Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

Orangetoes

Well done @savingholmes you are achieving lots! Remember to treat yourself too. You deserve it! 

elantan

your sounding very productive today saving, keep it up 

have to admit I've been disappointed with charity shops myself, proces that were higher than buying brand new from.the shops ( shop label still on item) makes me ignore them in the main 

savingholmes

@Humdinger1 - No - no underwear.... My understanding is that they are plug sockets protected for outdoor use and have some kind of flap that comes over to protect the wiring etc. 

@Orangetoes - My bedroom will become another oasis of calm so looking forward to that. 

@elantan - Yes, I have had some crystal bargains, crockery and pictures in the past and kiddies books - but I think most of the clothes are very expensive at CS and as you say - more than you'd pay in the sale at the original shop.

Having a quick break before getting back to work. I checked out the AVC situation and they will just collect the individual monthly amount set and not play catch up - so hopefully that will cushion any works I get done on the house. They are talking 4-8 weeks to set up - so I should get some of my new higher salary next pay day which will be nice.

Off to SW tonight. Still need to sort the tax form... Why are these things so hard to make yourself do?

jwil

Room is sounding fab, and lots of great plans.

Good luck with SW.

Hope you can sort the tax.  I am the world's biggest procrastinator!

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil

I maintained at SW which was lucky.

I posted the tax thing but finished early so more time to make up. Oops.

I hoovered a bit more and moved a few things but no painting today.

I batch cooked spag bol and made half into a chilli. 

Picked up meds. Ran DD around. You know the usual. Fed 😼 some skin off my mackerel. He loves me now.

jwil

Well done on the maintain and getting the tax done!

MovingForwards

At least the tax is done, that will stop the nagging voice.

Plans look good, you will get there.

savingholmes

Thanks jwil and MF. Had a better diet day yesterday and scales were kinder today. Hopefully I can recommit this week and have a good loss. I was awake half the night - or barely sleeping - and today I realised I'd forgotten to change my HRT patch and that way why or at least part of why. I journalled for a least an hour this morning so have a lot on my mind too. 

I listened to Martin's thing on energy yesterday - and ordered another elec throw same as the one I bought in Jan - but you know 10% higher cost  It was a better price than a few weeks ago though so I thought I'd go for it. I also got a £10 giftcard from my Am**** CC. I struggle to see how people will afford the energy price hikes that are coming. They are suggesting we may need to ration energy this winter - most of us will need to just to cope with the increased cost! What's scarier is that if I wasn't on MSE I might not have known they were coming.

At my worst last winter I spent about £135-150 a month just on gas. If I spent that this year with the 54% increase in April that would have been an extra £81 pcm. With the 65% in October - it rises another £150 to £381. At my best this winter I may have been around £75 per month - that in new world before the Jan additional 4% rise - is equal to around £190 a month just on gas - and those weren't the coldest months of the year - although that is when I was using my elec blanket and just having the heating on for a few hours in the evening. Pre last October and pre divorce I was spending an average of £123 pcm for dual fuel - now I've no idea what my bills will be. My elec is fixed until next June which is something - but currently paying £90+ for that and it says it won't be enough. I do have the £550 to come from the gov but even so... I'm spending £24 a month on gas for hot water over the summer - new prices that would rise to £39 - pre rises - I averaged about £14 a month over the summer.

I'm very slowly shifting the excess stuff from my bedroom - I then need to decide what to put back - but put it this way about six rolls of flipchart paper should never have been in there....  

The cat thanked me for the mackerel skin by leaving a dead mouse outside the front door... Just what I wanted to start the day!!

Despite all the above I have a lot to be grateful for - and I should be able to cope - but definitely important to control usage! My star flowers are in full bloom, my orchid has 3 buds in flower and another about to open. My garden bedding has suddenly plumped out so all looking very vibrant - reds, whites and pinks. My purple buddleia is in bloom and attracting butterflies and I have yellow golden rod flowers in full bloom. My purple sea holly is attracting lots of bees. My apples are getting bigger - need to check out my plum tree to see if they are purple yet - and also check if I have any red currants left to pick.

Today's to do list:

1. Work
2. Return swim rings to PO & then to Am****
3. See friend tonight. Not seen her since new year so looking forward to that
4. May work on bedroom after that

girlatplay

Well done for getting the tax thing done, bet you're glad that's out the way now.

Your garden sounds like it's blooming!

jwil

Have a good time with your friend.