MeandO's money-shuffling

MeandO

Morning all, another blue sky and sunshiny one here. :)

I had such a sound sleep last night that I woke up at 6am ready to take on the World! Perhaps the magnesium I've started taking is working after all. What a difference a sound sleep makes though, even if it was for only around six hours.

This morning I've moved a few more pots around the garden and enjoyed watching all the birds flitting outside for five minutes. I've re-organised some kitchen storage and re-homed a few other bits from the kitchen and utility room to different places. I'm looking forward to getting out in the garden later as I'm hoping to start painting the large garden wall today which should make a huge difference out there after living with a really ugly wall for nearly five years.

Some leftover slow cooked beef, carrots & shallots has been frozen for future use and I'll use the leftover veg portion up for my tea tonight. DS will be having a batch cooked meal from the freezer, whichever chicken based dish he chooses. I've taken a small portion of soup/stew out of the freezer for myself to use with the leftover veg.

DS has surfaced for a drink and yogurt drink and has gone back to bed, oh to be a teenager! I think he's still struggling a little getting his sleep patterns back to some sort of normality after his long haul trip and the time differences.

I'm down to my last two coffee pods (Lav@zza - the only coffee I drink regularly), so am strategically planning my coffee today for when I need it most this morning! DS has taken to liking a 'frothy coffee' too so I'm saving us one each until more gets delivered today. I only buy it when it's on offer but I can see it's not out for delivery yet so will probably arrive this evening. If it doesn't turn up, we may be in trouble tomorrow!

Honeysucklelou2

Happy belated birthday MeandO.

Sounds like you have been amazingly productive in your house and garden. Those mini greenhouses are so useful in bringing plants on.

MeandO

Thank you HSL2 x I'm just hoping I've tethered the mini greenhouse down well enough to survive any strong winds! It's in the most sheltered place possible, so I'm hoping it survives.

MeandO

Morning all,

Yesterday was so lovely that I will let the weather gods off for the grey and drizzly weather today, although it does mean that the tumble dryer is on.

I was over the moon to start and finish painting the big, ugly block garden walls yesterday, it only actually took me around 1.5 hours with a roller. I've painted them a lagoon blue type colour which I was a bit nervous about, but I love it! It brightens the garden up no end and really defines the seating area at the back of the garden. Once I've trailed some plants up there on a trellis it will look perfect. It also means a big job on the 'to do' list has been ticked off! So a really productive day yesterday. :)

No money needs to be spent today so I'm hoping to keep it that way. We have everything in for meals today and although a little shopping list is ongoing, nothing is needed urgently.

I've just sent an OP of £132.84 to the mortgage taking it down to £51,756. I need to make/find/overpay another £1762.02 before the end of the year to get the full 10% allowed paid off. I'll do it somehow.
£100 has also been sent to the house pot as I'll need to fork out £270 soon for the plastering work that is needed. I also need to save for new blinds and a window opening pole as I'm currently getting up a very tall stepladder each time I want to open the windows as they're around 10-12ft up! Budget blinds (still not cheap!) and a budget pole won't see much change from £150, so it won't happen for a little while yet.

MeandO

Morning all, I hope everybody had a restful weekend.

Yesterday afternoon saw the rain disappear and the sun came out so I tackled a few more jobs in the garden with OH's help. We removed a 6ft-7ft fruit tree from the pot it had outgrown and planted it in the ground, hopefully it will now bear some fruit for us within a couple of years. Two more plants got dug up and rehomed elsewhere, one into a large empty pot and another in a different place in the borders. The grapevine my Dad no longer wanted got transplanted into a larger pot, ready to trail along a fence when I buy and install some wire.
Lastly, OH removed some more of the turf for me and tidied up one of the two borders for which I was very grateful as I struggled with it on my own.
The grow house was blown to the back of the garden over the weekend, despite being anchored down with concrete blocks, so it's currently in the shed. It may have to be given away unfortunately as I can't see any other way of making sure it stays put. I've also posted a garden item no longer needed on the local freebie fb page to which someone wants to collect this week. It always astounds me how rude some people can be in their messages when you've offered something for free…🙄

I've stripped and changed DS's bed this morning and the washing is currently drying out on the line. His rugby boots and muddy trainers have also had a wash and are drying in the sun. I've dusted upstairs and will swipe round downstairs later. I'm hoping to get the hoovering done this evening when DS is out at the gym. I've also touched up the paint in some areas in DS's room after he wanted some pictures removed and just need to move a poster for him later when the paint has dried.

I've taken mince out of the freezer to cook for DS tonight which should also make at least one portion for the freezer. I'm going to use up some soup OH made yesterday. I weighed myself this morning and it wasn't good, so I really need to get myself in gear to lose weight again. I just can't seem to get motivated, I'm always so tired, worn out and achey. :(

MeandO

Morning all, the end of the working week is in sight and more importantly, payday is only a week away!

I have used up the remainder of my personal spends on bits for the garden so I'm trying to go for a no personal spends week, except for my hair 'de-greying' appointment next week for which I have a separate pot and money already saved. Once I have built up the 'House' pot considerably then I may start to use that for home and garden spends, but there is not enough in it to justify that yet. It needs to be saved for the home insurance (due in June), planned works and home repairs.

