We will get this debt down & the savings up

foxgloves

Very good survey earnings. Mine were so feeble I didn't cash them out, but June is going to be much better.
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Makingabobor2

Afternoon all.  How is really June? It is so chilly and windy. We should be sat out in the sun by now, with our legs in the sunshine, instead I am in the kitchen wearing leggings and socks with a long sleeve top and when I went out earlier I was wearing jeans and my jacket.  The world has gone mad! 

So first of all I have a gardening question. I am still a novice at this growing veg lark. I have read somewhere that you should harvest your courgettes as soon as the flowers fall off?  Well if I do that, the first one is only about 2 inches long.  Also is it best to cut off some of the bigger leaves to let the sun get on them more?  I seem to have so many massive leaves appearing that are completely covering the flowers etc. 

So apart from gardening, what else has been happening? 
Today I returned the hearing aids for a full refund and will look at it again in a year. I just didn't feel they were right at the moment.  Everything still sounded very tinny when watching TV, and even when DH was talking it seemed really loud, even though the audiologist said she had only turned them up to 65%.  She was lovely and helpful and I have told her I hope she is still there in a year and I will go back and see  how things are and maybe look at getting them then. She says I have very sensitive ears and the fact that I suffer a lot with sinus problems, doesn't help.   So just waiting on the refund from that, which should take 5-10 days apparently. 

Also still waiting for the refund from STW, which was supposed to be on the way, will have to chase that up if it doesn't arrive soon.  
All this money due into the account is so much better than money going out....lol.  
Next week is my birthday, so I intend to put my birthday money ( which my dad and in-laws always give me, and this year, DH is giving money as well), to good use.   Yesterday I did a bit more number crunching, and think we are on course now for getting things saved/paid etc. 

Took the big pile of stuff to the CS this morning, so that's cleared that out the way. 1 more thing added to it and now to get on with the next lot of decluttering. 

My shoulder and neck has been playing up again. Not sure if I just haven't been exercising enough lately, or what. Will try a bit more exercise and don't want to have to resort to a massage, unless I have to. Although I do know they help and I should allow myself that little expense to keep healthy. 

That's about it really.  Need to nip up and finish cleaning upstairs and will then finish my jigsaw puzzle. Need to empty the bins and put out the recycling bin and garden bin as well. 

foxgloves

I have been growing courgettes for years, @Makingabobor2, & I have never heard that they should be harvested when the flowers fall off. I know some people like baby veg, but I don't think this approach maximises the crop. Just pick your courgettes when they reach normal size or however you like to eat them.
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Makingabobor2

foxgloves said:

I have been growing courgettes for years, @Makingabobor2, & I have never heard that they should be harvested when the flowers fall off. I know some people like baby veg, but I don't think this approach maximises the crop. Just pick your courgettes when they reach normal size or however you like to eat them.
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@foxgloves, I knew you would know the answer. The article I read said that they stopped growing once the flower had fallen off!  Just shows how there is so much misinformation on the internet!

Makingabobor2

Good Afternoon all.  Still no sign of the summer, but at least its dry so the towels are blowing in the wind and will hopefully dry.  Yesterday I just managed to get a load dry before the afternoon shower.  So DH has his shirts and work trousers all ready for another week. 

Not much to report really.  Garden is coming along nicely at last, about 4 courgettes so far now, quite a few strawberries appearing and everything else looking good.  I didn't think we'd get much on the raspberries this year as 2 are new plants, and I understand you have to wait till year 2.  We have had 3 tiny ones though....lol.  I do have a 3rd raspberry which I bought last year, but that is an autumn fruiting one apparently  Rhubarb is also a new plant, although the lady I bought it from said it was in its 2nd year, so can harvest a few stems and it will do better next year.  Looks like there are 1 or 2 I could pull off.  It had 3 leaves when I bought it and now has 6, so pleased with that.  Carrots are very slow but are starting to come through, I will sow some more when I can.  The free pepper seeds I put in from my bought peppers, are starting to grow, so we'll see what happens there. Need to get in the front garden and tidy up a bit as well, and try and get some more flowers in there. Its looking a bit sparse this year. We are visiting in-laws at the weekend, so I will see if MIL has anything I can take cutting of. 

The refund has come through that I paid for the hearing aid deposit, just waiting on the 1st installment to be paid back to me.  Also still waiting on the STW refund.  

Had an NSD yesterday and only spent £3 in C00p on Saturday, so pleased with that. Nipped out to Mr M this morning and just bought essentials we were desperate for, which wasn't much at all. So still hoping to come in under budget this period. Currently on week 3.  Will buy a chicken at the end of the week from butcher, which I can stretch to at least 4 meals, managed more last time as I put so much veg in the soup it did 2 dinners and some for a lunch, then got 3 dinners out of the good meat.  People say meat is expensive, but honestly its not if you know how to make it work for you. 
Had to put petrol in the car while at Mr M, but only put £10 in as its 131.9 there, and only 128.7 in Mr S, so we can put more in when we visit in-laws at weekend. 

Just sold another pair of shoes on V!nt*d. I'd bought them from there in the first place last year, and only worn them once and they didn't seem comfy.  Tried them again yesterday and they definitely rubbed my toe. So listed them and they sold in less than 12 hours. Had an old large postage bag to put them in, so all sent for no extra money really.  Need to do some more decluttering and see what else I can list. 

