Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

South_coast

Good job you got it in last weekend too, looks like we're not allowed to go out and have fun any more 😦

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Jess and SC, it was good to get out. And now, we're at home. DH is working from home for the foreseeable. He was meant to have meetings up-country today and be staying away overnight, but they've been cancelled. He'll do them on Skype or over the phone. My evening class has been cancelled until after Easter at the earliest (and likely far beyond that). However, we are fortunate that DH's work is in a demand industry and hopefully he will remain fully employed (and our company shares are about the only thing thriving on the stock market!). My work may suffer, however, although at the moment it's really hard to tell - without the cogs of the economy/society turning, there's going to be limited need for it though. 

I read something this morning (on the BBC) that suggested that to keep the peak low (and avoid herd immunity, which would result in higher deaths) that we may need to keep something like this up until the vaccine is ready in 18 months time! I'm not sure how that could possibly look in reality as the governments wouldn't be able to bail companies out endlessly and people will *need* more than just food in that time (children grow, clothes need replacing, heating systems need servicing, plumbing accidents happen, you name it). I guess, somehow, we'll reach a new 'normal'/find some sort of equilibrium? Hopefully the summer weather will affect the virus too. 

However, with this in mind, money in will be saved for the time being (until we hit negative interest rates, in which case, we'll be paying that mortgage right down!), rather than paid off the mortgage - who knows how much of an emergency fund might be needed. I hate being so negative and doom-and-gloomy but I think it's the safest bet at the moment as we just don't know what tomorrow (literally) will bring. Damn it, I was really enjoying OPing easily at long last!

MS things:
* I need to claim a refund for train and hotel for this weekend. I'm waiting for the train ticket website to update in light of the latest announcements in the hope that the £10 refund fee will be waived. The hotel cannot be cancelled, just dates amended. Not sure what to do about this at the moment - I could claim on the travel insurance, but there's probably an excess that would negate this. I might just rebook for September for now and hope for the best.
* In the longer term, we need to start thinking about cancelling our holiday (boo! ) as the reality is we won't be able to go (whether we want to or not). But that's a headache for another day - and maybe one when we're a bit further in.
* Clicks. Nearly at payout on MS rewards, but think I may leave it in there for the moment (or get Starbucks credit?). Pizza Express is definitely a no-go, I don't think they'll survive without a lot of govt help.
* Doing the RM CD survey for the next two weeks - which will net me £5 of vouchers that I might not be able to use! (Will investigate, as think you can get some that are usable in Morrisons)
* Work - while I still have it, do as much as is offered.
* DH working from home will save us electricity/fuel and the occasional lunch cost. 
* Leftovers for lunch today

Gratitudes:
* DH's work is safe
* We have an emergency fund
* We are both healthy
* We already have a home delivery account for supermarket deliveries
* The sun is shining and I'm hoping to cut the lawn today!

Take care if you go out there!

South_coast

Great gratitudes Vix

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks SC - I think a positive mindset is really important and makes such a difference to one's enjoyment of life! And I did get the grass cut yesterday - it still looks a bit of a mess, but spring is on its way! And the garden always looks bigger when the grass is cut

So I've applied for a full refund for my train tickets - the £10 admin fee has been waived. There was £12 of PlusBus tickets on the order too, so I don't know whether I'll get them back. I've rebooked the Travelodge room for September. No idea what the situation will be then, but as I had to pay the difference in price it was the nearest date that was cheapish. I can't say I'm impressed, but Martin is telling us to have compassion, even for companies, so I will try.

Work continues to arrive, which is good. Although I suspect I'm coming to the end of one of the projects I'm working on (biannual, so not surprising). Not sure what will happen after that. At least I'm not spending much (unless I order a cold-frame for the garden).

MS things:
* Clicks etc.
* PA survey
* Minestrone soup for lunch (made yesterday to use up some passata)
* Washing on overnight (except we forgot to hold the spin cycle, whoops!) - saving energy costs. Got this pretty much sussed now and it gives me great satisfaction!

Gratitudes:
* The smell of freshly cut grass - spring is here!
* Walks outside
* Work to fill the hours

Have a good day all, stay well!

Jessy103

Your gratitude's always make me smile and feel more positive, Vix!

Karmacat

Hi madvix!  Ronnie Scott's sounds wonderful, thats great that you managed to go.   Good that you're getting refunds, and how amazing to have even the admin fee refunded, shows you how troubling the times are.   I'm glad your OH is working from home now - as I left, he'd just had his Milan trip cancelled too, so his company are obviously on the ball on some things.  One of my nephews (an admin worker, so can perfectly well work from home) is having to go in to work, and a (managerial) niece in law was called in when the American $ zoomed upwards, even though she has a toddler.   

Stay well

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks Jess and Hi Karma! Ironically after your comment, DH has gone into work today - he was meant to be going in, doing a few bits and coming home again, but so far, no sign. It is madness that people aren't being allowed to work from home when it's absolutely necessary - especially in London.

Have caught up on all work today. Have also rejigged my payments from big American client so I should get paid smaller invoices more quickly - which is good from both a cashflow and (extending them) credit point of view. Have also cancelled our cattery booking (although no word back yet on whether there's a cancellation fee). I sent them my sympathies - small businesses like that must really be wondering how they're going to put food on the table. We can't cancel/claim yet for our holiday as the embargo on travel is for 30 days currently and we're not going for 7 weeks. So it's a waiting game. I figured that in the highly unlikely event we do go (and we've already had to cancel one accommodation as the AirBnbers are both over 70), I wouldn't have any trouble at all booking the cattery again!

MS things:
* Lots of PA surveys today
* YG survey
* NV survey
* Clicks etc. - 18 SBs for a search (always helps!)
* Baked bread and biscuits (used a non-egg recipe just in case I can't get any - although the local farm tells me on FB that they have plenty - duck and goose too! Incidentally local farm own neighbouring pub who have been advertising their now-takeaway meals - sound delicious, we may have to try!)

Gratitudes:
* I got out for a quick walk before it started raining this morning
* Neighbours were appreciative of me giving them my mobile no. for emergencies - we all keep largely to ourselves, so it was nice that we're sticking together at the moment
* Saw Mum and Dad (separately) yesterday - walk with mum (maintaining social distancing) and a cuppa at Dad's - less social distancing (oh man is he grumpy/p****ed off) but still reasonable and it was nice to see him.

Have a good afternoon/evening all - take care x

themadvix

Several 1P surveys and another YG survey too... YG survey was all about holidays - so cruel!!

South_coast

😂         

newgirly

Hope the holiday losses are not too brutal Vix x