First Steps to Solvency

Sun_Addict

I'm thinking like you, part of me is dreading restrictions being lifted as the temptation to get out there and spend will start to return and I'm quite enjoying being able to save money rather than spend. When Mr SA was well we used to go away for the weekend a few times a year, we used to go to Stratford on Avon a lot. I think that would be better than one blow out night out. Good to hear you sounding so much more positive just lately.

getmore4less

During the opening up last year we did a couple of trips with hotel stay and days out nearby. 

Does not have to be that expensive even eating out all meals.

We will be doing the same once we open up again(our overseas preferences can wait) we don't go mad on the hotel option, just a bed if going out to places

Going out local will not be blow out day/nights just don't enjoy the next day, much prefer a steady longer intake over the binge these days. 

6 nations will provide the excuse for a few Sat's with afternoon beers with  Snacks and a dinner. 

warby68

I think the weekend away sounds a great idea too. Maybe even hire a nice car for it
Seems a lot more 'value' in it than one blow out. 
I can feel the spending urge building up a bit now after all this time - not desperate to get abroad yet but to get away here, see some different scenery and have a bit of luxury instead of the current slog is starting to pre-occupy me. 

Purplelady65

What about maybe putting a list together of activities you could all do as a family together at a weekend when things are open? You could maybe organise them as surprises for your wife and son. Yes they will cost some money but as others have said you’ve got a lot of money coming in and even with the debts you’ve got money to live on rather than exist on. If you arrange some fun family activities or weekends away it might help to assuage the guilt you feel about your wife and son and not being around much previously and help with your own mental health. Researching and planning activities could also give you something to do atm during lockdown at a weekend (you’re the first person I’ve come across who dreads weekends and looks forward to Monday mornings!) You may have done things like this previously but a few ideas - Go Ape, hiring mountain bikes to cycle in a forest, theme parks, the Alton Towers hotel with the water park, kayaking down a river (the river wye has a few companies that do it), sailing on a lake, rowing on a river, drive through wildlife park, zoos, a massive cave in Wales with a giant trampoline (don’t know the name of it), trip to London to see all the sights, center parcs. I don’t know if you’ve already been to Disneyland in Paris or the USA but 7 is a magical age to visit Disneyland - you could go on the Eurostar. 

RelievedSheff

This year will be very different for us. Last year when restrictions were lifted we had the boat to go and escape too for the weekend. This year we won't have that luxury until we get the motorhome and it is by no means certain that will be a quick purchase. We need to wait for the right one to become available and that isn't guaranteed to even be this year.

We will certainly be spending a lot more time at home this year than we usually do.

We are reluctant to book any holiday or short breaks just yet because we don't know when we will buy the motorhome!

This lock down has felt more of a slog but I think that is purely down to the time of year. The first lockdown was during spring so we could get outside in the garden at least. This time with it being the winter months we have been cooped up inside. It has made the time feel longer.

Still Spring is on it's way. The evenings are definitely getting lighter.

alt80

Strange day today, really busy but not been well, another difficult night's sleep last night felt whacked all day now can't sleep haha. Hardly able to concentrate on anything but needed to. Not been great, definitely had better days. Still waiting to hear if my valuer has covid too. Hope not. Finances still parked until Sunday. 

@woahsoah Thanks, I know what you mean, things aren't dire I don't suppose and going away for a weekend def money better spent but still money spent but every time I spend I know I'm further away from my target, struggling to see any spends outside of the essentials as 'worth it' right now mate tbh. Log spends and consider how the spends could have been reduced to clear the debt a bit further, operate a traffic light system ha.

@RelievedSheff hoping to get through this year no hols/ weekends away etc so lot more time at home here too. Would 100 let me get ahead on the debt front if no stupid purchases.

Evenings are definitely getting lighter.

@Sun_Addict thinking like me? FML probably worth getting your head checked out ha. Seriously thanks, trying to take the positives where I can tbh one day at a time, needed to move on a bit. Stratford on Avon is nice and yeah probably better than a night in town tbh I'm getting a bit past it these days. Rather go to a nice restaurant unless I'm wrecked.

@getmore4less think you've got the right idea mate - looking like you won't be able to go abroad unless you've had the jab. Going steady on the drink I can do if I'm off the sniff and with the wife. Agree re hotels tbh doesn't matter if out all day, when I was a fair bit younger before son we used to go to Greece once a year exploring mainland and island hopping, visit parents for a few days about as basic as it gets but loved it haha.

@warby68 I'm avoiding the spending urges, put reminder in phone, forget about it. Need to keep on right road.

@Purplelady65 thank you and iswym but I think my money needs to go towards paying the cards then working on the RR balloon tbh. 

getmore4less

Got me on the no sleep now. 
Bed 10:30 now awake.
Thrown homecoming series 1 on the TV to rebinge as forgotten most of what happened and series 2 looks good.

Getting the desire to spend on something other than food and beer. 
Amazon wish lists are filling up and been watching for a phone deal been some really tempting deals under £200, normally aim for closer to £100, tomorrow the poco x3 ncf is up for a great price. 

As an idea for a weekend away, if they get cleaned up from the floods.
Bewdley
 Safari Park and the severn Valley railway might work for the lad. 
Some options on accommodation, a few nice restaurants in town and around,  good curry houses 

Day out take the railway to Bridgnorth and have lunch and a good walk about. 
The rack railway to the lower town. 
A few other options for days out within ~30mins drive. 

When doing Stratford-upon-Avon we did Warwick Castle one trip  that was a fun day out, had not been for best part of 25years.

 Found a nice pub and curry house to round off the early evening before heading back to the hotel.

If still up now may be the time to focus on ONE write up from this week's jobs and review next week's job list.

RelievedSheff

You lot are night owls 🤣🤣🤣

Only thing I was doing at 3am was snoring. 

Wide awake now though. Don't know why. Not like we have any rush to get up today!

getmore4less

Yep not the best another split sleep of 9hr a single tends to be less. 
10:30pm-3am 4.5
6am-9:30am 3.5

That will do as beer starts at 2:15 kickoff today. 

Also took 2 things out of the wish lists bought them
One had droped ~30%(kitchens scales) the other never gone down(filters for the vaccum) and we will need them soon. 

Nice 1kg dry aged beef rib  to slow cook
We got a big bag of parsnips really cheap during the week so will cook them handy for snacking.
Few bits round the house and 2 matches should keep us busy today. 

RelievedSheff

getmore4less said:

Yep not the best another split sleep of 9hr a single tends to be less. 
10:30pm-3am 4.5
6am-9:30am 3.5

That will do as beer starts at 2:15 kickoff today. 

Also took 2 things out of the wish lists bought them
One had droped ~30%(kitchens scales) the other never gone down(filters for the vaccum) and we will need them soon. 

Nice 1kg dry aged beef rib  to slow cook
We got a big bag of parsnips really cheap during the week so will cook them handy for snacking.
Few bits round the house and 2 matches should keep us busy today. 

What time do you want me for dinner? 

That sounds beautiful 😍