An in-between phase

beanielou

Blackcats said:

That's a great achievement!  Well done!

I don't like cheese and onion crisps so I don't think a multipack of crisps will be an MSE win at your premium bond winners party.  I still have very bad memories from many, many years ago at a youth club of a boy attempting a snog after he'd eaten a bag of cheese and onion crisps - not an experience I ever want to repeat.  Not that I'm implying that this sort of thing would happen at your party but I can't take any risks where cheese and onion crisps are concerned.

Seems like the consensus seems to be for cava/Prosecco.  It's a limited buffet so far but but I'm sure it will be a fun event.

That made me laugh.
Eeeew is all.

PennysIntoPounds

Thank you @beanielou 😊

Thanks @Blackcats, and what a manky tale 😂 That would deffo put you off for life, if I'm ever rich enough to host this party I will put on the RSVPs 'No cheese and onion crisp eating before or during the soireè should you be fancying your chances with Blackcats'

WelshmansDaughter

Weirdly I like cheese and onion crisps but the thought of that did make me shudder 

CRANKY40

I eat/drink most things. That is why I am this shape (round is a shape😁). I can bring cake instead of mince pies though. I usually make a chocolate fudge cake for Christmas as the House Troll isn't keen on fruit so a traditional cake would have to be eaten by me. 

Well done on the savings 😊

lucielle

I’ll fetch the porkers in blankets
L

EssexHebridean

PennysIntoPounds said:

EssexHebridean said:

I'm not sure if Hammerton have a taproom they sell from? Actually - scrub that, just googled, they do, AND they have a pub too - I've be surprised if you weren't able to buy a can from one or the other (and now I want to visit so I can buy some as well!)

Since we're discussing what sounds like it is turning into an MSE virtual Christmas party, I'm more than happy to eat a mince pie or several, no longer do red wine (awful the next day even if I only have half a glass) but will be delighted to join those who are drinking prosecco or cava, thank you! As for snacks - if we could steer clear of salt & vinegar crisps unless they are posh ones, I'd be grateful - I'm allergic to your bog standard W@1kers/G01den W0nder types... 

What a suspicious 'allergy' @EssexHebridean 😁
I've emailed their pub asking if they have single cans in stock, it's not too far from me but too far to go on the off-chance. I expect I'll need a pint or two to recover from the journey 

It's a hilarious allergy, but actually has an effect on me something like a slightly milder version of the sort of reaction some folk get to peanuts. These days it is also affecting me if I come into contact with the flavouring used on my skin too - my boss sometimes eats W'1kers S&V and I have to be incredibly careful not to touch her plate or mug afterwards just in case! But yet - I do cringe slightly if having to fill in forms or similar which ask about food allergies as people always think I must be making it up! :lo:lol:

That's a great achievement with the flat pot, and really goes to show what can be done with a small income but huge amounts of determination. 

PennysIntoPounds

EssexHebridean said:

PennysIntoPounds said:

EssexHebridean said:

I'm not sure if Hammerton have a taproom they sell from? Actually - scrub that, just googled, they do, AND they have a pub too - I've be surprised if you weren't able to buy a can from one or the other (and now I want to visit so I can buy some as well!)

Since we're discussing what sounds like it is turning into an MSE virtual Christmas party, I'm more than happy to eat a mince pie or several, no longer do red wine (awful the next day even if I only have half a glass) but will be delighted to join those who are drinking prosecco or cava, thank you! As for snacks - if we could steer clear of salt & vinegar crisps unless they are posh ones, I'd be grateful - I'm allergic to your bog standard W@1kers/G01den W0nder types... 

What a suspicious 'allergy' @EssexHebridean 😁
I've emailed their pub asking if they have single cans in stock, it's not too far from me but too far to go on the off-chance. I expect I'll need a pint or two to recover from the journey 

It's a hilarious allergy, but actually has an effect on me something like a slightly milder version of the sort of reaction some folk get to peanuts. These days it is also affecting me if I come into contact with the flavouring used on my skin too - my boss sometimes eats W'1kers S&V and I have to be incredibly careful not to touch her plate or mug afterwards just in case! But yet - I do cringe slightly if having to fill in forms or similar which ask about food allergies as people always think I must be making it up! :lo:lol:

That's a great achievement with the flat pot, and really goes to show what can be done with a small income but huge amounts of determination. 

