Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma

LadyWithAPlan

How exciting being in your new home - I think you should be calling it your about to be more fabulous home ! (Not doss house) 
And you  get to put your own stamp on it 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Saturday!

Wow I have just realised that I haven't updated this for a couple of weeks! That wasn't meant to happen but its been a busy time. This weekend is the first 'normal' one for a good month so enjoying a much relaxed day. This morning we made a trip to the garden centre to buy compost, pebbles and some pots. Some of the outdoor plants keep toppling over so going to see if they fall less if they are repotted and weighted down.

Easter holidays are finished and the kids enjoyed first week back at school. The littlest was having a dress up day yesterday which he tells me 'was good and bad'. Haven't yet found out what was bad about it! Will ask when I next have him later this week

We've started settling into new routines, this week I had my first stay in a hostel since 'the old days!' and gosh I felt a bit fish out of water but it was actually much nicer than I'd been expecting which was a relief. I'd got myself in a bit of a stress. Now i'm back home, i've booked myself a couple more nights for upcoming visits.

I'm a bit behind with home admin and so this needs to be done after diary update.

Happy Saturday everyone

Drawingaline

Glad the new routines are being set up. It will work out fine I am sure.

I haven't updated since the end of Jan, I keep meaning to, but everything feels to much right now!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Sunday!

Its been an awfully busy week, am back in the city, relaxing on my own in another budget hotel room and taking a big phew moment!!.

We've just had our second long weekend, a first with all four of us and a school run in the mix and tbh it went reasonably well, just very tiring which is to be expected. There is a few pointers for us to work to make oursleves more slicker but am going to keep a bit of a record of what did and didn't work! The big winner of the weekend was the little electric pan which OH ribbed me about, actually worked very well so we were able to warm up soup for one meal and then be able to heat up a ready made mac & cheese.

The big sticking point was the size and number of bags. I'd tried to pack small and think i'd say the clothing was just about right but as we have a bag for some foods, picnic set + cooking implements and the electric pan it was quite a bit to carry. Need to try out some bit bigger bags. I was trying to avoid big bags but we need to experiment to find what will work better.

The kids are happy though and coping well so far with the new routine which I must say is a massive help.

Money wise - spending is still a major ongoing challenge. My credit card is pretty dire (again) this month. Its lower than last month but still worryingly high. On the positive though, managed to add £20.09 to renovation & refurb account

Its payday this week which includes a mini pay rise which in welcome . i'm in the city until the end of the week when we go home. Accomodation goes down in standard as back to a youth hostel for 3 nights but its just for me. Trying to keep the spends low but  eating healthy foods on the run. Wish me luck!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Woohoo happy dancing days, had two good emails today regarding pending cashback thats now been paid out. This is £34 for home insurance and £50 for broadband! Unfortunately most of my savings pots are quite low so i've decided to split this 50/50 between renovation & refurb savings fund and holiday fund as both are important.

In other news, now currently on day 2 of youth hostel stay in central london and I have to say I am loving it! It feels like having a bit of an adventure and also enjoying a bit different company. Tomorrow night is last night before heading back to a bit of reality and back to the kids, school runs and back home for the weekend. I've been watching my spends and making the most of cheaper options and not eating out although highly tempting. Its been different working and being in the office instead of WFH.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Wednesday,

Feeling a bit sad, have enjoyed staying at the hostel a bit more than expected. Roomies are nice and pleasant and most seem to be here for more than a day. Tomorrow is check out and one final stay in a budget hotel with the kids tomorrow night and then back home for the weekend. I learned London has some beautiful hidden gems in some ugly places. My work is not in a pretty area at all but still managed to find some oasis in the grit and took a snap to prove it. Tomorrow is thankfully a non work day and hoping to do a little bit of tourist stuff before the evening school run.

With it being first of the month, then its mortgage day. Payment 3 so far and we have now paid off 2% of the balance and have £166.02 sitting as over payment! Which am happy about

This evening has been quite chilled, just relaxing in my hostel room, completing some surveys and a couple of Prolific ones too. It also looks like I may be accepted for a market research interview next week. Its payment in an Amazon voucher but still welcome

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Sunday,

The sun is out and we are going to make the most of it and hit the beach! Yesterday we had a little treat of going for breakfast at a local cafe. The owners had moved recently and just started up. It was a bit frantic and at one point I could see the new owner was a bit frazzled and was considering going to help out. I quite like cafe work so would happily have done it. We checked she was ok and left with bellies full and promised to return. In the afternoon we met up with some family and went for a walk around a model village which is fairly local to us. It was lovely, some where I'd been before but had that nice familar happy place vibe. There was a lot of people and was nice to see it buzzing. We had a lovely long chat to the owners and their plans for the place. We wish them luck and will happily come again soon. 

There is no real change in finances, they are ropy but we carry on and make the most of it. By the end of April we'd managed to add £50 to reno & refurb account (first monthly deposits!) and next credit card month aka next couple of days we are going to go shopping for curtain poles for two rooms where we don't currently have curtains up, so thats a bit of a step forward.

Tomorrow its back to the city to deliver kids back to their dad and only one night of hotel this week which will be with OH which is nice. Back on Tuesday and then have a rare weekend of just me and OH this weekend before getting ready for a mini camping trip the following weekend. Happy days

This latter weeks goals:

* List no longer needed light shades.

* Plan for camping trip.

* Life admin for me & our little business.

* Complete bills on old place (still have a couple to sort).

* Train & accomodation bookings.

* Littlest birthday party & gift to buy.

Drawingaline

I am joining you with the ropy finances atm! Glad the routine is getting easier, and how lovely to see London as a tourist for a change, rather than a resident. Finding those hidden gems because you have a little bit of time to do so.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Thursday!

I'm not sure if I should post this but hey ho its life. The past week has been exhausting, one full week in the city followed by bank holiday at home to then return the kids and stay one night in the city before returning home in the evening on Tuesday. TBH the returning train to the city 'broke' me and I cried. First train cancelled so connecting train was missed by minutes but there was no other way to catch connecting train as where we are now living the transport is a bit poop (we knew this before moving). When trying to get an alternative connecting train to the city it was just rubbish and eugh the floodgate opened. I guess a bit of stored up emotion with the move, tiredness etc. Was a quiet sob and not anything major but the kids were fabulous. Lots of hugs and reassurance  from them so I think i'm not doing such as bad job on the mum front, teaching my kids caring and compassion .

Today is very much a rest day, this week have been on autopilot with work and needing to meet a major deadline. This meant logging on early and switching off late. Its done now though! So hurrah. Going to celebrate by taking a cycle ride to a local flea market and going for a nosy. There is no kids and no travel this weekend, not on the road till next Thursday so although I have so many jobs to do at home, a bit of a chilled, relaxed time is well and truly needed. Will take a look at the to do list late and make a start to do some things but today honestly my body is tired. 

No real money updates, just pleased to see the stock market has been a bit more bouyant lately which is a big plus as most of my money is tied up in an S&S ISA. Def need to see if I can get in some surveys and other money spinners but i'm quite tired so not pushing it TBH. 

Have a good day.  

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Tuesday evening!

Its been quite a good week so far, since last diary entry we've had a good shimmy on tackling the remaining boxes and made some good progress, so am now happy to report I have found my books! Buying books are my absolute guilty pleasure, so a happy bunny  

This weekend we are camping with the kids and the forcast looks wet! We are staying in wooden huts so at least its slightly better than staying in a tent but will be interesting. Have got a fire pit booked, hoping the forcasters have got it wrong!