Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

Fidelia

Just to add to the chat about idiots flouting the lockdown rules.  I had to pick up DH's medications on Friday.  Our surgery pharmacy had run out of one of them and didn't know when they would have more stock so advised me to get it from a High Street chemist.  Several miles away but as DH was on his last few doses I thought I'd better do that. Lots of diversions in the town centre (new one-way system being put in place I think) so I had to park in the town centre multi-storey carpark, nicely empty though because the shops are shut. There were about 10 teenage boys riding round it doing 'stunts' on their bikes, gathering together, pushing each other like they do, laughing and talking to each other.  No attempt at social distancing.  These lads looked about 16 and are definitely in the spreader age group.    I thought if they couldn't attend school they had to stay at home. They could probably say it was legitimate 'exercise' but they were just larking about, up and down the ramps etc . I felt like saying something to them but daren't for fear of what they might do! I felt really vulnerable as a few of them were messing about 'circling' me as I walked through the empty carpark, really close and laughing.  Good job I'd put my mask on before leaving the car!  I was glad to get home.

elizabethhull

There's no understanding wilfully stupid people !

DGS, (aged 6) actually with worksheets this lockdown, this morning did a riddle about an ornithocheirus, talked about split digraphs and as a bonus, talked with DD2 about what she does. As she is a Financial Systems analyst, if he can explain her job in a piece of writing, he's got writing, comprehension, precis and possible oxymoron and hyperbole sorted for the year !!!
Also, as he's 6, all this was done whilst emulating a kangaroo attempting the splits !

Fidelia

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

My hope for my savings is that while I'm working full time I can save £200 a month, then in ten years time when I retire I'll have £24,000 saved up. This could help us to move house, or to live a bit better in retirement. This all depends upon me working full time and DH earning enough for me to be able to save that amount, but in theory it's possible.

Sounds like a good plan, HHoD.  It would also help should you need an immediate sum of money if life throws one of those curveballs that it has a nasty habit of doing.  A nice 'cushion' of available cash can be a godsend in a crisis. There says the voice of bitter experience! Here's hoping you'll never have to spend yours that way xxx 

Just curious as to why  you'd want to move house.  Where you live now seems to offer lots of possibilities and sounds handy for lots of places and amenities.  It sounds quirky in a really nice way.  I love the sound of those voids of yours!  Maybe you hope to downsize when your boys have homes of their own but I wouldn't be in a hurry to 'lose' some of your bedrooms if I were you. We planned to move to somewhere smaller with a lot less garden once we retired but I doubt we will now. Now we have grandchildren as well as our own far-flung children who stay for several  days whenever they visit we need all the sleeping space we can find and the garden is a bonus.

Fidelia

When you get a permanent full-time TA job (see, I said WHEN not IF;) ) do you plan to give up the midday job?  Would be exhausting to try to do both IMO.  Would it make any difference to your savings plan?

Sunshine_girl2

Morrison's are set to ban people who don't wear masks without a medical exemption from today , the other supermarkets may follow. 

Hope you have had a good day at school. 

beanielou

Hope you had a good Monday.

mummytogirls

Hope all ok with you HHOD xx

Onebrokelady

Sunshine_girl2 said:

Morrison's are set to ban people who don't wear masks without a medical exemption from today , the other supermarkets may follow. 

Hope you have had a good day at school. 

How will they police it though ,are they going to ask people for proof that they are exempt from wearing a mask,I think it's just empty words and won't be enforced much at all 

Willowtree222

Most of the supermarkets are now going to do this, but my cousin (and I'm ashamed to admit this) bought an exempt badge from the internet and wears it round even though there's absolutely nothing wrong with him. Don't think he'll be stopped to be questioned if I'm honest, which is wrong in itself. I wish he was and fined so he'd stop acting like he's entitled to do what he wants when he's just an idiot. X

Fidelia

Nicnak said:

Most of the supermarkets are now going to do this, but my cousin (and I'm ashamed to admit this) bought an exempt badge from the internet and wears it round even though there's absolutely nothing wrong with him. Don't think he'll be stopped to be questioned if I'm honest, which is wrong in itself. I wish he was and fined so he'd stop acting like he's entitled to do what he wants when he's just an idiot. X

I know it's possible to buy just about anything on the internet but surely selling exempt badges is illegal.  The sellers should be reported, named and shamed.  Problem with that is that by publicising what's going on  more people become aware that such things are available and a lot more will break the rules by buying them.  I despair of people doing whatever they can to flout the rules whatever the cost to others.  Current lockdowns seem to be a joke.  A friend was in our nearest small market town yesterday and said the narrow streets were full of people definitely not social distancing.  All sorts of shops were open including a carpet shop.  How is buying carpets essential????


Out of interest, why does your cousin refuse to wear a mask?  I hope it isn't for the usually trotted out reason that they hate wearing one.  None of us likes it but we put up with it.  I spend my time walking round in a fog as with the mask on my glasses are constantly steamed up. Sorry to rant , Nicnak!