Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Afternoon the £5 knitting box arrive I am well impressed loads of knitting needles (all bamboo) and a nice book with instructions and pictures plus 2 big yarn bundles and 4 smaller ones. You are mean to have the subscription and do 4 squares each month for a blanket which would turn out really expensive but I would like to make the squares as it would teach new techniques. I think I might get the next box at £21.99 DG really like the shawl in there and the colour of it so I best get earning on Vinted to cover this and add it to my wishlist. I know you can learn a lot from the internet and my friend has sent me a link for easy to make things and you just print it off yourself and buy the yarn. That would be cheaper but lets see. 

DG has done a to do list for Saturday which is nice as I am always the one to moan at her that we need one. She has not got all of mine on it but has added check out the content of the freezer to help meal planning which does need doing so going to add it on mine. 

Updated to do list. 
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - waiting to find out when a certain event takes place then I can book
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. Chase friends if they want to come or not
DGs Premium Bonds
Return timer to Ama***
Paint the front door surround
Order hot tub cover cleaner
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  
Get more clothes listed on Vinted
Start decluttering the loft (I know of several pictures that can go. 
Sort freezer and label stuff. 

savingholmes

Good luck with your list. Having a top task for the day or 3 for the might feel more manageable. Sometimes when we over face ourselves we achieve nothing.

Sounds like your existing gym is much better value than the newer one.

TallGirl

Thanks Savingholmes it might look like a long list but it isn't really as there are no hard deadlines for many of the items and some I am waiting for others before I can do anything it is just so I do not forget. 

Friends are coming to Spain to play golf bringing a friend of theirs so will not come to Portugal with us so we can now book the hotel today. Looks like there are now 12 of us going which should be fun and a good start to the golfing season.

Finished my beanie for myself yesterday it is a lot smaller than the first one but possibly a bit too small but the other one does fit DG. We are playing in a pairs competition on Sunday so we could both wear them. I am going to make a bobble to go on the top then they are done. I am trying not to get started on anything else as I think that is so easy and you have 1/2 finished stuff hanging around. Looking at the new box it actually has the patterns for the next few boxes so depending on what is next I might cancel as I really only want to make the shawl. Looking at it you can make two different things each month a homeware one and a clothing item. Anyway let's see I still have time to cancel. 

I have so much work to do today but a whole clear day to do it in. 

Updated to do list. 
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - can now be booked 
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. Chase friends if they want to come or not
DGs Premium Bonds
Return timer to Ama*** - packed and ready to take to local shop today. 
Paint the front door surround
Order hot tub cover cleaner
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  
Get more clothes listed on Vinted
Start decluttering the loft (I know of several pictures and photos that can go.) 
Sort freezer and label stuff. 

TallGirl

Two items done on the to list but not a whole lot of work one. I did get a piece of work done I have struggled with for weeks so can now do the final bits and switch off that one which will be nice. Also meeting has now been cancelled on Thursday which was the reason I am going late to Denmark so a bit annoying as I could have got an earlier flight. Still it is what it is. 

Pool person has been hot tub also cleaned incl chemicals it was £80. He is really good and he will clean our patio stones they really need it and we both hate doing it. Not money saving I know. 

As we have now booked the 2 nights for Faro we will earn a free night at Hotels.com plus we got 8% from Quidco. A free night is only around £60 or so but still a nice bonus none the less. We can either put it towards the Ireland trip or save it until we have another 10. After Ireland I think we should be up to 8 night again but at a much higher rate than £60. 

As I am not very productive I looked at the yarn needed for 1 of the projects in the knitting book OMG £72 for 1 shawl it is angora and wool blend but even so that is a lot you would really have to love it to spend that I think. Might have to stick with acrylics lol. It does explain why the Danish knitting kit was £25 as the year is 50% wool and really nice colours. 

Updated to do list. 
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - can now be booked 
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. DONE spent £12 more to get breakfast incl
DGs Premium Bonds
Return timer to Ama*** - packed and ready to take to local shop today. DONE
Paint the front door surround
Order hot tub cover cleaner
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  
Get more clothes listed on Vinted
Start decluttering the loft (I know of several pictures and photos that can go.) 
Sort freezer and label stuff. 

savingholmes

Well done on crossing some things off your list. 

The price of wool!! Seems very extreme.

TallGirl

Morning
Not very happy this morning 3 fence panels and two brick columns have broken off the front garden fence and they were the 3 new ones we had replaced last year. They might be salvageable but they are still attached to the brick and you cannot really move them. So annoying as I did not really want to spend money on something like that. Also with the storm I doubt anyone will have capacity to do anywork right now and as it involves brick work it is a bit more than just sticking the fence back. 

Also Saturday we did could not find a bit that fits on the food processor to squeeze limes so tried to order a new one but it will be a month before it will be here. Did say Monday but that was obviously a lie. We have 30 limes already cut up ready to squeeze now by hand no funny. 

And for a 3 out of 3 my train is cancelled coming back from Denmark so I need to get one later. Might still work but lets hope that is 3 out of 3 now. Quite look forward to going just wish I was staying a bit longer. 

