20/20 Vision (repaying a debt to my home and myself)

doingitanyway

mark88man wrote: »

Also - its completely awkward - but you can say "NOT YET" to the decorator, and unless she was literally coming tomorrow they are as used to being chopped and changed by clients as you are to being stood up.

Thanks for such a helpful post Mark88. And yes she is coming tomorrow, so a bit late to change her.

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

A third alternative is to maybe cut down on other areas like food and see if you can eat cheaply for a while to claw some money back?
I know you'll think of something as you're very resourceful .

Thanks for the vote of confidence and yes food is the area I will be cutting to the core. I can eat cheaply and I have some supplies in

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

Can you believe that your current concern about getting work done is financial? This is solvable. A year ago you wouldn’t have even known possible costs due to your fears. You are doing so well

Thanks INOD and you are right. Thanks for the reminder This is a money issue and a year ago I would not have been letting anyone in at all.

doingitanyway

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Hi DIA,
I'm sure you'll find a plan. Do you really have to stick with the decorating being done now, if you'd rather wait?

Have a good evening and enjoy doing something else before you go back to the budgeting.
Rosa xx

Thanks Rosa, the decorator is due to tomorrow and I can't mess her about again. You were right about doing something else before going back to budgeting. Leaving it alone led me to think more clearly

doingitanyway

I slept on it.

I made vegetable soup and as I chopped veggies I thought, and here’s what I came up with:

The decorator is due tomorrow so I am letting her come. She has already been put off a few times and if I do so again so close to her coming I think I will lose her. I feel comfortable with her so she is important for now and in the future too.

I am going to buy a cheap phone today that I will keep as a back up and also have for guests who come to stay in future from abroad. This will be a dumb phone to keep costs down. There are some cute Nok1as that are considered ‘retro’ I quite like. I will buy a new/better phone in March when the car is through the MOT.

I will pay the fuel bill.

I have minimal petrol so lots of walking and only using the car if necessary.

I will eat from stores/freezer and keep a very low profile. I won’t starve. I have something that I will post on Gumtr33 that might raise a few pounds. If successful I will keep that as fun money so I keep my spirits up.

This works but there is absolutely no wiggle room and that is scary. Anything could happen! It reminds me of when I was in debt. So I will really work on building my emergency fund back up again in the Spring.

Wishing you all a positive week

greenbee

Well done on finding a way through DIA.

Hopefully having the decorating done will give you a lift, as you'll start to see the benefits of all the TLC you are giving your home.

I've got someone in today putting the old utility room door back on. It'll have to come off again sometime to be sanded and painted, but we'll do that when we do the utility room. For now it should at least stop the draughts. When that's done, he's going to do some of the other annoying little bits and pieces that need dealing with while we work out plans and costs for the big stuff.

Like you, I'm trying to do this from cashflow, so although all the work travel coming up is disruptive, I need to remember that it is a. part of the job and b. saves me money on food/oil/electricity while I'm away! I just need to find my snow boots

redofromstart

Sounds really sensible DIA, maybe work in cash for anything you do have to spend?

We have one of those little retro type N phones (was £5 iirc plus £10 credit) for the boys emergency school bag phone. It's great because it's battery lasts for weeks, although I did have to explain predictive texting. I miss the days of little clam shell phones that got smaller and smaller.

ETA actually just looked back and it was free online, so the cost was the £10 credit. Came next day. Carph0ne wearhouse.

doingitanyway

Thanks Greenbee for the positive vibes

Thanks Redo. I got the exact phone you mentioned but the SIM free one came in at just under £20. It is charging up now

In other news I did a 4 mile walk today. Nothing much else achieved and definitely no project work. Sigh. I will catch up once the decorator has gone.

OK, the house is a state and the decorator wants to come at 8am so I am off to relax before I clean up, move the car and get ready for her.

Have a good evening all

beanielou

Hope all goes well tomorrow

Homegrown0

Hope all goes well tomorrow and you're pleased with the result.

I totally understand your feelings of stress about funding this month but you are resourceful and even though itll be super tight this month, youll cut your cloth to suit.

Drawingaline

Hope the decorating is going well. I think having some nicely painted walls etc will make you feel better about the house which cannot be underestimated. And you haven't one into debt to achieve it. Yes it is tight, but it is doable.

beanielou

Hope all going well