Hope is not an Effective Financial Strategy

shangaijimmy

Well its been an 'interesting' week at work on the Covid front. I appreciate that every business has had some staffing complexities to contend with over the last 12 months and without saying too much I've consistently said to people in work that me catching Covid or having to isolate is our main 'risk'. Unfortunately no contingencies have been planned and typically I am now in isolation due to a work close contact (I am vehemently contesting this as I believe I have followed every mitigation). And as predicted people are in a 'spin' as to how we will function. I have consistently said that our only option would be a complete shut down...and here we are...! The main thing is the individual concerned is well.

I am doing my best to avoid a home job list 

In other news I have caved in with barely a whimper at home, and a puppy will be joining our chaotic house in time for summer hols. Financially I've reasoned that it can come from holiday savings from 2020 & 2021.

Karmacat

Yay, a puppy!  🐶

Sorry to hear about the covid situation at work, Jimmy.  

shangaijimmy

It's been such an expensive month so far. I used yesterdays isolation day to have a look at our accounts (what better way to spend the time) as we seem to have hemorrhaged money, but when we look back the vast vast majority has been all essential. I'm wondering if there has been a steady increase in prices and its caught me out for our budgeting. Our mid month slump has been a mid month splurge!

Payday for both of us on Friday and a chance to reset and have a good look at things.

Suffolk_lass

We are the same. Our new hobby (beekeeping) is proving much more expensive than either of us anticipated and I seem to be ordering new equipment or supplies every month. Through swarms and division we have gone from one colony to five, all of which need space to live, produce and grow. My credit card is being hammered!

In addition we have just had the annual service on the van, and a repair to the drainage in the bathroom - £450.

And utility and household shopping are both rising sharply for certain things. A shortage of certain things is definitely impacting prices (timber eg, and anything made from it).

shangaijimmy

A very valid point is that hobbies can be expensive! I run, which should be cheap. However I need decent trainers, decent socks and obviously I 'need' the shiniest of GPS watch  Mrs SJ cycles and the stuff she 'needs' is never ending... So hobbies that need equipment and often specialist equipment....a recipe for spending!!

I have 3 days left of isolation. It hasn't been too bad to be fair. I was in the period of 8 weeks of having to work everyday and going in for the majority. So this 'week off' on week 6 has been a chance to reset and recharge. Most of my work at home is generated from being 'in'. So without that, I officially ran out of tasks yesterday. Today has just been checking e-mails and tidying up my inbox in between a movie and cleaning the kitchen!

Thankfully its payday x 2 tomorrow. Mrs SJ gets paid every 4th Friday and I've realised that this is the crossover 13th payday, hence why we seem to have really overspent. Now we have overspent but not by too much. All will be back to normal tomorrow. And importantly TT's can restart!

debtfreeoneday

Sorry you’re in isolation SJ. Not long to go. We ended up isolating for 25 days in March last year and it was not fun!

shangaijimmy

25 days, I hear your pain. DD's class has now been sent home for isolation so back to a week of home schooling. I pray that she doesn't become positive and my isolation resets. I pray less for work as it would be catastrophe for them, and further proof of my point months ago that someone needed to sign off on our 'support proposal'.

Anyway, in proper MFW news it felt so good to TT 83p this morning!!

Cheery_Daff

Excellent TT there! 

Glad you got a bit of a reset, but what a palaver all this home/work swapping is, on top of home schooling as well. I was complaining the other day that I was finally a bit fed of working at home for 16 months solidbut really, it's much better than all this swapping and changing. Don't envy you that at all!

Suffolk_lass

Fingers crossed for you and yours.

ElmoR

A puppy!!!

Ours has been with us since November now. She's adorable but it is like having a toddler. Our home and routines have changed beyond recognition. DD is completely in love with the pooch, DH and I are slightly more 'what have we done?'

My money saving tips - buy pee mats that you can wash in the machine and re-use. Consider your local vets plan in costings relative to how many trips you may need in a year - we've now been 4 times - serious wound to her chest from diving into bushes, eye infection, worry she had kennel cough (she didn't, it was regurgitation), the jabs. Get some Kong toys, they last longer than other cheaper ones if you have a chewer. Antler bits and coffee wood are also good for chewers and last too. Start training/lessons as soon as the jabs are done. And socialisation. We even sat in the boot of our car at supermarket car parks before she had her jabs so that she could get used to people, noises etc.

Our pup has certainly been a positive distraction from the pandemic and associated stresses though