Escape to the country & living off savings

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks Chrystal and MF. 

This weekend has been a lovely break from the house and decorating! I am visiting my sister and her family on the east coast. DF drove us so no petrol costs. Card for sister from my card tin bought earlier in the year and gift £10 from birthday fund. B-in-law insisted on paying for our meal out on Friday night. 

The dawn chorus is so loud this morning I can’t get back to sleep. Hopefully I will doze off again shortly. I am still waking early in dog feeding/ dog walking/ work mode 🤦‍♀️

Went to the supermarket for supplies with my sister yesterday & she refused to let me pay or contribute. I did however find an expandable cutlery drawer insert for a bargain £7.99 which was part of the sale and went through the till at £5.50 😁 All the ones found online were around the £20 mark! 

We also went to the garden centre and I managed to resist buying anything but got lots of ideas for when I start gardening, once the weather warms up a bit. All the spring bulbs were so pretty and lots of different herbs. At the moment I have no idea what is in my garden and DF’s neighbour has been a star chopping down all the overgrown elderberry trees. All my neighbours have offered up their green bins so we can get rid of all the waste. There is still lots of greenery and so many birds 😊 Thankfully no grass to cut. 

Plans for today are a walk by the sea and a roast later. Back home tomorrow. 

I am looking forward to seeing my old school friend later this week and I am going to arrange to go to aqua fit at my local pool. Once the weather warms up I will start walking again. There are some lovely country walks around the village and a few country parks nearby. 

Chrystal

Your new area sounds like a little piece of heaven Skinty, and so much to look forward to. XXX

MovingForwards

Sounds perfect Skinty, the previous stresses are melting away with each passing day.

You're doing very well bargain spotting, adding those useful little touches to a home, while getting out and about too.

There's so much for you to see and do and you're taking advantage of it. So pleased to read your plans ☺️

Skint_yet_Again

Thank you both. So far everything is positive and no regrets 😊

My fridge and freezer are now up and running. I went shopping yesterday and stocked up on basics for the freezer plus a weekly shop, total spend in aldee £62.29. That included a 2kg leg of lamb already on offer at 8.99 a kg with another 30% off, down from £17 to £12! 

I decided to roast it and had some for tea with roast potatoes and veg & gravy 😋 There was a total of 4 portions of roast lamb & roast potatoes and I made 4 lamb curry with peppers & onions & a jar of rogan josh sauce. So that is 7 batch cooked meals in the freezer. 

Other food plans this week
- Beef stew in the slow cooker 
- reggae sauce pork with butternut squash in the slow cooker 
- chicken fillets, I will make Cajun chicken with roast peppers, courgettes & onions and chicken with peppers in black bean sauce. 

Any extra portions will go in the freezer & should fill it up together with the stuff I bought. 

The previous owners left me all their white goods. I am donating the tumble dryer to my niece so DF is helping to deliver it to her. It was so warm and sunny and breezy yesterday I managed to get my bedding washed and dried outside on the line 😊

We will also be returning her carpet cleaner. It was fantastic and has cleaned both bedroom carpets and the large rug I brought with me for the dining room. They look almost new. The rest of the floors are laminate apart from the stairs, which will need a new carpet once all the messy work / bathroom replacement is finished. 

MovingForwards

Reading the updates shows you made the right decision, even the meal plans are back to the varied and full of taste delight's.

The good weather is approaching, get ready to explore while covering old ground. 

I'm genuinely so pleased for you, have a virtual hug 🤗

Skint_yet_Again

The clocks have gone forward this morning. Looking forward to lighter nights and warmer weather ☀️ Having said that it’s cold and grey today. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so I will do some washing then & hang it out. Heating has been mostly off. 

Yesterday was a bright but cold day. I went and bought all my bathroom items after seeing the plumber on Friday. The shower base was cheapest from a local builders merchant & even cheaper ordered in person, total saving £48. The rest was from b n q with 10% off this weekend, saving £99 plus a £5 off voucher. All are free delivery. Was really pleased with the savings 😁 

Took DF to greg s for a pasty & hot drink £7 total. 

Today is a day off decorating and diy. DF is cooking a roast so I will be going round the corner to his house this afternoon for a shower and dinner. Will be so glad once my bathroom is finally done. 

doingitanyway

Good to get an update from you.
Everything sounding good.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks dia

Tax refund arrived today £207.80 which I have paid into my bank account on the app. 

Have a dreadful head cold but tested negative for covid, so I have just been resting today. 

I did buy 2 tins of paint online for my dining area. On offer 2 for £22 saving £8. Once I feel better I will pick them up. They hold them for 7 days. 

MovingForwards

I don't know where you're getting all the energy to doing everything so quickly.

Hope you feel better soon and the weather is kind this week.

Skint_yet_Again

Haven’t done much since decorating the living room & bedroom 😊

Went out with my old school friend yesterday & had lunch in M& S cafe, homemade tomato and basil soup & roll £5. Picked up my paint 2 for £22 saving £8 and bought a rotary line for the garden as I only have a tiny washing line at the moment £22. It comes with a spike included so DF said he will fit it / possibly concrete it in once I see where it needs to go/ where the sun will best dry it. Just need some sun now 😆

Today my bathroom fittings arrived. Just waiting for the shower base. I looked at beds again online and the silent night I have been looking at has been reduced from £549 to £439 which includes divan base, mattress and headboard. £12.95 for delivery on a specific date and time. Minus my leaving gift card from work £65, total reduced from £549 down to £386.95 😁