The alternative hive - making plan B work

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Sunday evening!

Its been an odd few days in the hive. I've been in an 'offish' mood this past week, in all honest suspect hormones at play.

I haven't been as productive as I could have been in my days off and I think the mood thing has not helped this but have still managed to get some bits and pieces done. On Thurs or Fri (can't remember which) we went for a walk and i'd bought a couple of books from a charity shop and OH picked one for himself too. We will enjoy these this summer. Yesterday we went to a local kite festival and being the big kid myself and OH had a lot of fun flying one of our new £10 kites. It was fantastic. We celebrated our sucess with a pint in the pub. We ended the day off with Eurovision - it had to be! Poor UK yet again!

Today have been a bit more motivated and completed a bit of cleaning upstairs. Was a bit of a false win though as we've discovered a small leak from the toilet. There is so much sealant from the botch job done by the previous owners I fear this could become a bigger job. Will need to get a plumber in to take a look. We've also been to the garden centre and bought some eracious soil in an attempt to rescue a now sad looking hydrangea plant bought in the sale in mr T at Easter. Also bought some plant food in attempt to perk up another house plant that would benefit from a bit of tlc. I must admit am enjoying putting in a bit more effort into plant care generally. We didn't budget for it but we bought a mock but lighter weight whiskey barrel planter for £15. It'll probably not be as durable but it was more realistic to transport. Will buy some bedding plants next week for it.

So this week we are back to the city to pick up the kids for half term. We are doing something we don't normally do but taking the night bus on Weds night. Its sports day for DS2 on Thursday morning and I'd have missed it if I used my original train ticket. Sadly train ticket booked before sports day was announced. OH has also decided to join us as he wasn't able to come last year. We are in the city for 2 nights to see friends on Friday night at their gorgeous big house for pizza and prosecco! A really fun start to the half term.

Money wise - I've been having a big dilemma with myself. The hotels this time of the year go from manageable to expensive and as timings are working out we are looking at potentially needing to have accomodation in the city for the first two weeks in July. The cost is scary but coming home and trains is just as daunting. So I have been thinking about booking a static caravan on a holiday park in Sussex instead. Its looking to be £500 for a fairly basic caravan. Benefits of static caravan, stable base with kitchen facilities. There will be travel costs involved too as further from where we need to be. I did look at camping in a tent, i'd be ok, but with OH I have to be sensible.

All my CC's are now on a new month and I need to update my weekend spends on to budget tracker. Much to OH's annoyance i've put aside the electric pan plus pasta, pasta sauce etc to make a budget dinner in the hotel on Thursday. Its a small way to manage the spends but means we will carry more stuff.

TallGirl

Could you offer pet sitting in the City for those two weeks? Or holiday swap with your place? It is crazy how much prices increase at that time of year.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Friday!

Its been a busy couple of weeks in the hive, last week was away back in the city with the kids. We briefly saw a bit of Chelsea in Bloom and had a treat lunch in Battersea at Me@ans. It was a really hot day and was happy to sit inside for a bit of relief from the sun. Caught up with friends in the evening that we hadn't seen for a year. Was lush.

This week its half term and the kids are with us. Its been a mix of work and play. We've had a quiet, casual week. The kids made cookies, we enjoyed steak last night (our treat meal), been on our bikes in our local town and had a walk on the beach. Kids also enjoying catching up on this years Race around the World. We normally watch it together but must confess I did watch it earlier. We are very much getting pleasures from the smaller things in life. Today we are going to go for a very short train ride and walk to take us to cliffs where there is a nature reserve. We did the same walk last year during one of the holidays (Summer I think) and the kids loved it they have requested it again! OH couldn't come with us last time but he's able to this time. The weather is meant to be cooler which will be perfect for today. Am going to make us a picnic of pesto pasta salad, flasks for hot drinks for myself and OH.

Finances wise it was payday this week and its the usual money shuffle. Pleased to report that CC with the largest interest I only used once for one small purchase on the big forest by accident. Have managed to stick with one card and spends have been low. Have tried to use cash more, hopefully this shows in this months CCs figures on the 13th June.

Saving this year has really taken a back burner, can only do debt repayment or save a little, not both and paying the debt down had to be priority. I do have 2 S&S ISAs, one which I have paid into for a decade but is quite basic 'robo' type which has done me well and a new one which started in April just gone and offers more trading options. I don't really have spare cash for savings but am trying to add a little bit to the new one. I was able to add £30 from this months salary so its now sitting with £125. Haven't been able to do much on the surveys front the latter part of May but beginning of May started strong which really helped. Will get back into it next week for June.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Saturday,

Oh my, yesterday's walk was knackering and fun, we saw loads of seabirds and dramatic cliffs. Everyone else in our group managed it well, I was the one complaining which surprised me as Im usually well up for it. I was tired, unfit and frankly being lazy. It was an eye opener though and realise I should do this more often. The kids found it hilarious i'd fallen asleep on the train home - it was only a journey of 1 stop, 6 mins tops!

