We will get this debt down & the savings up

Sun_Addict

Sorry to hear you’ve been having family issues and that a family member has passed away. Family problems seem to be a current theme on a few people’s diaries on here. It’s times like these I’m glad we’ve only got a very tiny family. I hope things settle soon. 

Makingabobor2

Thanks @Sun_Addict, we only have a small family on DH's side and strangely enough this is where the problem is. Its a long story, but I'll keep smiling...

Makingabobor2

Well, Good Afternoon, and what another grey & chilly one its been. About 20 mins sunshine this morning and windy all day & feeling very cold,  but at least the washing dried, which I'd only done on 30c as well, so another MSE win there. 

Not updated much the last few days, so what has been happening in MABor2 land?

Budget book & spread sheets were updated at the start of the week when our new 4 week budget period started. Pleased to say that the petrol pot still had £15 in it that I hadn't used, so left that in, so it might still be in there by the time we go on holiday in June, as we'll need some extra that week. Everything else ticking along nicely and hoping to get the spreadsheets done for April onwards, now that we know all the rises that are in store.....£10 extra on water & £8 extra on Council tax!  Not to mention the other little ones....talk about give it to you in one hand and take away with the other, my pension rise won't go far at this rate. 

Surveys starting to pick up a bit now, even though P/fc still slow at approving, but hoping some might approve soon. Just cashed out £4.70 from E*r*ka though, which is a very slow one. I signed up to them in January, and so far had just over £9,but its £9 more than if I hadn't signed up, so can't complain. 

Yesterday I tidied out my PJ drawer and found some old ones that are no good, so today cut them up for cleaning cloths. That's more money saved and saving the planet by not keep buying and throwing away cloths.  I have also made up more products from Nancy Birtwhistle's books, and pleased to say I had saved old jars/spray bottle etc for them.  So far they seem to be working ok. Tried the cream cleaner, the all round cleaner and the toilet magic spray. Hoping to try the fabric conditioner once I've finished my current bottle. 

DD came round earlier to drop off my mothers' day present....an apple tree. Very pleased with it, but have never grown apples before. I am quite new to fruit/veg gardening as you may recall.  Not quite sure where to put it, but a quick G**gle tells me that I can grow it in a very large tub, which I just happen to have. Thought that way, if we every move house, we may be able to take it with us. Although it does say it can grow to 3-5m in 10 years, so we'd better move quick if we want to be able to take it.....lol.   Also I really don't think I have anywhere else to put it. So DH came with me to B*M's to get some more compost, which I was going to get anyway and I'm hoping we can get it planted soon.  So anyone who knows about apple trees...@Foxgloves? , then please give me any tips I might need to know. 

Not sure there's much more exciting news....oh yes....the toaster and kettle both seem to have decided to want to be replaced at the same time. Toaster has decided it no longer wants to pop up by its self and the bread will get stuck and then break up if you stick a knife in, and the kettle has decided it it sometimes will just cut off before its boiled and also the lid no longer flips up by its self when you press the top. As DH pointed out, we did buy them both new when we moved to this house, almost 17 years ago, so I suppose they have more than paid for themselves. So I think its time to have a look and see what I can find. 

Hope everyone else is having a good day. x

Onebrokelady

Sorry to hear you have lost a family member and that someone else is being a pain, flaming families are a pain in the butt sometimes. 

What a lovely Mother’s Day present, I keep saying in going to plant some apple trees but still haven’t got round to it. I’m not sure whether to now in case I don’t stay in my house 

Sun_Addict

I think you’ve had your money’s worth from the kettle and toaster. I recently replaced both ours despite them still working but they were both really old and well past their best. The new ones are so much more efficient. 

Makingabobor2

Afternoon everybody, just a quick catch up as i was out this morning, so have loads to to before dinner later.  
Lovely sunny/breezy day here, although we did have a massive shower earlier, but luckily I was in the garden centre at the time.  Did a 2nd lot of washing when I got home around 12.30 and it is almost dry outside already.  

