We will get this debt down & the savings up

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82048972#Comment_82048972

Yes, that's exactly what mine are doing…withering up if I don't pick them small. Must feed them today as I haven't done it this week with it being so hot out there

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82049180#Comment_82049180

I did have to wait till state pension age to get my bus pass, think its the same right across the country.

Makingabobor2

Quick update today. Not much happening really. Things are plodding along.

Garden is looking ok, but a lot of job need doing and we need some rain as the water butts are just about empty and I don't want to have to pay to use tap water to feed the veggies. So any unwanted water…eg, waiting for it to heat up or cool down etc, and it is going straight in the watering can outside the back door. Peppers are still just growing, lots of green leaves and nothing else. Toms are looking good, as is the rhubarb, spuds, carrots and raspberries. Strawberries ok, what there are of them, but not as many as I had hoped for, so some new plants next year I think. Not sure what to make of the cues, as not really sure where they should be at this stage, and struggling to work out which are the male flowers and which the female. Courgettes starting to look like they might grow slightly bigger at last….fingers crossed.

More items sold on V*nt*d. P/fc has got off to a reasonable start, after a good month last month, ended June on £133.

Got a list of jobs for DH this weekend, put up a bathroom blind,…to keep out the sun. Last week it was sooo hot in there, an awning in over the patio, move the curtain pole up a bit for the curtain on the front door between lounge and porch, so I can put my new ( from CS), curtain up, to match the window curtains. He also needs to clean the pond and I need to do a load in the garden as well. I've also got some blackout curtain liners, as the curtains I got are great at keeping out the sun, but as they are black on the outside, they get too hot. Apparently light grey ones are better as they reflect the heat. Anything to improve on last week. I just don't think I could stand another heatwave, I really didn't cope well.

I also want to start on a BIG clear out of wardrobe and drawers and get on with the decluttering a bit more, although I did take a bagful to local CS this morning. I was doing ok, but last week I seem to have done nothing due to the heat, and now playing catch up, as it seems to be a lot more untidy at the moment, and having the windows open creates more dust. Also spending a lot of time on P/fc means less time on housework, and at this time of year, more time spent in garden.

Monday I have my next audiologist appointment, so using bus pass again and then a short 20 min train journey. Currently showing 26c which I can just about cope with. Last time I just had to cancel the appointment as no way I was going on public transport in 32+ degrees….its a 40 min bus ride! While I am at the appointment, I will pop into the Sally Army CS they have there for a browse. I do feel that the hearing aids are helping, so hopeful I will get even more used to them…..despite their cost!!

Well that's about it for now, off to tidy up and get some dinner prepped. Potatoes & carrots from the garden….it does cheer me to know we are eating home grown stuff. Might get some rhubarb & strawberries tomorrow and do a crumble.

foxgloves

You did fantastically well with your PA survey cash-out! My June total was £19-13, which was pretty feeble as I do usually aim for around £40. It was partly down to there not being that many for me & also that I've been doing other things.

Re strawberries. Yes, ours are finished for this year, having produced about 3 modest servings each. The thing with strawberries is that you need a lot of plants to produce a really decent amount of fruit. My friend who has an allotment always does really well for them but she has a whole big strawberry bed there & another smaller one in her garden, whereas I just have 3 troughs.

Glad your hearing aids seem to be helping.

F

Makingabobor2

@foxgloves, think we have had about 18 strawberries maybe, so far & there are about 7 just about ripened. Had about 8 plants all together. Will try again next year.

Twolabsandacat

Just de-lurking having finished reading all your diary. You pf earnings are amazing and kudos to clearing your mortgage :)

I was really interested in your thoughts about Hearing aids - having worn them since forever, I can honestly say that I would only go with the NHS. Everyone I know who has got them later in life has struggled to adapt as I think the brain starts to fill in the gaps and it then has some unlearning to do.

I get new ones around every 3 years and it still takes me a few days to adapt!

It might just be that our local Audiology dept is very good, but I have always felt very well looked after there.

EssexHebridean

You OK MaB? Not like you to go quiet on your diary for this long.

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82085942#Comment_82085942

Thanks for asking EH. I am ok, just had such a lot going on and been so stressed you wouldn't believe. Hoping things are finally getting a bit more sorted and under control. Not stuff I want to go into on here, but things to do with family, health, finances and a few other things, and just didn't have a lot of time or inclination to post much on here, although I have been reading other diaries. Will take stock of everything and then start posting more again soon.

In the mean time I can say that the garden is going ok, but not as good as I had hoped. The weather obviously hasn't helped. But not had to buy any toms or cues, which is a good thing, and we did get loads of potatoes. Raspberries are starting to show now which is good, and I finally got 1 green pepper…..LOL

Debts are still going down slowly, not as quick as I would have liked. Will start working on that more in the autumn.

EF has taken a bit of a hit, but is on the way up again now.

P/fc still going well, but not nearly as well as previous months, but then I haven't had so much time to log in. Think that might be the theme for the next few weeks as well TBH.

Decluttering is continuing and stuff sold on V*nt*d.

Been trying to keep the MSE faith as much as I can.

Been going to the gym as much as I can, but dancing classes stopped for the summer now.

So that's about it for now. I will try and post when I can, but have a feeling it may be 2 or 3 weeks before I get back to posting regularly. I intend to make a brand new start at everything in the autumn.

Sun_Addict

Good to hear from you. I hope things settle down soon for you. September is a good time to start afresh.

Blackcats

nice to see you. Hope that things get back on an even keel. You can rejoin us at the start of next term at MSE University