Evasive action! Stop the trench becoming a hole.

KeepOnKnitting

I really didn't want to be tolerating it this time around, but it was either tolerate or throw him out. I'm a big fan of Karma, and I believe in "do as you would be done by". No, he hasn't treated me the way I would treat others, but two wrongs don't make a right. He'll get his karmic reward when the universe is ready.

Today I had fun doing a woodworking project in the garden. Really proud of how it turned out and saved a bunch compared to buying ready built. Sadly though, completely unbudgeted for materials. I'll have to shuffle the budget somehow to make it work. At least it means I can make more progress in the garden tidying project, as that had stalled badly.

Going to shower and colour my hair, and maybe make lunch ready for back to work tomorrow. 

KeepOnKnitting

New day and new week. Going to be a busy one, I know my diary is back-to-back today. It was meant to be clear for the post-bank holiday rush, but I needed the space to see people, so all my colleagues will have to cover the walk-ins. 

Going to see a friend this evening. That will be nice. 

Just need to get through to Friday to deal with the lodger squatter.

KeepOnKnitting

Still no sign of rent. Not that I was expecting it today. 

Have managed to accidentally transfer money from my main current account to my side current account twice to cover the credit card payment. Well it can stay there until I put the savings money in there with it for the regular saver.

Have made salad and couscous for dinner, with enough to do for tomorrow night as well. Now sitting listening to the rain in the garden. Not long before I get to go on holiday now. Starting to feel soon and I'm getting excited.

Blackcats

It's Friday so I've checked in to see if the lodger has paid their rent?
I'm thinking no but hoping yes!

Sarahwithlove

I think the squatter needs to go! 

KeepOnKnitting

Still no sign of rent, so last night I asked my squatter to leave. He's gone to work today, and will pick up his stuff this evening.

WinterWarrior

KeepOnKnitting said:

Still no sign of rent, so last night I asked my squatter to leave. He's gone to work today, and will pick up his stuff this evening.

I hope he will still pay you what he owes? But much better to cut your losses now I think. Did you have a deposit that will cover the missing money? 

KeepOnKnitting

Thanks @WinterWarrior, but I don't imagine for a second that he will pay what he owes. He tried to string me along until next week, but I refused. I can't take the stress of waiting any longer. I'm just so grateful to past-me for having saved up a bit of an emergency fund to cover times like this. I can do the best thing for my wellbeing and not have to worry about the finances of being stung for several hundred in rent.

Today I nipped out to Tesco and got some milk and a couple of basics to last the weekend, and effectively that has closed off my budget for August. I kind of just want to draw a line under this month and move on. 

I had free electricity between 1-2pm, so I did laundry, baked, charged things and hoovered in that hour. Felt very productive.

I have done some maths on calculating how much I need to save for a holiday I have planned in the new year. I like to go on a big trip every now and then, last one was in 2019. I worked out the best timing a few weeks back, but at the moment other than using my emergency fund, tesco vouchers and credit card, I don't have the funds for it. So I need to save for it, and do that efficiently. 

I've been binge-reading a MFW diary the last couple of days, catching up on about 100 pages of progress. I'm lurking, I'm still about a month behind so I haven't got up to date to make a relevant comment yet. I won't tag the person at this point as that would be a bit weird, but I love the idea they have of creating a mood-board type thing to focus the thoughts towards a goal. I'm thinking I could steal that along with maybe a chart to map my progress towards saving for this holiday before I need to pay for it!

Blackcats

I would be so embarrassed if I was your former lodger.  I just cannot imagine living in someone's house without paying them what I agreed I would pay.
you could make yourself a holiday savings chart with 1% squares to colour in as you save up.  I have previously drawn a jar and filled it with 100 circles to represent sweeties and colour them in 1 at a time.  Oh and another time I drew a tree with 10 branches with a combination of 10 leaves/apples on each branch.  Silly but motivating! 

KeepOnKnitting

I don't think he is embarrassed in the least. I just had to ask him to bring my kitchen equipment with him when he comes to collect his stuff. I had planned to let him in to pack up for himself, but I think he just lost that privilege.

Something like that is exactly what I was thinking @Blackcats, although possibly a bit more basic as my art skills aren't great.