We will get this debt down & the savings up

Makingabobor2

Hello readers wherever you may be hiding. I'm surprised anybody bothers reading this now TBH, I seem to have fallen off the MSE wagon and never post anything of interest. Not even posted for ages, although I have been reading other diaries and making the odd comment and learning a few tips.  Do I have any excuses??   Well, I have been trying not to spend too much time online, but that's hard when there is so much I want to read & learn etc. Also been going through a bit of a bad patch with DH, which I am hoping is now resolved....don't want to go into too much info, suffice to say we had a BIG row this morning!  I have been feeling a bit fed up and depressed lately about it all but hoping things are on the up again now.  Trouble when I feel like this, I turn to too much cake!....not a good thing. 
Maybe the weather and time of year has had a bit to do with how I feel as well, and also coming up to Christmas, which I hate with a passion! Used to love it, then as GKs have got bigger we never get invited to DD's (DSIL likes to cook dinner and spend the day just the 6 of them) and also they never want to come here; In-laws never want to come to us (although TBH, not sure how many hours I could put up with them); my dad and sister are too far away, and we would have to stay in hotel if we went down there anyway, and DH has to work until Christmas Eve afternoon; DS and DDIL always spend it with her parents and they used to come to us on Boxing Day, but now they have a dog and say they can't come and DDIL always feels too ill for us to go up there!  .  Last year, you may recall we went away to a lodge.....was great, and so relaxing but DH didn't have enough holiday days left for that.  I suppose I shouldn't be moaning as we are actually away for a few days next month, for DH's birthday and will pop in and see my dad & sister at the same time, so at least we have something to look forward to.....but Christmas is still on the horizon!

   Anyway, onwards and upwards and from now on I am in full MSE mode and promising to post more regularly and be a better MSE'er. 
So, what has been happening?  Well, the food processor from V*nt*d arrived and its amazing. Can't believe how many accessories it has. I made crumble straight away and then tried it for chopping veg really small for stir fry. Since then I have made 2 cakes with it, and I love it. It even has a grinder attachment so I can start buying coffee beans and get some really fresh good quality coffee in the cafetiere. The zero waste refil shop I go to sells a lovely one and she usually grinds it for me, so now I can do my own. 
Listed a dress for sale on V*nt*d, but it just sat there for ages and even when I reduced the price no one wanted it, so I had to bite the bullet with that one and add it to the CS box.  Got a few more bits in the box for this coming week, and hope to add a few more. 

For anyone with a  N*ct*r card, I read on one of my FB groups that Mr S is doing chicken at half price until Tuesday. There was talk of a 1.6kg chicken which usually retails at over £5, being less than £3.  I normally use the butcher as I really like his meat, but at that price, I think they might be worth a try. Especially for anyone who has room in their freezer for a few. 

Half way through this 4 week budget period and so far it is going very well. Grocery budget is about where it should be, but thinking I might be able to come in under budget by the end, and next period should be even better as we are away for 12 days and food is already paid for, so will see what I can do with that. It should mean a bit going towards Christmas maybe. 

Have received the letter from HMRC saying the £200 WFP will be here soon. Hoping I won't need it for fuel, but it will be there incase.  We are currently £263 in credit with the tentacled ones, and £135 payment went out on 24th, so once that is added, I may take a bit more back as I really don't think we'll need that much, and better in our account than theirs. Must confess to having had the heat on quite a bit today though as its been so cold. When the wind is in a certain direction, it really seems to make it cold in the lounge.

P/fc seems to have picked up a bit all of a sudden, and I cashed out £18 on Friday, and then had a £4 study today. Seems to be a lot of these particular £4 ones around at the moment, where you have to engage in a conversation online about political issues. Right up my street.   

On a not so good note....had to spend from the house and garden pot today!  Need a new microwave.  Our current one is over 20years old, so has definitely done its duty. It still works but the door doesn't open properly and is almost coming off.  So ordered through TCB from C*rrys. Only a cheap one, but it is a good make, and black to match the kettle, toaster & airfryer. The current one is silver. I wish now that we had bought a combo MW and AF as it all takes up such a lot of space on the work surface. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.  I will pick it up tomorrow when I go for my eye test!!!  Not even wanting to think how much that will cost, but the Eyes/Teeth and medical pot  has a good some in it, so we'll see how it goes.  She asked if I wanted to have the photo scan thing....I asked how much it was....she said £84!!!!!!   Mmmm, seems an awful lot just for a scan. 

Well DH has just come downstairs and is making me a cup of ginger tea....Sounds like he's starting the week off on the right foot.....LOL
So have a good evening everyone. Will put TV on now and find something to watch until Strictly results are on....who will go??  Got a feeling it may be George, which would be a shame as I like him, but it wasn't his best dance last night.  

Sun_Addict

Well you’ll be pleased to know George didn’t go 🙂 I only paid £10 for the eye scan so where are they getting £84 from? 

I’m sorry to hear about the bad patch with DH  but if he’s made you ginger tea it sounds like he’s trying hard to make amends 🤞

in_need_of_direction

Hopefully the big blow up will have cleared the air

dawnybabes

£84 omg …..

thanks for the Sainsbury’s tip, will pop in tomorrow 

Makingabobor2

Sun_Addict said:

Well you’ll be pleased to know George didn’t go 🙂 I only paid £10 for the eye scan so where are they getting £84 from? 