So I've finished my latest book 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo' which I loved and have moved on to 'The Diary of Anne Frank'. This was a recent £2 charity shop find and have been eager to start. We have been to the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam a few years ago with the kids, saw their hidden flat and the kids still talk about it now.

Today we are heading off to our local tennis club for the saturday morning free coaching session. Afterwards I need to get the garden centre for pebbles and compost to pot out 4 baby sunflower plants and about 6 pumpkin plants. The kids are wanting to watch the Champions League final later on and I need to fit in some cleaning.

Queen_of_the_Hive

A very quick update. Just cashed out £109.64 from surveys for May. For me its a healthy amount and its being distributed as follows:

• £29.64 - EF
• £50 - 1p savings challenge 2026 (Aus Holiday fund)
• £25 - reno & refurb
• £5 - garden

Really it should all go in EF but as saving is really challenging I'm focusing on having the individual pots and building slowly this year. Annual leave is already booked for Aus holiday next year but no travel booked yet. This will be really budget trip and in all honesty not really sure we will go but the savings has to keep going. My OH has close family and some little people he hasn't yet met so its important we go while his health is good. It does worry me how we can pull it off but will keep on plugging away.

Edit: Just updated signature settings, always a big pleasure to see a bit of progress in the right direction, debt down a little bit and savings up a little bit. Nothing earth shattering but a bit of progress.

peb

Coop offer; in case of use.

Queen_of_the_Hive

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82017188#Comment_82017188

Morning @peb, fabulous, I have the coop membership, will take a walk and take a look :). Thanks for sharing!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Pinch, Punch, First of the Month! and on a Monday!

V quick diary update for this morning. Had a good sunday cleaning, reading more of Anne Frank's Diary and part binge watched Amandaland yesterday! So a pretty good day. OH took the kids back to the city and back in a day. It's pretty tiring so not expecting much from him today as he gets fatigue but appreciated that he was able to make the trip yesterday.

As we start in June, this week is typically a bit up and down. I normally feel a bit blue after a week with the kids which totally to be expected and this week on Thursday its the heavenly birthday of my dear friend. She passed just 6 years this Sept so not a new anniversary but still just a reflective day. Hoping for a break in the rain on Thurs to be able to go to the beach for a mini celebration with cake, candles and kiddy bubbles.

Will pop on later for a bigger update.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Diary entry never happended last night! Started writing late and had nothing to say which is not like me!

We went food shopping yesterday and bought £23 grocerries from L!dl. OH paid. Bought and cooked a roasted chicken which we will enjoy for leftovers tonight. It was accompanied by 36p yellow stickered broccoli floretts from Mr T. Was delish.

Yesterday I bought £10 worth of shares from the company I work for through my new S&S ISA. The share prices is low at the moment so saw an opportunity to buy. They are still in the red but will hopefully bounce back at somepoint in the future. Its the second time i've bought shares, the first lot totally overpaid. Bought 3 share the first time but bought 5 for the same price this time. Will sell when they hit the dizzy heights!

Not much else to report, we are on a go slow week and catching up with jobs we don't normally get to do with the kids here.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Happy Thursday,

Today is all about catching up on life admin and a trip to the beach to celebrate my mates birthday. Weather is looking dry so far!

We are back in the city next weekend and for us its our chance to celebrate DS2 birthday, his real birthday is early next week. He's a bit like the royals and celebrate over multiple days..This weekend he's having friends over for pizza and play at his dads house which I will say i'm really excited for him. In the past his dad has been quite hands off for birthday parties so super happy his dad and stepmum are stepping up for him. I'd love to be there but honestly im really ok about it. Next weekend we will have special time as our family of 4 - we've been saying for literally years we want to visit Ally Pally so proposing we go and explore with a picnic. Bought DS2 main gift earlier in the year and he's asked for a new branded bag for school so OH is going to buy that for him but generally its a calmer time than it was last year.

Finances wise - its tight as always, really trying hard to spend on essentials only. Had to book travel on the CC but generally have stuck to using one CC this month and been good. The worst CC rolls onto a new month early next week.

In terms of savings pots for June (mainly from surveys etc), I would like to:

• £25 Reno & Refurb - this would bring us up to £700
• £17.70 Emergency Fund - this would bring this pot to £300
• £60 - 1p savings challenge (Aus trip) - be on track for this yr

Total is £102.70.