Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

PurpleFairy26

We’re still working through the list we made last week of things we want to achieve during this period. Less will get done during the week I’m guessing as at the weekend we’ll be taking a break from ‘schooling’. but we’ve done a surprising amount in week 1. It’s amazing what a bit of focus can do. 

Hoping to use some of the free resources in Martins email. The ballet from the opera house looks particularly good. Will research some others. 

Need to renew DH car insurance online. First quick look suggests we can get it cheaper than renewal quote but when I tried to purchase it wouldn’t process saying the car we have wasn’t manufactured in the year I said 😕 It clearly was so back to research another company. Also need to buy tax online. We have money saved for both. 

Have also signed up to a years worth of YN AB. I’ve found it really useful over the past month to take our budgeting to the next level and given that we are facing a drop in income we are going to need a real focus on any spends in the next few months. 

I have a referral code that gives me and the new user a free month when they sign up (in addition to the free month trial you get) so let me know if anyone wants to try it. 

Trying to strike a balance between ‘schooling’ and downtime but feel like we’re getting there. I’m so thrilled the weather is nice. 

I’m planning on going out for dinner in our dining room on Saturday night. I’m going to ask the smalls what they want to eat and then they can make a menu as part of their craft/writing work. We can the dress up and go out for dinner and then we’ll play a game or cards when we get home (from loading the dishwasher 🤣🤣) 

chloea1920

A lot of the schooling activities i have done have been more in terms of crafts and making...kid love it 

savingholmes

Love the idea of dressing up to eat at home and getting the kids to help with menu choices. They are good tips for using while money saving at any time. I too would be of the crafts persuasion but its all learning and hopefully stress-relieving which is important too.

debtfreeoneday

Fingers crossed the self employment announcement tonight is helpful for you guys x

foxgloves

Purps - I absolutely love the idea of a special dinner activity & your children doing menus, etc. I'm going to have to stay in for my birthday next month & I'd already thought that if it is a nice day, I might have a lovely picnic on the lawn with a cloth, cushions, wine etc & if it is too chilly, an evening meal with the table beautifully set, flowers, fairy lights, etc. We have to keep our spirits up somehow, don't we? (& yes, the frugal bit of me is thinking it'll be cheaper than going out!)
F x

brizzlegirl

Take care PF and friends, those ideas for making dinner special are lovely x

PurpleFairy26

Had our special meal. Leftover pudding more than enough for tomorrow too. It was most fun. We’ve agreed to do it every Saturday for the foreseeable future. 

Made my own custard too. Very easy. Not sure I’ll be buying b1rds instant going forward.

lots of housework done. Bit more to finish off tomorrow. 

Got lots of knitting done today which was lovely and relaxing. 

Great seeing the bank balance going no where too. Managed to get DH car renewal for £100 less than quote from previous and possible £20 reward coming our way. 

Also £42 cleared on £co. Tempted to just take the cash rather than trade up for a gift card as I don’t want it to get ‘lost’ before I get chance to spend it but cash would be in the bank. 

Nothing done on our to do list today, but hoping to tick at least 1 off tomorrow. 

Stay safe peeps. 

foxgloves

The meal sounds lovely, Purps. Mr F asked me yesterday 'when the dining table will be free' as we would usually be eating in there (conservatory) from early Spring when it warms up, but it is still covered in baby cucumber & tomato plants. I need to get them into the greenhouse but with temperatures dropping again, it's still a bit too cold.
Homegrown fresh food could be important this year as farmers have struggled with the flooding plus virus-induced shortages, so I don't want to lose any of my plantlets.
F x

DawnW

One end of my dining table is covered in tomato babies too. They will have to stay there until it warms up, and then they can move to the conservatory (unheated, cold). Luckily the table is a big old Victorian one, so there is plenty of room for eating as well, given that there is sadly no chance of dinner guests at the moment.

savingholmes

I went through a plant growing phase - I may restart as I just found a big bag of compost semi covered by some plants down the side of my house.... Where's that whistling or red faced emoji gone!