our forever patch challenge

Hettyhound

Hi Sammy, just catching up.  We had an email from our vice chancellor saying they would be opening a voluntary redundancy scheme, early retirement, unpaid career breaks, reduction in hours or just a salary cut for 6 months!  Our manager organised a zoom meeting on Friday to say our jobs were secure as we are business critical and in fact we are one of the few departments that are still allowed to recruit.  I work in university admissions so we generate the income by processing the applications and communicating with potential students.  I was concerned that as I’m not working my full hours due to childcare there might be an expectation that I reduce my hours and therefore pay; she was very clear this is not the case.  As she describes the situation we are not working from home, we are at home due to a pandemic and trying to do some work.  Loved the fact you are watching Hannah Hauxwell!  I’m from round that area and remember her coming to “fame” when I was a child through the tv series they made.  She became quite a local celebrity.

sammy70

Hi Hetty, good news for you about your job, and working from home.. ive not heard anything else from my work  yet- no news is good news i suppose..
Ive been enjoying my time at home and trying to relax and take the stance of- no use worrying about what could happen- deal with issues as they arise, and keep thinking positive. I always think of hope for the best, plan for the worst as my mantra for life.
My little overpayments savings pot may be taken im afraid- poor chunky prince has hurt his leg out riding yesterday, think he may have pulled a tendon or something. I do have vet insurance, but anything under £500 i pay to keep premiums low,  so the vet is coming this afternoon to look him over, i just think at least i have saved something, if i hadnt id have it to find and it would be more of a hassle..

sammy70

well the vets verdict is a damaged ligament on his knee- week of rest and pain relief then see how he is- poor boy- and poor me- no riding  i will spoil him while he is recouperating- well actually he is spoiled all the time- thats why he is nicknamed 'prince' 

sammy70

Wet start to the day, fed all the hungry hourdes, prince had his painkiller in a jam butty 
Shopping for food today- with my list and meal plan-  im having a empty freezer/use up month, and all meals covered till 25th, so should be a low spend shop, just fresh stuff/cleaning products and dog food to buy 

try_harder

I do hope prince will soon be fully recovered but he may be sad when he stops getting his jam butty !!
Good idea re the freezer ,I am useless at meal planning but I might give it another go .Good luck with the shopping heres hoping for a good outcome

sammy70

Thanks tryharder! he enjoyed his evening jam butty with his pain killer in tonight too!
My shopping went really well, £50 budget stuck to, actually i used some £2 coins to pay for it= £20 i Home bargains, £29 Aldi. So, ive just paid £53.87 overpayment to the mortgage, rounding it to £201,300.. i cant resist not overpaying any longer!!
And i also bought another £70 of p.bonds, and paid £94.78 off the car loan. I used the cash i had assigned to my overpayment fund for these, the vet bill im putting aside from my personal spends.

sammy70

im on a roll! this morning ive made a £30 overpayment to the car loan, and £25 overpayment to the mortgage!  hubbys wages had gone in, and i transferred odd bits to round wage off, and with what was left in friday overpayment account it allowed me to make these payments.
Think that will be it now until next friday, when i will hopefully have whatever i can save from grocery and fuel spends to use to overpay.. i think i need to re-start overpaying for my mental wellbeing, we have a good emergency fund in bonds , so theres no reason not to really 

try_harder

You are doing well !! Plus you look very close to going under the £200,000 that must feel really good

sammy70

Another soggy day.. mucked out the prince , put a load of washing on (to dry indoors)..
All the wildlife and animals look really fed up, the poor pleasant mummys with chicks are struggling to keep them warm as they are getting too big to all fit under her body for a warm.. i keep feeding them plenty bless them.
furlough is so much harder when the weather keeps us indoors, i suppose i have no excuse not to do ironing and clean tack today 

sammy70

weird damp foggy start to the day..only got damp not soaked for a change feeding and mucking out this morning..
Got a depot update from work this morning- hints of things having to change and cost cutting etc- basically the build up to deciding whos for redundancy.. wish they wouldnt send these at the weekend so im not analising and driving poor hubby mad with it on his time off..
On a positive note, im still in work- for now- we have a good emergency fund, and if im made redundant after 11 years i should get at least enough to cover my wages for 4/5 months to enable me to sort a new source of income.. the main thin is keeping healthy- you can turn your hand to anything to earn money if you have to providing you have a healthy body to do so !
On a grumpy note- its housework day- must get motivated and stuck in..
Ending on a happy note- hubby at home tonight, pizza treat night tea and a bit of dairy milk for my weekly treat for after with a couple of drinks, and snuggle up..
Have a good weekend everyone