From debt to freedom...

Parkyp

Oh how lovely to have a trip out with your parents to enjoy the views and catch up. 

We had a sunny day yesterday and looks like it will be the same today. 

Last year you gave me lots of advice on plants. Can I ask another question, I have a number of tubs with compost in them that I’m going to put more flowers in this year. Do I renew the compost or is last years fine to use. 

I’ve got a box of wild flowers seeds that I forgot about last year so I’m going to get them planted in the back garden as the flowers on the box look really nice. 

sashybo

Glad you got a rest of sorts Honeysuckle, coffee with your parents sounds nice.

Well done on the seeds germinating, you’ve reminded me I need to get my calendulas sown.

lucielle

Great news on the seed sowing.  Coffee with parents and the views sound lovely.
L

savingholmes

@Parkyp On tubs with compost - if it's only recently had new soil - then I would just replace the top inch or two - unless when you go to plant into it it's infested with white grubs or is completely root bound.

Parkyp

Thank you @savingholmes

Spendless

Loving hearing about potentail uses for the newly accessible area. It's as though you've just had an extension built or moved to somewhere with a new layout, not just been able to get into a previously locked space.. You've also inspired me to peg my next washing load out. We live in the North and where it's flat so frequently have colder weather for longer and not enough wind but today the path is dry so the clothes should dry too. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Parkyp, SH, Sashybo, Lucielle & Spendless.

Parkyp - agree with SH. I usually take out the top couple of inches and top up with fresh compost. If it’s a perennial plant that I happen to grow in a pot, I top dress with compost and a granular type fertiliser to ensure maximum nutrients in the compost.

Sunday turned out to be quite a busy day in the end. Boot loads of stuff was taken to the ex’s house thus creating more space. Some ammi majus seeds were sown and some sunflowers ( rouge royale). The newly acquired space has lots of wide window sill space so I have suddenly found growing room for seed trays 😀😉😀.

Things with DS2 remain bizarre. I’m thankful to whoever it was that advised me to keep a list of contributions I make for him. I got food for him this week and have explained the concept of the menu plan to DS and his gf for future use.

savingholmes

Glad you are emptying your home of toxic clutter. 

Great news about more seed growing room.

Good luck with your lists.

Hope you get positive mortgage news soon.

Spendless

Glad you're continuing to get rid of the exes clutter from your place and loving how you continue to find ideas for your newly acquired spaces.

Is DS2 expected to buy his own food? I'm guessing so from what you've said. Ex seems to have gone into landlord mode rather than Dad mode. I get that with the older ones who are working adults, but this is one not out of education yet. I agree the live-in gf complicates the issue though.

With both mine I have issues with their grocery shopping. Eldest is a student on a loan but also lives with his not currently working or claiming gf. Youngest who has just finished an unfunded course so has been living off what we sent her,  I've recently discovered has most of the time been ordering on UberEats! With consequences to both finances and health. I will address that when she's back permanently and insist she learns to cook (she will be given the challenge of cooking 1 night a week for the househld) Older one plus gf came back. I did a shop for them starting with food from my cupboards but they need the concept of not letting their cupboards run down to zero and also how to maximise their purchases by using 'double duty' veg (by that I mean potatoes, carrots, onion, white cabbage can be components to a dinner but also be wedges and coleslaw) and also items that they can keep in eg part baked bread and tins of things.

I wonder if your son continues to struggle that you invite them to dinner but to help out with the cooking of it not just come round to eat. 


 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH & Spendless. Good idea about DS2 and gf pitching in with the cooking. As a life skill it will help them. On a financial side, eg savings, menu planning it reminds me how young they both are. I had had financial conversations with DS2 before his gf was in his life, but I feel it’s positive that we can talk quite openly about financial tips etc. I’ve got one of those cards for them, that I got for DD1 whereby I can put money on it and they can use it in Mr T’s. At least I know it’s  going on food.

Its been a good week at work. I had a birthday this week and was so blessed to have an evening with all the DCs, except DD1 who was at uni,  and respective gfs or bfs. I often remember Cherryfudge ‘s words about adult children coming back with partners so you grow as a family. We had a really lovely evening which DD2 and DD3 had organised. Since it is so tricky to get everyone in the same place at the same time, I was conscious throughout how very special the time was🙂.  I got home from work yesterday to find DD1 cooking in the kitchen...she had decided to surprise me by coming home for the weekend nearest my birthday🙂. A most enjoyable evening where I didn’t have to cook and she, having the measure of DS2’s situation, had thoughtfully invited them for dinner too. It was just so good to have them round the table and hear DD1 and DS2 swopping childhood memories....a lot of which seemed to be remembering various characterful chickens we have had roaming the garden or allotment!! It’s funny really, having a large family means that  I’m in this new phase now of half being adults and making the most of whatever time we can be together and yet also still in the teenage parent phase and the teaching the youngest to read phase. It’s a full span and I’m so thankful.

The DCs have thoughtfully gifted me seeds as part of my birthday gifts so am looking forward to getting some sown today. I have a fair amount of work to do for Job 1 so looks to be a busy day.

Finances wise, I’ve not spent much this week other than petrol. Prices here are 164p a litre for petrol and I saw 170p for diesel yesterday. Last week it was 150p. Being so rural in both where we live and where I work means I have to absorb the rising cost. I did have a couple of confusing letters from the electricity company. I have been moved from SSE to Ovo not by choice but it has just happened. One letter spoke of being £350 in credit, the other said I owed £500 and I needed to increase  my direct debit by £94 😳. I will have to ring to clarify I think. The increase would take my monthly electricity to £298 a month. If that is part of the rise from April, it is what it is, but I’m concerned now that if it rises again by 50% I could be looking at £450 ish😳😳😳.