressed on the screen to type it worsened and made it so that various letter and the space bar would double press when i was typing which was SO annoying. Whilst i returned it, ive gone back to an older phone which is also broke but as it was only temporary as i returned the replacement device 5 days later, i wasn't that bothered. Now the insurance partner company are saying because i didnt notify them or return the device within 2 days i need to pay the excess again. I am really annoyed about it given that i haven't held on to the phone for an excessive amount of time and from the minute i returned it which was over 2 weeks ago, ive had to chase them daily for an update to which i finally got last Thursday! I wouldn't mind, but i only didnt bother about the initial crack because it was hardly visible and i wasn't expecting it to cause any issues Now it seems i need to pay another £50 for a replacement despite the one they originally sent me already being faulty. 

The other thing on my mind is i looked around for the last of the switch bonus current accounts and found i had 1 left which id not used. I was going to apply then decided i didnt want to move from my actual current account as i like it, so remembered i had a HSBC account which i didnt use and would use that instead. Its an account that i havnt done anything with since opening it so found the details, set up a standing order from my main account to send enough money across to pay for 2 DD'. This was so i had 2 DDs to switch when moving the account. I havent got internet banking on the account or telephone so just set it up to essentially receive the standing order and for the 2 DDs to go out the next day. It seems that the SO went across fine, but the DDs didnt come out (and i dont know why) and they were my Tesco credit cards! So ive had 2 late payment fees charged (1 for each card) and £70 sat in an account i dont use and cant transfer out unless i go into branch and set everything up! I have spoken with Tesco and they have reversed the charges but i am mindful that it might mark my near perfect credit report. Plus ive got to go into town, 10  miles away to sort it out. Very annoying.

joedenise

Unfortunately it can take up to 14 days to set up a DD which is probably why it wasn't paid.  You would have done better to have sorted it out the day after your DD went out to go out the following month.  Doesn't really help you with this payment but worth noting if you need or want to move a DD again.

Tesco won't put a marker on your credit file if my past experience is anything to go by.  I had a late charge for a similar reason and nothing went on so I wouldn't worry about that.

MissRikkiC

Thanks @joedenisei imagine that’s what’s happened. I’ll get in town and sort it Monday when I’m off with the children but just very annoying. 

Someone else’s diary reminded me to check my TCB today and I had £7.47 payable to withdrawn that, plus a lurking £1.00 voucher so selected tescow as the partner and it added another 0.03p. Also withdrew £8 from vinted. 

We away to visit friends this weekend and another family are visiting them at the same time so we’re all cooking for 11. There are many allergies (mostly us) and dietary requirements to consider it feels like simple is best. That said, I also want to have lovely meals so considering making some things in advance!