Giving every £ a job

foxgloves

Hope your cold is better, @Blackcats, & that it didn't turn out to be anything worse. I almost bought some paracetamol 'extra' the other day, but then I thought, hang on, the extra ingredient is only caffeine. I've got 4 boxes of basic paracetamol in stock, so if I need something with a bit more welly, I'll just take two of those with a strong cup of coffee. Shopped from home, oh yes!
F x

savingholmes

@Blackcats I am another one hoping you are okay and just resting away from the screen.

Blackcats

Thank you for checking in Rebecca, Foxgloves and Saving Holmes.

I think I lost my va va voom for a while - I felt tired and lacking in enthusiasm so I concentrated on getting through the work day (just a constant barrage of on screen meetings) and in the evenings I've just been doing some crochet and watching old tv shows like Endeavour, A touch of frost and similar.  Feeling much more perky today.

Luckily the budget hasn't gone too haywire .... I need to separate out Xmas spending as I've got a separate pot for that and at the moment it's making the credit card balance look a bit high.  I was under budget for petrol last month (because there wasn't any petrol 😇) but over budget on eating out.  They did balance each other out but eating out used to be such a big expense each month pre lockdown and I really don't want to slip back into old ways.  

We were talking ourselves into "deserving/needing/wanting" a takeaway tonight but instead we are making king prawn jalfrezi and rice.  Found the prawns in the freezer so no additional spending for a yummy dinner.   

lucielle

Been lurking for a while.  Less than a year to go until freedom!!!
L

savingholmes

Glad you are okay - you had us worried for a moment. 

Blackcats

Thanks SH - our virtual friends here are very kind.

I've been reading an early retirement blog which asks some good questions - what do you want in life?  What's important to you? Where does your money go?  What adds value?  It then gives some slightly different to usual spending categories such as 
family - gifts, visits, social
leisure - travel, going out, hobbies, subscriptions eg national trust
as family and leisure were high on my what's important to me list it was helpful to work through the potential costs.

had a nice roast lunch with my dad today - found some parsnips, stuffing balls and sprouts lurking in the freezer which I used and so I have created a fraction more space in the freezer.

34 weeks to go 💃

savingholmes

It's good to prepare for retirement. I think in the past people used to get 'there' and wonder what to do with themselves. Much better to plan ahead and make sure you make the most out of your health and wealth.

Blackcats

Thanks for popping in Lucielle - yes less than a year which is scary and exciting in nearly equal measures.
yes SH - it's good to plan.  Although I've never really made sensible plans before - hence the debt, debt and more debt in the past.  However, at least I know that I've always been ok in the end so I'm hoping that some planning now will pay off next year. 

Had a nice relaxing evening tonight - no tv but listening to music which is a good change.  I'm also listening to The Thursday Murder Club 2nd book on audib*e.  I'm really enjoying it, even more than the first book.  It's well narrated by Lesley Manville who does a great job with the characters.  I've snorted with laughter a couple of times which has made OH jump as I've got my headphones on so it's a completely unexpected and unexplained snort 🤣

savingholmes

Blackcats said:

 I've snorted with laughter a couple of times which has made OH jump as I've got my headphones on so it's a completely unexpected and unexplained snort 🤣

Double the entertainment value then!

[Deleted User]

So glad you're ok blackcats (just caught up).  I love that you were able to take yourself off quietly for a while to do some crochet.  I'm also very impressed with your ability to resist takeaway and make a fakeaway!  I reckon your freezer is like hermione grainger's handbag!!!!

Would you be able to share details of the blog?  I'd be interested in reading.  I think a lot of our priorities have changed and I can't work out if that is because of age, the pandemic or the arrival of the kids (or poss a combo of all 3!)