Flying solo

twiggy86

Thanks for your comments. It is something I'm torn about as I understand bf's reasoning for wanting to pay (and understands the unfairness/ imbalance of my previous relationship). 

I'm feeling a bit more like myself today - I was struggling with something for work (trying to solve problems that I can't solve) and also anxiously waiting to hear back about the job. However, now I recognise what's going on it's automatically made me feel better! 

I have a busy week this week - going to a painting workshop with a friend tomorrow night, trying out pole dancing with another friend on Thursday and then out with bf to a local beauty spot on Friday! Bf is visiting his mum and then meeting his friends at the driving range tonight! So whilst he delegated food shopping to me tonight (an inside joke as I can never decide what to have for dinner!), there is actually very little to buy and no proper/ joint dinners this week! Last night was a "what can we make with what's in the fridge dinner" - wasn't the most exciting but was nice enough! 

One of my CC statements came in so I have paid £65 off that - minimum was only £25 but this take it to a "nice" number!! (£2,250) It does mean that I've paid off another 1% of the total starting debt - so now paid 47%! 

On to today's bits and pieces...

• Make lunch to take to work
• Wash towels on 30 degree cycle 
• Make CC payment 
• Update spreadsheet and complete some money shuffles 
• Work on merman at lunch 
• Write shopping list 
• Shop to list 
• Second load of washing on 30 degree quick cycle 
• Dinner from stores  
• Hang washing on airer 
• Do some type of sorting/ housework 

twiggy86

UPDATE!!! I have an interview provisionally booked for next Friday.... now I just need to try and get the day off work!!! I'm rubbish at (and hate) lying but need a reason to have the day off!!! 

twiggy86

A couple of mini-MSEs...

Me and bf were discussing Valentine's day last night. I have made clear previously that I don't find anything romantic about receiving flowers on the one day of the year it's expected and don't really buy into Valentine's as a whole (e.g. restaurants are super busy!) So instead we decided that on Valentine's Day instead of buying cards, we will each "submit" the 3 most inappropriate cards we can find online!!! (I.e. take screenshots and send via what's app). We're going out this Friday and may treat ourselves to dinner out, but definitely not on Valentine's Day! 

Received £3.86 from TCB and so that has been shuffled to savings and will be thrown at CC (probably tomorrow as already made a payment today!!!) Also got 12p cashback through Monzo last night which I didn't anticipate! 

Debating whether to freezer dive tonight for dinner or "treat" myself to a pasta dish that bf doesn't like! It's just tortellini, double cream and parmesan but I love it and it's super quick to make! I think I might have just decided!!! 

twiggy86

I opted for the nice dinner and it was very yummy! I wasn't too much of a pig last night, meaning I had a portion leftover for lunch today (the tortellini comes in packs). I do need to get bf to transfer me his half of the food shop, but I'll speak to him later about it. It was a fairly productive evening and am caught up on washing etc - wanted to make sure I was on top of things as I'm busy the next 3 nights! 

Tonight I am going to a painting workshop with a friend - I texted her this morning and she is going to pick me up on the way to save us both paying for parking! I think I'm going to cook some leftover sausages and make a quick sausage sandwich before I go out. So won't spend very much (ticket was £10 but purchased last month). 

Today's bits and bobs...

• Make lunch to take to work - including leftover pasta  
• Update spreadsheet 
• Make £5 CC payment 
• Email company for details of how to return items (I hate when companies do this and have been putting off doing!)
• "Dinner" from stores
• Get lift with friend

Floss

Do you need to say why you want a day off? If you are asked, say "I have a few things to sort out that can't be done at weekends" as it's suitability vague and not a lie!

twiggy86

I could @Floss but I'm very close and chatty with my bosses (and sit in the same office as one!) so we're always catching up about what we're doing!!! I think I'll say I'm going out with my mum for the day - taking her to Ikea or something (something that she genuinely enjoys but wouldn't drive herself there!!!)

I had a nice evening painting last night with my friend! Even better that it turned out that we had a complimentary drink included! So I just spent £2.40 on the parking. Tonight is pole dancing! (Boss thought it was lap dancing!!!) Again agreed that my friend (different friend) will pick me up on the way - class is already paid for. So I will make a quick dinner when I get home. 

Quick grumble... why do companies have to make it difficult to return things?! I had to email to ask for return details, they then sent me a form that I had to complete, and now they've asked if I want to keep for a discount and if not email AGAIN to get the postage details!!! Definitely a deliberate tactic! 

Anyway, on to today's list...

