Spendy Wendy to Saver Savvy

Spendywendywoo

Tonight I have helped a friend with their CV and covering letter, I've sent another friend an internal role that I think might be suitable in their search for something new, I've updated our budget which is looking great and I've had a soak in the bath. 

Currently working up a list of things I want to achieve during my annual leave next week (half term). Think I'm going to do theme days - quiet dayx2, chores dayx2, declutter day, adventure day, games day, socialising with friends day, halloween day. This will give DS time to himself and with his friends so I will do chores and decluttering, and also days we can spend time together and have fun so a nice balance. 

I was going to iron but instead I'm going to relax and maybe read. 

I hope everyone has had a great day

jwil

I like your theme days!

Spendywendywoo

Thanks @jwil

Another crazy busy day, though I was able to find my 'flow state' for the first time in a long time and got lots done.  

I had a trip to next as I'd managed to order some boys boxers for DS whilst instore on Monday afternoon.  I picked up my parcel and thankfully checked before I left the store, they were trunks.  I can't find 'boxers' for his size anywhere, and he is really used to boxers now but the place I usually get them from jump from 13-14 to mens small, he needs in-between. So £29 (!! yes, though this was for 10 pairs which will last him a long while) has been refunded. Now on the hunt for boxers elsewhere.

Water bill was paid today £90...for a month! I really need to do something about this, we were paying £50 when we first moved in 6 years ago and now it's jumped to this.  We've had a number of issues over the last year with very low water pressure (the water board advised that they have a minimum pressure that they have to provide and we are slightly over it...how I do not know - and it's not just us, it's the neighbours too), calcium build up, water tasting of chlorine etc. So we are currently buying bottled water for drinking, having to spend longer in the shower to wash off soap and shampoo as the pressure is too low to have a big impact and have to pay that much for the privilege. The amount has creeped up over the years so hasn't been a quick jump (not a leak etc) but feel aggrieved that we are paying so much for poor pressure and quality.  I may contact the water board next week...i'll pop it on the 'chores' day list. 

Spendywendywoo

Morning! As the super organised person that I have become this year, I’d set a reminder that the supermarket Christmas delivery and collection slots were available this morning. I went in, booked my slot for a couple of days before Christmas and then was left feeling a bit ‘stuck’. 

What do I order? I’ll stock up on gravy, non perishables, any alcohol we want and need etc over the next couple of weeks when they are on offer and will only buy what think we will want. There’s no guarantee that the stock will be available and then I’ll be left running around trying to find what I want (not need we can work anything out). We will pre-order the main bits we need for the Christmas dinner from the local butcher so it will literally just be fruit and veg needed closer to the time. I’m hosting this year for many family members on Xmas day and then ‘picky’ teas during the week for family and friends who pop by. We really enjoy the holiday season, especially our DS and I really want the next couple of years to remain how we have always done them (but less cost) before he doesn’t find it as magical. 

I would usually buy lots, go overboard for family and friends who are visiting and still have lots left in the freezers for months to come (I guess that’s not a bad thing if the inventory is up to date!). But, with my new financial way of thinking, I don’t want to spend lots, I know I won’t get the best offers in the week of Christmas (maybe just the veg if it’s 19p again like last year!) so, I won’t be booking the slot. 

Feels good to be prepared and organised even if others are saying I’m too organised and too focused on saving money atm (yes, I’ve had both of these comments this week). 

Work has been horrendous this week, it’s a reminder that I don’t want to be working for the next 20+ years until state pension age. I don’t care what people think at this point (apart from your amazing, experience opinions!) and need to focus on what I want, for a change. 

Sun_Addict

That's a great idea to have a structure in place for your week off. It's too easy to have time off and just drift aimlessly from day to day doing nothing in particular. Sounds like you've got a good balance of things planned. 

When I book my Christmas slot I just pop a crate of beer and some wine in there just to secure the slot then change it nearer the time. I read on one of the diaries on her a while ago that they put a bottle of expensive champagne in their Christmas order basket just to secure the slot and forgot to take it out! 

Suffolk_lass

Feeling good about being organised and putting in a bit of effort for your future self is exactly the right thing for you. In 10 or fifteen years time (less if you really go for it), you will be free of your mortgage with enough of a financial cushion to stop work early, as we did. Those same people will be speculating whether you have won the lottery or inherited the money to permit you to do this.

