Renovations and Repayments.

hiddenshadow wrote: »

Sorry you're feeling this way, I've been in the same slump before re: finances and it can be hard to break out of.

This seems to hearken back to earlier in your thread when you kept bringing up the SAVING aspect of the site to justify buying...something. Pens, maybe. Your posts seem quite keen on prioritising saving to buy (and/or renovate) classic cars (which could also be "saved" by not doing it in the first place :rotfl:) and not on saving to give yourselves a financial cushion or fix up your house. There's nothing wrong with your priority being a car over the place you live in, as long as it works for you/your family, but it is quite a disconnect from the overall tone of MSE which is more towards the frugal side (and emphasises needs over wants, as evidenced by "renting your parking space" being in the motoring section over "how to spend 2k more on a car you just bought and don't need to drive anywhere" ). Hence the (gentle!) pushback on your thread, I think. As I said, if it works for you and your family, great, but it sounds like MrsK would like the bathroom redone, so maybe it doesn't?

I'm finding being self employed particularly difficult at the moment as my daily motivation is very low. Could hardly drag myself out of bed this morning, let alone find the motivation to do anything which would earn money. There's a part of me that wants to do well in my own right and is really rather embarrassed by the fact my wife and parents pay my way but I can't see a way to make it happen.

My wife also likes cars but thinks things are getting a little out of hand. Currently we have 6 cars and I suppose I have been indulging 4 of them a little too much as of late. I think we should sell a couple but I can't make my mind up. One of the six is Mrs K's company car, so that obviously cannot go anywhere. I also have my LR which is not being sold. The other four are all classics which I am quite deeply attached to: one I've had for longer than I've known my wife and spent a ridiculous amount of money on, one is just like a car my father had when I was a schoolboy, one is the MG and the final one is an everyday classic saloon which we can use no matter the weather or occasion. They all serve a purpose and I've also seen another car which would be very nice to have too. On the other hand I've not bought a pen for a month or so, though. As for this being money saving, it is because all these things I invest in are appreciating assets.

maman wrote: »

Sorry to hear you've not had a good day Alex but I really think sometimes you can be your own worst enemy.

When you brought up the idea of selling the house and moving, where were you planning to move to? If you're still wanting to move in with your parents I can see why MrsK wasn't receptive.

MrsK wants a comfortable family home for your family. That's the three of you. I'm you could find a decorative style for the bathroom that would please you both. I think this goes way beyond the bathroom and comes down to the fact that you still see your real home being your parents' house.

From memory, you wanted the school to search children and maybe even call the police. That just isn't going to happen over a pen, however precious it is to you. It would need to have been something like good evidence over a suspected weapon to bring about this sort of action.

I think we all have up and down times with finances. Some months there are just more outgoings than others. What would you normally do to make some money?

Hope today's a better day for you.:)

I know I am, maman. Still can't seem to pull myself away from it, though.

Yes, moving home but perhaps staying here for another five years. You're right about where I think of as "home". Not sure why my wife should get everything she wants - if we stay here five years longer, she will have been here for nigh on fifteen years at that point. We could then have fifteen years in my parents' house before potentially passing it onto our son and moving away, perhaps to the South of France or Cornwall or somewhere else. I don't really know my long term plans but if she has fifteen years here, surely I should have fifteen years living somewhere I am happy to call "home"?

I cannot see how an act of theft can be dealt with like this, to be honest. Sentimental value aside, surely had the child stolen £275 from a shop (in cash or goods), it would be dealt with in a very different manner? My mother (who gave me the pencil) thinks I ought not go back.

The problem is me not being able to face making money. I usually am involved with buying, restoring and selling antique furniture and other antique / collectable items but just cannot face dealing with it and also with customers. I do earn an income from teaching Music also but that is combined with my wife's income to pay our day to day expenses, so not of any help. :mad:

Well, today my pencil was returned by "child b" (the one I've spent a lot of time, effort and money on). All very apologetic, guilty and weepy. Apparently she did it because she "wanted to know what it was like to have a silver pencil in her violin case"???! I honestly still do not know how to react to that.