Poor you @EssexHebridean I wonder why specifically cheap S&V

And thanks, although I am now slightly obsessively checking my email to see if anyone's given me a grand to get it up to 5k 😂

PennysIntoPounds

Tuesday doings:

The internet kept being down and the windows were open for hours due to the big works so not the most conducive surroundings for getting things done!

But did admin, comps, tidy, entered the Gumtree comp

Managed wussy situps before workmen arrived, thought I should get some in before imminent period, and shoulders put up with a shower and hairwash too

Couple of surveys and a receipt survey

Expressed interest in joining a voucher-paid council housing meeting group

Had a little walk to coop and got some fruit with the 40p off voucher and paid rest in points

Found a Billy Connolly book and 1p

Small bit of work

Tried to make progress with the iPad.
Think I'm going to give up and try to sell it and just buy a proper laptop, Currys has refurbished ones for £130-140 which isn't too beyond the realms of possibility. Will have to save/win for it though
It's annoying as I'd hoped inheriting this iPad would prevent a big spend, and Mr PIP was going to get me the associated gumpf like keyboard and stand for Christmas.
But its daft him spending money he could do with on a gift I don't really want for a product I don't trust to work for me!

Had another small walk going for essentials up the road and used other coop coupon for 20p off milk and used up rest of points to pay

And some steps going to meet Mr PIP for a couple of catch up beers, using the Camra discount.

So main targets are:
Vets bills
Laptop
Flat pot

PennysIntoPounds

Ugh, bloody period. Not feeling at my best. But things got done, albeit sluggishly and with a fair bit of complaining

Mr PIP won £50 on the PB so that's a fifth of the £250 we currently owe for vets fees. He says he should be able to cover this with his current account but that £50 is very helpful, especially at this time of year.
I'm trying to construct a particularly cheapo Christmas ideas list to send him but all the things I look up that I like turn out to be the very expensive ones...
I'm happy enough with a bit of cheese and wine and a good book though, at any time of year!

I won £225 on the PB (thank you Ernie), offered it for vets bill but as I said Mr PIP thinks he can cover it if we're tight for the rest of the month- not a helpful month to be tight in but at least we have the flat pot money if there is an emergency cost *crosses fingers there won't be an emergency cost*

So I think I'm going to get a laptop and wait til Jan in case there are reductions in the sales. Will go through a cashback site and put the money in an interest earning pot in the meantime. Any remainder will go in flat pot. As Currys have refurbished laptops for £130-140 plus delivery at the moment I'm tempted to put the remainder into flat pot now but given the state of the economy they'll probably go up not down in Jan

Managed a walk collecting a free loaf of Olio bread and Mr PIP's mince pies plus a muffin freebies (he very kindly, or possibly sensibly, split the muffin with me)

Small bit of work, admin, tidying

Coop survey and... a few coop receipt surveys as you can now do as many as you like rather than one a week. Exciting times 😁

Went to Lidl to use their coupon for money off on a pizza and their coupon for money off on a bottle of wine. Wine coupon is valid for another week so will try to get some more in while it's bargainous. We popped into the local pub for a couple of beers and to show our faces after which we decided was a neutral spend as it's not currently leaving us short and we hadn't been in for a few weeks and it's important to keep your social networks in place

M&S receipt survey, Lidl receipt survey

Did laundry as my productive contribution to the household for today

Dinner is leftover spag bol whilst reading our books. Was doing quite well getting my reading pile down to four but really fancied some period-indulgent easy fun reading so have started Crazy Rich Asians which was an Olio pick-up. It's not high literature but is a jolly good romp of a read, and makes my Christmas wish list research look extremely pauperish!

beanielou

Great win