Our friends we were away with at the weekend (both aged 63) are looking at 7 more years of their mortgage, and not being able to retire comfortably yet, yet. I gently suggested to him that when he remortgages in February, he might consider leaving the payment at the current level and even round it up to the next £50 or £100, suggesting it would overpay his mortgage a bit and shorten the term. He conceded this was a good idea and he might.  

Then she proudly told me about more (top of the range, not needed, just wanted)purchases that she has made and that she had decluttered a mass of books to the charity shop - I mentioned Ziffit but apparently she can't be bothered with that (she does not work). They clearly have not had that conversation about minimising frivolous spending and making a bit back where possible, from when he and I compared our situations and plans for the remainder of our working lives, as we were moving here 21 years ago (next month). He told me then that I was being unrealistic, that I was over extending myself and it would end in tears (which made me all the more intent on realising our plans). We did, despite the changes made to Pensions by the Conservative Chancellors:

• Inflator changed RPI to CPI
• State pension age for women aligned to men more quickly
• Occupational pension scheme changed
• State Pension age increased
• Basic State Pension (for those with occupational pensions) vs New State Pension

albeit 10 months later than I originally planned, for each of us, two months before we were 61.

She went on to tell me how much the beef cost had surprised her when she unusually did the shopping when he was working away that week. Over £12 for one beef casserole for two people. I don't know what cut it was but I do feel it could have been less, a cheaper cut, padded out with some lentils and extra veg... You know what I mean. The lightbulb switch just isn't there for some people

Spendywendywoo

@Sun_Addict, thank you - I did consider doing that but when I really thought about it, it will literally be bread, veg and any fresh sandwich fillings we need. Everything else will be on the food to order, or I will have purchased before hand - even thinking of buying things fresh and popping in the freezer - i.e. salmon that we have as a starter, I'll wait for an offer over the next few weeks. Thank you for your words of encouragement, it's easy to let people's opinions take over sometimes but I would rather be organised than running around and not getting the things I want in a calm manner

@Suffolk_lass, thank you - I agree, I don't want to be working passed 60, if I can help it (after this week I would very much like to retire now! lol). I want to spend time with DS, and DH in whatever capacity that looks like - living at home, having his own children, meeting up monthly to go out for the day etc. I think you were wise to take the action you did and you are an inspiration - I know many people who want, and buy, new of everything, splurge a lot on things and if that's what they want to do, it's fine but to judge others, or have an opinion (unless asked) isn't acceptable. You are very wise

Spendywendywoo

Evening! I’m most annoyed with myself… for years, well most of my life, I’ve always just put up with things or managed…if that makes sense. I found out yesterday that my cholesterol is still high. I have declined the medication that the doctors have suggested as I’d like to try to make a difference with nutrition and exercise. 

I had a think about the things I could change, I worked out I could go for walks on lunch or even do a bit of stretching or movement in the house in a morning before my shower. Then, I realised that the good habits I’d formed with walking have gone out of the window recently and only then did I realise that the pain on my heel was the cause as it hurts to walk in my trainers.  I’ve only had the trainers a couple of months but they have always rubbed the back of my heel. When I know I need to walk any distance I pop a plaster on to ease it slightly.  Tonight I decided to take a closer look at the trainer in question and the back of the heel has a sharp bit and a hole has formed. I contact N1ke who made the shoe and they have said I need to go back to where they were purchased, Sp0rts D1rect… I know SD are tight with their exchange policy (not returns) and I have no receipt as it’s just over 28 days that I’ve had the trainers. I stupidly have put up with the pain not thinking there was an actual reason for the discomfort and now I’ve lost the cost of the trainers circa £70. 

I begrudge paying for trainers but need good supporting trainers… guess I’ll just have to write this off as a lessons learnt and find other, better, trainers. 

On a positive, I’m glad I got annoyed as that’s a sign I no longer want to waste my money lol

jwil

Do you have a transaction on your bank statement that you could use?

Spendywendywoo

@jwil - I do, I did think that, but it's over the 28 days. I think I will go and speak to them, at least make sure they say no rather than assume

I hope you are feeling better?