From debt to freedom...

savingholmes

What are you planting?

Honeysucklelou2

Yesterday I sowed 70 sweet pea seeds ( varieties that are creamy white and tinged with pink and 1 variety that is a salmon pink/orange colour “Miss Wilmott”. Also got some cornflowers, calendulas and Ammi majus sown. They will all be inside for the time being. I have antirhhinum seeds to order and cosmos but it’s too cold to contemplate half hardy annuals yet! I have some Bells of Ireland seeds which some recommend are put in the freezer for a week before sowing them, so will get those down next weekend after their week in the freezer!  Thankfully, when I checked my seed box, I had quite a few seeds in as DS1 and his gf gave me a mixed box of seeds for Christmas which included 6 varieties of sweet peas 🙂.

Have ended up driving more than I thought yesterday. Unfortunately DD3 left a light on in her car so when she came to start it ( at 5.30am) the battery was flat so I’ve been taxiing her and DD1 to work. Hopi g she can get it charged up today so that I don’t have to do that journey before work each day!!

lucielle

I love sweet peas!  Won’t really have a garden when we move and doubt we’ll establish a proper flower garden due to the deer. I do love reading about what you’re growing. 

L

savingholmes

Sweet peas are beautiful

Spendless

I have to say I'm heartened reading that DS1 and his gf gave you such a thoughtful useful present  Christmas present.

Love that you're growing the wedding flowers. That's a good buy on the bridesmaid dress too. I thought my DD's was a steal at £50 for her brother's wedding this summer. I am expecting it to need alterations though. 

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle, SH and Spendless,

Another fortnight has flown by since last posting…payday from Job 1 was this week. Not exactly sure why but I had a bigger than expected pay packet. Not sure if it’s an inflation linked rise or a cost of living or what but am thankful for it. I’ve paid £300 off a debt so that one is almost gone. Have also increased monthly savings to £80 a month which I  know is a very small drop but trying to balance saving some and continuing to pay off and clear debts.

Food spending is something I’m still grappling with. I’m cooking for between 7 and 9 people weekdays and 12 or 13 at the weekends so struggling to keep costs down! DD1 and soon to be SIL are here now until their house is ready and DS2 and gf are in and out quite a bit. Love a busy household though and happier cooking for larger numbers than less!  

This weekend looks to be busy simply catching up with Job 1 paperwork, clearing more of the allotment for flowers, essay writing and general weekend housework catch up. Thankfully DD3 had a day off today so she has  sorted the living room and given me a head start! 

Cherryfudge

How lovely to have that extra money! And you are doing an amazing job on the debt repayment - it sounds as though you will be rid of it soon!

And while it's expensive, it's also wonderful that you have so many round your table.  

lucielle

What flowers are you growing for the wedding?    How long until the big day is here?  

L

BalanceBy50

 HSL the extra money in January’s pay will be your back pay for your pay rise as a teacher 😊 xx

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge, Lucielle and Balanceby50.

Balanceby50 - I think the timing has confused me. Any rise has usually been in November’s pay so I think that’s what’s thrown me! 

Lucielle - just under 4 months to go which really isn’t long! Am growing a variety of hardy and half hardy annuals such as sweet peas, snapdragons, nigella, cornflowers, Ammi majus etc in shades of white, green and peach.  There is a beautiful variety of snapdragon called “apple blossom” which is beautiful.

Yesterday was quite productive. Got all my paperwork for Job 1 done so just some marking left for today.  Got to the tip too to get rid of more rubbish 🙄.

 SO invited us to watch a film at the cinema so lovely to spend time with him and our combined children.

Managed to lock myself out of the internet banking app I was using, so very thankful for the telephone bank staff who could sort it out for me. I only wanted to check a balance! Pleased to see that savings are slowly climbing in the right direction.

Today looks to be a mix of baking and prepping for the week ahead.

Have a good Sunday everyone!