Curbing the ridiculous

Blackcats

Hope you are ok and enjoying the Easter sunshine.

astrocytic_kitten

Blackcats said:

Hope you are ok and enjoying the Easter sunshine.

Came here to say this too - I’ve been thinking about you

Buffythedebtslayer

Yep hope all is well lovely XXX 

[Deleted User]

Thanks all!  Sorry I have been MIA - my computer went kaput and had to nag DH to fix, then we were a very poorly household over easter.  On the thursday afternoon I started feeling very cold and could not get warm at all.  Was then in bed for 2 days with cold/hot and just wiped.  DC1 had a D&V bug then DH had a D bug and was in bed for 2 days.  We did manage to get an egg hunt in on the sunday morning (just did bacon and egg baps in the end due to illness) 

A bit down tbh - we had nice plans of nice food and spending time with the DC over easter, plus 6 days off and it was just totally ruined.  Still feeling wiped but at least it is nearly the weekend.

moving_forward

Sorry you've been rough. Thes etchings always ruin plans. Hope everyone's on the mend x

Blackcats

Nice to hear from you.  So sorry that you've been a poorly household.  Could you book a long weekend as annual leave and have a family fun staycation at home?  There are a few bank holidays coming up that you could tag an extra day onto.

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys.  This week has a been a little better though DC2 got sent home from nursery on monday arvo for projectile vomiting(!)  This meant he couldn't go in yesterday as they have a 48 hour rule.  Luckily MIL stepped up.  She does seem to help in emergencies which is obviously good.  He's not been sick since until just now (only a little) but I think that's because he's eaten too much this morning.

Budget wise, we had a good month last month and managed to hoof quite a bit away.  Very slightly over the reduced budget but that was due to plumber's bill.

This month we are going to be way over - we are already almost 2/3 of the way through the reduced budget a week in but this is because we ordered the gate to keep the DC from getting onto the road and also DH ordered some more scaffold boards/linseed oil for raised beds and I needed some of my foundation.  We also treated ourselves to lunch out on saturday which we hadn't done since mother's day -we are down the road from a hotel/restaurant we hadn't tried before so wanted to give it a whirl - was ok, not great, but I think if we just popped there for a bar meal outside in the summer rather than the "a la carte" it would be fine.

My parents also arrive today until Tuesday so 2 extra people to feed/booze for and we have 3 meals out booked - though dad will probably pick up 2 of those.

Then I have taken the day off (rather indulgently) next friday to get my hair done (I think it's been almost a year so is needed!) and am going to book a pedicure, treat myself to lunch (on my own!!) and a massage (though I have vouchers for that).  

Then we have the following week off to decorate the playroom so will be paint/supplies and carpet.

I mean technically, the gate/scaffolds/carpet/paint etc shouldn't be coming out of monthly spending budget as we do have savings to be spent on the house, but we've just not siphoned them off - they are just in general savings - so I'm kind of taking much of it out of monthly budget if that makes sense (not that our monthly budget will cover the carpet/paint).  Either way, I don't think we will be saving anything this month but hopefully won't be dipping into actual savings.

Other than that, all very dull.  The architectural technologists came and did the measured survey a couple of weeks ago so just waiting for the architect to call to arrange a meeting to go through the possibilities before she preps up the drawings.  Still looking like it will be spring 2024 before any works start but that's ok as gives us more time to save.

We were going to go away the week we have off but decided to spend the money doing the house instead.  We will have a couple of days plus both weekends with the DC, which gives us 3 days to get the room decorated - DH will probably do some of the prep of the room next week so then all we've to do is paint.

Looking at taking the DC away later in the year.

