15months to debt free - I hope

beanielou

Good idea to get the windows done that you can before the winter’s here. 

PennysIntoPounds

"You have literally got a new car and I can't even spend my share on something like windows to benefit both our health and both our bills because you won't sort through your piles of stuff? The car is going back if this isn't done in the next week because if you won't join in to make our lives nicer then we can both suffer together instead"?

ladyholly

rachmac3 said:

I can highly recommend painting your shed bright pink @ladyholly ! Mine is still taking my breath away every time I open the back door 

Great idea.

jwil said:

I feel your pain!

Thank you

ladyholly

daisy_1571 said:

Why not get the front ones and the bathroom ?  Be better to have the majority of the windows done and keeping the house warmer and pleasant for you to live in.  Keep the door to his room closed and put a sausage along it to keep the draughts in that room only.   You know he's not going to clear it so why wait ?  Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me 

Dxxx

I have thought of that and doing the front ones is certainly feasible. The bathroom withoutt the junk room is a bit more problematic  as they may need to have scaffolding due to the conservatory being under the windows. and it will be quite pricey to then go back and have it up again if he ever does clear his room. I know we can afford it but it will be a waste. On the other hand it may concentrate his mind to do it. 

The door is always shut anyway as I suspect he is a bit ashamed at the state of the room if anyone uses our bathroom.

ladyholly

Evening all

Out to do the main shop this morning and whilst out bought some bulbs that are supposed to attract bees and butterflies. We have had a lack of both this summer so anything is worth trying.  They wont get planted until Friday as the forecast is dreadful.

Ironing done and in the spirit of MSE the last item was done after unplugging the iron.

I have written to the solicitor to chivvy him into sorting out finishing the estate. 

My new underwear has arrived and will try it on after a shower in the morning/

The car speakers have arrived and have been fitted. That kept Mr LH amused this afternoon. It was a shame he had the hood down to do them and just after he pulled the car out of the garage the heavens opened. He and the car got a bit wet until he could get it back in . The whole job isnt finished yet but hopefully in the next day or rwo.

A conondrum.  I am finding I am having trouble organising myself to get in touch with tradesmen to do any work I want doing. I have been unable to spend money for so long I am reluctant to part with it. I know that is stupid as the money is there and I wouldnt spend more than we have. There is more to come when the solicitor sorts things out even if I spend most that we have it doesnt matter too much. Not within the scope of the debt free wannabe  board I know but how do you persuade yourself to spend money?

I will leave you with that one and say have a good evening.

Debsnewbudget

If you can plan your spending to a budget and keep to that budget then thats OK to give yourself permission to spend.
its like having a budget for your weekly food shop !  As long as you are within budget then get it spent 😂 

or. Give yourself an annual budget to spend on the house and on yourself and know that that spending “is allowed”, 

PennysIntoPounds

Maybe guesstimate how much you'll be saving on bills what with improvements, and how much you'll be improving the worth of your home, and that way you're speculating to accumulate.

But also make sure to ask yourself honestly if you're reluctant to spend it on these works because you'd feel happier in yourself having a pot for treats just for you or an emergency fund only you know about.
Those things are very much good ideas too.

Please buy or do something very joyful and very unnecessary before doing sensible things. It's you who did the gruelling journeys visiting BiL, it's you who constantly missioned all his stuff back and suffered physically and mentally, it's you who's had months and months of stress and work and upset sorting out the estate. Please treat yourself!

badmemory

Not spending becomes a habit.  You get used to saving so that you hve enough in retirement, but then you get to that retirement you have to completely change your mindset.  After I retired it was only the water coming through the dining room ceiling that made me finally start to do some of the things I had always said some of those savings were for.

northAthenian

hi @ladyholly ... re the feeling of being reluctant to spend...i think that's natural when you have had to be conscious in your spending for a long period of time of just getting necessities, and putting off the finishing touches or the "an easier life" items.   It can sometimes just take time to accept that certain things will have a cost, and will be worth paying for . from personal experience, i had to give my brain time to assess that, then accept it and relinquish the guilt of parting with hard saved cash.  Right now we are in midst of finally painting a large multilevel stair/hall in a house we moved into 6 years ago. it's had a mist coat only all that time. I finally bought the paint a month back & we are doing the job ourselves - normal for us. Never mind the weeks i took deciding on colour - actually parting with £512 to pay for paint really made Pause.  I actually saved it in the basket on their website on the Saturday online, and had to come back the following day  (once I'd vocalised to OH how it was a great deal of money. bear in mind we had that cash pot earmarked for these DIY jobs...but still...His practical response was, 'but it needs doing so needs to be purchased'.  I still closed my eyes when I hit the 'buy' button!!)  And part way through the job, I'm not regretting it - he's happy with the quality of the paint he's using, I'm delighted with the finish & colours, it looks like it will be worth it.  
  on a more indulgent note.. I've sewn since i was a child, the got a 1980s Singer as a 13th birthday present and used it for almost 30 years. l always spoke of getting a better machine - but there was always something more important/adult/sensible to spend on. At the grand age of 41 I used a year's work bonus to buy a new-to-me reconditioned machine. Cost more than my wedding outfit. Within 30 minutes of using the new machine I realised I could have had that enjoyment a decade earlier and done so. much. more with It, with my time & my creativity had I "indulged" sooner. I don't use it all the time, but in the last 8 years I've made some wonderful things using a quality piece of machinery (the buttonhole maker is amazing, my xmas pyjama gifts were fab!!) 
All that to say.. Doesn't always pay to be the sensible soul all the time - allow yourself some indulgence alongside the necessary ,life improving spends. Give your brain tie to accept the spending will occur, then embrace it  x 

Sun_Addict

I save in a regular saver account all year for a pot that’s earmarked for home improvements. When it matures I find it hard to spend it but once I start getting the work in progress it seems easier to let go of it. I’m sure once you start getting quotes in it will be easier and so worth it when the work is done. 

Definitely put aside some money for treats for just you though.