In contrast, I can't believe how well I'm doing with the grocery budget this month! I still have £150 left of the £250 grocery card I buy monthly, although the remaining £100 cash for grocery purchases elsewhere has almost been used up. I will need to use some of the £150 this week but there should be over £100 left on there by payday which has never happened before! DS and I were both away for a week which accounts for some of the savings but I have just tried to stick to a list and used up what we already have in. I've also been freezing a couple of portions of meals most evening when cooking and DS has been happily getting through those for lunches when he's home or in the evenings.

Yesterday I returned some raspberries to the shop which had gone mouldy overnight before even being opened and picked up a new punnet. They really don't last more than a day or two though and for the price are not so budget friendly, but we both like them and I'd rather spend it on something good for us and that will get eaten.

My parents kindly gave me some money for my birthday last month so I swept just over half of that to the mortgage and £100 has been saved towards the upcoming plastering work needed, the balance of which I will need to pay next month when the work has been completed. I need to save another £170 towards it, so will use the underspend on this month's grocery budget for next month and switch the money I would have had to put towards groceries towards the plastering. I've explained that badly but I'm sure you get the gist! Hopefully then I will have at least £200 in that pot and then only £70 to find/make which is more doable. I do have the funds in the house pot to cover it if needed but I'd like to try and 'conjure up' this money instead and leave that pot alone to pay for the house insurance.

I took a bag full of donations to the charity shop last week and then DS sorted out some clothes that were too small, so I have started another bag with the items that are not good enough to put on vinted for him. I'll start sorting through the house again for any more donations and then take the bag once it's full.

It's sunny outside today and the washing has just stopped so I'm off to hang it out to dry and save the pennies by not having to use the tumble dryer. BG messed up my bill last month which transpires was because Feb only had 28 days - not a shock - and so no payment was applied to my bill during the last statement period, so I'm now nearly £300 in debit to them. The heating is now off unless it's freezing and I'm doing all I can to save using much gas and electricity presently. I'm hoping the amount owed levels out now the weather is improving.

Have a lovely day all xx

MeandO

Not much to report today, no spends planned and I'm not planning on going out other than to pick DS up from school later. I'm fancying a hot bath later as I'm feeling cold and in need of warmth and comfort, but I'm conscious of the gas and water usage so I may not bother.

It's a drizzly and grey one here today so the washing is in the tumble dryer today, unfortunately. Yesterday's load dried lovely out on the line.

I spent an enjoyable bit of time out in the garden yesterday. I put some lovely new C&th K!dston bird boxes up (£4 each in b&m) after sealing them with some bird-friendly sealant to try and make them last. I installed wires along some fences for the grapevine to trail along and to train the pear tree along a second fence (I think it's called the espalier method). I was hoping to plant up a hanging basket today with some trailing fuchsias bought for £1.29 at HB last week, hopefully the rain stops later but there's no sign of it relenting yet.

I'm feeling a bit tired today despite a good night's sleep, so am looking forward to a relaxing, cosy evening in tonight. OH is cooking food so it will be nice to have an evening off from cooking too.

Have a lovely day all xx

Newstartforme

Hi Meando, well done on all you are achieving in home and garden despite poor sleep and weather not being the best . Feel your pain with heat and electricity, feel like 1 of my eyes is constantly on the ever rising amount on smart meter . I've been putting the food shop money since reading your diary , it really makes a difference and also getting a few pounds from cashback site helps also . Hope you have the best restful weekend xx

debtfreewannabe321

Hope you manage to have a restful weekend so you're not feeling tired going into next week ❤️.

MeandO

Thank you Newstartforme and DFW321 xx

Unfortunately I'm not feeling much better this week. In fact, I am debating whether to book a Dr's appointment as I'm just feeling generally burnt out and like I have no energy, drive or motivation left in me. It feel like the type of exhaustion that sleep doesn't help but other than the normal aches and pains there is nothing physically wrong with me. I just feel like I need a new battery! I don't know if it's just peri-symptoms, auto immune issues (still don't know exactly what and no-one seems to be doing anything towards looking into it, so I've given up), stress, or whether I just need to give myself a kick up the backside, but I'm just so exhausted by everything. I feel like a GP appointment will be a waste of time though.

Stress levels have been hight this weekend though as my wonderful Mum was blue lighted to hospital again after another fall. I am waiting to hear how she is today, but her body is failing her and I don't know how much more she can withstand. 😪

The ex has also caused issues with DS and I've had to referee that. Both DS and I could have done without it. The usual narc power struggles of wanting to have authority over everything and not liking it when he is challenged, then trying to guilt trip DS.

I have enjoyed being out in the garden and pottering round my little house this weekend. I picked up a lovely jasmine climbing trellis reduced to £1.75 from £16.75 as the pot was badly broken. It's been planted near a seating area in the garden in the hope we can smell the heady scent when sitting there. I love fragrant flowers.

Three loads of washing and use of the oven was timed for the half price energy window of yesterday. It'll save only pennies but it all adds up. The heating has stayed firmly off for the past few days too, although I did relent and have a hot bath on Friday.

I've now filled the bag I started for the charity shop after sorting through my clothes and finding a few more bits that I don't wear often enough to keep, plus some charity shop buys that didn't fit or suit me well enough. I don't return them, I just re-donate. I don't actually have many clothes - just a single wardrobe and two drawers of a 4 drawer chest, plus some jumpers that are folded on a shelf in the wardrobe - but I always seem to find thing to donate when I go through everything! I tidied my little bedside drawer unit which houses underwear, socks and pyjamas last week and the three drawers are now much easier to open as I've binned lots that had seen better days. I'll try and drop the bag off this week.