Spend Nowt, Buy Nowt, Owe Nowt

f0xh0les

We have used planks of scaffold boards on bricks as shelving previously (to keep bags of sand and cement off the ground - I can vouch that that works (but not indefinitely)). 

Is now the time to confess I made 2 pillars out of lego last weekend to bodge a temporary 'extra shelf' over an existing one?  Just for a few tools and craft bits we are using all the time doing lockdown maintenance.  - dh is playing with his car, and the extra bit of shelf space means he does not have to go out to the shed and fiddle with 3 padlocks with his greasy paws. It is  the same idea as yours, just smaller  more colourful bricks. 

XSpender

Ingenious use of lego f0xh0les   

We watched more DR this morning although DH began to lose the will to live during the investment lesson and he doesn’t feel the next two (mortgages and giving) are relevant due to US focus or where we are in the baby steps.  He would like to revisit the lessons that cover baby step 2 - 6 tomorrow as he enjoyed them and my free trial ends then.  We have had some good chats about money and our plans and we are definitely on the same page. 

I have found a tin of yeast that went OOD in Nov 19 and am wondering if it is worth still using it.  It still smells as it should.  I did fancy dusting off the old bread maker but couldn’t get yeast or GF bread flour anywhere.  I can order the flour from D0ves on line but it would be another big sack.  It would be a big saving against the £3 I pay for a loaf now and the loaves are bigger from the bread maker.

We had a great time as a family last night playing board games and cards.  This enforced time off has had some real positives for us as a family (without meaning to disrespect those who have been ill, lost loved ones, jobs or are having a tough time for whatever reason).  

We have got to spend quality time together and clarified what is important to us,  We have rediscovered some of the activities we enjoy that we don’t usually have time for, have improved our home and garden and have shared our financial goals and agreed a path to clear up our debt mess and become mortgage free eventually.  I will really miss our time together when DH goes back to work, we make a good team.  

I feel like I have been off work for ever and have another 8 weeks of furlough leave left!😱 DS may not like the increased focus on home schooling though when there is just the 2 of us at home   

DH and I work in the same industry (him directly, me in a support function) and I am wondering if I will go back earlier if his side are going back on 11th.  The issue we will have is if there are no schools or childcare how can I return?

DH wants to go on a bike ride around the village this afternoon.  I have no confidence on a bike, I find it really hard even when I am fit but will give it a go.  It doesn’t help that it is really hilly around here.

Next week we are planning to repair and paint the shed and fence, finish cutting in the borders, clear the last border and weed the front garden.  All of the work in the front and back garden that we can do, without buying a lot of plants to fill the new and enlarged borders, will have been completed and all for £456.  If you had told us we would have achieved this by the time DH goes back to work we wouldn’t have believed you.

f0xh0les

Have you thought about buying a load of cornflower seeds/nigella seeds- i think they are 29p a packet- and just throwing them at the beds until you can get the plants you want? I had a couple of empty planters that I did that with about a week ago and there are loads of little green sprouts up already.   If the  plant nurseries are allowed to open up in a few weeks, then they will have lots of much more established plants ready to go into the ground and you might well get some proper bargains.   If you know you are going to want much higher plants at the back of your borders then it is always worth while starting foxgloves early, as they flower biennially, so you would get the annoying green year out of the way while you were waiting.

XSpender

My DM sent us up a lot of seeds from her own garden and we have used these in the garden and some pots.  Some are marigolds and some others I can’t remember.

Back to home schooling today.  3 hours of school work seems to take up the whole day!  We did spend a couple of extra hours creating some VE Day bunting and cup cake toppers from some free printable downloads and colouring them in.  DH is going to supervise tomorrow 😱 while I do something with some apples and chicken that need using up, do some washing, catch up with the hoovering and change the sheets.

Big shop done yesterday at Morrie’s.  We went to look at the plants and decided to do the big shop there instead of Asda on Wednesday.  Very well stocked and got everything but broccoli which I haven't been able to get for a week.  £24 spent on 6 plants.  I will need to pop back for cream, rolos, white chocolate and strawberries for DS birthday cake and for our VE Day afternoon tea.  I also need to pick up his birthday card and am not convinced I will get anything decent in the supermarket.

