A new chapter, An empty nest, Drama school & Last year of Uni

Loanranger21

Hi Spendless. re cost of new element in oven: from memory it was under £100. Maybe £80 ish. Far far cheaper than buying a new oven.

Spendless

Cheers loan ranger - definately something to look into.

Kxmx - from my days as a Sat girl in a food hall many moons ago you can freeze cheese assumming you are talking about the hard type like cheddar or red leicester etc, so you could cut a block in half and freeze if you cant find a smaller pack.

My manager bought some mince from the meat market opposite where we work said it was cheaper for 2lb compared to the supermarket. We used to shop there before eldest went to Uni but then stopped as back then youngest was vegetarian and Mr S works away every week so not eating it as much. The stalls are much reduced since then but I think its something we need to return to doing.

Work wasnt busy customer wise yesterday due to weather but a delivery meant there was plenty to occupy me for the hours I worked. I was also hit with a double whammy. First the liklihood is my role will be permanent pending the outcome for someone Im covering for. The other is a long term staff member in a managerial role is leaving. I think finding a replacement is going to be tough due to the hours, location and the need for them to 'hit the ground running'. Ive been here in the past 2 jobs where the long term experienced staff has given notice and it's ended up not being good for those left behind.

Today Im off, I dont want to say Im aiming for a NSD as Gremlins tend to throw spanners in the works but hopefully as minimal as I can.

Dog whining to go for a walk - at least thats a free activity to go and do.

KxMx

Unfortunately hard cheese tends to crumble after being frozen, making it difficult to cut 🧀 So I prefer freezing grated only that I use for baking.

Spendless

Feezing grated is a great idea.

DH's payday today. We ended the month with a fiver in this account and strictly speaking with none at all cos we need today's wages to pay the CC before 1st. It's many many months since we've been in this position, but I'm aware that due to circs beyond my control, I took my eye off the ball towards the end of last year. Am now implimenting strategies to prevent that happening again.

I used yesterday's £5 and another £10 today to move into my Friday savings/alternative universe. Xtra rent now has £95 in stolen £55.

Today I have a work shift, another tomorrow and then in all day Sunday. Then only 1 midweek because next weekend we are going to see DD play the lead role in what is pretty much her last major production at drama school. There will be 2 more after this, one is her own work but she's the writer and isn't taking a major role in directing and isn't acting in it, the other days before the course finishes but will have a minor role due to having a bigger part this time, which is exactly what she wished for.

Workwise there is a meeting next week when whether my role will continue as I'm covering for someone long term absent. Once this is known it will be easier for long term financial planning. For now we will just pay the CClater today and see what money is available to be sent to cover which committment we have. Will be doing this later afternoon/early evening once I'm home from work.

Spendless

Tuesday and DD's student rent sent. Assumming I keep my job, I have now got enough money in reserve from DH's wages to meet the ongoing costs until the end of the tenancy paying from my wages. I won't know if I have got a job beyond my current temp contract until the end of next week I think just due to how my shifts have fallen.

Though January was very tight, I have been able to buy some Xmas gifts in the sales which will be 'padding' or stocking gifts. This will help considerably at the end of the year.

Today and tomorrow I intend being 'housebound' whilst I completely tidy the house which is long overdue for doing. My thought process being to do the upstairs first (today's job) followed by the downstairs tomorrow as I have more downstairs items that need to go up than vice versa if that makes sense.

Mr S is now working away until Thurs evening, so only me (and the dog!) responsible for any more mess made. Let's see how I get on.

Spendless

I got around 70% of the house done. I need to set myself more acheivable targets I think, not try to do too much at once. I also realised that if it took 3 of us to empty an area then it's not realistic (or fair) if just one puts it all back. I have no weekday shifts next week, so will concentrate on doing a little more each day.

Had a blood test this morning, something that was missed off at my last check. Asked if I could get weighed whilst there too cos no batteries in my scales and this was free, no putting £1 in boots machine or (re) joining SW - lol. Very slight gain of one pound)but tidying my handbags on my return I found a boots machine slip from.Oct where Im half a stone heavier. Confirmation Ive been yo-yoing. Will try and eat better, just dont crave salads with this weather.

Going to set off for work within the hour and see if I can pick up any last sales bits before my shift starts.

DD's show has sold out for Saturday, so glad we bought tickets early. Its a matinee which I really wasnt expecting. I thought it'd be an evening show or both. We are setting off early at my insistance because DH's 'it takes 3.5 hours to get there' has happened only once when Ive gone - the rest of the time its been nearer 5 hours due to various road delays!

Spendless

Friday and the £5 pots filled. Extra rent has hit the 3 figure mark with £100 in. Just looked and this will need to be continued to be paid into until June to cover the final week's rent at DD's student digs. Stolen is up to £60.

Yesterday, I went into the city centre, looked round some shops, bought something in the 70% off Boots sale, grabbed lunch (Drs appt in the morning meant I hadnt spaced eating out adequately something I only realised after leaving home), had my top lip waxed and was completely done with everything in 65 mins. Nowhere had customers at the till, this included at our large Primark. Looking round the recently vacated M&S and what it has now become (discount clothing store) was depressing. Work was the same with barely a customer. I realise weather played a part but still. It has to be that with people struggling with bills and grocery increases there's nothing left over.

