Prosperous soul in the making

MovingForwards

Out of sight is good, saves any accidental spending. Hopefully you will hear something soon.

I've cream tubs, butter tubs etc will all work as makeshift seed trays. I would suggest looking in the £ shop type places, but they were probably emptied out ages ago.

Your flowers sound pretty and add colour to your garden.

savingholmes

Hi MF - I think I have enough options for seeds for now.

I spent 2-3 hours in the garden after work today - too long really as I missed a tablet slot and ended up in pain for a while. It has settled down again now just took a while for meds to kick in. I've planted 3 potato plants, 6 of my bean seedlings (with homegrown bamboo canes tied together with blue and white string) and some Dutch Iris bulbs outside today. I now have 12 potato plants growing outside in hessian planters and others still growing. I sowed 6 nasturtiums inside and re-potted some of my larger seedlings. There is no sign of the peas or carrots that I sowed directly so I think I will just have to have another go. I will try soaking the peas for an hour and then sow them inside on a tray and then cut the end off the tray so i can avoid disturbing their roots when I plant them out. I may try some carrot seeds inside in a pot too. 

DH is blocking my plans for a veg bed in the corner - unless I get rid of one of the sets of seating I bought last year but that we haven't used much. TBF we probably should have sent it back a year ago but too late now. I suggested he collapse it for now if he feels that strongly. I could wash the cover to see if some stains would come out - and if so try and sell it / give it away. I've been slowly moving some logs he cut down as well as cutting up bamboo and other plants that I've pruned so we can store it until the garden bin gets emptied again next week. Problem is that we would immediately have a full bin again with the tips shut. We do have an old bin I might get DH to empty into the main rubbish bin (it's got shredded paper in it) and then we could use it as a temp garden bin. I've also started a couple of compost piles but don't want to risk composting invasive weeds/plants without them being in a proper compost bin as if the temperature doesn't get hot enough it won't kill them.

It's been a good week so far. I've been in a kind of 'demob happy' kind of mood. I think it is a few different things. We still have jobs and are getting full pay. My leg in general is getting better despite a glitch due to late meds today. I feel more hopeful that it will actually heal. Our garden is improving by the day. I am excited about my new phone. My number switched over today and moving my bank and other apps went smoothly.  DS has been asked to do proposal for a few more hours work - so he has and he has added some suggestions of other work he could do for the client which sounds promising. 

I feel more in control budget wise. I have a delivery coming tomorrow but haven't gone mad. It's coming up to DD and my birthday in the next few weeks but even if I bought nothing more - there are things in the house that can be wrapped. DD wants money anyway so I may save some of what I bought her for Christmas. DH is going to do a D1sn3y free trial to see if there is anything we want to watch as a family. It would be about £6 a month. Our EF is currently looking healthy as we are building it up so we can pay DS's accommodation if we have to and for the chairs (no delivery date yet. I do still need to price compare insurance but the renewal price isn't horrific. Feeling good.

savingholmes

Well I've lost another 2lb this week - bringing my total to 9. That makes me very happy. I rounded down my mortgage last night and paid £18.94 off it. Every little helps. I batch cooked some food yesterday and divided it into portions. I am hoping it will help me stay on plan. DH stayed up late last night and his booming laugh kept me awake as he watched a couple of films. He has the day off. It's bright but cloudy here currently. I need to do some work and will then hopefully get out in the garden. Really missing our cleaner today. Need to see if I can get DH or the kids to clean up more. We got our water bill yesterday - the usage had gone up but still within direct debit levels for now. Still need to do insurances.

[Deleted User]

Well done on your continued weight loss, holmes  

clearmydebts

savingholmes said:

Well I've lost another 2lb this week - bringing my total to 9. That makes me very happy. I rounded down my mortgage last night and paid £18.94 off it. Every little helps. I batch cooked some food yesterday and divided it into portions. I am hoping it will help me stay on plan. DH stayed up late last night and his booming laugh kept me awake as he watched a couple of films. He has the day off. It's bright but cloudy here currently. I need to do some work and will then hopefully get out in the garden. Really missing our cleaner today. Need to see if I can get DH or the kids to clean up more. We got our water bill yesterday - the usage had gone up but still within direct debit levels for now. Still need to do insurances.

Well done on the amazing weight loss. When I was doing SW a few years ago I found I really noticed it in my clothes when I had a stone gone. It's such a good feeling to feel less bloated and healthier. 

savingholmes

Thanks SSDD23 and CMD
I find if I can get on a downward trend with my weight I can continue it - but struggle once it's gone off track again - so trying hard to food optimise and minimise junk food. It poured down with rain earlier but looks like it has cleared up for a bit - so going to look at what I can do in the garden. DH has said he may relent over the garden 'sofa' placement as long as it is temporary. My worry is if I don't use our existing soil - I will use far more compost just for the plants I've already committed to never mind the seeds I still want to plant! 

Just reviewing this year's goals and amending a little. Want to make some OPs to CC while also building our EF. Assuming we both keep our jobs:
 
Current debt level and dates 0% run out:
Target CC £1390 to be repaid by 1/7/20 - on track
CC3 £8287 April 21 - minimum payment around £82 - will try to set up e banking so easier to OP
CC2 £5871 June 21 - minimum payment around £146 - will try to set up e banking so easier to OP 
CC1 £6298 to be repaid by July 21 - will repay fixed amount of £75pm for now
Goal to get to £12.75K CC debt or below by end of Dec pay month

Emergency fund: 
Plan is once the target CC is clear to build EF to £9K by 31/12/20 so we are more financially secure (cashflow wise) and then hopefully if things calm down next year make lump sum payments to clear the CCs.

Pension/SIPP
Ideally I still want to do a DB pension transfer - have requested updated value but no reply to email yet. I have updated pension figures from my current employer. Will need updated figures for DH which are likely to have fallen. I have another small pension which I need to get an updated value for.

Mortgage
We have an interest only mortgage. The goal is to OP £2.2K this year. We were planning £1450 this year anyway and most of the difference is the impact of a reduced mortgage rate (now 1.05%) with the odd top up on top of that.

Catch up with you all later.... Have a fab day.

MovingForwards

Congratulations on the weight loss, I'm sure you will find a way to keep your focus, especially as you are feeling the benefit of it.

Your financial plans look good too. It's always a positive thing to review them throughout the year to see if any tweaks are needed and that you are on track.

Hope your day went ok.

elly68

fab diairy thought it was only me who dreamed of the final move and spent hours looking at houses  lol uni costs uuugh but hey its the kids futures we might get a good nursing home out of it lol

jwil

Well done on your weight loss! Good luck with the goals.

Honeysucklelou2

The garden sounds lovely with the aquilegia and delphiniums. I love nasturtiums and marigolds for their cheerful colours.

Good idea to set out the financial goals.