Ready for the next stage!

riotlady

Oooh I like the cress idea! 

We did try and do some fruit and veg gardening in our yard this summer but sadly it’s north facing and heavily shaded so we weren’t wildly successful. The one surprise success were the alpine strawberries, which are somehow still producing berries even now! Mini riot likes to pick a few and eat them whenever we’re out there 

riotlady

Feeling a bit all over the place this morning. Mini riot hasn't been sleeping well (some sort of brain development happening, I reckon!) so I'm sleep deprived too, which is making the fatigue worse and my head feels all foggy! Trying to gently do a bit of data analysis today, curled up in bed with the cats (and a diet coke for the caffeine!) 
I've also found out that I might not get continued student funding for the few months next year that my course is extended, which is a bit of a stress. I don't think I'll know for sure what's happening until January, but I've appealed to the university's funding department to give me some info. In the meantime, I'm going to channel most of my extra savings into the emergency fund, so that hopefully I won't need to take anything out of the wedding or house funds if we do hit a rocky patch. 
The past few years have been so unstable financially because I feel like I'm constantly at the whim of HMRC or student finance or zero hours contracts or short term employers who get things wrong. There's been so many times when someone in an office somewhere has made an error and we've been plunged into crisis. We've enough savings now that we can weather little storms which is a massive relief, and we won't be in that situation again, but I really just can't wait to finish uni and be in a stable job with a stable income and know exactly what's happening each month! 

MovingForwards

Maybe a small herb garden as some like shade. I've done a quick browser search and you will be surprised at what can grow 🤗
Keep saving a bit where you can, your course will finish before you know it and then money will be stable.

Irenadler

You will get there and it will be worth it! You are making the sacrifices now, so, future you will be thanking you...

riotlady

Yes it will be so worth it! 

Lovely day today riotdude and I spent this morning building some IKEA drawers that have been languishing in our room for ages... it’s a tip in there with no storage but I’ve been working on it bit by bit and finally making some progress!

Tomorrow is my best friend’s birthday so I dropped her present off and had a socially distanced hot chocolate on a camping stool on her drive Popped into sainsburys on the way home and spent £10.40, that leaves £220 in the grocery budget, although I’d like to come in under budget this month since I’ve overspent on presents and it’ll probably get worse!

Ive also spent £40 on new pillows for riotdude and I, desperately needed as our old ones were frankly a bit gross. Something we’ve really noticed this year is that a lot of our household stuff is things that I got when I started my undergrad degree (nearly ten years ago!) and it was either very cheap or secondhand when I got it. Some of it is going strong but quite a few things seem to be reaching their end of their lives at the same time. I’ll be keeping an eye out for a new microwave in the January sales!

Tonight I’ve got hummus, falafel, roasted peppers and pitta bread for tea and a video chat scheduled with my friends  

MovingForwards

You don't appreciate how useful storage is, until there isn't enough!
The things have lasted well, slowly replace as and when necessary, then it doesn't hurt as much financially.
Food sounds yummy 🤗

DiscountDuck

Good luck with the student finance. I think there is a disabled students grant, my friend tried to talk me into it but I couldn’t face the paperwork. Might you be eligible for this? 

I’m cheering you on with the masters and am sure it will all be worth it. 

MovingForwards

The paperwork isn't too bad for the disabled student grant, well worth it to secure funding and the right support to get through the course.

riotlady

Unfortunately I don’t think I’m eligible for disabled students allowance unless I get diagnosed with something as I don’t have a long term health condition or disability, I’m just unwell! I’m sure we’ll muddle through fine though  

riotlady

Tough few days physically, so tired I'm struggling to move around and was throwing up a lot yesterday. I'm trying to keep on with a little bit of work from bed, house is a tip but mini riot thankfully is in nursery. I have no idea what's happening with our grocery budget but I suspect it's not good- riotdude has been in charge and he's a daily shopper. I'm debating ordering us a gousto box for next week as although it's not the best value on the face of it, it stops riotdude from impulse shopping his way round Sainsburys and is probably a bit healthier too. 

It's my birthday on Friday, I'm probably not going to be well enough to go sea glass hunting on the beach as planned but riotdude has promised to make me burgers and watch Gilmore Girls with me so it'll be lovely in it's own way