Twinklies mortgage journey 2.0

twinklie

If money was not an object and you could buy whatever (I’m not talking about holidays, cars etc - just….stuff). What would you get?

I think I’d get:
• a robot hover and mop.
• Robot lawn mower.
• One of those tablet type wall planners. 

I’m fairly sure I could think of more stuff…

twinklie

Updated Jobs list

1. Fold laundry and put away. ✅
2. Put a wash on. ✅
3. Dry, fold and put away. 
4. Clean and rearrange the boys bedroom. 
5. Clean and tidy my bedroom.
6. Print documents for school meeting for DS1 - and create a list of questions/suggestions. ✅
7. Clean upstairs bathroom. 
8. Clean downstairs bathroom.
9.  Sort dishwasher (this is a DH task, I shall help by gently encouraging). 🔜 Found videos to help DH with this. 
10. Sort through DS2's drawers to remove clothes he's grown out of.
11. Create list of new clothes to buy.
12. Sort passport photo for DS1.
13. Apply for DS1's passport.
14. Find a home for all new presents. 
15. Start creating a list of clothes needed for DS1 (he's also grown). 
16. Help DS1 with homework. ✅🔜 2 of 3 pieces done
17. Help DS2 with homework.

So I’ve re added washing to my list and got rid of the tasks I’ve already done. I’ve also downloaded the TOM app to try and set healthy cleaning goals again. 

It worked for a while last year, then life events took over so I’m hoping to get back into new healthy patterns again. 

twinklie

Spendy start to 2026. Bought a new dehumidifier and paid the allotment rent for the year. 

Plus an OP of £100 on the mortgage to get us going. 

Hope everyone’s having a lovely start to the year. 🥰

twinklie

Goals for 2026
1. Prioritise family time. 
2. Make health a priority - try and find a happy exercise balance. 
3. MSE living without compromising the now. 

Think that will do. Nothing drastic, but 3 important things I think. 

I'd still like to get on top of the housework, sell more stuff on Vinted and just generally get a better grip on everything. But I think the top 3 are the most important and if I take care of them, the rest will follow. 

Thinking about the above - we already have 2 holidays booked where we will be together. We have already agreed to renew the membership at the leisure park place - we've got a lot out of that health wise but also as a family, we've spent a lot of family time there as well. 

twinklie

Oh and meal planning - I'd like to get back on with meal planning. Any ideas for meals gratefully received - I struggle with planning meals.  

Baileys_Babe

We go through phases with meal planning, we find life is general easier when we have, but sometimes it's not going to happen.

One thing I find useful is to write down each dinner we have (dinner is the only meal we plan), then when we come to plan I have a few ideas.

Another thing I do sometimes is get each person to suggest 3 or 4 dinners and then I try and accommodate some of these through out the month - I don't necessarily plan the whole month at once, I just keep them on a list.

Something else we do is try and have some loose rules to give us structure like fish once a week, vegan and or vegetarian once a week.

When we served cottage pie the other night we had 2 portions left, these have been boxed up individually and frozen when we have a selection of different meals we have single portions night and each person makes their selection.

My parents have a weekly freeze night which is usually fish fingers / fish portions / pies with oven chips and vegetables or pizza and salad.

Sorry, no meal suggestions.

twinklie

No that is really helpful @Baileys_Babe thank you. I’ve developed a spreadsheet to help me, so will see how we go. 

The evening meals are planned for next week for when we return to work at least. 

Baileys_Babe

twinklie said:

No that is really helpful @Baileys_Babe thank you. I’ve developed a spreadsheet to help me, so will see how we go. 

The evening meals are planned for next week for when we return to work at least. 

You are doing better than us, we currently have Saturday planned as we have visitors.

I know some folks have home made soup & pudding night, I like the idea of this but half the household doesn't eat soup 🤷

We occasionally have egg night.

twinklie

Baileys_Babe said:

You are doing better than us, we currently have Saturday planned as we have visitors.

I know some folks have home made soup & pudding night, I like the idea of this but half the household doesn't eat soup 🤷

We occasionally have egg night.

Well that’s the challenge isn’t it? I have kids who like to stick to their safe foods. So pushing them to try new things can be somewhat of a challenge. 🙄

Baileys_Babe

twinklie said:

Baileys_Babe said:

You are doing better than us, we currently have Saturday planned as we have visitors.

I know some folks have home made soup & pudding night, I like the idea of this but half the household doesn't eat soup 🤷

We occasionally have egg night.

Well that’s the challenge isn’t it? I have kids who like to stick to their safe foods. So pushing them to try new things can be somewhat of a challenge. 🙄

The texture of food is definitely an issue for one person in the house.

Someone else will now eat a wider variety of food including peppers, they now like the flavour of mushrooms but not the texture so as long they are finely chopped they can also be included.