• Make lunch to take to work
• Actually ask bf for the shopping money  
• Update spreadsheet 
• Possibly make a further CC payment 
• Email re return! 
• Work on merman at lunch 
• Get lift with friend 
• Dinner from stores 

twiggy86

I avoided spending money last night and had a NSD! My friend asked if me and bf wanted to join her and her partner at a pub quiz after pole dancing - however this would have meant both me and bf rushing around and no time for dinner at home. So we've agreed to do it another time instead. So that avoided the cost of dinner out, drinks etc. However, I did enjoy pole dancing! Friend particularly enjoyed it and wants to go again in two weeks time (as we don't have netball the either). 

I'm waiting to hear back about the next knitting workshop which is in a couple of weeks - well in particular how much she is going to charge me. Fully happy to pay again as I cancelled at such late notice and don't think she was able to fill my spot. 

I'm going out with bf tonight - we have tickets to a local beauty spot that will be all lit up (I went last year and it was stunning!). We are then going to grab dinner whilst we are out (hence part of the reason for saying no last night). I think bf is going to play golf on Sunday so I may arrange to catch up with a friend, but other than that we don't have any firm plans. I have a couple of possible suggestions for tomorrow evening, but we may just stay in. 

I'm working from home today, so today's little list...

• Update spreadsheet 
• Lunch from stores - possibly the chicken we cooked last night if bf doesn't have it
• Sort out item to return and possibly walk to post office with pooch at lunch 

Hmmm, that is a very short list!!! 

twiggy86

I had a lovely but slightly spendy weekend. Didn't go crazy, just things seem to cost so much! For example, I took pooch to a local beauty spot yesterday - took a packed lunch a flask of tea but it cost £12.40 for under 2 hours of parking!!! I did spend money on dinner out on Friday (pre-planned) and lunch on Saturday (unnecessary but was really tasty!!!) I need to update my spreadsheet to work out the exact damage yet. 

I don't feel like I was overly productive last week - although I did pay £105 off one of my CCs. So this week I must do better - including returning the parcel I said I would do last week and returning something else! Also need to continue with the work around the house. Speaking of which, the boiler has developed a slight drip! So I need to call a plumber today to arrange for them to come out and have a look - boiler needs a service anyway so will see if I can combine! Good job I have money set aside for DIY/ house stuff! The main productive/MSE thing I did over the weekend was to dye my own hair! 

On that note, I'm going to start with my weekly list to try get me a bit more focussed! 

• Return parcels 
• Finish merman (still lots to do!)
• Get plumber round to look at boiler 
• Clear 3 small areas around the house 
• Prep for interview on Friday 

twiggy86

So with the above in mind, my list for today is...

• Take lunch to work - including leftover pasta from last night 
• Make CC payment (statement has arrived)
• Update spreadsheet 
• Sort out returns online 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Call plumber 
• Walk pooch to post office after work 
• Sort out one area around the house - thinking that I need to make a start on sorting out my crafting materials, so perhaps today I will sort out the stuff piled on top of the cabinet! 
• Food shop with bf 
• Snap receipt 
• Dinner from stores 

twiggy86

Productive evening! Walked pooch to return parcels, then came back and did some sorting out before going food shopping! I managed to clear all the stuff on top of the cabinet by a combination of finding homes for things and de-cluttering things I didn't need (like a "nice" box!) It also meant that I semi-sorted some stuff that was under spare bed - but not counting that as a completed area just yet! I also booked a plumber to come out on Friday to service the boiler and investigate the leak - he's quoted £75 for the service and if it is simple fix (so fingers crossed!)

This morning I did a little bit of crochet before work to help me progress the merman at lunch - I needed to stuff the head before I could finish it, but didn't want to take the stuffing to work. So that job is done so now I can progress the other parts that needed the same colour! My craft supplies is an area that I need to sort through but I hate getting rid of things that I might be inspired to use in the future!!! So it is something that I need to come up with a plan for! I have been prioritising making things (e.g. animals) in colours that I already have - however I'm not planing on making so many animals this year! I do have a scrappy pillow case that I started a while ago that I should pull out and work on (I have a lot of scraps and could probably make about 10 pillow covers!), as well as a couple of other WIPs that I should really focus on! 

On to today's list...

• Take lunch to work - last of leftover pasta
• Update spreadsheet 
• Work on merman 
• Get petrol on way home 
• Snap receipt 
• Pick next area to have a sort out - in light of the above, should probably pick part of my craft stuff! 
• Dinner from stores 
• Do some interview prep