The alternative hive - making plan B work

northwalesd

You're definitely the bigger person QotH, I hope you and your dad get what you need out of any meet up you have.

Baileys_Babe

Sounds like a great weekend. Do a wider range of supermarkets deliver to that location? That could get the food and drink spend down on future stays. Also meal planning the trip, remember to include treats, like wine, beer, fizzy drinks, ice creams etc - you are on holiday.

Well done on reducing the cc debt and enjoying life, it is hard to balance the two.

Good job on reaching out to your Dad and creating a relationship that works for you.

beanielou

Sometimes making peace is good if you can.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello from the hive,

Its saturday afternoon and its cleaning day. The garden and trips away have taken our time but this weekend as we are on a NSD challenge we are laying low and having a well overdue tidy up. Even OH is stuck in which is not like him!

In the same vein its down with the small number of Easter themed decs. I got into decorating for the seasons a bit when we move in here. Obviously Christmas is the main one but I have some Easter, Autumn and couple of decs for summer. They are mainly focused on the fireplace in the living room but a bit of fun. So away goes big easter bunny and out comes a mini deckchair and an gnome on a deckchair. Would like to get a fun neon summer neon sign this yr to add to the collection. Will take a look later.

Money wise - I have £4 something left in Monzo which I will use to buy some salad for tea tonight. We are having a Carribbean jerk kinda cook in sauce chicken dish and fancy a bit of salad to go with it. Will make OH some rice as he needs the cals.

I'm awaiting £57 coming from some cashback from taking out a new broadband contract. I can see the money is coming into my bank acc on Monday and in my excitement have already topped up my 2026 S&S isa in anticipation. ISA is now sitting at close to its first £100. Yay go me!

Keep your fingers crossed for us, we have a family coming to view DS2 now grown out of bike. Hoping they like it and it'll be another £60 back in to my savings. I recently drew out £220 for a bike for DS1 so this is just going back into this pot.

debtfreewannabe321

I have a dysfunctional relationship with my dad too. We go long periods without speaking. When I do see him he seems to want to cause drama for me. He is also very well off and wants us to do activities with him when we meet and I'm unable to afford most of them (one day it was hiring a boat, the next it was going to a very expensive restaurant - with my three kids in tow! Etc etc) and he will pay and then tell everyone I'm only talking to him for his money 🤦🏻‍♀️ when I'd say let's do something free.....ugh. it's tough having a bad relationship with parents as they're the ones we want to rely on or go to with happy and bad times. I'd never judge anyone for reaching out because I've done it hundreds of times myself (and usually regretted it but sometimes we have fun before he gets to playing his games).

I hope the bike sells!

Queen_of_the_Hive

It was a gloriously sunny day here, warm in the sunshine but chilly in the shade. All good signs summer is on the way.

Today's focus was working in the garden and am feeling really happy with the progress made. The jobs completed were:

• Lawn mowed
• Metal arch assembled and fixed into place.
• Sweet pea plants planted outside.
• Pea plants & yellow courgette plants planted into raised bed.
• Aphids brused off apple sapling.
• Sunflower little plants potted on.
• Plants watered.

No progress on shed base, we need the help of stepdad now. He's isolating along with mum. Nothing major their dog had the annual kennel jab and as its a live vaccine they will stay away for two weeks just as a sensible precaution. So progress has stalled for now.

Relaxing with an early night, watching Stranger Things. Am a bit late to the party but enjoying it so far. Was craving a dystopian or adventure series to get stuck into.

Money wise - its been a NSD since Weds. Will need to get milk and salad though tomorrow with the money on Monzo. Have been holding out as long as possible.

Queen_of_the_Hive

So today was a pretty normal day at WFH. I've been carrying a headache since this last night and its no fun when you have to work using a laptop. At lunchtime I confess I sucumbed to mr T and needed some milk and some snacky items as the headache plus new project at work was requiring snacks! Bought some own label antihistimine and this did feel like it helped. I wonder if all the good work in the garden yesterday brought on hayfever? Spent £11.90 via Sprive and my current acc so nothing went on the credit card so all is good.

OH has been back to the city for the day today - he's had a root canal done, poor soul. Had not properly planned meals and had defrosted some breaded chicken. Didn't cook these tonight as I had a late lunch plus snacks so we will have tomorrow's tea. Hoping mouth is ok.

Its DS1's DofE expedition coming up soon and its all a lot of excitement and nerves (from me!). Feels odd that I can't be there in person to help him pack but we are talking on the phone a lot so hopefully he's got everything he needs. He's doing this with his 2 bed buds and some other friends who I don't know personally but heard good things. Wishing them and my nerves well 😀

Queen_of_the_Hive

Happy Thursday in the hive!

First confession of the day, I am being utterly lazy today! Not quite sure what has happened but last week was firing on all cylindars but this week complete opposite, havent eaten that well either. Suspect hormones are in to play!

Yesterday being the 13th of the money was monthly finances review and hurrah I'd finished the month with my goal to have reduced cc balance for the 3rd consecutive month. CC balance is down a teeny tiny £110.66 from the previous month but as i've said before psychologically this means a lot more. New CC month hasn't kicked in yet so not sure how much interest i'll be charged but honestly this is a win.

Looking forward this month half term is coming up and am really excited to spend some time with the kids. I have a two day week with the Monday being bank holiday. Mum is taking the kids out one of the days i'm working. Quite like the idea of buying and flying kites on the beach one of the days and the other day going to a muesum. DS1 has been learning about the 2nd world war so Eden Camp is somewhere am thinking of going.Its many years ago since last went with my grandparents. Other than that DS2 likes cooking and he's asked if we can make pasta at home together. Timing was perfect as we picked up a pasta cutter machine on sale in L!dl this week for £10.

Prolific and surveys seem to be a bit quiet this week so far. Have been really busy in recent weeks. So far have managed to cash out over £80 and have £16 to cash out so not doing too bad if it stays quiet for the rest of the month.

peb

Just check your dates with Eden Camp, friends tried to go either last year or possibly the year before and it was shut. I think it could be if there's a shortage volunteer staff?

I took a group of 60 in 2013 and it's still stalked about.

Queen_of_the_Hive

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81998282#Comment_81998282

Hi Peb, ooooh thanks for the heads up. It changed hands last year. Hopefully for the better 🙏