Decided while I was in the garden centre...that well known chain that begins with a D, that I would sign up for their club card. It is £15 for the year, but you get 2 free coffees a month (so worth just over £70) and I don't buy coffees if I have to pay, unless I sometimes meet my friend, and also a freebies on your birthday. You get 10% off plants, seeds & bulbs and also points every time you spend, so go towards vouchers.  So as I am more "into" veg gardening now, I thought I would try it for a year and see what I think. The £15 has come from personal spends of course, and I may start a saving pot, so the next £15 is there next year.  I bought 6 veggie plants, that were 3 for £5, so got 10% off of those.  Got 2 mini cues, 2 courgettes, and 2 different tomatoes. Will see how they go.  On window sill at the moment and  hopefully will be able to get them out in the not too distant future.  Also have the apple tree that DD gave me, still waiting to plant out. Hopefully Sunday, when DH can help.

I've also opened another little savings pot. I decided that sometimes I am eating too much chocolate, and I don't need it, and its a waste of money. So I have named the pot.....No Choc Fun Pot.  So every time I fancy chocolate, I will put the money in the pot instead. It will show just how much bad stuff I was eating as well, so good for my health and my bank balance. 

Studies been quite good on P/fc the last few days, but now slow in approving again, but I look on it as a savings pot, so its all fine. 

Pleased that it is finally getting warmer and not having the heating on much now.  Reading is due at weekend, so fingers crossed there is an improvement on the last couple of months.  Also my trial of doing more washing at 20 or 30c, seems to be going ok. Its still coming out clean, so think that will continue. Still like to do sheets or towels on 40, but not sure what anyone else thinks.....can I try them on a lower temp? I like to think I am getting rid of bed bugs with the sheets, as I do suffer a lot with allergies. 

Last night, I suddenly said to DH..." we should go to the beach at the weekend", we live in East Mids remember.  He replied "ok then". Not what I was expecting as he normally says he has to do bike maintenance, or something in the garage or shed, or stuff on his computer. But no...he says "ok."  So quick as a flash, I remembered that last month we had an excess left in the petrol pot, so I said "I'll put the petrol in, but you have to buy the chips"  "Ok", he said.  I am utterly gobsmacked, as we don't often do "spontaneous", even though I keep saying we should.  So this morning I put more petrol in the car, and I will make sausage sandwiches to take with us for breakfast, as he says we must leave early if we are going just for a day,  and I've got the thermos flask out and the water bottles.  Not even discussed where we are actually going, but I suspect the Norfolk coast, most probably Hunstanton, as that is the nearest coast to get to. I am very excited I must say. Not had a random day out for ages. And so far the weather forecast looks reasonable for that direction.  

Need to get on now, things to do and all that. 
Hope everyone is having a good day. x

Sun_Addict

I love a day at the seaside out of season. I also love Hunstanton. Have a lovely day.

LittleMissDetermined

Hunstanton is lovely, I hope you have a lovely day out. How fun to do something off the cuff
I’m very much a ‘planner’ so this doesn’t happen in our house very often

foxgloves

We love Hunstanton & can do it in a day. Norfolk Lavender coffee shop at Heacham for coffee, then on to Hunstanton for lots of beachcombing & the ice-cream parlour. One of our favourite days out.
F
P.S I am no expert on apple trees, especially not pot-grown. Info ought to be easily found at the library or online though. We did have a huge apple tree until quite recently when we had to have it removed because it was toppling & we were worried it would crash down onto Mr Misery Guts' fence & summer house. So we did live 20 years with a very productive apple tree but we didn't do anything to it at all. It was a mature tree when we moved in, so we just left it to get on with things. 
F x

Makingabobor2

Oh yes @foxgloves, love the Lavender farm. In-laws used to have a caravan at Heacham & we used to go a lot, but they got rid of it years ago & we haven't been since. Must say I'm very excited

@LittleMissDetermined, I'm a planner usually as well, so this is most unexpected & maybe something I'll have to do more often.