And now we go again...

savingholmes

Love the sound of your menu concoctions.

You sound very productive.

EssexHebridean

PiP I checked right through those codes last week and I wasn't eligible for any - mainly because I'd used them before, seemingly! Thanks for the headsup though - it's definitely a good plan to check for codes before spending! 

SH I'm currently trying to balance productive against also ensuring I have recharge time. Work stuff is still not great, and that is beginning to take a toll to the extent that, come the new year, I may have to review where I stand with things I think.

So yesterday was my lovely Mum's 80th birthday - which seems mad to me, she still only looks about 70 and seems to have more energy than I do! I can only begin to wish to age half as beautifully as she has. She loved her presents, and her exceptionally rude card, and I was very glad we did drop both round to her first thing as thanks to Royal Fail's inadequacies she got nothing at all in the post.

MSE Stuff:
- MrEH has transferred his ISA over, so that is underway and it won't be earning the paltry amount of interest that Sant-And-Er offer for a matured fix for much longer. His new one has also had the full complement of joint funds transferred to it too, so interest on that won't be taxed now which is handy. 
- we are gradually adjusting things now so that less of our savings interest will be taxed, that will need a full review at some stage though, I may well slate a proper financial review for Friday actually. 
- I have just opened a new savings pot with N@t1onw1de which will become the "main" holiday pot - the rate is miles better than the existing holiday pot with Sant, so we will do the same there as we do with the car pot, and just transfer money between the two. It may as well earn a little more. 
- Some CC money shuffling done to clear some things off. There are a couple of bits I need to give some consideration to where the spends are coming from - a membership that we have taken out again, and also the blind that was bought for the bathroom. 
- MrEH will need to fill his car up at the weekend as we will be using his to drive to Birmingham and back on Sunday for the food show. 
- And on that subject, having already taken the decision to drive up and back on the day, we've also shaved a few ££ off the cost of the parking by opting to park at the Birmingham International station car park rather than at the NEC itself - it's only a £3.50 saving but it all helps! 
- Checked the app this morning for any deals at the co-op - got a 20p off milk one so MrEH will probably use that tomorrow (and we hope it transfers ok for use with the plastic card, rather than just the card in the app - it will be a good way of finding out anyway!)

I want to drag the christmas decoration box out this evening or tomorrow, and check whether we have any lights suitable for our tree. The tree needs picking up from Mum's loft at some stage too. It's an absolute beauty, they paid quite a bit for it some years ago but don't really have space for it with how Mum has the front room laid out now, so she offered it to us, and it will work wonderfully well in our living room as it is a tall narrow tree. We've got lots of decorations, but I suspect our light sets will now not really be suitable as they are older and may well not be LED, so will probably be expensive to run. I did note that Lils had some light sets last week so I may take a look at those when I'm in at the weekend. At some stage we also need to buy a plastic storage box of a suitable size for the decorations, they're in a cardboard removal one at the moment but it's too big to go through the loft hatch!   

beanielou

Your mum sounds just like mine. 

Happy 80th to her. 🌻🍰🥂

lucielle

lol that your mum loves a rude card! Don’t we all. Hope work sorts itself out, sounds like it’s been playing on your mind for a while. 

L

savingholmes

Happy 80th to your Mum.

The Christmas tree sounds like it will be perfect. You reminded me to offer DD some of my Xmas decorations. I have way too many.

savingholmes

Good luck with the work decision. That sounds a hard one. I would have thought your skills were in demand though so hopefully lots of options out there if you choose to look for them.

EssexHebridean

Hey all - thanks for popping by! Not going to say too much on the work situation on here as it is quite public and I am very aware that I am quite identifiable should anyone look. Thanks for all the good vibes though - it really is appreciated! 

Anyway - work will cease to be anything to even be given consideration for a few days at least as of 5pm today because not only is it the final day of my working week, but I also have Monday off so hurrah for that! 

MSE Stuff:
- Banks checked - I have confirmation of the FD regular saver maturing now, although it's still not entirely clear when that will happen, but once it has I will be opening a new one so I'll leave the standing order to the FD current account live for now. 
- I sat down with my planning book and did a savings update last night - so we know where everything is, at least until it all moves again anyway!
- I've tried opening the Ch@se account this morning but frankly I can't see me using it much as it looks to rely heavily on email via mobile (I don't use emails on my phone at all) and also it's asking for a photograph of my ID and my face every time I try to log in - half the time when I want to use the app I won't even have ID with me so that won't work for me at all! I've asked for contact from someone, but I think when it comes I will probably just ask them to cancel the application. 
- Interest has landed from M@rcu5 this morning - that's the last of the savings interest for the month now. I did renew the bonus while I was in there too. 
- Mum tells me that she already has a plastic box for Christmas decs which will be coming to us along with the tree, so that depending on size might save a spend, or at least mean that a smaller box will do the trick which should be a saving. 
- have managed to snare an Als TGTG bag for this evening so we'll see what delights that offers when we pick it up. I must admit I do like being just that little bit closer to Als than we used to be at times like that - I'd have been slightly less inclined to go out at 9.30pm to collect when we were just that bit further away! 

Spendiness:
- A treaty personal spend on some new earbuds - my existing set are falling apart - literally, one of the actual bud bits keeps dropping out of its housing and dangling on its wires and even sticking it back is no longer working. I got a BF deal through from the big river site for a decent looking set with excellent reviews, and an additional 20% off. I am a little suspicious as they do seem rather too cheap to be much cop, but if they are not good on arrival they'll go back. From my personal spends, anyway.
- I also have some W1ld deodorant refills in my basket on their site - they are currently offering 25% off which brings the refills to the same price I usually pay for them. I'll probably push the order button on that later - and if so two will go to Mum for part of her Christmas pressie as well. 
- I'm hoping to divert a spend on stuffing for more of the little crocheted christmas baubles by seeing if there is anything I have at home that I can use instead. I may have a dig through old t-shirts to see if there is anything sacrificeable - or possibly tights, although I think I may have cleared the excess on those down to just fairly decent ones when we moved. 

Realised after getting to the office this morning that I have no plans for dinner this evening, so have asked MrEH is he has any ideas. If he doesn't then it will be a chickpea and butternut squash curry I should think as that's quick, and I need to use the remaining chunk of squash anyway. The alternative will be something with eggs though. Last night was the taginey-stew from sunday with jacket tatties started in the microwave and finished in the airfryer to crisp up and was very tasty - I think the stew was even nicer for a few days with the flavours developing! 

PennysIntoPounds

Happy long weekend!

beanielou

Enjoy your break. 

lucielle

Enjoy your long weekend. 

L