The final countdown to June 2026

carboot_karaoke

Evening all,  

A quick update on my delay repay application: It turns out I'd uploaded the ticket for the wrong leg of the journey🤦‍♀️.  Humble pie has been eaten. I called to apologise and ask if they could upload the correct ones (the system won't let me for some reason) anyway, l spoke to a very helpful lady who said instead of processing the application she would cancel the tickets and issue a full £130 refund 😁  Wasn't expecting that.

My youngest broke up from school yesterday so we had the day together,  a rare treat. Enjoyed a cheeky nandos for lunch. Then went shopping and actually found some things that fit !! Trust me, that's a big deal.  Visited M&S  to see if l could find some uniform, nope nothing available.  However on the journey back l checked there website and unbelievably, everything l wanted was back in stock. I couldn't order it quick enough 😂. 

So all in all a very enjoyable and productive day 😊

carboot_karaoke

Evening everyone, 

The past week or so has flown by !!

I sorted out the kids wardrobes and have listed alot on Vinted. About 20 more items left to go. 

I just need to get school bags and logo jumpers to complete the back to school list.  Both should be quick and easy to pick up, just expensive 🙄 .

My car past it's MOT 😁 just the insurance to sort out. My renewal quote is £571 actually lower than last year. The quotes l found were only £20 cheaper with a higher excess so l might just stay with them. 

Not long to go till our camping holiday I brought the kids a few bits, but generally warm, comfy clothes are all thats needed. I need to make a food plan l normally take far too much and end up cooking all the time to use it up. I'd like this trip to feel a bit more holiday-ish and less home from home.  Especially when my entire kitchen consists of a two burner stove 😂

I also forgot to post our final July OP of £340. New balance is £39,100

carboot_karaoke

Afternoon all,

I've had a busy couple of days at work or out with the kids. Yesterdays day trip cost £50 and l didn't even buy food 😢but they did enjoy themselves, that's what really matters. Plus l have some free /cheaper days planned until our camping trip to help balance the books  😉

I am also trying to keep on top of the finances so far this week I have...

* Sold 5 items on Vinted. Instead of instantly re-spending it i'm going to transfer it to my bank account and withdraw the cash. I have set myself a target of making or saving a £1 a day until the end of the year. Starting from tomorrow that's £153 if your interested in joining me.

* I chased up a complaint that's been ongoing for a while. If it goes according to plan that will be another £70 into the kitty.

* After doing another comparison l rang up my existing car insurance provider and got them to reduce the price by another £36 😊 not bad for 15 mins work.

* I also emailed Octopus to see if its better for me to switch to there new tariff my existing one lasts until June 26 but has no exit fees. I'll wait to hear back before deciding.

* I down loaded the Olio app yesterday, still working it out, haven't seen much apart from copious amounts of bread, but some MSE on the grocery challenge seem to do really well so thought it was worth a try.   

This weekends jobs:

Sort out funds to make the first OP of the month

List the remaining Vinted items

Food shopping -  my fridge has been empty most of the week l was determined to make do with what we had, my youngest even opened the tinned peaches that had been buried in the back of the cupboard for about 2 years.
Today's dinner, literally, consists of random tubs and bags of food from the freezer. I mean who doesn't want a slice of pizza with a side of biryani ?? 🤣 "Waste not, want not" my nan used to say.

Take the kids to the library so they can order books to take away on holiday

Weather permitting go blackberry picking there are loads at a park nearby.

CK x 

carboot_karaoke

A quick update, 

Octopus. Energy came back to me. I'm better off staying on my existing tariff.  I think I'm paying slightly more than the market cheapest, but l can't fault their customer service so staying put for now.  

Also, I finally had a response to my complaint after nearly 2 months of waiting,  l had an email confirming  £70 should be going into my account. This will be added to  the other "unexpected money" I've received this year. It's building up quite nicely. 

I do have a loose plan for what I'd like to do with it, but it's dependent on so many factors that, for now, I'll just pop it into my ISA.. 

Had another look at Olio last night,  l think its when most items are listed. There were some good things added on like meat, veg, pink lady apples my favourite along with lots of bakery items, ready made sandwiches and pizza . I didn't request anything because l thought there are other people in real need who should have it. As l went to bed l checked again, a lot had gone but no one had collected the fruit, veg bags and l few other bits l would have used. Lesson learnt,  l wont be so hesitate next time. 

Mr CK's money came into the bills account today so after moving things around l made our first OP for August £1570.

New balance £37,530. We have now paid £25,470 since January more than my entire years gross salary 😲.

beanielou

You can request & pick up the next day. It's less about need than reducing landfill just in case you diden't know.

carboot_karaoke

beanielou said:

You can request & pick up the next day. It's less about need than reducing landfill just in case you diden't know.

I didn't know ...thank you for telling me.  

carboot_karaoke

Morning all, 

l have had a busy, productive, weekend.

Maybe its because l went to the gym for the first time in two weeks, once l miss a few days it gets harder to go.

I bit the bullet and requested some food items on Olio two short trips to collect produced... 

Warburtons rolls
Hovis seed sensations bread (my fav 😊)
Walls Jumbo sausage roll
Salad
Sandwich Fillers
12 Beef grill steaks
Various sandwiches and wraps
Fresh Croissants from the Bakery

Everything has either been eaten or is in the freezer. 

I spent yesterday afternoon listing items on Vinted sold 2 straight away and parcelled them up this morning. 
Once the money is received and withdrawn I'll have £38 in my little "£1 a day tin" that's £34 ahead of schedule 😊

Today I'm keeping it simple, zero spend, with the kids, its raining and I'm not prepared to spend £30-40 for an hours indoor play. Instead, were off to the library followed by making cookies and a film on Netflick. 

Wednesday we have the dentist and a trip into town which will be expensive. 

Have a good day.  

carboot_karaoke

Afternoon everyone,

Yesterday went to plan... surprisingly 😊 l even managed to pick up a new school jumper enroute to the library  (paid from kids fund).

My children discovered that libraries offer PC time🙄 as well as books, there normally in use when we go. This did go against my, limiting screen time objective, but at least meant they weren't asking to leave after 5 minutes. Plus we all came away with a book or two and we got out of the house. 

I sold another item on Vinted only £2, but this means we are up to a nice round £40 / £153. 

The estate agents for our rental property sent me an update and pictures after there routine visit yesterday. I forgot what a nice place it is, really light and welcoming. The tenants have made it really homely i'm glad there staying until at least June 2026. Hopefully by then we will own the whole thing outright.

carboot_karaoke

Morning all,

Well, yesterday turned out to be very spendy indeed. Some costs l didn't mind like, treating the kids to a few things and having lunch out. l wasn't prepared for the dentist costs £58 yesterday with another £346 worth of treatment needed 😒l have probably half saved up and could put the rest on my 0% card. But first l want to check the works health insurance policy to see if l can claim anything back.

In more positive news l sold another item on Vinted that's another £5 to add which means i'm up to  £45/£153

After receiving the rent and shuffling a few more pounds l made another over payment today of £930.

New Balance £36,600 

beanielou

Great balance.