Mrs. P's Savings, Paying Off CC, being more organised diary

MrsPorridge

NSD 8

Happy Christmas to all.

A neighbour gave me a couple of cauliflowers so I made two batches of cauliflower cheese.  We will have one tonight with some sausage rolls and the other batch on Christmas Day with our turkey.

A load of washing done.

Various meats and bits and bobs taken out of the freezer.

Breakfast was scrambled eggs on toast and lunch was cheese and crackers.

Watched my most favourite Christmas film – Deck the Halls with Danny Devito.

MrsPorridge

NSD 9

I’ve had a lovely Christmas Day.

We started with pancakes for breakfast.  Then DH, DS and I went to the two pubs in the village – everyone gets a free drink on Christmas Day.  So we had a drink in each.  Then back to turkey and gammon and all the trimmings.  We have masses of leftover – enough to feed us for the next week or so.

We’re now collapsed in front of the TV and watching films.  DH is doing the Christmas pudding so we’ll have some of that.  I normally like to have a turkey sandwich, but really I don’t think I can manage it this year.

I got a knitting book from DS which I asked for, and its full of lovely Norwegian jumpers.  I’ve already started to knit one with wool from my stash.

MrsPorridge

NSD 10

Very overcast and mizzly today.  A lazy day planned of TV and knitting.  We had croissants for breakfast, lunch will be turkey rolls and tonight we are having ham, egg and coins (potatoes in rounds and fried).

We have friends coming round tomorrow night for a Fika which is a hygge kind of get together.  I am doing open sandwiches and loads of nibbly bits and pieces and my friend is bringing a smoked salmon smorgasboard.  We will be having mulled wine.

I’ve started a new paper diary yesterday and decided to write down weekly spends to try and keep focussed for the coming year. 

I have lowered my broadband contract by £11.50 a month to a new system which doesn’t need line rental any more.  I ditched my landline phone a few months ago as we were using our mobiles.  The switchover happens on 30th Dec so hopefully it will go smoothly – it’s the same provider so I am hoping for minimal or no disruption.

MrsPorridge

Some stuff I want to achieve this year:

I have been hanging on to some lovely lined dresses which don’t fit me – I have been telling myself I will lose weight so that they will fit me again.  Of course I haven’t.  I have been waiting for them to fit me for about 5 years now.  I need to get rid of them this year.  If they don’t fit me by APRIL then they are GOING.

Carry on decluttering.  Still a lot of stuff that I can get rid of.  DH is not very good of letting things go and if I leave stuff in the charity bag he goes through it and takes stuff out.  Even stuff that is mine.  I wanted to get rid of an anorak I don’t wear to DS as it fits him perfectly and he likes it -  DH threw his toys out of the pram and there was a massive row.  It has gone back into the wardrobe again – but I will get it to DS hopefully early part of next year when DH has forgotten about it!  (he tends to do that so I need to bide my time).  It was easier when we both went to work as I could drop stuff off, but now we are both at home it’s a lot harder to get rid of stuff with him around so I have to be a bit creative.  I’m still a bit upset about the row, but at the end of the day DH has more good points than bad and I love him to bits, but at times he can be very irrational – but that’s only from my perspective, but if that is all we row about then I guess that’s not very major in the whole scheme of life!

So here are my resolutions:

Lose weight

Declutter

Keep a spending diary and aim for as many NSDs as possible and don’t drop the ball with my spending.  Keep looking for ideas of how I can save money.

MrsPorridge

NSD 11

Horrible overcast and raining quite heavily in bursts today.

Breakfast/brunch was a big fry up as we are having our get together with friends tonight.  I am making open sandwiches, savoury and sweet nibbles and my friend is brining sausage rolls, smoked salmon and cherry chocolate brownies.  We are also having mulled wine.

A bit of tidying up done, hoovering, cleaning kitchen etc.

MrsPorridge

Well I'll be jiggered.  I just popped up to see a friend and when I got back DS and DH are looking at DH's golf clubs - next thing DH has given DS his set of golf clubs complete with bag!  We haven't played golf for years and DS said he was thinking of playing so DS said he could have his clubs.  So, DS can't have my jacket which cost about £25 but he can have a set of golf clubs which cost a couple of hundred?  Go figure as they say in the films!  I'm glad as some decluttering has been done

MrsPorridge

NSD 11

Very windy today, and bursts of heavy rain.

Well, we decided to take the decorations down today and put them back into the loft.  I love Christmas and can’t wait to get them up, but once the big day is done I like things to return to normal.  Some cleaning done.

We visited the garden centre this afternoon and had tea and cake with DS.  I also popped to Sainsbogs for milk and eggs.

Breakfast was porridge with banana, lunch was leftovers from last night and tea tonight is lamb rogan josh with rice and naan bread.

MrsPorridge

NSD 11

Our pensions were paid today so all my banking has now been done.  I had used the CC at the beginning of the month so that is now all paid off and I have also bought some PB’s.  I am far more organised with my money now than I was a year ago.  A year ago the money was running me and I was robbing Peter to pay Paul.  Now I am definitely running the money.  I just need to keep myself focussed now for the coming year.

So I am starting the NY with no CC debt.

I have my budget done ready for January.

I have lowered the broadband payments

I checked our electricity online and it has now gone down to £65 per month BUT I am keeping the DD at £100.  We are still being frugal with the electric.

Jobs today:

Washing

Bedding changed

Hoovering

Dining room put “ back to normal” after Christmas.

Popped out and DH bought some lights for the garage plus a key lock box to go outside the house with a spare key in -  something we have been meaning to do for months now.

Breakfast was scrambled eggs on toast, lunch sausage rolls and using up leftover nibbles, dinner tonight is veggie cottage pie.

Makingabobor2

Well done on your good start to the NY.  I think these challenges & diaries really help to keep us focused. I have done so much more since becoming accountable to everybody.  Veggie Cottage pie sounds yummy, I make DH have at least 1 veggie day a week, he's not keen but he does it....lol. 

MrsPorridge

NSD 11

Happy New Year.

We treated DS to a breakfast at the local café this morning, was nice to spend time with him as he is out with his mates tonight and goes back home tomorrow afternoon.

DH and I are going out tonight to some friends just up the road for the New Year.

NY Resolutions:

Continue posting on my diary – even on the boring days!

Lose some weight

Declutter clothes that don’t fit in April

Keep on top of money and Money Saving