Cottage Countdown

LeighofMar

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I haven't tended to my garden but it was delightful to see my limelight hydrangea in full bloom today. He started as 2ft high in a container and I think he's about 4 or 5 years old now. 

LeighofMar

Mortgage OP of $45.00 sent today. Balance is now $14,755.00.

Oh my, it is getting expensive over here. $15.00 left of the food budget from last week's shopping should hold us over until we order again next week. We've been cooking simple meals and have snacks so we don't really feel we're missing out on anything, which is good. Today was simple honey garlic chicken thighs and sweet potatoes. 

Mr. LeighofMar hasn't been feeling well with his chronic pain and really needed a rest. Pain management clinic accepted his referral and he will be getting injections and an MRI soon. There is definite nerve damage involved poor thing. And the meds are making him woozy so he is resting. But he showed me the bathroom at 95% done and all I can say is I'm astounded. I can't wait until it's 100% so I can have my before and after pictures. 

For the next good while money will be flying out to cover our medical costs. Mr. LoM has to pay 40.00 for every pain clinic visit plus his injections at 85.00. I already know I'll be buried under my hospital debt for some time and will have to dig out from under that without compromising mortgage OPs or retirement contributions. It's always a challenge having to make a little money go in many directions but I'm up for it. In the meantime, I hope to feel in tip-top shape soon since Mr. LoM is feeling poorly and it will be my turn to take care of him. 

We have had a good bit of easy work this week so the business account is holding its own. At least it's not at 0.00 as it was last week. And the good news is our colleague should be closing on his properties and will pay us back what we lent him plus some interest. It will be a relief to have that cushion back while we figure out our next move. Going to transcribe a bit more today. My cache is up to $50.00 and I won't cash it out until the end of the month but so far I've been enjoying the little I've been doing on the side.

savingholmes

The hydrangea looks beautiful against the grey of the house.

Best of luck with the money juggle. Grateful we don't have medical bills in the same way. Yesterday a relative went to A&E had free blood tests and a CT scan. Can't imagine what that would cost over where you are.

Jessy103

Beautiful hydrangea 🙂

LeighofMar

Thanks, Savings and Jesse. The hydrangea is one of my pride and joys in my garden, mainly because he survived, unlike my flower beds. 

Payday today, although it really consists of me taking the money out of the company and depositing into our account. I hate doing it that way but work that was supposed to happen didn't or we didn't get paid from the clients on time for me to submit an official payroll and run it through to get taxes taken out, etc. Hopefully, this will be the last time I have to do it this way and we can get back on track soon enough. But with that said, I will start the money shuffle tomorrow as it is too late in the day for me to concentrate on all of it now. 

DH says that my bathroom should be ready this weekend and I can hope to move back into my bedroom. I have my new bed but no mattress yet so I will have to set up my giant old bed again until I can afford a new mattress. 

I would love to say I'll be getting a new mattress soon, but of course here in the States, healthcare is way different and I am getting slammed with bills. I had my iron infusion yesterday, $150.00. I owe my GI doctor for visiting me in the hospital $520.00. I have paid $120.00 of that so far. The hospital bills have not yet come in officially, but I am sure they will be a doozy. And I am being referred back to my GI as they probably need to do a scope again. Then I can do my fibroid surgery and I'm sure that will take a deposit too. And next week is another iron infusion, $150.00 and then consult with Hematology/Oncology $30.00. I know I should be grateful as I'm seeing all these specialists within a short period of time and they are so close. Literally, all my healthcare is within a 5-minute drive. But geez, it's hard enough with the prices of everything else going up except wages. I've told DH we may have to pivot the business again, possibly getting into new construction because we really need raises. We will reevaluate and see what we can do. 

Time to bake for a little bit and play some music to get me out of this funk. I know what I have to deal with health-wise, but once in a while, you get tired of being resilient and just want to fall apart. That's my today. Hoping tomorrow will be better. Have a good weekend to all. 

savingholmes

Medical bills don't sound fun at all. If it's any consolation over here you would be on a months long or even years long waiting list for stuff.

Hope the deal closes for your friend soon so he can repay you.

Tahlullah.H

Crazy costs for healthcare.  But, the downside to free care is the waiting times.  I guess if we are unwilling to wait, we can pay to go private, so I think our system may be better.  We know if our ailment is life threatening or not, and if we are prepared to wait or not.  The difficulty is whether we can afford to pay to go private, but how is that different to your system?  What do people do if they can't afford to pay?

On a positive, great to hear the bathroom is nearly done and that you can get back into your bedroom.  I am certain it was worth the disruption and the wait.  Enjoy.

LeighofMar

Wow, thanks Savings and Tahlullah. I had no idea of the challenges of NHS care with specialists. You're right, each system has its pros and cons. It may cost a lot but insurance will kick in 100% after I've paid my out-of-pocket max for the year if applicable. I can't imagine needing a specialist and having to wait forever. For low income people here they will have Medicaid which will pay for everything but of course the kicker is not all Drs accept Medicaid so they have the challenge of finding doctors. Sounds like it's messed up worldwide. 

Had a look at a lot that would be perfect for building a home. The lot is 15k. If we can build a small home, maybe a 2/2 1000 sq ft and be all in at 100k, it could potentially be a good project for the business. We have gotten some great ideas off of YouTube for small charming homes with wonderful porches and indoor/outdoor living. I will have half the cash but will need to find the other half and we still need payroll while the project lasts, about 6 months. I want to go for it but will have to run the #s and figure out how to raise the rest of the funds. I'm excited about the potential either way. 

Mortgage payment for Aug going out today. House fund is at 1025.00. General savings 7400.00. Efund 2650.00. Groceries bought for 200.00 leaving 50.00 for topping up on fruit and snacks over the next 2 weeks. Also 5% cashback if I used my bank credit card which is a nice little bonus. DH is fetching some McDonalds egg McMuffins this morning so it's a nice start to the day☺

savingholmes

Nice cashback - the rates aren't anywhere near that generous over here.

Well done on the mortgage payment.

The project sounds a good possibility.

Tahlullah.H

Congratulations with the finances and the mortgage payments.

I cannot believe you can find a plot of land for $15k.  Is that correct?  That wouldn't even buy a park home in the UK.  You would have no chance of buying a plot of land for that price, especially one that would come with planning permission.  The only plot of land for sale near me is £120k for 0.165 acres, a former Garage, so the land may be contaminated.  But at least it has great, far-reaching views.  On the downside, it also has Japanese knotweed identified on the site.  Not sure how that compares.

The opportunities for business and building homes is so much more realistic over there.  It sounds great.