Pay off mortgage and start having even more fun 😁

KajiKita

One of the reasons I want to change the stairs in our house is that as well as making them less steep and look better is there would then be enough space for a stair lift ...  

My brief time at a living aids company made me understand that there are all kinds of reasons why people would need support in living well and sometimes long before old age. I think it's made the idea of using those aids far less 'alien' and there are some out there I didn't even know existed before.  

KK

BrimfulofSascha

newgirly said:

Time for another spending update, I should do it later really as I’ll be going to ald! after I’ve had breakfast with friends 😆 yesterday I spent £9.98 so new total is £681.39/£1000.

Dh has gone to work this morning and I’m out, not sure what we will do this afternoon but I want to finish my yearly budget from now until the end of next year. There’s so many things we have committed to pay for that need to be worked out, as it’s Black Friday month we may well get some small discounts on certain things for the trips we booked next year like Wi-Fi etc. so I’ll prioritise that first. We never used to get it but the last few cruises I’ve had it and I’m so much happier being connected and as I tell dh I don’t drink so I have internet instead 🤣

No trick or treaters yesterday as I didn’t buy sweets this year so shut the curtains, how miserable! We usually have probably around 15-20 knock if we do make an effort. I did spot a huge inflatable T rex walking past as I was shutting the curtains so regret being such a humbug. Such fun when having young kids when it’s Halloween. I remember years ago throwing parties for them and their friends, it did eventually get rather big as one year we had 63 people for a proper party, it took me a week to decorate the house and cover all the walls with those scenes setters, I think we had a haunted house and a dungeon disco in the conservatory- great times! I doubt if I know 63 people now though 😆 instead I went to bed early and watched the film scre@m. 

I didn't purchase sweets the past couple of years now DD is older. On reflection this year has made me feel like such a scrooge. Having always worried about money I've never loved Christmas and Halloween and easter...and all those other joyful events that cost money. 
Thistime next year I should be almost debt free, So next year I am going to aim to be less bah Humbug. I shall decorate and buy sweets and enjoy the happy faces of the little ones. Children are such joy and I need to stop avoiding that joy.

daisy_1571

Love that idea watty.  Discrete but useful  (before we moved here i decided we would have a chute from the end of the gallery opposite to the end with the stairs !!  Such fun as miranda would say  😆.   Haven't got round to it as in reality we didn't have quite as much room as we thought there was going to be.)

Ng that's really hard.  I'm youngest and my ideas were always discounted until they spoke to my oldest brother so I understand that dynamic all too well.

Dxx

daisy_1571

kk I believe the straighter the stair, the cheaper 

We got 'caught' using a stairlift in a Victorian type house that was holiday flats.  Mr d was 'whizzing' upstairs at 0.2 miles an hour and we were both giggling away when folk came out one of the other flats 😆 

I agree its not always about old age.  Injury temp or permanent, arthritis,  long covid or any other debilitating illness can affect mobility, grip strength and enthusiasm for awkward living 

Dxxx

beanielou

I remember clearly when I got my wet room a number of years ago someone was horrified that I was devaluing my house. Even if I was it made life easier for me and much safer. I have lots of handrails and grab rails. Anything to try to prevent so many falls. 

daisy_1571

weird isn't it how folk have such sweeping ideas, it could just as easily put money on for someone who wants a wet room  😆 

Dxx

newgirly

Gosh it’s been busy here! Thank you for the comments everyone, it seems most of us are thinking ahead a little here. I know I noticed how many stairs we had last year when I came home from hospital, I did manage them straight away but had to have somebody in front and behind me just incase and a chair to rest on the half way landing 😆 it did make me think how would this work if I end up alone and unable to manage. I guess a lift is a good option, I’ve only considered moving or the alternative being a stair lift, the cupboard idea is brilliant Watty 😁.
Coincidentally my parents are having a new bathroom right now, they have taken out the bath and are replacing with a huge shower, I said that’s great, maybe get the odd handrail so it’s future ready and let’s just say it went down very badly 🤣 
Beanielou, your house is supposed to be working for you not imaginary future owners, unless of course you are about to sell, how odd 😳

Hi Brimfulofsacha, thanks for popping by 🙂 exactly right! I felt like a humbug and and bit nostalgic and sad for the past, even when my kids were grown they would open the door to the little ones and give out sweets, one year my Dil answered the door with one of her rats on her shoulder, I just stopped this year as they have all moved out. Well done being nearly debt free, I hope next years Halloween brings lots of fun! 

newgirly

Spending update time £749.36/£1000 and a bit spent in the last few days but not on useful things like food 😳, ice cream at the cinema when I took dd (free tickets and a discount on it mind) birthday cards and a get well card, bar of vegan chocolate for friend who has just had an operation to go with card. I did get milk and bread from the corner shop but i could do with a shop now, I think instead of doing tiny top ups I might do a bigger shop as I think it works out better. 

Off to the hygienist today, another £65 😩 every three months is getting annoying as it’s so expensive! Still I guess I’m lucky to have an nhs dentist at that practice for everything else I might need, not everyone has that luxury. The money is from the dental pot so won’t make a dent in the challenge money. 

Dh has got the Xmas bed clothes from the log cabin so they will all be getting a wash today, I only have two “normal” sets of covers but many Xmas ones which go on rotation every year from about November so I can use them all 🤣 they are donkeys years old now but it does make me happy. Feeling a little grinchy this year as won’t be seeing most of the kids over Xmas and am not doing Xmas day or maybe even Boxing Day. I did consider not putting up the massive Xmas tree this year with all the usual vast amounts of ancient decorations and possibly just having the “twig” tree instead, but I’m already being told I’m miserable and going to make myself more miserable if I do that 😆 we shall see, at the moment I like the idea of fairy lights twigs and candles….

Watty1

Beanielou one of the places I rented whilst escaping PPH was converted for disabled living. The wet room was fabulous - the grab rails were there, yes and the wet room I loved so much.  A huge shower and being able to walk to the other side of the room to get something and back. There was even a stool I could take in and use if I wanted to sit and shower.    I don't think it devalues a house, it just makes it work for you.   

Greying_Pilgrim

newgirly - can't the twigs and lights and candles be 'autumnal' decoration, all the joy of the twinkly and aromas - with the option to still have the big tree as we get nearer to December. 

I keep on meaning to do with fairy lights, and autumnal wreaths etc (a house locally had the most wonderful array of pumpkins outside - some carved and some not.  OK, it was principally for halloween I guess - they have a young kiddo - but it screamed autumn delightfully to me 😁).

If you've the decorations - use them 😁

Greying X