Head out of the sand. Saving for a shiny future

savingwannabe

Good luck with the date. I had neighbours that did that in my old house - it did my nut in. Get a holly bush as they will avoid jumping over that. You have done some tough jobs in the garden I am such a wimp. I just mow the grass and ignore the overgrown bushes. lol. The weather is picking up later in the week I hope it get's better for you. Good luck. 

ForestBluebells

savingwannabe said:

Good luck with the date. I had neighbours that did that in my old house - it did my nut in. Get a holly bush as they will avoid jumping over that. You have done some tough jobs in the garden I am such a wimp. I just mow the grass and ignore the overgrown bushes. lol. The weather is picking up later in the week I hope it get's better for you. Good luck. 

The date went well so that was nice. Feels nice to actually have someone to hang out with but it’s a little weird trying to social distance date. I don’t think he truly understands social distancing but hopefully the situation will improve and social distancing will be needed less soon. I’m not wanting to risk anything. 

Yeah I think a little hedge could work, just a little physical barrier. I’m not crazy annoyed about it but I just find it rude as I wouldn’t dream of walking over someone’s lawn. Maybe that’s just me but my parents always taught me that was rude. 

Believe me I ignored the overgrown bushes too as they are only on my drive but it’s properly grown around my gutters now so I had to do something before it ripped them off and caused a bigger issue. 

I got paid from my online job today so that will go straight in my pension tomorrow 🙌 I have so much lost ground to make up. 🤦‍♀️😫

savingwannabe

Hurrah for payment and good date. He really likes you which is why he wont social distance so much maybe. Good luck with the hedge. It is rude I agree. 

ForestBluebells

I wrote a really long update then somehow it disappeared before I managed to post it 🙈

I still haven’t decided on any plants yet. My mum is going to come over and help me next week (social distancing) and do a few garden jobs with me. I’m leaning towards building a 1ft extension to the fence. It’s not allowed as it will be over 6ft but who is gonna complain? And then it will truly be blocked out and I can grow my clematis up it as it’s begging for more height To grow up currently. I also need to see if there is any way of fixing the rest of my fence. The panels have started shrinking and there’s gaps forming between them all and I feel like I’m going to need to pull them all off and re-overlay them and maybe add a few more panels which doesn’t sound like an easy job I’m not even sure how possible it is. I don’t know why it’s suddenly started shrinking. I think I need to treat the fence too as this is happening all over and i only had it built 4 years ago  

I have a big list of jobs to do round the home next week including painting my door frame and some internal walls which got damaged when my upstairs neighbour had a leak, putting a trellis up and training my rose to it, sealing around my Patio door as it’s just a big gap (rubbish tradesman), sealing around the bath better, I feel like I’ve always chosen rubbish tradesmen when getting work done and feeling a bit deflated that the fence is becoming such a problem suddenly. I’m not sure I want to go to the hardware store to get the bits though as I’m worried about the virus as I’m vulnerable to it. It feels like such a big job. 

I have next week off work so I can crack on with these jobs although we are busy so I will still need to actually help at work a bit. 

I’ve been doing a bit of pension planning this week and I found a spreadsheet in these forums that helps plan how much you estimate to have in your pot and how long that will last so you can estimate when you can retire. Given I only had a realisation I needed to up my game this year (35) I think I’m on track to be able to retire comfortably.... for now at least. I have a 5 year plan and will re-review then (I chose 5 years as that’s when my mortgage is due for renewal). I’ve rejigged some Savings pots in my lovely spreadsheet and decided to give up my hobby so I’m now able to save over £1000 a month from my base salary into my pension, S&S ISA, and cash savings (going to need to upgrade my car within the next few years). All commission I earn, survey money and income from my 2nd job goes into my pension. In a few months I’ll have earnt enough this tax year to register as self employed for my 2nd job and start saving aside money for tax. Then I’ll need to figure out how to do a tax return 😬 it might only be for this year though as my freelance work could end at any point and definitely won’t be more than 1 year unless I can get a new freelance job which I will try to as it’s been great for boosting my Pension savings. I’m feeling less scared about not being able to retire now I’ve done the planning. That’s as long as there are no spanners in the works along the way...

It’s been a bit boring updating my spreadsheet lately as I’m not spending much. I did just splurge and buy my dogs £33 worth of treats though.  They deserve it. I’m on track for the month spending wise apart from my food budget 😬🙈 due to underlying health conditions I haven’t been to the supermarket at all since lockdown and it’s hard to stick to my usual weekly meal planning which I absolutely loved doing as it’s so sporadic when I can get a delivery slot. I’m spending at least £100 a month more than usual on food 🤦‍♀️ I know I can rein it in when it’s safe to go back to the shops but I don’t know when I’ll feel safe to do that... plus my car battery is dead now having not driven for so long so I’ll need to replace that before I can drive again. 

