The Happiness Fund.

I and dh have always saved but we decided to downsize when he became ill and started looking for a good size bungalow that still had a couple of spare bedrooms for dds when needed.

I eventually sold our house after he died and then downsized to somewhere that was less in council tax, water bills etc and have used some of the difference in what I sold for and what i bought for to make the improvements that were desperately needed.

I hope to have the house and garden mostly sorted by autumn and then be able to stop spending money and start to save again. I just bought a lovely mirror for the hall and have ordered three nice breakfast bar stools for the kitchen/ breakfast room. ( all at very good savings).

I am trying to get rid of a lot of things as I unpack boxes and am donating stuff to people who can use them . That way I get an uncluttered house and someone else gets something they can use or enjoy.

I emptied two large boxes today, found shoes I liked and a mixing bowl and measuring jug. Other things I boxed up and builder is taking it to charity for me as local charity shop is still drying out from flooding.

I am still waiting for a couple of kitchen units to finish off the kitchen and breakfast stools to be assembled etc. Once I finish emptying boxes in the conservatory then I can start on the ones in the integral garage.