Five Year Fix, Five Year Plan

Merlin's_Beard

Two days into september, and the mini promise I had to spend not much at all has gone kaputt.

However, it's because I've been sorting out other people's birthday presents so maybe it's excusable? One LEGO sent off, one 70th birthday present for my dad, one birthday dinner out for my mum (I guess those two are a bit mixed up because I'll take them both out and his present is something she'll go to as well).

Another birthday present has prompted a lot of buying - branching out from premade cross stitch kits to a pattern and then sourcing the threads myself which obviously has a bigger outlay (threads, bobbins, something to keep them in, a big swatch of aida fabric) but should make life cheaper in the long run (I say, jokingly) - I do do a lot of cross stitch cards and gifts.

Car MOT was not TOO bad for a 14 year old car, lots of niggles, nothing serious. Will need some new tyres in the next 3 months or so - Christmas present for the car, I guess!

Merlin's_Beard

The REST of the month, though, we're not going to unnecessarily spend!

South_coast

Merlin's_Beard said:

The REST of the month, though, we're not going to unnecessarily spend!

OK, I definitely believe you 😘!

rtandon27

None of the spends you made sound unnecessary!

Wondering if you could roughly map out your present expenditures for the year and set aside x amount each month?  Mine is now about 30 a month but used to be much higher until I spent a year really anyilizing which gifts were not necessary.

Merlin's_Beard

rtandon27 said:

None of the spends you made sound unnecessary!

Wondering if you could roughly map out your present expenditures for the year and set aside x amount each month?  Mine is now about 30 a month but used to be much higher until I spent a year really anyilizing which gifts were not necessary.

Oh I do! This year was messed up due to a big birthday, and, if I'm completely honest, rolling several summer birthdays into getting sorted this week and then spending more on them than I was expecting to for various reasons (which I don't begrudge and would do again).

I also found my list of jobs for this week which involves sorting frames for various projects (cross stitch - mine; art - a gift from a friend) so maybe already I'm falling off the wagon!

Finally got around to tidying the back of the beginner embroidery that I did and wanged that on the kallax (It's a kids thing so that's definitely not going up on the wall, it can live next to the wonky crochet cow).

My second ever embroidery project has managed to arrive without the printed embroidery, but a quick message to the seller had another one in the post within half an hour - now just to wait for the unreliable postie.

Also been back on prolific for the first time in an age.

savingholmes

Good luck with the embroidery.

Your EF sounds great. I feel you on future car costs though - my car is 10 and I'm hoping it lasts a very long time but who knows.