Diary of a 30-something idiot

foxandflowers

Back to normality (ish) after weekend - am off Thursday for husband's birthday. Thinking we will get some BBQ bits and go down the country park for the day. Hopefully it stays dry!

Have had a very mixed weekend. We went down to the country park on Saturday, it ended up being lovely even though there was showers forecast - and had the added bonus of mostly avoiding the coronation. We played cricket, and I was better than the husband, despite telling him I couldn't play.  I am terrible at frisbee though, apparently it's all in the wrist, and I don't have the right muscle memory to make it work. The kids all really enjoyed. Also got photos of the house - the comments you have left me, have me concerned. But I think the best plan is to get an in depth survey, and a rough cost estimate of the work that will need to be undertaken, and then maybe re-negotiate price depending on findings. 

Sunday we went to the local boot sale & I picked up a pair of converse for £2.50- the sole of the left shoe will need gluing, but it's an absolute bargain and I'm really pleased. Also got some chinese chicken - yum - and South African sausages - absolutely NOT yum - from the meat man, and the boys spent their pocket money on some cool crystals. I might see about getting a table there when we move, as a way to move the things that aren't selling on Vinted.
Then we went back to the park, and there was archery going on. I used to shoot recurve a long time ago, so went over to introduce myself, but I did not get a nice vibe from the people there. So now I won't be joining the club and that's okay. It's another version of my fantasy self decluttered. Husband also took a wrong turn and we ended up driving down some very tight alleyways which made my stomach hurt and resulted in me crying - not sure what set off that particular wobble but it wasn't pleasant, and he immediately said he would never go that way again!

Monday husband took the kids home, and I climbed into the attic. Decided it was time to start sorting, and decluttering up there, so vacuum packed three bags of bedding and got them down from three storage bags to one. Threw away two giant black bags of rubbish, broken and unwanted things that were too poor quality to donate. Boxed up one medium sized box for moving, that will be going back into the attic. It's all memory things that I want to keep. Brought down a large cardboard box that hadn't been sorted through since it came out of the attic from our last house, moved to our storage unit, and then moved into the attic of our current house. Threw away 50% of it, including 95% of the slides from my parent's wedding/first year of marriage. Took photos of them all so I could keep digital copies, and put my favourites in a small kilner jar. Packed another medium sized box, this time half of it was from the large cardboard one (memory things, craft things) and the other half was from the top shelf of my wardrobe - my childhood stuffed bear, scarves, etc. Feeling very virtuous, I then went downstairs and cleaned the kitchen, packed my bag for work today, put the bins out, and eventually went to bed about 11pm. It was only when I went to bed I remembered I wanted to change the bedding... so I stripped the bed at 7am this morning so there is no excuse when I get in tonight!

Little one back in school today for the first time in what feels like forever and I'm honestly glad of the break and to get back to work and normality. Paperwork has arrived from the solicitors, so I will be filling that in tomorrow. Tonight is ironing, listing loads on Vinted, and maybe a long hot bath to reward myself for sorting all the sentimental things without crying. 

In moneysaving news - I found £20 in the back of my phone case, and have sold 3 more things on Vinted. Current balance on there is £18.29 & £8.30 pending. Target this month is £100. 

enthusiasticsaver

You have been busy. Well done on tackling the attic. I hate going in ours but there is not much up there anyway. Just suitcases and Christmas decorations and some of DHs hobby bits. Also one memory box for each of our DDs although they have their own attics now so don’t really know why they are in ours still

SuzeQStan

Hey F+F - congrats on the £20 find - I love stuff like that.  I’m always on the lookout when walking w OH and more often then not find money - we found €20 last nite on the strip in Puerto del Carmen. He teases me about me keeping my eyes on the ground but then I say I won’t fall down a hole that way lol. 

foxandflowers

Morning everyone. It was gloriously sunny at 7am, and now it's raining. I glued the sole of my boot sale converse back on last night, so hoping they hold together when I go out later. 

It's my husband's 40th tomorrow and I don't know what last minute things I can get him. I got him a spotify device that means he can use spotify without his phone, and I'm going out on lunch to have a root around town and perhaps print off a photo? And find a card with a dreadful pun to keep the seven year gag going. Every year I get him a terrible card, every year he pretends to hate it, then keeps it in his bedside table.  I have about £40 in cash I can spend, ideas are gratefully received - I normally cook him a 3 course meal and I was planning on scallops in lemon sauce, steak with celeriac puree and parmesan asparagus, and a jamaican ginger cake for pudding, but he's insisting on sticking to his diet so... I might still make the cake though. And I need to get a little something from my daughter to give to him. 

I have been over-zealous in paying off debts this month. I paid off Bumper in one go, and I am regretting it, as I could have really done with the money now. I only have about £150 in my account and 17 days until I get paid

I decluttered my ironing yesterday evening, and my stepdaughter asked me if she could have some chores because she didn't feel like she was helping enough. I have allocated dishwasher duties to husband, and bathroom duties to SD because she likes to clean with chemicals. We also set up a laundry rota so I don't get so behind. Before we moved I had a specific day per item, so little one would be monday, stepdaughter tuesday, towels wednesday, etc. And I never got as badly behind as I do now, where I try and do a load a day, and then let the ironing build up to unmanageable amounts, and only iron once a week when I start running out of clothes.

