Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

MovingForwards

Sounds like a fun weekend and good use of the leftovers.

savingholmes

Thanks MF.

Have my (routine) mammogram tomorrow. I hate anything like that, going to hospital etc but grateful it's free and it's important. I've booked myself an extra counselling session as a lot going on at the moment - and there was due to be a 3 week gap so this puts it more in the middle of that.

I've started the xmas shopping. I have some books and craft stuff for the 5 littlies and can top up the rest with a few pound coins. I spent more than my budget for DD but not hugely over. I bought a couple of things for my parents. I have a present for my best friend. Plan to spend about £20-40 on DS for his xmas and birthday combined as I gave him extra earlier this year. However, I recently spent a lot on DD which made up some of the difference. Any other presents are optional. Ideally I'd get something for one other sis. I may not see my brother... we only do token gifts anyway. 

Christmas Day we're due at my parents so fuel rather than food spend. Boxing Day the kids are with the Ex and seeing ex-MIL. Last year I bought a load of extra food and didn't need it so want to avoid that mistake this year. Only another month and then I'm off for Xmas. Due to have 13 days all being well.

I found all my missing cards the other day. I need to clear about £25 on one, £100 on another (no statement yet) but the third is 0% spends so may let that run on another month (about £100 worth). Alternatively I could send less to savings. I'd originally planned to do any xmas shopping out of next month's money rather than this but it hasn't quite worked out like that. I'm also keeping money back for the handyman as I'm never sure when he's next coming. The weather has meant he couldn't come for now anyway but it's looking likely to be decent on Friday so he may come then.

The handles have fallen off my main cooking pan/steamer set - so need to buy another.... 

badmemory

Good luck with the mammogram.  I'm too old for one now, but the last one I did have wasn't as unpleasant as previous ones.  It is just another form of insurance to my mind.  Just like flu & covid jabs & house insurance.  I always think how stupid I would feel if I didn't & then discovered I really should have.

SandyShores

Have a look in Asd@ for pans savingholmes, they are really reasonable.  Another one due a mammogram here, hope yours went okay.  I think mine may be my last one too.

badmemory

If you have a tesco clubcard they have a set of pan with 25% off.

savingholmes

Thanks BM and Sandy. I've ordered some new pans now - they will arrive at the weekend.

Well I doubt I'll hit my savings goals this month / year unless I count my energy pre-paid pot in to my total. I think that's because I bought some clothes, pans and started my xmas shopping including for groceries and over-spent on food with sis's visit etc. But also because I'm now saving into AVCs it makes my savings goals more challenging. If my handyman delayed coming that would help me hit my goals but I want the work done so its a catch 22. 

Mammogram was achieved yesterday followed shortly after by a virtual counselling session. I felt better after the latter and she redirected my reading. I should get results of the first in 2-4 weeks.

Tomorrow will be my mortgage anniversary - so I will start new diary - year 2 portion then.

My cleaner is coming today which I'm looking forward to. I still need to get dressed and start work! Tomorrow I have to go into work. I need to ring my GP as I organised an appointment but can't remember when it is and don't know if its in person or telephone. 

badmemory

Stop stressing over the savings.  They are there so that when the need comes for new pans the money is there.  I was cooking curry, didn't realise the pan had a problem, left it simmering for a couple of minutes & came back to find the top of the oven had curry on it.  Dumped it in another pan & found that the original had a half inch hole in it.  I'm not sure we should have eaten it, but we did.

beanielou

Wow, a year already.
Think how very far you have come 

Merlin's_Beard

I think if you're not hitting your savings goal because you're saving into AVCs then it might not be worth stressing about - it's all savings and it's all your future.

Blackcats

I agree with others that you are saving money in a variety of ways all of which will be for your future either sooner or later.