Holey Moley!

killerpeaty

My boiler replacement is booked for the second week in April. The deposit is paid! It's going to happen!

greent

That's fantastic! Great news, kp  

killerpeaty

Thanks Greent, feeling like things are actually moving! 

Been spendy for the last few days, I've had a very mild migraine which makes me stupid and also crave salt. Still feeling rough but I am getting there. Hoping to the last of the walls/ceiling painting of the bathroom completed tomorrow. Then I need to think about the replacement grey for the skirting boards.

Work has been busy. There is high tensions right now with a lot of people threatening to leave the company so interesting times are ahead.

I don't know if anyone is interested, but Prince$$ is back on youtube. It's canadian money make over show which is fairly old but attempts to convert mad spenders to at least a little bit more sensible. It's really good.

I and my colleagues have also been watching bargain brits on benefits and most of the time it is delightful. I don't know if anyone else is hooked on it but I love it. Most of the time it's just the joy of the bargain and it speaks to my soul. The last episode showed this lady who loves hammer horrors, dresses like Elvira and is obsessed with charity shops. She's a little scary, but I feel like she might be my spirit animal. 

killerpeaty

Did not paint the bathroom, but did clean my mum's bathroom so sort of didn't lie?

I'm delighted with myself because I've bamboozled a friend of mine into working drag race with me. She is a big fan of the arts in any form but she didn't know much of drag so this is her first dip in.

Right so money.
Spent a large amount of money which is a hangover of Christmas (credit card) and a deposit for the boiler. Will need to be more cautious with spending for the next few months me thinks.

Investments are doing well! I am 35.5% to my goal (both investments and pension) for age 40, which is remarkably easy to calculate considering I want £100k. I am doing poorly with my contribution target though, I'm only £400 into £4k, I don't think I took into account all of the things I need to spend on, rooky move . Still, I hope to get to £2k contributed by the end of December.

My goal for paying the mortgage is harder to calculate unfortunately but I am 11.3% of the way to my goal for my mortgage at age 40 (mortgage down to £100k).

0% Credit card is small, tempted to pay it off now but should save instead.

I found a lovely chest on marketplace for £1. That's not a typo. I wasn't quick enough but next time I am hopeful, there are some incredible deals.

I might need to change some of my plans for my flat, my sister is hoping to get a new job which may require her to wfh (currently she can't), so she's told me that she will be taking over my rubbish room. So I guess I will need to sort my rubbish and not use that room for diy prep! (I jest, she's more than welcome to use my rubbish room)

killerpeaty

All that above about being cautious with money.. I spent £150 in debenhams on clothing (much needed) and pillows (for me and family). No regrets, it was all very much needed, but I'm trying to be more conscious about my spending, stop spending on silly things.

Things have been stressful at work. But I have gone out of my way to ensure that I'm not working this weekend, which is the first time (intentionally) this year. It's so good to have a break. I've also booked some holiday, despite not being able to go anywhere, which I'm very much looking forward to!

I am way way better than I have been, but feeling a little fragile. So I'm not working on the bathroom (ceiling needs to have a second layer and need to paint behind the radiator) because I think that might be a bit much for me. However I am working on my corner display cabinet, which I am really enjoying. I want a better sander, so I'm asking for one for my birthday. I'm just so exciting. 

Having said that, I put some washing on and I appear to have put it on the wrong setting because it's been on for 2 hours now........... So still a numpty.

Lastly, I really must either make up my mind more quickly or stop looking on marketplace, I missed out on a mid century bureau which I debated for a WHOLE HOUR for £30. That's less than a pair of jeans! Why do I do this to myself, I love mid century modern furniture. My mum actually asked me yesterday if I would ever consider a new piece like a crazy woman.

greent

Ahh - that's a shame about the bureau fingers crossed something similar comes up sometime

Sounds wise not to be doing the  ceiling if you're not feeling 100%. When have you booked time off - hopefully you can recharge soon!

killerpeaty

Hi Greent! How are you? My holiday is in three weeks time but I'm being nagged into taking more before the holiday year is up. Really look forward to it!

