MF - now the 2 year journey to financial freedom 😁

[Deleted User]

It's looking like dil has potentially  caught the virus so we're now on full on lock down 😭 we've also been let down with our suma delivery so although I have a fair amount of supplies in, I am going to have to be a bit canny with their use and make sure it lasts for as long as possible. 😉
Thankfully dh had managed to get some veg yesterday so I currently have fresh cabbage (2 of them - he didn’t check before he went shopping 🙈), carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes, parsnios, swede, celeriac and broccoli. Obviously, other than the broccoli, the other veg will survive for two weeks  (although I'm going to try the putting broccoli in water trick to see if it does prolong it's life 😉) We will prevail! 🙌 

Money wise, for me this whole thing has actually been of benefit - in some ways I know that sounds awful 🙊I feel terrible for the situation that so many people are in, and having lived through some incredibly difficult times financially, I genuinely understand how appalling, frightening and stressful it currently is for so many people, but this diary is about my journey so I want to be honest about how things are affecting me right now. 
Having much of what I was going to be paying out for cancelled means that I can pay off the cc and get some cash behind me before it all returns to normal. In all honesty, it makes me feel a whole lot better. I have felt anxious about carrying the cc debt - not because of a fear that I would be unable to pay, but I just don't like having a balance at all and certainly not one that is larger than 1 months salary. Knowing that next month it will be gone and we'll still have 'spare' cash makes me a lot more comfortable 🙌 
While I'm still hopeful of getting our late summer holiday, if it is delayed or cancelled, I'll enjoy not having to add a balance to the cc 😂 
Anyway, hope you're all staying safe! 😁

beanielou

Good money news for you then. 

[Deleted User]

The suma order arrived unexpectedly so I now have the majority of my stocks replenished! 🙌 I spent yesterday cleaning and sorting the house (dh is working from home now and it's totally thrown me off my game! 😂) so I'm feeling a whole lot better - I have come to realise that my house not being clean and tidy has a really detrimental affect on my state of mind. I've always been a bit edgy when it's not right but now that I love the interior it's a lot worse!! 🙈😂 
Ds started to dig out my border yesterday - still loads to do but I'm so pleased he's made a start...hopefully he'll continue through the week and I'll pay him - unfortunately he started his job the first week of March so isn't entitled to any furlough payments and not eligible for UC as my dil earns too much 🙈 thankfully, I expected it and they live with me otherwise they would be in real trouble now! I understand the reason for the cut off date is to establish the level of salary but surely they could give those who recently started 80% of minimum wage??? I don't know how on earth people are going to get through this otherwise 😔
 
Anyway, financially things are reasonably quiet. Despite my welcome surprise delivery from Suma, I will still be able to clear the cc this month which makes me happy!! 😁 from May, we will start to save for our late summer holiday just in case it goes ahead - it's incredibly unlikely but I don't want to be in a position where we haven't got the cash if it does happen. 
Anyway, today I have sorted some laundry and fed the garden creatures, had a latte and am currently watching 4 insane squirrels, 8 pheasants, 2 jays and innumerable other birds enjoying the sun in my back garden ❤ I really do love my life!!! 😍

[Deleted User]

It's been a lovely weekend so far 😁 I spent the first two days being totally lazy and really enjoying it, then yesterday we were in the garden enjoying the sunshine 🙌 dh cut back a number of conifers and we had a bonfire last night to get rid of them - I'm really glad we did as the weather today is pretty horrendous 🙈
Today I will whizz around the house and do some laundry then it's another lazy day I think 😉 
I haven't heard anything from my holiday company regarding a refund on my deposit (it's my UK holiday) and I'm getting the feeling that I may not receive it - thankfully the money was paid earlier in the year so it's kind of out of sight out of mind in one way - but it worries me that they are being so silent on it when so many people will be in a similar situation who have had a massive income drop and really need the cash 😔 
Anyway, financially things are okay here but we have got a bit of work to do on the house which needs to start pretty much as soon as this lock down is lifted. We've had squirrels living in between the membrane and tiles in the roof for the past couple of years (they haven't got into the loft itself yet) but they have destroyed the fascia boards! 🙈 Normally, the babies are out by the beginning of July so we will get the boards done then and they'll have the summer to relocate 😁 ds has a friend who does that type of work so we've provisionally booked him! 
Right, off to make a latte - have a fab day! 😁

