From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle, Cherryfudge, SH, Buffy, dawnybabes and Spendless. 

Have reached that happy point in the holidays where I have to think about what day it is and only needing to be at Job 2 on the right day is keeping me on track!  Been continuing with the decluttering that is very much ongoing despite the huge quantities that have been cleared in the last year. SO is brilliant at being able to see how each space can be better utilised so now that the old oil central heating boiler has come out and the space isn’t needed for a new one, it’s a whole area that has been cleared and is now awaiting painting so that DD3 can use it for storage.

Having time at home has meant time to cook more. Last week I found a recipe for strawberry tiramisu which was delicious and so easy to do, so will be making that one again!

The very windy weather last weekend has caused some of the Bramleys to fall off the tree so have collected these ready to make crumble. Not sure if it’s the wet weather but had quite a few apples with some sort of fungal disease which I’ve never known before with this tree.  The blackberries are out already so trying to remember pots on walks so that we can pick them!

Willowtree222

I did some blackberry picking this week as well. Got quite a few and that was with DD eating a fee on the way!

Cherryfudge

Our blackberries are doing brilliantly this year. I'm picking about every other day and getting a jug full just off the garden!

Strawberry tiramisu sounds worth trying. It's so lovely you are getting time for creative cookery. Have you ever thought of baking as a side hustle? You might need a food hygiene certificate if you don't already have one, but most of that is common sense.

savingholmes

Dreaming of crumble now.... May be this weekend. I have plenty of apples... 

Drawingaline

So sorry to hear about your dog. We have only had our cats three years, and the idea of them not being about makes me feel awful! They really do steal a part of your heart don't they?

It sounds like you sre really beginning to put a proper stamp on your house and garden now it is solely yours (well, yours and the banks!) Must be such a relief after years of treading water either it.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Willowtree22, Cherryfudge, SH and DAL.

I would love to bake as a side hustle! DS3 chats away about us baking brownies! Not sure if you need to have some sort of premises inspection if you cook from home to sell to the public but would be something worth looking into 🙂.

Today has been very busy. SO has helped me to do yet more decluttering. Hoping to start painting DD3’s old room this week so that the youngest DDs are in there before the start of the new academic year. DD3 is settled into her new room. It looks so different to when DD1 had it!

Made pasties for tea which were enjoyed by most people. Also made a batch of brownies and Eve’s pudding using some of the apples from the tree.

Moneywise, am saving some money by not having my usual commute. Am trying to split that saving between savings and overpayments.

This week I need to look into paying for DD4’s bus to college.  It would also be good to get the dreaded school shoe shop out of the way!

dawnybabes

Argh to the school shoe shop, so pleased my DS is at college and its trainers and work boots ! One less stress.

savingholmes

You are very focused with OPs. If I were in your position though I think I'd sleep better with a bigger EF.

Hope you are enjoying the break from job 1.

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 said:

I would love to bake as a side hustle! DS3 chats away about us baking brownies! Not sure if you need to have some sort of premises inspection if you cook from home to sell to the public but would be something worth looking into 🙂.

I don't know all the requirements but I'm sure you would have to be inspected at some point.

I've done food hygiene for work and while the requirements are precise, they aren't impossible. Your kitchen and storage has to be in good condition and you have to observe a thing called HACCP which is about minimising food poisoning risks... 

Perhaps set DS3 to looking up what's needed!  

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Dawnybabes, SH and Cherryfudge.

@savingholmes -that is a very good point, thank you. When I paid off the window loan, I did increase my standing order for the EF account but it is still only £50 a month. It’s in a N S and I account so I haven’t got an online facility to check the balance. I think it’s about £150 in there. In case of an emergency I can also access funds via Job 2. Every payday we get an amount ( I think it’s a percentage of our gross pay figure) that is put into a “holiday fund “, the idea being that if you have days off on holiday, you can draw on this fund to basically give you holiday pay. If, like me, you don’t go on holiday or have days off, it becomes a kind of savings account. Last year it worked out well that the mortgage adviser’s fee could be met solely from this savings avenue! In an emergency I could draw on this but try to forget that it’s there! I will look into increasing the EF st ding order.

Had a busy day on Tuesday…cleaning lots in the house and hot all the bedding ironed. The mower has refused to work for the last week so I checked the plug and it turned out that the live wire and come out of where it should be, so put that back and it’s been working again ever since 🥳.