This weekend's task has been to attempt to put my mum's curtain rail up. Apparently, and I feel like this might be a shock to everyone, cats climbing up curtains can and will lead to the rail being pulled out of the wall leaving a big hole in the wall. I'm 5 foot 2. This causes issues in both knocking the cat off of the curtain AND putting the rail back into the wall.

The white part of my painting my bathroom should now be complete. Once it's dry, I will be able to see if I missed anything Then it's skirting boards, door frame and door itself to paint and finally pick a blind to install. So excited about a room being so close to being completed. Whoop whoop! Party over here!

greent

Hi kp = make sure you take the holiday, rather than lose out on it!

Am also 5 2 - only DS3 (11) is shorter than me in this house - DH, DD and DS1 & DS2 are all taller than me - it does mean I get them to do things for me, though! (not necessarily DD - she may be 2" taller, but has short arms, so our reach (I have long arms also with long hands for my height) is similar - mine may actually be fractionally more!)

You're getting there on the bathroom - I'm excited for you!  

killerpeaty

Have you considered stretching DD's arms on a regular basis?! It would totally get you off the hook for all height and length related chores. 

I'm now on holiday! I have celebrated by sleeping all day yesterday, updating spreadsheets and sorting my money out today. Tomorrow, I will be doing some DIY, probably bathroom related.

MONEY
Investments have fallen a little bit. Not worried, it's pretty standard that early in the year there will be a dip. There's some talk that a correction is coming, still unconcerned because my strategy is to drip feed and ignore.

(slightly off topic) A friend of mine is getting really into cryptocurrency and he's so excited about the big jumps in it that he's reading up on it and following the growth every single day. He reads into which ones will be the next bitcoin and then invests and encourages me to invest. I have explained in the past that in addition to my ignore strategy, I only invest in things that I understand the use for. Which right now I don't want to invest in transaction only CCs because the volatility of them would make people insane (in my opinion) to actively use them as a true currency. Some CCs are used to based other software off of, which makes a lot more sense to me in terms of wanting to invest right now because it can be used in a way that I understand (if I look it up). All this to say, I find it quite awkward to continuously say I'm not investing in it (for now, never say never) in polite ways while still trying to encourage him in his endeavours.

From now on CC will refer to credit card, not cryptocurrency.

Back on topic
Savings have increased this month nicely, but my day-to-day CC is a bit high. This is mainly because I've been eating takeaway lunches a lot recently and it really needs to stop. This will be my focus to improve on this month, once I'm out of the habit it should be fine. I've also been buying paint again. Paint is expensive!

My 0% CC is now £253.90! My mortgage is now just under £159k! Progress!

Sadly, my plans on increasing my savings or investments after paying off the 0% are likely to be squashed. My car appears to be developing faults at an alarming rate. I am hoping that I can wait until Wales opens as their cars are cheaper (I have a relative in Wales who actually knows something about cars as well). I'm hoping to spend less than £5k and to put it on a 0% CC to spread the pain.

NOT MONEY

It's my birthday this week, which I'm looking forward to very much. I'm hoping we will be able to go for a walk and a takeaway depending on health.

Additionally, I have finally got someone to say yes to me on marketplace. Even better! It's free! It's a mid century dual pedestal vanity that I want to split into two bedside tables and a mirror. I showed my sister it and she hated it and asked why on earth I'm showing her this, then I showed her a youtube video of a furniture flipper doing the exact same thing. I'm excited to try it. Even if it's a total disaster it doesn't matter! I just want to try.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend and feeling as positive as they can! Woot woot!

South_coast

Ooh, it's my birthday this week as well 😀😀😀!

I am definitely staying away from crypto-currencies - I'm working on the theory that if I don't understand it, I'm not putting my hard-earned cash anywhere near it 😮

Enjoy the rest of your week off with the DIY!