2 of DS gifts haven’t arrived yet!  

I tested the yeast and it is still alive so will think about ordering some gluten free bread flour but there isn’t a huge amount of funds left in the food budget.  I think a stores budget would be useful going forward if we continue to shop this way.

Im a bit annoyed that the payment for FPU has been taken without the notification that they said would be sent.  We turned off the auto renewal but this doesn’t seem to have worked.  I have emailed them but if no response I will attempt to recall it via the bank.  We didn’t rewatch the 2 videos this morning as we cancelled it first thing. 

janb5

f0xh0les said:

Have you thought about buying a load of cornflower seeds/nigella seeds- i think they are 29p a packet- and just throwing them at the beds until you can get the plants you want? I had a couple of empty planters that I did that with about a week ago and there are loads of little green sprouts up already.   If the  plant nurseries are allowed to open up in a few weeks, then they will have lots of much more established plants ready to go into the ground and you might well get some proper bargains.   If you know you are going to want much higher plants at the back of your borders then it is always worth while starting foxgloves early, as they flower biennially, so you would get the annoying green year out of the way while you were waiting.

Hi where can you buy cornflower seeds for 29 p a packet...want some!  Do tell!

f0xh0les

They were just inside the door at L1dl on a whirligig.   There are 4 tiers of cost but the #1 labelled seeds were all 29p - the salad leaves and lobelia and the like.

janb5

Thank you so much- will have to ask of the many gofers to buy me some! One of the many frustrations of being confined to barracks!

janb5

Apparently no seeds @ Lidl.  Never mind./

Suffolk_lass

janb5 said:

Apparently no seeds @ Lidl.  Never mind./

Thompson and Morgan are doing a seed clearance with many packets at £1. They have been struggling to get their plug plants out this month so not sure how efficient delivery times are at the moment. I bought from them in January and lots were use by the end of 2020 (but lots of seeds are fine for a year or two past this) - worth a look at their website.

XSpender

I was up showered, breakfasted and doing washing by this time yesterday.  Can’t say the same for today.  Only DS is dressed and has made his bed as yet!

I finally received a response from FPU and a refund is on it’s way.  I am pleased it has been resolved as it would have impacted how I would have felt about the DR programme if it had become an issue, especially as the free trial is what has got DH really on board.  We have also received £10 back from an error on paypal and am awaiting £20 from Dun3lm for the return of the blind.  The replacement blind is due to arrive Monday.  It has taken us the whole of lockdown to get a blind, decorating the utility was the first job we did.  DH wants to fit new flooring but this can wait until next month as it’s not in the budget.  “Is it in the budget?” And “how much is in the budget pot for that?’ Are going to be on repeat in this house from now on 😂

Money will be spent today on strawberries for DS cake, a birthday card for DS and a lawn feed spreader all from Sainsbury’s/Argos in Sainsbury’s.  If we can’t find a decent card for DS we will have to make one.  DH also wants a couple more of the 2 for £3 plants from Morrie’s to match the ones we bought earlier so we can plant in 3s to fill up the borders.  DH had applied the lawn feed by hand last week and we have a lovely swirly pattern of nice grass at the front in amongst the moss 😂 and lots of lawn front and back so the £20 on the spreader will be a useful investment.  There was a cheaper one at B&Q but it looked it and I don’t think would last 5 minutes.

We are planning to paint the fence, shed and an old bench over the next couple of days while the weather is good and as DH is very likely to return the work next week.  It will be good to say we completed all the garden work while he was off.

Other tasks today are English homework with DS.  I am grateful he is a bright kid as yesterday he did his maths which he whizzed through and I have neither the patience or the skill/techniques to explain things in a way he would understand if he didn’t get it.  Hats off to primary school teachers who do this every day.

DH has done a pile of ironing which I will put away, a couple more loads of laundry to do (who is wearing all these clothes when we are stuck at home????), the kitchen floor to mop, presents to wrap and the dog to walk.  Better get off my bott and get on with it then.