Spendless

Back from a very enjoyable weekend. We took my parents with us realising this was their last chance to see DD perform as a student. We paid for the 2 hotel rooms o/night using DH's loyalty point which included a free buffet breakfast for all 4 of us.

We set off early to watch DD in her matinee show where she had one of the lead roles. Dad who was struggling with the play's concept in the first act, got thoroughly behind it in the 2nd, and was emotional at the end as he said it mirrored his own experience in the workplace when another company bought them out, changed the ts and cs to less favourable ones, outsourced jobs and eventually closed the place down. It led to my Dad becoming semi retired at only 50. I watched DD do her monlogue in the play and could see how much she's grown as an actor even in these past few years.

That night all 5 of us went to an.Indian restaurant and Dad paid. The following day Mr S and my parents went to visit DD and get some groceries for her, whilst I met a fellow mse'r for coffee in the hotel lobby which was lovely.

Parents expressing their gratitude to us about the weekend which to us was a very simple thing, made me aware again how much stress and strain they were under last year with Nan.

And now Im home to the continuous rain, havent a work shift till the weekend. Plans for today are catch DH who is WFH to go through the CC bill as we're in a new statement billing, make a shopping list and go grocery shopping whilst I have his car and continue with putting our bedroom back together.

Spendless

Yesterday we went through the credit cards. Oh my gosh there was a lot on it, from holday expenses that we'll take later this year, annual hol insurance, a dental bill (unsure why this went on guessing cos it was cos we were skint in Jan), a trophy we have bought to be presented at a local drama festival in honour of DD's late drama teacher, don't regret that one a bit, DD is still using the techniques that were taught to her. More annoying is being sent a medical bill from a debt chasing agency - 1 we've never been sent in the first place. Last year we used DH's private med insurance over a health matter, but not all expenses were covered. We paid each bill when it came in - I was working f-time then so could easily meet these costs. There wasn't one we missed so we knew nothing about it till we get one from a debt agency. I'm seriously unimpressed, we could have been contacted at any time, or sent a reminder bill. Mr S had been emailing the Dr concerned recently about some follow up treatment - not one has been replied to but seems to have triggered this bill instead. DH has paid it because he was worried about escalation if he didn't, he also asked for a copy of the invoice - needless to say this hasn't been received by us!

Anyway we went through where we think each cost should come from as we do each month and thanks to savings we've been putting away, isolating DH's bonus money and using 2 weeks of DD's rent I save in advance we have enough to pay it all off except for £250 which is pretty much all the unexpected med bill! This money will either have to come from next month's wages or it will have to come from this and the only way I can guarantee that is if we are extra careful for the rest of the month and do meal plans from what we have in. Of the 3 weekends left this month, I am working 2 of them, so no socialising expenditure then. The one free one we are going to another city with friends for drinks and possibly a meal but that is accounted for.

I'm pleased that I started a monzo pot for occassions (bdays etc) and have been making the most of buying in the sales. I saw a question asked on a ML show some time back 'what was the optimum time to buy Xmas presents for best value; and Martin answered January. I've bought all year round for over 2 decades but this year I've done a focus on buying a lot already. Most is of the stocking/padding variety with the exception of an unusual Xmas themed vase for my Mum. My parents didn't have any xmas decs or a tree up last year as they found they couldn't manage trying to do it all with visiting Nan. This hit home to me when I took their gifts round on Xmas eve and if I hadn't they'd have woken up to an 'empty' living room.

Tuesday so I have paid DD's student rent. That takes the last of my Jan wages for it and the next 2 weeks are before I get paid again, so will come out of the surplus funds I save for it. I have just over £30 now left of my wages for personal spends. I'm meeting a friend later to watch a film. I'm expecting her to have a 241 voucher though and tomorrow another friend for a catch up in a nearby pub, she can only spare an hour though and it's walkable to so not expecting that to cost much.

Spendless

Another wet miserable rainy day. When will this weather every change?! Ive already been out because the dog believes rain doesnt count if he has a lead on! We went to the nearby park. It was muddy and slippy.

I enjoyed my afternoon out with a friend, pub lunch with a free drink due to an offer and 241 at the cinema. We were practically the only ones in there, had been same story at the pub. I appreciate it was a Tues afternoon in Feb but still, lack of customers for businesses isnt sustainable long term. Ive got just over half my personal spends left and am meeting another friend for a catch up later today at a pub in the next village. Ill need to walk there and friend can only spare an hour, so think the money I have left should cover the outing.

Some bulky items have been collected by the council from Nans. Parents have now ordered a skip to put the last of her items in. Once the last of things are cleared, parents will get house valuation done.

Positive of it still being dark and gloomy is we've still.not bought curtains for our bedroom (we're not overlooked!). Thats due to lack of time off together for me and DH and the shops being out of town and difficult to access without me having a car to get there.

With pressure on our finances with other comittments and whilst Im waiting to find out about my job (hoping to hear this weekend), I decided to empty a piggy bank I bought DH a few years ago and hes saved 20p in. There was over £50 in it, so they're bagged up to go and be paid in at the bank (will do in conjunction with a work.shift so not paying to travel into the city centre). Hoping that will cover most of the cost of the bedroom curtains.

Today until I go and meet my friend, I am using up resources in the house only. Intend looking at my stash of gifts bought cheaply shortly to see what can be used for the next few birthdays/occassions.