Twinklies mortgage journey 2.0

Baileys_Babe

I'm also interested in the answers to the housework and exercise questions.

When we meal plan I find my days easier to manage and I get more done. I think the plan for today is to eat up the random bits in the fridge. Before Monday I also want to do an inventory of the freezers so we can make the most of what we have but also try to make space for some batch cooking.

Sending you good wishes for 2025.

twinklie

Not an MSE start to the week. We did a family trip to the cinema to watch Sonic 3. The kids loved it and we had loads of fun. Then took the dog on a big big walk with DS1. 

Feeling full of love and good feeling. I’m so glad I don’t drink at New Year. I’d much rather have a fun day today than drink and feel rubbish and muddle through. 

Hope everyone else is feeling as warm and fuzzy as me. Happy Wednesday everyone. 

twinklie

First OP of the year - £111.50

teapot2

Well done, great start to the year 🎉

twinklie

Just measured the boys feet - nobody needs new shoes. RESULT!

Took DS1 to dentist. Orthodontic referral in and accepted already. So now on the VERY long waiting list for treatment. But he should get it on the NHS so very MSE. He actually hits the highest criteria in more than one area so all should be fine.

Just the weeman to get to the dentist now this afternoon then I’m in until Saturday afternoon when they have a haircut booked (unless the weather stops us). 

Time to crack on with other chores now. 

twinklie

Both kids have a clean dental bill of health. I’ve picked up DS1s prescription and managed to get a few jobs done. 

Also managed some family time playing board games, as evidenced in the picture below.

Thinking we shall aim for a NSD tomorrow so will do some baking with the big one and then crack on with more chores. 

I’ve decided I’m definitely going to meal plan tomorrow for next week then put the shopping list together to try and help lift the mental load for when I’m back at work. So that’s a job right there. 

Flossymuldoo

Did you manage to get your meal
plan done Twinklie?  

I would love to be better at mean planning but I struggle with the motivation to do it, then don’t always fancy whatever is on the plan for the day. I tend to wing it but then it takes more brain power as I have to figure out what I can make with what I’ve got. I am in awe of people who do it regularly. 

twinklie

£100 win on PBs today! Thank you very much.

Im going to do the meal plan today, but I did dig out the trusty weekly list of options I made a few years ago to try and stop us eating the same stuff all the time. It also had safe foods for the boys on it - just need to check it’s still ‘safe’ for DS2 whose diet is a little on the restricted side. And plan alternatives for him if needed. 

Also on today’s agenda is baking, hoovering, photographing clothes for Vinted so I can start listing and maybe looking at the hallway disaster.

twinklie

Saving an updated version of my to do list  accountability post. 

Things to achieve:
1. Sort mobile (I don’t need a new phone but I’m just coming out of contract). Ordered a new SIM - due to go live on 30th. Going on a family plan with DS2 - should save me approximately £14.49 per month. ✅

2. Sort saving account. Sorted regular saver, but need to look at an account to ‘store’ the bulk. I’ve done some research - just need to make a decision. ✅

3. Workout and post end of year finances. ✅

4. Sort out holiday payment dates/budgets. ✅

5. List at least 10 things on Vinted. 6 posted and 1 sold already!

6. Do a tip trip. We have to book to take a trailer full to the tip - so I have booked it for Sunday! ✅

7. Sort things for charity shop. Sorted some bits and hoping to take them NYE. ✅

8. Tidy and rearrange the boys bedroom. 

9. Sort through boys clothes and do the resizing. ✅

10. Get kids feet measured and buy new shoes if needed. ✅

11. Sort the playroom so the exercise bike and cross trainer can be used by the end of the year. Bike has been liberated - just the cross trainer to go. 

12. Find homes for all the Christmas gifts. 

13. Iron all school uniform. ✅
14. Wash and pack PE kits. Washed and just need repacking. ✅

15. Help the kids sort their Pokémon cards. 

16. Baking with the big one. 

17. Meal plan so no food is wasted. ✅

18. Plan allotment for this year. 

19. Visit the allotment to do some basic tidying. ❌ Not going due to the weather. 

20. Meter readings. Electricity done - but will have to do gas tomorrow because it’s too dark outside now. ✅

21. Sort gas/electricity tariff. ✅
22. Unbox the last of the Christmas presents. ✅

23. Sew up the damaged teddies/plushies. ✅
24. Fix mortgage spreadsheet. ✅
25. Change all the beds.  ✅

So outstanding and additional tasks are:
1. List at least 10 things on Vinted. 1 sold already! ✅
2. Tidy and rearrange the boys bedroom. 
3. Sort the playroom so the exercise bike and cross trainer can be used by the end of the year. Bike has been liberated - just the cross trainer to go. 
4. Find homes for all the Christmas gifts. 

5. Help the kids sort their Pokémon cards. 

6. Baking with the big one. I’ve offered to do this a few times now and he seems to have gone off the idea. So we haven’t baked but, he’s got cooking at school tomorrow. ❌

7. Plan allotment for this year. I’ve scrapped the allotment visit due to the weather - so removed it from my list. 

8. Take the Christmas decorations down. ✅
9. Put the Christmas decorations away. 

10. Clean the extractor fan filters. 

11. Tidy my office space. Going to do this as part of my return to work on Monday.

12. Tidy the hallway. 

13. Check and pack the kids school bags. 

14. Help DS1 with the last bit of homework. ✅

15. Meal plan for next week. ✅
16. Take the kids for haircuts. ✅
17. Research dehumidifiers (ORDERED). ✅

18. Look at window vacuums - find out if they are worth it. ❓

twinklie

Didn’t get as much done today as I was hoping too. But it’s for good reasons - prioritising family time. We were playing board games. 

Goal for 2025 - BALANCE

But I did list 6 things on Vinted. Sold one and have an offer on another. Hopefully that will spur me on to list more. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Oh and my win was that I’ve had to take away DS1s favourite Tshirt because it’s just too small and makes him look like an overstuffed sausage. I’ve been trying for months to find a replacement knowing it wouldn’t fit him much longer with no luck. Then as I was on Vinted today I did a casual check - I only went and found it in his size!!! The plus point being I’d sold some stuff I was tempted to just throw out just before Christmas. So the Tshirt only cost me 78p. 

I’m genuinely over the moon as he adores this Tshirt and I thought it was the end of the line. 

2025 is starting well. 🤞🏻