It's time to start digging up those Squirrelled Nuts!!!!

Sea_Shell

MallyGirl said:

So far I have made a couple of trips to the garden centre for very specific items rather than a browse. Food is still being delivered. The dogs can be walked somewhere nice from the front door - Uni campus that used to belong to the Marquis of Blandford so he didn't have schlepp all the way to Daddy's house at Blenheim if he wanted to escape London.
It has been a sobering weekend - on Saturday morning I found out that a seemingly fit and healthy uni friend had died of a heart attack at 53, then that evening a lunatic stabbed several people in a nearby  park (killing 3). 

Indeed it is sobering, that with all the Covid stuff going on, other bad and sad stuff can still (and does) happen, taking us completely by surprise and without warning!! 

DairyQueen

We have managed a few days out thanks to research on the public loo situation. Motorway services are one option and some district councils are obliging.

We have driven a few times for isolated, country walks as our favoured routes around our rural village are now pretty busy.

Ten days ago we ventured 60 miles to visit mum-in-law's grave on what would have been her 90th birthday. As a care home resident it proved to be a blessing that she died last year before this madness began. The cemetery is only a few miles from a motorway services.

Yesterday (Father's Day) youngest stepdaughter and her new spouse drove from their home in East London and met us for a socially-distanced picnic in a castle grounds. Public loos open (bless that council). It was the first time we have seen them since lockdown and an absolute treat. The park was quiet as the castle is closed. With all eateries closed few very visitors around the town.

We intend to make the most of the next two weeks as all will change from 4th July. Another picnic is planned for next week.

I am also visiting a friend for lunch in her garden next week. Mask will be worn when visiting her 'spare' loo and I'll take my own food.

atush

No Covid here for over 30 days now, so all restrictions relaxed here apart from the Border is closed still.
I can go to Tesco w/o queuing in the rain, and i ate in actual restaurant on Saturday for lunch.

vulcanrtb

Great. But where's 'here'?

atush

Iom.  Now that NZ has been 're infected there are only a few vivid free places.  Guernsey may be

bowlhead99

atush said:

Iom.  Now that NZ has been 're infected there are only a few vivid free places.  Guernsey may be

Yes Guernsey moved back to normal activity without social distancing and 'controlled/ uncontrolled environments' rules this weekend. But guessed you weren't there as you mentioned going to Tesco rather than the local equivalent!

Sea_Shell

I've been having a look at (play with) some budgeting/home banking software recommended on another thread (MMex), and it looks good for anyone who is new to tracking their income v spends, but after having a play around with it, I don't think it's going to provide me with much more data/analysis than I already have via my own spreadsheets.     What's the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"   

We obviously don't really have an "income" as such, now that we are into our "unofficial drawdown" of spending our savings, and we've got our spends pretty well nailed down (as you know!!) as to what goes where.   I also have data tracking our net worth going back to Nov 2016.

atush

No one could nail down spends more than you have lol.

Our spends are down, but mostly due to missing one lang haul and possibly our france trip this summer.  Plus not being able to go out.  But now we can, just been dipping the toe in, esp as our local french bistro has closed its doors as the lockdown went on too long for them.  Grocery spending is up, mainly due to higher pricing and very few special offers.  Have been able to source local high end ingredients like langoustines 7 per kg and 2 lobsters for 15 quid from fishermen in my local port town.  They benefit from cutting out the middle man, but now restaurants are re opening they will be able to sell more of their catch so not sure how long these locals selling from the pier will go on.

cfw1994

Thx, might take a look at MMex. 
We've used Quicken for decades, and use it in particular for a small business (holiday cottage) to keep things on that tidy, but I do fear for the day it decides to stop working!   Definitely a case of me not fixing it 'cos it ain't broke....but...
I've looked at many over the years...MS Money (also a 'sunset' product), YNAB, MyMoneyFree & others.....none have grabbed me as an easy-to-use solution.  GnuCash came close.

ggmf

I've been using MMex for 3 or 4 years, works for me in conjunction with my trusty spreadsheets.