[Deleted User]

I finally have a zero balance on the credit cards!! 🙌🙌🙌 Next month will be the first month in a long time that our salaries (other than the usual household bills) will be our own 😁 I know it will change if our summer holiday goes ahead but it will be nice while it lasts! 😉😂
We've got no further with the garden which is disappointing but I'm going to have a go at the weekend if the weather holds - we need glass for the greenhouse so I'm unable to start seeds off in there at the moment- hopefully the delay will not affect the quantity or quality of the crop 🙈 
Anyway, hope everyone is staying safe and sane! 😁

doingitanyway

I came over to your diary after reading your vegan blog.
You are doing great.
I also have squirrels but they have got in my loft due to rotting fascias. I'm not as lucky and can't find a good tradesman to do the fascias. Prompted by you I might start the search again...
I love Suma products too. I'd like a delivery annually but there is a limited line a few miles away so computer says no...

[Deleted User]

That's so annoying doingitanyway 😔 its a real shame that they wont accept you - it may be worth calling them and explaining how limited the local stock is, perhaps they'll relent? Be aware though that the minimum order price is pretty hefty (it qualifies you for free delivery - I don't know the delivery charges if you don't meet the minimum) but its worth a try 😉
Good luck with the search for a tradesperson - after my traumas last year with the renovations on my house I lost faith with most of them so understand your position! 🙈 

[Deleted User]

No further on with the garden so I'm contacting a local gardener today to book him for whenever he's available/able to start! 😂 I'm not sure how the lockdown affects gardening businesses- it's easy to socially distance so perhaps he's still working 🤔 either way, I want it sorted when it's possible and I want to continue to support local people where I can. 
I've had a bit of a slump emotionally recently- not seeing my grandbaby is affecting me much more than even I had thought it would;  technology is great but there's no substitute for the physical contact and we spent a lot of our time together 😔 I know that everyone is in the same boat but that isn't a consolation, nor is the fact that it's for everyone's physical benefit - I have no idea how people who live far from their grandbabies cope! 🙈😭 
Finances are currently fine - we're spending a lot less on petrol but a lot more on alcohol! 😂 as I work from home anyway, having dh at home isn't making any difference to our bills so for the most part our lives are pretty normal - being anti-social generally has been a real benefit for us! 😂

shangaijimmy

squirrelgirl said:

- being anti-social generally has been a real benefit for us! 😂

Just delurking to cheer you on! This phrase really resonated with me, as Mrs SJ and me had the same conversation on Sunday!!!

[Deleted User]

shangaijimmy said:

squirrelgirl said:

- being anti-social generally has been a real benefit for us! 😂

Just delurking to cheer you on! This phrase really resonated with me, as Mrs SJ and me had the same conversation on Sunday!!!

SJ, nice to know it's not just us!! 😂😂😂
Major move forward on the garden front - the gardener responded to me by 4.30pm yesterday and was round at 5.30pm to quote on the work and give me a start date of next Friday!!! 🙌🙌🙌 I'm so happy! I'm not sure how long it will take but I'm hoping that it will be completed by the end of May 😉 I'm going to venture out today to the local farm shop to get some compost and start some seeds off 😁 I'm really looking forward to growing my veg again - I will be sensible this time though and grow in reasonable quantities! Previously I have put in far too many of one thing and also grown things that we don't particularly like to eat 🙈😂 This time I'm going for a steady stream of stuff we will use and enjoy- you'd think that should be obvious but I'm a bit of a muppet at times!! 😂 
Anyway, when it is all up and running, I'm going to make sure that the kids have access to the produce, I'm going to have one bed of smaller height so that my grandbaby can help and I'm going to use one of the beds to grow flowers for the house 😁 I just want it done now! 😂 
Obviously it's costing quite a bit to get the work done so I'm not sure that the financial aspect of this is particularly money-saving but I have to admit that I don't really care - aesthetically I adore veg beds full of yummy produce so it's worth every penny to me! 😉