From debt to freedom...

Cherryfudge

More belated birthday greetings here! I adore those times when all the children are together and swapping yarns. I had a birthday earlier this months and we did just that, and now there's a new generation as well and she just fits right in, so I can promise you good things to come.  

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes.  

Not much to report over over the weekend. Yesterday was so stormy,  the direction of the wind meant it seemed worse than when Eunice hit. I think we were more sheltered on that occasion.

I’ve got some work done for Job 1 but still have quite a bit to go. Did a Mr T shop yesterday...seems harder to keep the cost down!  Put £15 on DS’s card which doesn’t seem very much but I got them toiletries and washing capsules with last week’s shopping and they have or are eating here for a few meals, so the money should cover milk, bread,  fruit & sandwich fillings for the 2 of them.

Paid £50 off a debt yesterday. Also realised where I end up spending a fair amount of money...in buying odd bits and pieces for lessons. Sounds daft, it’s not usually high cost items but a continual stream of lower cost items that are just mounting up. I need to stop!

Have a restful Sunday everyone.

lucielle

Can you get the school cost’s back?  

L

MeandO

Happy belated birthday HSL2, glad you had a lovely day. Xx

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle and MeandO. 

Lucielle - in theory yes, but in practice it seems much harder. I’ve known it to be months before reimbursement, still waiting on higher costs for resources for last  Mother’s Day!

Yesterday turned out to be a gorgeous Spring afternoon. I was able to get out for a walk with DS3 and DD1. In a week, you can really see the difference in the hedgerows. The primroses are flowering in clumps rather than the odd one or two. Celandines were in flower as were the small white stitchwort flowers. Lots of gardens are full of colour as the later flowering camellias catch up . The birdsong was simply wonderful...the whole walk was a feast for the eyes and ears and so uplifting.

I came home and got busy in the garden. Got some Calendula “ Touch of red” and lettuce “ Marvel of 4 seasons” sown. I also swept the garden path and the driveway so it looks tidier. I did stop a couple of times and felt a sense of being overwhelmed at the amount that still needs to go, in terms of the ex’s stuff but remembered SH’s phrase of “ toxic clutter”. What a great phrase @savingholmes. It made me more motivated that even if it takes bag by bag to fill and take to the tip, it’s still going and not stuck there looking at me!! I was able to fill one bag ready for a tip trip next weekend and dug out 2 wheel trims from the soft fruit bed...why oh why were they even there in the first place is beyond me. Bit by bit it will go and I will get clear 🙂.

savingholmes

Belated Happy Birthday HSL

I borrowed the phrase from Utube but it seems very apt... Well done - one day you'll look up and it will be gone. I still need to clear loads from the garage and shed but taking a rest for now. I'll get back to it.

Spendless

Is it worth collating all metal bits of items found in your garden into one area and then contacting someone to take it away in one swoop. Or if you have metal scrapyard (or whatever they're called nowadays) nearish, taking it yourself and getting it weighed in (obviously not if too heavy for your car). I did this once, you need to take ID with you though.  

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH and Spendless.

Good idea Spendless, although it looks like the metal has gone. I suspect the ex didn’t want to lose the chance of money on that. There’s lots of wood that could do with being sawn into fire sized pieces and stored to dry. The rest is bricks, blocks, gravel & other building type paraphernalia. Last week I swept one small area, put some birthday pots of Spring flowers outside the door and already it’s given the place a colourful lift!

Another working week has flown by. I am so thankful for the lighter mornings and lighter evenings and am so looking forward to next weekend when the clocks change. The birdsong has been wonderful to hear. There is a female blackbird that’s been flying in and out of the boundary hedge with straw in her beak. The garden is a place of such busyness in the bird world at the moment! On the way to DS3’s school we have to pass a beautiful Magnolia tree. It’s been lovely watching it change day by day from furry bud to open flower.

The council tax bill came today. In light of the rising rates for petrol and mortgage, the council tax rise seemed quite modest! Diesel was 184p a litre at a local garage on my way home tonight. I was shocked last week when it reached 170p!

Wages from Job 2 will be split this week between saving £25 towards Help to Save and paying a bit more off the debts.

savingholmes

Love that you are reclaiming your home and garden and making it more you.

Ouch to fuel.

foxgloves

Spring birdsong is just lovely, @Honeysucklelou2. Now the mornings are lighter, we are getting a proper dawn chorus &.I love lying in bed first thing with the windows cracked listening to that. I like how a blackbird usually starts it off, then a rival pipes up, followed by all the other birds chirping in their contributions. It's such a joyful thing to wake up to. I've been clearing assorted cr*pola out of the shed today, digging over the bean bed & litter picking....all the time being serenaded by our friendly robin.
F