£29,303...Enough is enough!

savingholmes

Glad the accommodation business is picking up. 

Healthy finances - that's a weight off right there. Glad you are getting some time to relax. Sounds good on DH's car. 

WelshKitty85

Thank you SH.

Dinner’s done. As I was using the oven anyway, I made a millionaire’s shortbread too but managed to spill the caramel onto my hand. Ouch! We’ve got an excess of eggs from our chickens at the moment (we didn’t think rescue hens would lay so well) so I made up a batch of egg mayo too. DC2 loves it so it will probably be gone by tomorrow.

Forgot to mention I ordered some new clothes for myself last week. Came to £100 in total but I got a lot for my money. They arrived a few days ago and a couple of the items are a bit tight. I’m trying to lose weight at the moment and have 60 days to return for a refund, so I’m going to wait a month and see if I’ve made enough progress to justify keeping them. I managed to do an hour’s exercise yesterday morning and today, but the trick will be to keep the momentum going in the week when I also have to work.

savingholmes

Sounds like a plan on the exercise and diet. I am trying currently too.

Ouch to caramel burn. Sounds painful.

WelshKitty85

Feeling rather proud of myself today… dug up one of my pots of potatoes and got a decent haul, some tiny ones, but quite a few decent sizes. There’s 2 more lots to dig up but will leave them another week or so. Also replanted some pumpkins and tomatoes that I’ve grown from seed, and used some home made compost for them.

I also stopped at a local(ish) farm shop and picked up 2 packs of sausages and 4 packs of meatballs for £3.18. Bargain!

We’re absolutely loving the way of life here. Strangely, we know more people in the rural community than we did living in a busy town. The local farmer called us on the weekend to say the sheep were being sheared and invited us to go and watch. DH & DCs 2 & 3 all got involved, packing the wool, jumping up and down in the bags to squash more in, and helping return the sheep to their fields. It was a thoroughly lovely day.

The same farmer has also put some of his sheep into our fields to help us keep the grass down. I love watching them. We’re probably going to get some sheep of our own towards the end of this year and are also considering rehoming some donkeys. 

savingholmes

All sounds exciting. Make sure you factor in vet bills for the livestock.

WelshKitty85

Thanks SH. We’re trying to consider everything and not rush into it. I think sheep are a sensible option because that’s what’s farmed next door and the farmer has said he will help us with them and with shearing etc. we could also potentially make a little bit of money from them. We’ve also considered renting out some of our land to a sheep farmer, but I’m not 100% sold on the idea.

mumtoomany

Beware @WelshKitty85, it starts with a few sheep and before you know it you've got a flock of them and chickens and pigs and you start thinking about a house cow or goats or turkeys. Before you know it you'll be a proper farmer. Haha. Glad you're enjoying the new life. I agree about knowing more people in the country. We know all our neighbours by name, something that never happened in the town. Hugs, mumtoomany.xx

WelshKitty85

Ha, yes we’ve already had to get to grips with chicken maths - planned for 6 but ended up with 10 plus a rooster.

WelshKitty85

I’ve woken up feeling drained this morning (not helped that I was woken by the sound of DC3 crying because he had an accident in the night). Yesterday was DC1s school leavers ceremony and DC3s last day with his childminder. I was managing to (just about) hold it together until the headteacher asked us to stand for the anthem. I completely broke down. Then I still had to pick DC3 up from the childminder and we both cried on the doorstep. DH just thinks I’m daft!

I sold DC3s old car seat on FB for £10. I need to get some more items listed. So today’s aim is to get some decluttering done and list items for sale. Our latest guests left yesterday so I also need to clean the accommodation and get through a mountain of washing. Best get moving while the sun is shining and I can line dry.

WelshKitty85

Yesterday was fairly productive. We cleaned the guest accommodation (but haven’t put fresh bedding on yet), got a load of washing done and out to line dry, cleaned the kitchen and did a little decluttering. I listed an item on 3bay that sold almost instantly for £30. However, I also spent £120 on a birthday present for DC2 (from am@zon warehouse so cheaper than usual) and some garden furniture (we haven’t had any since moving house and it was half price).

Today I have got through another load of washing (and line dried it). DC2 and I also cleaned out the chicken coop, which is actually a big old stable with nesting boxes and perches inside. It’s a hard job so hopefully has helped with the weight loss today (which hasn’t been going great so far). I also made a grand total of £4.80 selling eggs to neighbours.