Finished another puzzle, so that can go to my friend or the CS.  Need to get back into reading, I seem to have not read much the last week, as always seem to tired by the time we go to bed. Its not that we are going to bed any later. 
Just waiting for one of the creditors to get back to me about paying off the debt. Apparently because I want to pay it one go, I need to send it to a different bank reference.  The one we have been using monthly, is only for monthly payments....why do things have to be so complicated?  But at least  my saving pot for the debts is going up and we are gradually getting it paid, just need to try and pay it quicker...lol

Need to get on with some jobs now. 

Blackcats

Well done on the vinted sale - it's such a good way to de-clutter and make a few £'s too.  You've reminded me that I should list a pair of shoes.

Sun_Addict

You’re doing really well with your plants. I got rid of our raspberries because they were taking over the plot I’d planted them on and although they produced a lot of fruit the slugs were eating the berries and there was slime all over them so really didn’t fancy them even after washing 🤢

Makingabobor2

@Sun_Addict, so far we haven't had slugs...so fingers crossed we don't. 

Morning everyone. Another wet & windy day. Although forecast looks to be improving 
Morning exercise routine done on my online group, will do another class later. Got lots to do today & need to walk to the village as well.
Onwards & upwards. Have a good day. 

Makingabobor2

Been a good afternoon of surveys, this month is going really well so far. I've made enough to pay to treat myself to a Reiki session tomorrow, in honour of it being my birthday on Friday. Apparently your birthday is a good time to have Reiki as it starts off the new year well and gets rid of all stale energy.  I must admit I always find it so relaxing and if I have any health problems, it always seems to help

Nipped in C00p this morning and found orange stickered bread and also had a 20p off coupon to use, so a double bargain.  Dropped the plastic off for recycling and walked the long way back, so feeling very virtuous...lol. 

Had an email from STW to say the refund is definitely on the way.  This is the second email, but it still hasn't appeared. 
Looks like there's a few strawberries to pick, so think I'll go and get them before the friendly blackbird decides to have them. Might pick one of the small courgettes as well, to put in the stirfry. 

That's all for now.  Have a good evening. 

Makingabobor2

So after a lovely weekend of not doing much, its back to the grindstone of MSEing.  
We had a lovely day out for my birthday on Friday and took a picnic, and the weather turned out to be beautiful  Then on Saturday, DGS4 came round for a few hours and we had a walk to the local CS where he found a digger for 75p! lol.  Then yesterday we had to visit the in-laws as it was Fathers' day.....less said about that the better I think, they both moaned about so many things and were so negative about everything. Then they had a row and FIL walked out the room in a strop....this is an 86 year old we are talking about, who should know better, but no, they both like to moan and groan and sit there "waiting for God".!   

So after all that, what else has been happening in MSE land? 
Well I have just sent a payment to clear one of debt, so that's another one off the list. Now to start tackling the bigger ones. 

Had to nip out to Mr S to return some jeans I had bought DH the other day, typically they didn't fit him, and they had been such a bargain as well....£20 reduced to £10 and then scanned at £6.  Even though they said 32 waist, they wouldn't do up....so either he is putting on weight, or their sizes are getting bad. 
While I was out, I picked up my Free birthday sweet treat from G**ggs, got a Belgian bun for DH as I am not a fan of too many sweet things, and I had had cake on Friday for birthday.  Apparently I also qualify for a free birthday donut from L*d!, so will get that for him on Thursday. 

All my birthday money (£170) has been put towards our holiday later, as we have a couple of breaks arranged for this year....all paid for already, so just spends needed and petrol.
That is apart from £8 which I used to treat myself.....after my Reiki session for my birthday, she gave me a leaflet all about how your birthday should be the start of a new year, as opposed to the actual new year in January, and how you should make plans and sort yourself out basically.  Got me thinking that I was getting in a bit of a pickle with having a budget book, a diary with To Do list, a spread sheet, etc and it was all separate and I really needed it all together.  So I got a lovely planner in that runs from this July, right through to the end of next year and it will be easy to use for budget, including how much we owe on things as well as savings etc; To Do list; tracking steps and exercise; future plans, and all sorts.  So I will sit down this week and sort it out. Hoping it will help as I seem to have gone a bit "off track", lately. 

Sold another item on V*nt*d, only a small thing, but every little helps.  Got a few more bits to list still as well. 

Not had any P/fc studies for a few days, but haven't really logged in much and still got over £14 waiting to approve and already doing well this month.  Need to try and look at some of the others as well....1P*ll, Op*n*um, and hopefully get some from Y!*ve, which only come through on email.  I used to to Sw*gb**ks, but it seems rubbish these days and not worth the effort. 

the NW £100 should be through soon. We both qualify, so that is good.  The refund finally arrived from STW and also from the deposit I had paid on my hearing aids.  

Need to get the washing in now and get tidied up and tea.  Made chicken soup, from yesterday's bones and left overs..., and there should be enough for 2 days, but enough chicken left for 2 more meals and I have frozen some cooked ready for another dinner.  So £9 well spent there I think. 

Oh the garden is still doing ok. Had a few more strawberries and 2 more courgettes so far. 

Lets see what tomorrow brings, will try and get the planner sorted and some surveys.