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

Drawingaline

Yes my mum and dad overpaid a large company to do their old house a few years back. But offset by having three vans on site and a large four bed detached done and dusted in a day. Which was important for them.

doingitanyway

Today I decided I needed a desk as I work at home a lot. I also want a proper chair to protect my back. I explored Heals. It was the discount outlet but still silly money. A reality check. I cannot afford it there. That said, a decent office chair still costs quite a bit wherever I go.

I feel as if i have more money now I am debt free but it is an illusion. I need a huge 5 pane window and a large room decorated and a new kitchen before Christmas. I have no money to waste.

I need to make sure I do not continue to spend as if I am working 5 days when my salary will be about 18% reduced. I need a new budget for a new situation. Food and travelling account for too much of my budget. Today I cleared out the fridge and threw away some fish and some homemade stock. Wasting food is unacceptable to me. I need to do better especially if I am going to have less money coming in. Sigh.

It is great that I only have to go into the office 2 days a week and this costs me under £20 in total but I could do it for £6 a week and get some exercise in too. 1 hour and 40 minutes a day twice a week would do my health good so why am I not doing it? Okay it would take longer but I could read or snooze on the bus.

The good news is a separate account for discretionary spending really works. who knew?It reduces the panic. Despite pink cava spends and Lady Bountiful tendencies, the amounts allocated have worked out just fine. This makes me wonder if the spending account is too generous?

I hope your weekend has gone well. Let's see what we can achieve next week

RosaBernicia

Have you looked in the Swedish store DIA? I sorted my little office for about £250 - desk, chair, and shelving unit from there (shelves hold all the files, trays, and printer etc). Plus a monitor riser via online. It's made such a difference to how I feel about the room so although it was sort of an avoidable spend - I could have stuck with the old kitchen table etc for longer - I don't regret it at all.




Rosa xx

in_need_of_direction

I saw some office chairs on living s0cial or gr0upon at the weekend. Fully adjustable and reasonably priced plus there's always some small bit of cashback. I'd saw hold fire on the full blown office but get the right chair to avoid back pain.

Fortune_Smiles

Are you on Facebook DIA? I've found some really good items on Facebook Marketplace. Most people will let you come and take a look before you buy.

Fortune x

doingitanyway

Thanks everyone for the advice.

I am not on Faceache Fortune Smiles

I will keep thinking about this one and when pay day arrives I will buy a chair at least

Today
Today was my day off. I frittered most of the day away with not even a peep at my task list and no frogs were eaten

But then I went to the Post Office to return the items ordered that I do not love. The dress I have kept is lovely but I got it in a smaller size. It fits, but will look better if I lose half a stone. Everything was boxed up and returned.

I met a friend for a cup of tea and a catchup.

I have not got going with the diet but I have not given up. I shall restart tomorrow and keep at it until I get it right.

A bit of a meh day but I (hopefully ) live on to fight another day

I hope you had a good day reader.

doingitanyway

I have been offline for a few days after my laptop had a fit but I am back from the laptop hospital (also known as JL) and it is better now. I was still under warranty by 2 days! So no charge. :j NOTHING was backed up. Nope nada. I was lucky not to lose any data so buying an external drive on Sunday (I know I could use the cloud for free)

My week has been crazy due to not being 'connected' and also having to commute to the office daily. Off work today on holiday but it was used sorting out the sick laptop.

Lady decorator came back with a quote. A bit more than I expected but I will probably still go with her. I like her and that makes a big difference to how I feel about having a tradesperson in my home. She wants to start next week but I think I should put the window in first as the walls may develop hairline cracks and it would be a shame after paying so much to get the room decorated.

In other news a plumber who was on holiday is back and can come and quote next week.

I am feeling a bit 'off' I really had to push myself to go and get my laptop fixed. I put off a kitchen meeting until next week too. I am trying not to put too much stress on myself but I think I should contact the plumber and ask him to quote?

I hope you are all okay out there

Chrystal

Yes, bite the bullet (swallow the frog!) and get a quote from the plumber.
I agree about getting the window done before the decorating, it would be so annoying if the cracks appeared, which they probably would, so why give yourself that headache worrying about it.
I know you don't like having tradespeople in, but the sooner they're there the sooner it's finished and you can start to relax a little bit.
Glad you managed to get your laptop done within the warranty - someone was smiling down on you!

abba1772

That was lucky with the laptop still being under warranty by two days. Xx

System

Glad to see you are back online , and good news about the warranty. The window definitely wants doing before the decorating, you are perfectly right.

As Chrystal says the sooner the trades in the sooner it's done.