MovingForwards

Have you looked to see what companies are still delivering in your local area? That way you could potentially buy new fencing and have it delivered, providing the posts are good and you feel able to replace the existing ones.

If the hardware shop isnt a national one, they may do a click and collect type service. Or look at places like scr3w f1x who do click and collect.

Tax returns are quite straightforward. There's bound to be loads of guides online.
You used to be able to download / print them, that way you could practice before having to do the real thing. My brother pays about £200 to his accountant to do his, self-employed with numerous tax deductables, their fee is also deductable!

Can you add more 'staples' tinned / frozen to aid your meal planning?

Speak with your neighbours, see if any have jump leads, you've nothing to lose by trying to jumpstart your car. You may be able to salvage the battery. If it does jumpstart, then go out every few days to start the engine but keep your revs up a bit rather than letting it tick over, about 20mins will do.

ForestBluebells

Yeah good idea I’ll see if I can get some wood delivered. I’m not good at DIY but I’ll give it a go. I didn’t realise wood could shrink so much as my fence is awful now. I’m holding bits together with arris rail brackets and I’m desperate to close the gaps between the planks. I was told by the fence man I didn’t need to treat it for many years as it was already treated but it’s rubbish how badly it’s deteriorating after only 4 years 😫 

i will only earn around £3k this tax year on my 2nd job, maybe a little less if the job ends in December or before but I’ll need to do the tax return after the trading allowance of £1k, I don’t have any deductible costs. I’ll find out the important dates and put them in my diary. Makes me wonder if it’s not worth doing any surveys once I’m over the traders allowance as having to pay 20% tax on 20p an hour survey (what it feels like) makes them even less worthwhile 😂🙈

ive been real sick this morning with stress Over my normal day job And I couldn’t sleep so I’m glad I’ve got some time off although I know I’ll still have to deal with bits on my holiday. 

I do have some cans and freezer bits, I’ve got a list of all my ingredients so I’ll write some menus with what I’ve got, I find it hard as I usually look on Pinterest for meal ideas based on what I have In but then need some top up items. Not having access to regular shopping makes the top up ingredients hard and I end up with boring meals. 

Good idea about the battery, I’ll give it a go and just go on a longer drive and see if it holds it’s charge. 

savingwannabe

That's a lot to be dealing with all at once - the car and the fence. I would just advertise on f0cebook and ask someone to do the fence as it sounds like it's hard work then you can have rest as it sounds like you have too much on at present.  I am so sorry work is stressful it's horrid when that happens and during the coronadoodah it makes it even worse. Do the work but try to set some time aside each day for chilling too.  I hope the weather is good and you can. Good luck ok. swx

MovingForwards

Try not to stress over your normal job. I know it's hard, but no job is worth it.

You tax assessment date depends on whether it's online or paper submission. As you want to do it after the 2nd one finishes, it will need to be online submission as thats the furthest date from now.

If you want to put up a list of some of your food items we could probably make suggestions, also have a look on the old money section as they work wonders with limited food stocks.

Hope you find some good bits to enjoy today.

ForestBluebells

I definitely don’t cope with stress very well as I am always sick and can’t sleep if at all stressed about anything. I find it quite hard being on my own and not having anyone to talk these things through with. I’ll be ok though.

 I wasn’t very productive today 🤦‍♀️ Tomorrow is a new day and I’ve made a big list of things I can work through to keep me entertained. I’m struggling a bit with not having anything to look forward to anymore.

ive planned the next few days meals. I have leftover mushroom risotto for lunch tomorrow then I have some leftover daal in the freezer and I saw a recipe on Jamie Oliver’s website for coconut flatbread which I’ll have a go making to go with the daal. That will be dinner tomorrow and lunch the next day. Then I’ll have a jacket potato with beans for dinner. I’ve got a Tesco delivery coming Tuesday and I might need to add a few more bits to make logical meals with, I’ve mostly only got stuff Coming for a roast chicken dinner so I’ll have lots of leftover chicken and potatoes to use in something. 

MovingForwards

You can always talk things through here. You have your diary and your goals.

There's loads to look forward to. walks, calling friends and family, doing video calls, sorting through possessions and clearing out, having a pamper session, long bubble bath with candles and music.

Read through some other diaries and see what other people are doing at the moment. The old style money board are always chatting about their days and what they have changed.

I know it's harder compared to how things were, but it will change and it's a case of finding something which does appeal.