Prosperous soul in the making

savingholmes

We had storms again today. Some people near us even had power cuts in the last few days. I ended up picking DD up from the park after she had met a couple of friends (separately) and she was completely drenched. I've contacted the school about DD as she appears to have stopped studying but given how hard it is for me as an adult to motivate myself I can't be overly critical and think overall she's done amazingly well during lockdown.  Our utility is now painted a warm slate colour with bright white woodwork which looks lovely. I am debating whether or not to paint the cream tiles which I've never been a fan of. Similarly, I'm still considering painting the cupboard doors but haven't found anywhere that will deliver the brand I want in the colours I want currently. DD is going to have a go at the ceiling next. I've managed to include some more brushes, rollers etc on the Mr A order so hopefully she can keep going. She is quite excited about earning £. I'm paying her £5 an hour - which I think is more generous than it sounds a she is doing it well but very slowly. I'm planning to use the £ I would have paid our cleaner if she returned which she hasn't yet  :'(

Had a more productive week so far so feeling better in myself. Spoke to three or four colleagues today so feeling less isolated. Still not heard about the uni accommodation fees or about the chairs. I just need to know. If the uni accommodation costs got cancelled we can keep our EF intact - otherwise it could drop significantly or even be wiped out this month. We could refill it next month though. Not planning any big payments to the mortgage or CCs until we know more what is going on with both those items. I'm due to pay £495 for my pension review soon but listening to the news I wonder if this company will also turn me down for the pension transfer. Hopefully their advice will be worth it regardless and give more focus to our long term financial efforts. If the chairs are coming I just want them delivered - this has been on-going since January.

I'm still not sleeping well which is frustrating. The garden seems happy with the rain. I did manage to sit out for about half an hour today. On my lunch break I also planted out a few more of the lavender plants. My beetroot and perpetual spinach are coming on well now. I have a purple flowering plant about to bloom - I think it might be sage but not sure. Some of my potato plants now have delicate pink/violet flowers which is very promising. 

On the 'business' front I've bought a telescopic easel (£16) that I can use to display my paintings if I ever get a stall - and use to take photos on now. On the list I gave DD was to take a load of photos on DH's professional camera with a view to getting my paintings listed for sale. I also would like her to investigate packaging options and recommend some to me. I then need to buy some. If I do start making money from then I could potentially pay her from my company. I have a tax code for my company now. I still need to do some tax things online to finish getting set up so I can accept income. I also need to sort out a company bank account that can accept foreign funds. I may start with R3v30lut but they are changing some of their Ts and Cs so aren't as attractive as they were.  

Have a good night all

savingholmes

A whole £3.54 OP to the mortgage. Better than nothing. No CC payments due out until the beginning of the month unless I do an OP there.

MovingForwards

DD sounds like she is doing remarkably well, perhaps she is using the painting time to think about her future, or is just enjoying having something to focus on and take her mind off everything else. She may be doing her paid tasks slowly, but she is doing them and I would imagine near perfect results too. Have you had a chat with her to see what she thinks of her studies and doing it at home?

Hopefully the financial side will come good, however the period of limbo is the hard part.

Your garden is sounding more beautiful by the day, if that's possible.

Regarding the business side, how about using PP
or another platform (N0chex was one I made enquiries with, I'm sure a few friends use $agepay too) for sales then transfer the money to whichever business account suits your needs. You would need to factor in fees to your selling prices. But don't try and over complicate it at this stage.

Any OP is better than no OP.

savingholmes

Thanks MF. Just booked in my chair delivery for a week today and a bulky waste collection (date TBC). Paid on CC to minimise risk to us.

[Deleted User]

Wow holmes, your garden sounds absolutely amazing

jwil

I agree, your garden sounds amazing!  

savingholmes

Thanks JWIL and SSDD23. 
Well today's plan is to 'shop from home' and reshuffle furniture as part of decluttering and re-organising:

• Empty a shelf unit in the garage and repaint it a seagrass colour - and use it as a potting table outside.
• Clear my outdoor glass table of plant stuff so it can be used to eat or work outside once I get my base for my new parasol. 
• Shuffle around a chest of drawers in the garage for now (but at some point planning to give that a makeover too and reuse it). 
• Move a big unit out of the lounge to make room for my new desk that's coming. 
• May repaint the lounge over the weekend - either in magnolia or light grey - both of which I already have.
• Ordered some grey cupboard paint from W1lk0 and some dark grey fence paint.
• Do some decluttering en-route to all that.

Now need to get DH to move his motorbike from the garage to give me more room to work and I need to get dressed!!

hugglemonster

Blimey that's a busy weekend ahead, can you come to mine when you're finished please!

Hope your sleeping is improving and all the financial bits and pieces are resolved soon, perhaps that will help put your mind at rest and sleep gets better.

H x

MovingForwards

That's big projects you have planned; upcycling / repurposing makes a huge difference and is pleasurable to do too. 

savingholmes

Thanks HM and MF. I've repainted the unit and it looks nice. It's been raining most of today though so I had to take over the garage. I've half emptied the unit in the lounge and have split things into: keep, bin, charity bag or give to specific people. I find the latter the easiest when it comes to letting stuff go. DD has been forcing helping me. We are taking a break now for tea but then hope to carry on. As a sign of how far I have to go - just binned an unused desk calendar from last year.