Hope is not an Effective Financial Strategy

shangaijimmy

Sufflok - I'm turning some thoughts to the excess in jumpers that I seem to have as well, working on the theory that I only ever seem to wear the same 1!

I tackled the guttering on the driveway that sits in front of the garage this afternoon. Its usually a job for Autumn but I didn't manage it last year and in the week I noticed that the drainpipe was sprouting at the top in the heavy rain so an obvious blockage. So I took the grids off from the opposite end first, cleared out a bucket full of leaves and slutch and then got DS2 to take the grid up that was holding the blockage of 2 metres of drainpipe... Watching a 7yr old scamper in horror as a deluge of water of exploded at his feet was a perfect satisfaction, and sense of payback, for his incessant verbal diarrhoea!

So whilst I was in the garage I sorted through my tool box and some of the garage shelves. I reckon I disposed of about 20 things, and that doesn't include the bucket from the drain. I also put a skateboard that had been outgrown to the recycling pile. I also have an electric scooter that needs fixing, selling for parts, or taking to the tip. That's one to consider for another day. I am now on 74 consecutive days that I have gotten rid of something from the house that isn't day to day rubbish/recycling.

11 days to payday and that seems like an eternity away at the moment. I'm not sure what the next few weeks holds with this whole virus thing. Mrs SJ works for a massive National company and it looks like it will be home working for her. My company less so large and I am concerned for some of those employees that work in the service aspect. I'm not sure anyone is totally 'safe', though from Fridays emergency meetings I know that cash flow is fine for March payroll. I suspect the senior crew (we are a 100+ yr old business and I am the 3rd longest serving employee) may need to take some time off with annual leave.

Again no one can be certain what is coming in the variety of employment sectors in the coming weeks, but because of our financial focus of the last few years I feel little stress over things. Our mortgage is now manageable, and Mrs SJ continues to have filled cupboard storage levels in readiness for the 'zombie apocalypse'. I'm just waiting for "I told you there'd come a time when those 24 tins of spaghetti would come in handy" speech!

South_coast

Knowing you're abreast of your financial position does bring a real sense of calm, even if you're not completely satisfied with how it looks. Knowledge is power and all that....

shangaijimmy

South_coast said:

Knowing you're abreast of your financial position does bring a real sense of calm, even if you're not completely satisfied with how it looks. Knowledge is power and all that....

Knowledge is power... in our world is also referred to as "no longer closing 1 eye and half closing the other when you log onto internet banking"!

Usual Sunday morning ritual of rounding up TT's from the e-saver and then OPing the pot. £4.50 sent to the mortgage 

Suffolk_lass

In defence of jumpers I got my leopardskin print cashmere cardigan out and wore it yesterday (yes, honestly) with my matching beanie and harem pants. I confess the only thing in public was my after-rain walk with DH to see the first new-born lambs (3 born on Friday). As always your regular TTs all add up!

shangaijimmy

Some things can't be defended....

Quick post. I put something on ebay for £2.50. Hoping for 1 bid and I only planned to list it once and if not bid then CS bag. Quite astounded last night to see that it had sole for £17.50! Should have enough for some counterfeit toilet rolls now 

Suffolk_lass

They will need to be black market ones...

shangaijimmy

£1 TT made this morning.

All change in the UK this afternoon. A bizarre time ahead of us. I was pretty much ordered home at 3.30pm and no real idea as to what is happening tomorrow. Not sure if I'm supposed to go in, wait for a meeting or stay in my jimmy-jams! On a Monday I usually only finish at 8.15pm so being home at 4pm I had no idea what to do with myself. Poor pooch ended up on an extra long walk...

Suffolk_lass

I know what you mean. We are about to lock down for 12 weeks over here in the hope of deferring the inevitable catching of lurgy. Looks as though our Scotland trip is out - 2 nights non-refundable and two are for the journey, and will probably lose the cost of the house. Oh well, exceptional times.

shangaijimmy

Summonsed to a meeting at 9.30am. I have no idea what we're facing. We've potentially gone from a 'safe', debt free business to facing possible bankruptcy within 4 months.  I suspect there'll be a degree of annual leave needing to be taken but lots of us, although there's little point in holidays later in the year anyway with the way travel is looking. 

I'm not used to this uncertainty and not sure how to feel, or how i in fact feel. At least the first meeting is this morning and not the back end of the week!

Fortune_Smiles

shangaijimmy said:

Summonsed to a meeting at 9.30am. I have no idea what we're facing. We've potentially gone from a 'safe', debt free business to facing possible bankruptcy within 4 months.  I suspect there'll be a degree of annual leave needing to be taken but lots of us, although there's little point in holidays later in the year anyway with the way travel is looking. 

I'm not used to this uncertainty and not sure how to feel, or how i in fact feel. At least the first meeting is this morning and not the back end of the week!

Extraordinary times SJ.  All we can do is follow Government advice and hang on in there.  It's going to be hard for all but we are  in a better position to face this than we would be without this forum.  Thank you Martin.

Mr F is itching to volunteer for a local community help group that's being set up but I'm in the vulnerable category so we are having to self-isolate.

Take care.

Fortune x