Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

Humdinger1

Your handyman is surely a house-elf in mufti?  Hope you're soon the mend @savingholmes; it does indeed get boring.   Home cooked nosebag may well help. Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

Blackcats

Glad you are feeling slightly better.
Viewing the house sounds like it was useful.
your dinner sounds tasty

savingholmes

Thanks MF, Jwil, Humdinger1 and Blackcats

Well I went to a few garden places today but they were mostly obsessed with xmas stuff. I bought a couple of raised bed type kits that I will put in the back garden - If I still go ahead with the valuation it will make the cleared veg plot part look more deliberate. I'm tempted to delay the valuation for now - as it could be a falling trend rather than a rising one for now and I'm very conscious of all the bits in my house that need sorting still. I also want to see if DD does move out or not - as if she did I would be freer to move anywhere.

I bought a load of cyclamen so I have pretty flowers to look at and some primroses, along with small plants of rosemary, lavender, thyme and a plant with berries (gaultheria?). I also bought a flowering white Christmas rose (hellebore). Most of the plants I bought were half price or part of a multi offer so that was nice. I will update my pots and hanging basket tomorrow.

I'm also planning to pick up some free pallets and see what the handyman can make from them for me.

HSL - the dream would be a mini smallholding probably without livestock.

I did grow food in lockdown1 and want to do so again. I already have some fruit trees and bushes - but may add some more bushes. I also want to grow more strawberries and wider veg again.

WelshmansDaughter

It sounds like you have lots of plans for your existing house. Lots to do while you wait for the dream property to apparate 😀

FlacosFloozie

Sorry you've been feeling poorly SH. I hope you're on the mend. I'm off work for a few days and reading your diary is making me think I should tackle some of those household jobs I've been postponing.

Merlin's_Beard

Probably a good thing you went to see the other house and put all the what-ifs to bed, at least as far as that house. Sounds like a productive day at the garden places with plenty to do.

powerspowers

Hope you feel better soon SH xx

savingholmes

Thanks WD, @powerspowers, @FlacosFloozie and Merlin

Merlin - Yes - I'm glad I went to view the house or I would always have wondered.

WD - are you another HP fan?? Looking forward to my new house magically appearing - sounds awesome!

FF - Good luck with the jobs. It does reduce the mental load as you tick jobs off. I'm getting the handyman to dig out bamboo among many other things and it is making a huge difference and I don't have the strength for that or the right tools!

Powers - I still have intermittent fever, cough and sore throat but returned to WFH today. Ended up doing an extra hour catching up. Still owe time though from before as haven't used holidays in practice - or asked about adjustments.

In the last few days had some nice MSE things:

• The cost effective handyman!!
• Been sent £2.50 in Mr T vouchers. 
• Was sent £4 from MnS vouchers. 
• Just redeemed £29 from £co to Am****. 
• I have £3 in my Mr A cashpot

• My latest payslip shows I'm £34 better off from the NI change and was paid over £100 in expenses.
• My gas usage is over 1050kw better than the same period last year. I am therefore majorly in credit which is a relief and they are reduced my projected spend each time I get a bill rather than raising it. My electric blanket is hugely paying off (and DD's).

I get paid tomorrow which is lovely. I finished the month with money in my bank account although much of that was owed really to CC (partly due to expenses). Tomorrow I'll clear all CCs again and have a fresh start.

Am**** have changed their CC app and I'm confused. I really struggle with login details and because I downloaded a new app - they expected me to know all my details not just the code bit which is the only part I currently remember!! I will try and reset it - wish me luck!

The handyman is going to try and source a cheap 2nd hand pond pump. He also plans to come with a second person and take my tree down. I've currently allowed £200 this month for him but may need to reduce my savings if he ends up coming more.

DD has found 70% off clothes in the sales - so I said I'd buy one of them for her for xmas - and see if her grandparents will get her another 2. She bought 4 things...  

savingholmes

Been awake since 5.30! Major sore throat. I have to take DD to work shortly as she couldn't get a taxi (roll eyes) as none available. I will need to fill up on my way home as I may not make it home otherwise!! That trip will take 30-40 minutes - and then ideally I need to shower when I come back.

It's pay day so have shuffled £ around. £375 went into AVCs. All being well I hope to save £400 this month. I've left most of my planned xmas spends in next payday as I'm due backpay - although I'm hoping to save a chunk of that towards my £6K end of year savings goal. I've got wrap ups for littlies - may just give them £ after that.

I decreased my gas direct debit by £18 a month as I'm so far in credit - and hope continued use of our electric blankets will keep my bills lower than they would otherwise be. I have forecast to put it back up by about £28 a month when the new April change happens - but will see how I go on this winter. It may not be necessary if a) the winter is mild and b) I keep control of energy usage. My front room is currently 13 degrees - but feels okay with a dressing gown on and my elec blanket. If it doesn't improve - I may put the heating on for an hour and bump it up to 18 and then hope it retains that a while. My hands are warm so I must be doing okay.

Catch up with you all later! I was dreaming of how to plant up my garden last night to make it prettier and grow more fruit and veg

savingholmes

Well I put the heating on for an hour this morning and have put it on again briefly this evening. My front room is 14 degrees - and while I have an elec blanket and jumpers on - I'm trying to be balanced... DD was complaining the house was cold when she came in - although she's loving the new quilt, cover, sheet (and previous elec blanket) I bought her. Her taxi cancelled on her and I had to interrupt my work day and go and get her. I found it very hard to concentrate again afterwards.

I seem to have lost 3 bank cards in the house. One is my FD one which I switched away from so not a huge issue just irritating. One is a B acct still in use so slightly worrying and the third is my Am**** one that is in the process of switching to a new provider. I don't take those three out of the house though - but whatever pot or whatever I put them into is missing... I have a feeling I moved them to a 'safe' place due to workmen in and out the house but it's so safe I can't find it! I can't however log in to the latter and see my balance as they have turned off the old app and the new one wants me to know things I don't know - and maybe can't find that easily. I may try tipping out a file divider and see if I put them in there. Am**** are due to send out a new card within the next month anyway....

I may see if we can try a new takeaway tonight. Craving a Chinese and my fave shut three months ago!