Looks like will have a meeting re DC1 on the 11th to understand what happens if we agree to send him to the specialist nursery 2 mornings a week from Sept

moving_forward

Ooh sounds like you got it all in hand. Your day off sounds amazing. Make sure the massage is before the hair so you don't grease up your new do 😁

[Deleted User]

So, this month's spending is a total disaster, though not unexpectedly.  We ordered a large gate to keep the DC in, plus more scaffold boards/linseed oil for beds.  Parents were here so lots of extra food/booze required, plus we paid for 1 of the 3 meals out.  I had hair highlighted and cut (but first time in around a year) plus pedicure.  Didn't get massage in end as timings didn't work, then out with my bessie Fri night - he picked up pre-dinner drinks plus dinner (he earns a fortune - often treats me even though I do try to pay half!), then I bought a bottle in a bar post-dinner.  Taxi home.  Usual food/petrol shopping.  Our ride on lawn mower (bought from previous owners) broke so that has been taken away and fixed - 278(!!!!) and then paint/supplies to decorate playroom plus I've just ordered beanbags, a "transport" rug (with roads etc on so they can play on it with their cars), large bookshelf, light shade, activity table/chairs and we still have storage cubes/carpet to go - DH ripped out all of the cupboards in the end as the plaster had blown and they were falling apart really - so he has re-plaster boarded the part of it that had blown and is now prepping the room by filling holes/sanding etc.  We are off this coming week so once kids in nursery we will be painting ourselves - reckon we'd be charged at least 1500 by a decorator so this represents good value (plus I guess we are saving in not going away!).

So mega expensive bill this month but there was no point in buying this house and then not doing anything to it - and playroom should be fabulous for them when it's done.

Apparently the architects drawings/computer model of the house are almost done but they are coming back first thing Tues to check a few measurements, then we will have another meeting to discuss options.  I guess the first part of their fees will be payable then.

Next month's spending (bar the architects fees) should be better as we won't be doing any further decorating and we have 1 meal out with friends on 21st but I am going to drive so will not be a taxi home or booze for me(!)  DH's birthday start June but he wants low key.  We were going to have a Jubilee party here but have decided not to now.

I also have another blinking cold - why this is whenever I have time off I do not know!  Did a LFT and covid negative.

I'm also going to (try) give up booze from now yesterday until at least DH's birthday - so 4 weeks.  I think I'd like to see what difference it makes in terms of weight, how I feel, sleep and look etc.  Plus it will save us cash.  I deliberately didn't buy any wine in the weekly shop yesterday (though we do have several bottles of red in stocks already).

I was supposed to start running again today but I have this cold so it can't yet happen.

Oh, and I had a heart monitor fitted for 24 hours for my palpitations and it confirmed I am not imagining it, I am having them!  Consultant doesn't know what causing but isn't concerned at present.  However, what the scan of my heart DID show is that I have leaking valves so I now have to be reviewed every year for life!  Not exactly what I was expecting these investigations to show but I wouldn't have known about the leaking otherwise so guess that's a good thing?!  Possibility I will require surgery at some point - which is troubling obviously but my uncle is a doctor with good experience in that area as he has issues himself and he said that 95% of his patients with it don't need any further treatment, so I am clinging onto that.

Have started watching last few episodes of Ozark - we started ep 8 last night but couldn't remember what happened before so think we might have to go back an episode, then I want DH to watch The Staircase with me as that gets rave reviews.  Watched Masterchef final - loved all the finalists but think the right person won.  Will miss that show as so so love it!

enthusiasticsaver

Goodness everything going on with you. The playroom sounds fab and inevitably there will be spending after buying a new house. Good your MIL stepped up to look after DC2. Some GPS just don’t want regular childcare commitments which doesn’t help you but ultimately you can’t really do anything about it. Childcare costs won’t be forever. 

Re your heart issues my husband had been suffering palpitations for years since his 40s and was basically ignored by the medical professionals as he was otherwise fit, no other health issues so just told lots of people have them. He is early 60s now and after having a 24 hour heart monitor reading last year as the palpitations were worse and he was always tired the cardiologists told him he had two badly leaking heart valves causing mitral valve regurgitation. Only answer was open heart surgery to repair them so he had that last September now he is so much better. Alternative would be him getting weaker and tireder until his heart gave out so make sure you get regular checks. Surgery sounds scary but it is amazing how much they can do now.