I’m sorry to hear about the bad patch with DH  but if he’s made you ginger tea it sounds like he’s trying hard to make amends 🤞

No idea...that was for the 2 different scans, 2 different photos of back of eye and a field vision test. 
Yes, pleased George survived. 

Makingabobor2

Popped into Mr S on way to optician, they had some of the offer chickens £2.67 each & also pork joints if anyone wants pork. I got 2 of the chickens & popped 1 in freezer. Excellent value. 
Big change to my right eye & cataracts still growing, but not enough to do anything to them yet. She says important to wear sunglasses when its bright to help protect them. 
Picked up the new MW & a lovely young man carried it to the car for me. I've left it in the boot for DH. 

Just waiting on DGS2 to pop down, as he wants me to sell some trainers for him on V*nt*d. 

Then got some budget stuff to do & hopefully some surveys

Makingabobor2

Welcome to the weekend....what a day so far.  Went to the CS while DH was at work this morning, on my way to post 2 parcels of things I sold on V*nt*d.  Saw 2 lovely polo shirts that said were DH's size, but looked a bit narrow. Got the lady to measure them for me and they seemed ok.  Luckily she said I can exchange if no good, as long as I keep my receipt.  Guess what?  Too tight. I forgot that he seems to be putting on a bit of weight round his middle, since he has been swimming more. So think his muscles must be expanding, as he's certainly getting a bit of a "middle", so the swimming isn't helping that!  So I'll have to take them back on Monday. 

In the mean time I hung out a line of towels. All drying nicely in the wind, but I hadn't checked the weather app and suddenly we had a torrential downpour. I was upstairs at the time and thought I would leave them out as it didn't look like it would last and it was so windy.  So yes, sun came out and they blew in the wind.  Then suddenly from upstairs window I noticed that the builders in the house 2 doors along was lighting a bonfire!  This is the 2nd Saturday in a row this has happened!  Flames higher than the fence and so much smoke all starting to blow our way. So I had to rush out and bring it in and give them all another spin. Bonfire is still going now, so no chance of getting them dry now, will just keep them in the basket and get them out early tomorrow.   It just seems that some people have no consideration for others these days, I wouldn't dream of having a bonfire if I could see neighbours with washing out or windows open.  

As if that wasn't enough, the floor steamer has decided to stop steaming again. It played up a bit the other week, but I managed to get it going again. No it is just making a strange noise. Will have another look at it in a bit. Can't remember if its still in warranty, haven't has it that long. Its a Vax, so would expect it to last. 

So apart from that, what else has been happening?  Well, my October earnings from P/fc came to £64, so very happy with that. Not far off on Op*n**m and Y!iv* either, but they seem to be very slow at the moment.  Currently have almost £6 pending in P/fc to start November off and with the 2 items sold on V*nt*d, that is a good start to the month. We are away from next weekend for DH's birthday, so won't get many surveys done this month, but on the plus side, everything is already paid for, so should be massive underspend on the grocery budget, and the gas & electric won't be so much. Just need to put some petrol in the car, which is all accounted for.   Then when we get back I am making a plan for a  BIG inroad on the debt busting from new year. This year just didn't quite go as planned, but next year will. 

Decluttering still continuing to CS and V*nt*d, so that's good. Not sure we'll make the 2025 items we intended, but have done over 50% of that, and still going, so not a bad start.  Think Spring will be better when I can get DH back in the garden to clear more from the shed and garage. At least he isn't moaning now when I get rid of some of his clothes, and he also handed over his birthday money from his parents, so that I could put it towards our time away. First time he's ever done that. 

Dinner tonight is the rest of the soup I made the other day and DH has requested he has naan bread with his.

We are still eating the cake I made last weekend, it was Weetabix cake, but I used Oatibix, as that is what I have.  Must say it is one of the nicest cakes I have made.  Stays fresh and very filling, so don't need much. Thinking of making 2 next time and putting one in the freezer. A lot of the others I made...chocolate brownies and Blackberry tray bake, went to the GKs. 

So who will go on Strictly this week? 

Sun_Addict

I hate it when people light bonfires in the day. So inconsiderate 😡 It is meant to be illegal! 

Makingabobor2

Sun_Addict said:

I hate it when people light bonfires in the day. So inconsiderate 😡 It is meant to be illegal! 

Well I thought so, but when I checked online I couldn't find anything. I know years ago you had to wait until after 6pm.  But it was so obvious I had a line of washing, he could have nipped round and knocked the door to let me know he was lighting it. 

Makingabobor2

What a stressful couple of days....boiler stopped working and DH's cousin, the engineer, couldn't come out yesterday, so will get the key from DD and do it while we are away. Then had more problems with my dad, and a delivery that didn't turn up when it should....apart from that....all fine.  
So we are away now for a little trip for DHs birthday, so will catch up when I return.  Won't be spending much, as its already paid for and DH put petrol in the car today.  
Still waiting for some money to come from V*nt*d for some recent sales, and also £100 requested from the tentacled ones as we were almost £400 in credit. 

Will be raring to go and get back into MSE mode soon as I return.