Keep calm and carry on....

Grogged

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/elderflower-gin
mmmm....

South_coast

I need links to where to find elderflower growing, not more tempting alcohol!!!

newgirly

The right choice to hope for the best and plan for the worst financially I think sc, plus you can update money as overpaid to the mortgage and just put in in a ring fenced account to be actually paid off in a few months time when everything is more certain. 

South_coast

I know that makes sense NG, but I was really quite wedded to the idea that I'd be MF next year 😢 I don't get paid until next Friday, will see how the ground lies then I think and keep on keeping on in the meantime

South_coast

One of the trees in BF's garden is coming out in lovely blossom. After so many months of winter and now this, I'd almost forgotten spring was on its way - and it's great to see something not affected by coronavirus 😀

BF is keeping at real at least. As he's working (mostly outside) today and I'm off, I'll be doing a tour of the supermarkets to try and source a couple of missing items. Asked if he wanted any kitchen roll as he's completely out: "Not any of that cheap sh*t though, you might as well not bother" So I am on the hunt for expensive kitchen roll 😂

South_coast

No kitchen roll for BF. And we both bought meat for his elderly neighbours as I missed his call telling me he had bought meat as I was in the supermarket buying meat 😂 So now they have plenty 😂

Big news: Have managed to change our hotel booking (this being the original one we were meant to go to today), so are now going later in the year. Really pleased about this, as it was proper stressing me out. Still to do something about the one for Saturday night that we booked in its place, but feeling optimistic something can be done. Have also had an email from the main hotel for the June road-trip to say I can change the date or cancel and have until the day before to let them know, so plenty of time to decide on that. Not heard from the hotel for the extra night top-up I booked later, but hopefully they'll offer the same as it looks like most chains are going to be fairly flexible. Listen to me, I sound like a right gadabout! To clarify, there were only ever two trips, only a few nights and only in the UK! 

Jessy103

Glad you were able to change the date, SC and the other ones sound promising that you're able to do something about them too! x

newgirly

That’s good news SC 🙂

South_coast

£25 OP made 😀!  Had some expenses paid and a couple of Prolific payouts and didn't think £25 would make any material difference to my financial situation so thought what the h*ll, YOLO and all that 😂 It also meant I have managed to send something every Friday this month, which was the little target I'd set myself. 

Have also set my pots going for the month as I'd er....run out of money. I seem to recall starting a week early last month as well, so no massive catastrophe and the money was already there so thought I may as well. The way I (currently) run my money is to fill up 3 seperate savings accounts on payday: Petrol, groceries and personal spends (basically, anything which isn't petrol or groceries). I then pay for everything by credit card as I get supermarket points and move the money from the pot into my current account as I spend it so it's there ready for when the direct debit for the credit card comes out. So the current account starts off empty once all my bills have been paid and pots topped up, then gradually fills back up as the pots empty, meaning if I do need to start the next month's pots early the money is usually there to do so. I normally allocate £300 petrol, £100 groceries and £200 personal (which seems outrageous, but always gets spent 😂!). This month have gone for £150 petrol as I'll clearly be driving less, but not yet sure how much; £150 groceries as shortages may mean I have to spend more on the items I would usually buy as my normal choices won't be available; and stuck with £200 personal as I'd already spent over £100 of it and have a prescription to pick up later 😂 I also committed to paying 1% of my income to a local homeless charity this year, so that needs to come out of that pot as well (this assuages my guilt at seeing people sleeping in the street in my town centre - there was a big increase at one point - whilst I was spending £100's extra every month on securing the roof over my own head). So, with most of the money already allocated, definitely needed to keep the personal pot at that level this month! Hopefully BF will not order a case of wine without consulting me and then ask me to cough up half again this month....

Still dithering over the save/OP dilemma. Current train of thought is that I could save 1 month's worth of direct debit costs and OP the remainder so it felt like I had a foot in both camps and continue to do that for however long this situation lasts. Still 7 days til payday, so plenty of time to dither though

South_coast

P.S. I hope I don't sound show-offy/sanctimonious above, I realise I'm in an extremely fortunate position to be still receiving my full salary and able to make OP's and charitable donations when I realise a lot of people are worrying how they're going to pay the bills (and some of those people out there may be reading this thread). I was more setting out my thoughts on how I'm going to manage my money while I am still in this fortunate position and musing on how to take things forward if that changes. We are all living through unprecedented times and I'm extremely grateful for everything I have. Yes, I've set my heart on being MF next year, but if that doesn't happen then it's not going to be the end of the world.

Love to you all x