So many of my t-shirts have holes in by the button in your jeans. I don't know what is chewing them up, and why it is only there. Even things I've only worn a couple of times are developing the same problem, and I don't wear a belt so I really don't know what is happening. 

I've found quite a lot of costume jewelry whilst cleaning out my things, and I don't know if it's worth listing on Vinted or not. I don't ever change my jewelry. I have a tiffany necklace that was bought for my wedding, a ring with my mums ashes, my wedding ring, and silver rings in ears. None of it gets rotated out. So I don't know why I still have all these necklaces and things. I do have a nice silver ring with a black stone from Jewlia (sp?) that I won ages ago but is way too big for me, and that can definitely get sold. So that's my moneymaking plan for this evening. I also have two or three small dog beds that can be listed on FB for £5 each. Feel like I am drowning in things, and totally poor, so hopefully I can combine decluttering with being less poor. I'm going to have to do an updated SOA as well, as I just got a letter from Student Finance about what I owe for an overpaid grant  

MeandO

The chore allocation and rota sounds like a promising step forward in taking the burden off you somewhat F&F, really pleased to hear that. 

Definitely put the jewellery on Vinted, lots of people seem to sell jewellery of all types on there so it should make you some extra £'s.

Sorry to hear about the overpaid grant. I can't remember, but have you ever checked your entitlement for child tax credits/universal credit? It may be worth doing so, although I'm not sure of the eligibility criteria if you're part of a couple. I earn what I consider a reasonably good wage but I am eligible for some child tax credits which is a great help. It's very quick to fill in the calculators online and to check eligibility. 

stymied

I always thought those little holes were caused by me accidentally zipping my t-shirt in my hoodie but then I found something that said they were caused by rubbing on the jeans button. I mended the hole with a couple of tiny stitches in a similar colour thread and carried on earring them for a couple more years.

stymied

Could you get a new game for whatever console he uses from a second hand shop? Sounds like you’re really going to need some of that £40 later in the month. Good on your SD for pulling her weight.

slm6002

I always used to get these holes too.  I now make sure all zips are done up when put in the wash as I have a feeling mine were caused when in the machine and they caught on part of the zip.  Worth a try

foxandflowers

TK Maxx has come through for birthday presents. Have two tshirts, a candle, some nice boxers, and two photo frames, Stepdaughter has printed photos of all the kids and will give photo frames, little one will gift the candles. Total = £35. Two funny cards & birthday badge acquired - £2. Got some hugely reduced EDT from Boots too - only problem is he is picking me up in two hours and I smell like a man because I was testing them out.... Hopefully he likes it all. Am exhausted from running around.

Slightly over budget, but it's a big birthday, so will just have to get on with selling things to make up the difference!!

My boss thinks the tshirt holes are from the button/zip rubbing against the desk at work... weird. Might start washing jeans seperately! 

foxandflowers

Have been catching up on admin tasks and making the most of the nice weather. The sun has been shining, the birds have been birding, and I have started trying to train the dog to walk nicely on a lead so that we can take him on family excursions without him being a complete lunatic. 

Birthday went well, he was overjoyed with his presents and his home-made Malteser marble cake. 

Spent Friday and Saturday at the country park after work, thoroughly enjoyed sunbathing and barbecuing. Best part was it was FREE. Because we have an annual parking pass. And nobody charges you to pull up a chair, get out a book and not move for an hour. Or to watch your husband try and rollerskate. Or to be the family cricket champion.

Have sent off all the documents for the sale of my house now, and am about to do the same for the purchase. Have to pay £39 upfront for each for "monies on account". Decided against all of the anti-fraud additional payment type things, including a title charge, because as there is no mortgage, I don't think I need one? May be wrong. Glad to get the ball rolling though. 

Have calculated when my next Child Benefit / Child Maintenance money is coming in and I have just over a week and a half left before I can do a proper food shop.

We have mice or rats in the kitchen. They only seem to go in the bottom drawer where I keep my saucepans, and the cupboard under the sink where I keep the cleaning supplies. Pans have been moved, but I don't know if I have the heart to put down poison. 

We also have ants in our dining room. Spring has sprung and the critters are out in force. Found a moth on the door almost the size of my hand, and last summer we had giant woodwasps come into the dining room. That gave me a proper fright - they look like they're genetically modified war wasps. 

Husband is going to sell his Switch Lite, and maybe his playstation to get some funds. I'm back on the "list everything I own on Vinted" mission. I can't even tell you where all my money has gone this month, but there is too much month and the end of my money and I'm TIRED of it.

I just want to be able to go for a meal with my husband without worrying about the cost, or figure out a weeks worth of food without it being entirely carb based, buy my daughter things that she wants when she asks without having to tell her we can't do xyz or buy xyz because we don't have any money. Ugh. It is a GRIND. And I still need to go to the dentist, and I am still putting it off.