My Mortgage Free Mountain - A 7 year expedition to climb to the top

craftingmad

Well I had a lovely day yesterday and am finally starting to feel a little bit Christmasy at last  

I really do need to knuckle down though and get the bedding washed, rooms tided and presents wrapped as I am rapidly running out of time so this is my plan for today and I need to stick to it  

As soon as I have dropped son off to work I am going to make a start and not stop until it is done  

So today I WILL:-

1. Print sticker sheets for lady who said she wanted them last week but has only just paid - DONE  
2. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 102 points today
3. Transfer £8 for stickers into savings account - DONE  
4. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom
5. Sort out downstairs bedroom and wash bedding
6. No heating on other than the times it is set for - DONE  
7. Wrap some Christmas presents - another 18 presents wrapped and I can nearly see the spare room bed now  
8. Meal plan for week - DONE 

craftingmad

Morning all.
It will soon the be Christmas - it feels so surreal saying that I am now in the frame of mind that we will enjoy it and have quality time all together which is much needed so now cannot wait for it to arrive (although I really do need a few more days to get everything ready I think)!! 

Very short list for me today as the bedroom is going to take most of the da and I'm at work from 2pm today  
Plus I need to take son to shops as he still has not bought his girlfriend a gift and he is seeing her tonight.

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 52 points  
2. Pay in £22.20 cheque from Royal Mail for lost item using app - DONE will transfer to OP pot once cleared
3. Make and post off sewing planner to USA (not needed until after Christmas) - made will post off on way to work  
4. Sort out upstairs spare bedroom - cleared out some boxes into the shed of my craft stuff I want to sell. Will list after Xmas  
5. Wash downstairs bedding and get it dry - washed and pegged out well on the line and its nearly dry. A quick airing and it can go back on the bed  
6. Get all the towels dry ready for the onslaught of daughter arriving home tomorrow who seems to go through every single one in a couple of days (but I cannot wait for her to be home again) - 7 towels washed and drying on line  
7. Wrap some Christmas presents
8. Buy a stocking as cannot find one annoyingly!! - DONE cost £3 so not that bad  
9. Chip Shop Shift (6 hours today) - DONE turned out to only be 4 hours as was not needed until 4pm  

Baileys_Babe

Very late check in from me today. Well done on his much of your list you have completed and I'm guessing you are at work, so another thing marked off 😃

I am envious of you being able to dry the laundry outside today, here it is very windy and wet. It seems to have been wet here for weeks 😢

craftingmad

Baileys_Babe said:

Very late check in from me today. Well done on his much of your list you have completed and I'm guessing you are at work, so another thing marked off 😃

I am envious of you being able to dry the laundry outside today, here it is very windy and wet. It seems to have been wet here for weeks 😢

Thank you Baileys Babe.
I have to admit it was spitting with rain yesterday but I figured the wind would make up for it and everything came in pretty dry - it just needed airing overnight and its perfect

No such luck today though as its pouring with rain here now too. I totally get what you mean about the weather - I feel like it has rained pretty much all year

craftingmad

Morning all.

I feel absolutely shattered today and have got the headache from hell so I'm hoping I'm not sickening for something just in time for Christmas. I'm going to take it a bit easier today I think to hope that I can shake it off.

Hubby is collecting our daughter from Uni today as it is her last day on school placement before the Christmas festivities. I am so excited to have her home so that will get me through my chip shop shift today hopefully Yesterday in the chippy was so quiet. We had 3 people in all night - I hate it when it's like that as the time goes so slowly and I think of how better I could be spending that time so fingers crossed tonight is a bit busier  

Between hubby and I we managed to get the upstairs spare room sorted so that means we are almost ready for everyone to arrive. I've just got to put clean bedding on each bed, wrap the presents in the spare room and then we are good to go  

Son is at work today so I will be taking him in for 9am but my lovely neighbour is collecting him tonight as I will be at work and hubby will be arriving at Derby hopefully ready to come home with our daughter I'm very lucky to have a wonderful neighbour like I have. they really are a lovely family.

So today I WILL:-

1. Play on Mistplay (aiming to cash out a £25 voucher next month) - DONE 117 points
2. Put clean bedding on spare room bed - DONE
   
3. Put clean bedding on box room bed upstairs - DONE  
4. Another load of washing 
5. Wrap some Christmas presents - DONE  
6. Make and write christmas cards - didn't need to make any - found some in my stash I have made throughout the year Written and will get kids to help deliver tomorrow  
7. Write food shopping list for tomorrow - DONE
8. Make a plan to grow business next year - started  
9. Chip Shop Shift (meant to be 6 hours again today but hoping they wont need me until 4pm) - DONE  

craftingmad

Morning all, Sorry I have not posted for a few days but life got a bit manic.

I'm just popping on to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas. I hope you all enjoyed it and got everything you wanted. 

I gave myself the best Christmas present by quitting the chip shop  
I know it's not very MSE but I just could not go on with how things were. I was getting picked at and shouted at for pretty much everything and it was really affecting my mental health so I said ta-rah and I feel so much better for it. It also means I can spend New Years Day with my family instead of being there so that is also a bonus as family time is precious. 

It does means I will have to find a way to make sure I bring regular income in each month next year but some things are more important than money I think, so for now, and after the year we have had, I am just going to focus on making the last few days of 2023 great ones enjoyed with my family  

See you all in a few days x 

Baileys_Babe

Merry Christmas @craftingmad. 

What a wonderful Christmas present to yourself and your family. If your mental health is not being negatively impacted you will all benefit.

I wish you well in increasing your income in 2024.

MatyMoo

A belated Merry Christmas from me too!

I'm delighted with your gift to yourself - life is definitely too short to be miserable at work! As a mum and housewife you really do have so many transfers skills and could get yourself an admin job almost anywhere 😉

~FlowerPot~

merry xmas crafting, I am so pleased you said no more to Mr Chippy. He did not deserve you. Im sure something much much better will come along soon for you and meanwhile as you say more family time xx

LadyWithAPlan

Brilliant news - your happiness and MH is worth a lot! Maybe cast your net out wide to things you hadnt thought of before. Enjoy your time off for NY
My mum had to work when I was small  but it is ridiculous that women are still penalised for having kids  both in salary, career sacrifice and of course the pension side.