It was a good weekend though. Got lots of bits done on the list. so pleased with that already sold a suit on Vinted and cleared the whole rail up in the loft. Turns out DGs baseball jacket could be worth £150 so that will go on Ebay instead of Vinted. I also have a Gant leather jacket I might stick that on Ebay as well as Vinted sells for very low amounts. Feel good having done that bit. 

Mums trip with us to Ireland is booked too got some nice Quidco cashbacks and all flights (3 airlines) booked. Should be a great trip all that is needed now is to book the trains in Ireland and the bus back to the airport. 

Golf Sunday was nice too only 9 holes but saw lots of people which was nice as I cannot play next weekend. We also have our lesson coming up so good to practise and no meltdown although she did not play well. Her knee was playing up. 

Also got my beanie hats completed from the first knitting kit and started on the second which is the ones with the blanket squares. Done the first one but still need to block it. Hopefully I can get it back into shape 15cm x 15cm but more likely to end up being 16 x 16 we shall see. 

My wages are £4 less this month that is really good as I am now paying for 2 weeks of leave not just 1 so the NI reduction has also made a difference. 

Meeting at 9.15am then gym at 10am. 

Updated to do list. 
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) done does not look that expensive we think we can do it ourselves. 
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - all done
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. DONE 
DGs Premium Bonds
Paint the front door surround - we got the paint mixed now so can actually start on it 
Order hot tub cover cleaner
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  Not cleaned but new cover fitted however blew off straight away no damage though
Get more clothes listed on Vinted done 
Start decluttering the loft (I know of several pictures and photos that can go.) done 10 small items to charity shop and 2 pictures. 
Sort freezer and label stuff.
Book trains in Ireland and bus to airport.  

LadyWithAPlan

Do you know about genius levels on bookin*.com  and getting to Level 3?
Once you have booked 15 stays in 2 years (a stay can be a night so you can change hotels during a trip and it count for 2 stays) you get level 3 for lifetime  I have only recently found out so I need to action that as i have used all the different travel sites over the last few years,.. and annoyingly have used different email logins.. 

Users must complete 15 stays within two years. Users are awarded a 20% discount, priority assistance, complimentary breakfast, and free room upgrade on select accommodations. 

savingholmes

I found I can often get food processor spare parts on Am****

TallGirl

Thanks Ladywithaplan that does sound very attractive with Bookings.com sadly we are using Hotels.com but worth thinking about once we have used all the free nights. We don't actually use that many hotels it was more when DG worked away so not sure we would make that many nights. 

Thanks Savingsholmes I did actually find them when I looked again but we do have one coming from Ebay in the meantime I am plugging away squeezing by hand. I think I am 1/3 of the way.

Some better news re the wall the first brickie has been out he thinks it is 2 days labour at £400 and the fence panels are sadly shot so will need new ones at £30 x 3. I also need to paint them of course. He can supply materials for £600 all in as he will reuse the bricks. He can also fix the other parts of the wall that has bits loose so that is handy maybe another day or so so not that much really. 

Got one coming tomorrow and hopefully 1 today so should be possible to pick one from that list. I did like the guy today but the one tomorrow comes recommended by the gardener which is nice. Feels better knowing it is not £1000's to fix and it does need doing before selling anyway. 

Weather is rank again and we are obviously waiting for another storm. Lets hope we do not get anymore damage as that would just be so annoying. 

I have got 4 meetings today but lunch is Danish open sandwiches so that will be something to look forward to. We also have gym and Combat class tonight 6pm to 8pm.

Diet still doing ok helps that I am seriously back in the gym. I lost 1 kilo last week but do not forget I put on 700g the week before so about even but at least not gaining now. DG is also better she has cut down on the crap to and is looking to get her mojo back by doing a short weekly stint with a PT. It is definitely helpful she is earning money again. She is far to heavy and it is all around her waist which is just the worst as we know. It is also not helping her knee so would be good if she could get that stone off she has put on. She did lose 3 stones in total over the last few years so she can do it. Right need to log onto my meeting.

TallGirl

We have now had 3 trades out 2 will send quotes so lets hope they do. Today is the chap that the gardener recommended. It was such rubbish weather yesterday none of them really wanted to stay that long to look at it. I will ask for a ball park figure from the guy today. I did like the first guy but he is the only one to do a quote there and then so if the others do not come back they I still have nothing to compare with. 

I am now booked into my flight but still need to pack etc but gym tonight so might have to do it tomorrow during the day. My train is 15.44 tomorrow so not a lot of time really. I do look forward to seeing the family again and the wider family even if it is a sad occasion. 

My credit card is scarily high now due to the Irish trip but £500 will be this months bill which will on the process of being paid and hopefully by the time the next lot is due DG can pay me some of what she owes me from Spain. 

I do still have savings that can clear the bill (needed to pay golf membership but not until May) however I do want to build up a buffer. I should not need much money in Denmark just the train tickets which are cheap. 

I have got lots of work so must crack on with that. 

Updated to do list. 
Paint the front door surround - we got the paint mixed now so can actually start on it 
Order hot tub cover cleaner
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  Not cleaned but new cover fitted however blew off straight away no damage though
Sort freezer and label stuff.
Book trains in Ireland and bus to airport. 
Check in for flight this evening done no idea could do it this early