From debt to freedom...

enthusiasticsaver

Your diary is always so entertaining HSL and informative. I come on occasionally not to give debt advice, as you seem to have that in hand but to read the recipes, gardening advice and read about your lovely walks as I love coastal walking. Not liking the tourists down here at the moment but as lots of people rely on tourism for jobs and for most people living in a city over lockdown must have been tough I understand we have to share our countryside and beaches for a few months. I do wish some would be more considerate though. We go out either very early or late in August. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you ES for your kind words. Tourism is a mixed blessing...my older DDs all work in jobs that benefit from tourism but it’s DD1 whose work is more affected by Covid-19. She has had tourists refusing to use the hand gel at the shop entrance...she works in a shop where people are more likely to inadvertently touch an item to check material or size. Lots of reports locally of people on holiday expressing surprise that we have to socially distance here!

I spent much of Thursday morning, on my knees trying to cut out the material to cover the foam pieces, that I’m using to rejuvenate the sofa. I pinned the material so that I know where to sew but decided in the end to hand sew the material in situ. My brain could not fathom how to get the material navigated through the sewing machine ( added to which I only have to look at a sewing machine and it jams or becomes unthreaded!) so tomorrow’s task is to start sewing the cover. My mum volunteered to take the other piece of foam and remaining material so she can use her sewing machine. She is so much better at sewing - cross stitch I can manage but practical sewing is mind boggling! I’m full of admiration for those who can!

Paid £50 off a debt today. I did spend some money on needles and thread in preparation for sewing the cover. I’ve also spent some money on getting necessary uniform, mainly shirts and trousers. I’ve ordered and paid for DS3’s jumpers ( school logo ones are compulsory) , so hopefully only shoes to go!

The sunflowers are towering above everything else at the allotment - they look to have grown an inch or two everytime I go! This year I’ve grown a variety that is a taller one whereas last year I grew a variety called Vanilla ice, which is multi branching so more flowers on a bushier plant. The calendulas are really brightening up the beds and the sweet peas are flowering in great quantity. The second - or is it 3rd- sow of kale has germinated so hoping to get that in the ground ASAP. The runner beans are looking well and have escaped the rabbits’ attention, now that the bed is wired.



Pictured is Calendula “Funky stuff” that is brightening up the allotment.

I’m just loving the chance to be at home with the children more, now that term has finished.

sashybo

Ooh your calendulas are lovely, DS is mostly destroying mine because "they're pretty mummy". 🤷‍♀️ 😂 If I didn't laugh I would cry.

I'm hoping to take cuttings from my african violets to grow some new ones and check my new aloe vera over to see if there are any pups so I can have a few new plants. My brother and his gf have just bought their first house so I wanted to give them some plants as gifts. I'll probably look for a couple of outdoor plants for them as well, something easy to grow and leave to it I think. 🤔 

I can only do very basic sewing - buttons, hems and small repairs along with the odd sock monkey. I can't work a sewing machine at all, I think I must have used one at school but can't remember it at all so don't think I used it more than once or twice. I really need to get my mum to teach me how to use a sewing machine properly.

savingholmes

Good luck with the sofa. Your flowers are beautiful

crazy_cat_lady

Loving the flowers.

Drawingaline

I am the same with machine sewing. Mum quilts so she is amazing, I have a machine, but it just gives me proper rage when I try to use it. Cross stitch I am fine with! 

Cherryfudge

I'm another who has an 'it's complicated' relationship with my sewing machine, but reading about your sewing I suddenly envisaged tacking sofa cushion covers in situ, and I think I might almost manage that - and our current sofa covers are decidedly fragile. So thanks for the idea! I might yet attempt one... which would have to be a toile as a sofa with just one irregular cover would be rather noticeable. As to a lose cover to make the rest of the piece match the cushions, I really don't know where to start but it's probably on YouTube somewhere.

The masks sound nice. I used an old sheet too, but nothing as pretty as yours.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Sashybo, Cherryfudge, SH, DAL & CCL - I’m relieved to know I’m not the only one who struggles with a sewing machine!

My last post was an early morning one and so had intended to get up and get cracking with various tasks but I dozed off after catching up on diaries. I awoke to find the ex’s dog coming through the bedroom door which had the effect of making me spring out of bed to ensure the dog didn’t get near my elderly lurcher. Thoroughly awake, I set off to the nearest big town to tackle the school shoe shopping. The shoe shop is a small independent one and I thought that if I got there as close to the opening time as I could, it would help. We were there by 10 - the owner had sectioned off corners of the shop with tape so that family groups could wait in specific sections. As customers were served, you moved into a different section until you reached the top of the queue. It must be very tricky being a shop owner and trying to maintain safety for both customers and staff. When the youngest 2 children’s feet were measured, I asked the lady to only bring 3 or 4 options rather than the 7 or 8 they seem to teeter  through the shop with. I think too much choice makes the shoe shop experience even more stressful! Fortunately DD5 has been shopping with me enough times  to know to pick the one she really likes and if it fits we go for it, we don’t faff about with the other options! Obviously I make sure it fits well but I find that approach not only saves us time, but it reduces the waiting time for others. DS3 had the first pair he tried on too, so our total time being sized up,  trying shoes and paying was 20 mins and 30 minutes waiting time.  Not an experience I’m in a rush to repeat as it was quite hot wearing a mask, but very glad to have got that job ticked off.

The rest of the day was spent tackling washing and cutting the grass. The push mower is a great workout! We seem to have missed out on the heatwave of the past few days, instead having some periods of  sunshine but plenty of sea mist for which I am very thankful.

A couple of weekends ago I started to sugar soap the walls of the en-suite shower room. The shower is  vital while I’m saving for the bathroom, but the room was looking somewhat rundown so yesterday I got the first coat of paint on the walls. The actual shower cubicle has tiles, the other walls are painted. I know it will take 2 or 3 coats of paint as it’s a lighter colour being painted on top of a darker colour but already it’s looking so much fresher 🙂.

I’ve paid another £12.50 into the Help to Save. I know it may sound daft but £50 a month seems a big chunk whereas £12.50 a week doesn’t sound so bad so I thought I’d tackle it weekly. 

On Friday my food shopping came in on budget ☺️🥳. I’ve been struggling for several weeks to get the food shopping down. I was spending about £70 a week before lockdown but it’s been more like £120 since March. I can only put it down to most of the children being at home all the time so they are grazing more, some of it is due to trying to make sure we have some food in. Last winter I was only buying exactly what we needed week by week so had little in reserves when the supermarket  shelves started to empty, so I have tried to ensure we have flour and some tins in, so that we aren’t that low again.

Yesterday was a NSD and hopefully today will be too.

Sun_Addict

Beautiful flowers 💕 What a good idea to break down the savings into £12.50 a week, adds up to the same amount but sounds more do-able. I’m trying to get my grocery bill down too, been spending far too much.

janb5

Hi HSL....why is Ex's dog still visiting! Any news on conversation with solicitor?