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Simple living in the country - back to basics
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Brilliant round up - and what great savings in the areas you were specifically targeting too! Completely agree with not getting angsty about the diesel spend - the situation you find yourselves in with MrC Senior at the moment is one of those things that all of us with older parents are well aware is just something that - if needed - you deal with, so really can't be helped.
I don't think your personal spends are particularly high to be honest, particularly allowing you have your gym membership and one "out out" night out on there too. More than you'd ideally like, perhaps, but in the grand scheme of things definitely not *that* pricey.🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculatorshe/her11 -
Thanks both 😊
And no, I'm fine with what my own spends were generally - just slightly more than I had in my head, but I think I hadn't been factoring in the panto and dinner the other night, which obviously bumped it up substantially!
Very pleased with the lack of frittered though. Not sure I had any charity shop spends at all.
Let's see what Feb brings... I don't have any plans for nights out yet but we'll see.10 -
Cheery, hurrah! for getting that bedroom ceiling finished. You've also done well with thrifty January, I really don't think your personal spend was much at all (although that opinion probably reflects my frequent coffee/lunch out with friends as much as anything else
).
As others have said, you can't do much about the diesel when the situation with Mr C Snr is ongoing.
Glad that you enjoyed your evening out. I haven't been to a panto for decades, don't do well with forced jollity - nor anklebiters.
We had a lovely weekend away in London. We stayed in a Travelodge but the rest of the weekend was hardly money saving (that includes dinner at the Ivy with son and his girlfriend, we paid half). It was lovely to spend some time with son and to visit his new flat. Driving (Mr hb) and navigating (me) in London was very stressful, we are seriously considering going by train next time, even though I find it painful to sit for that long.It's not difficult!
'Wander' - to walk or move in a leisurely manner.
'Wonder' - to feel curious.13 -
Sounds like a lovely weekend hb, except for the driving!
Had an email from the electricity company. I gave them meter readings the last twice they asked so this bill is based on accurate readings, and is £70.18, which, all things considered, I guess isn't too bad. Our DD is £72.11 and we're now about £75 ahead of ourselves, with the worst of the winter weather over. Hopefully that will come down a bit now!
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Gosh, it's still windy isn't it?? 😮
Long day at work today, but I was home by about 7.30 and Mr Cheery had sausage and mash ready for when I got in 😁 I'm fretting and anxious at the minute and I do NOT like it 🙄 Doesn't seem to be passing, but at least it's not constant which is a start I suppose 🙄
Still, work got done, not enough, but mostly enough, and there's always tomorrow 🙄
Anyway, February is here! And I can report that our Christmas tree is still up 😂😂13 -
Cheery_Daff said:Long day at work today, but I was home by about 7.30 and Mr Cheery had sausage and mash ready for when I got in 😁 I'm fretting and anxious at the minute and I do NOT like it 🙄 Doesn't seem to be passing, but at least it's not constant which is a start I suppose 🙄
Oh Cheery! Sorry to hear about the anxiety ... I do get anxious when I break my routine now, which I never used to do, so I sort of understand it, but your pandemic has been a lot more challenging than mine, I think.
Anyway, February is here! And I can report that our Christmas tree is still up 😂😂And your sausage and mash too
2023: the year I get to buy a car11 -
Thanks KC 😊 I just don't think I can bring myself to take the tree down just yet. It's still so gloomy and cold and windy up here 🙄
Goodness knows what's up with me to be feeling all anxious. I feel like I've just pushed myself out of my comfort zone one too many times, and I just want to hibernate 🙄 I was about to dismiss how challenging the pandemic has been, but I think between switching to online teaching and the stresses that brought, Mr Cheery being ill, four months of builders, and now the ongoing saga with Mr C Snr (which isn't really mine to deal with, but is taking up time), the past 18 months have felt a bit like lurching from one thing to another.
Anyway, enough moaning. We are settling down on the sofa with a drink 😁15 -
Exactly! It's understandable, nothing unknown, enjoy the sofa and the drink2023: the year I get to buy a car13
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Sorry to hear you’re feeling anxious Cheery. As you/Karma say, it’s not entirely surprising given the circumstances. And I know I am more easily anxious these days (I find myself grinding my teeth too). I think you said you’d reduced your counselling sessions - maybe it’s not the right time for this?Mortgage free 16/06/2023! £132,500 cleared in 11 years, 3 months and 7 days
'Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.' Ernest Hemingway11 -
Sorry to hear you're feeling unsettled Cheery. How are you doing with your sleep and exercise plans? I suspect the situation with Mr C's dad is eating up time. Make sure you take time out for Cheery Daff won't you.
Fortune x
Mortgage: 100% paid Emergency Fund: 100%
A Better View 🌄 'Being on the edge isn't as safe, but the view is better' - Ricky Gervais9
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