Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

jwil

Hope you have a nice weekend. 

beanielou

Wish you were nearer.
We could be ladies who lunch!

MovingForwards

Reinvented bedroom sounds nice, have a little faith in yourself that you can put things together.
I'm not sure if it's recommended new plants are kept in separate water for a couple of weeks to ensure nothing is 'caught' from it. Might be worth looking up.
Have a good weekend!

jwil

beanielou said:

Wish you were nearer.
We could be ladies who lunch!

Me too!  That would be good  

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil, Beanie and MF

I did go and see an MSE person once when I was in their area and it was bizarre as they had an identical picture hanging on their wall and we had a lot in common.

It would be nice to be ladies who lunch.

Well today I have been updating my spreadsheets and looking at upcoming bills. It looks like - after withdrawing around £300 of savings I will be able to pretty much clear my CC balance I carried over and new month spending - barring about £240 that I expect to clear when my energy refund arrives after switching my gas supplier. That makes me feel a lot better. Most of that was incurred in operation house declutter and tart up - and on reflection although it was hard parting with the money it was money well spent.

I also hope that most of my upcoming handyman spend can be covered with cash I took out last pay month. He was due back yesterday to finish the shed but didn't come due to rain. It's currently not raining so I need to get my decorating clothes on and get out there quick! It was really wet first thing so I've given it time to dry. I then need to paint the boards he replaced Wednesday. I then have the dilemma of do I get him to do any other planned work like cementing wall tops and doing a bit of drive widening use free pavers he has. I've allowed another £50 from this month (reduced from £100) but I'm hoping after that I may be done at least for a few months. I've allowed £100 a month so that would be fab if I was able to save that instead / use towards a holiday. I need him to resolve the gutter issue still I think as I don't think he's done that yet. I also want him to assemble a planter for me that I'd already bought. I may also get him to do some weeding in the back garden.

I've harvested a load of garlic and just shoved it in my shed for now. Am I supposed to wash off the soil? I assume I am but haven't done it yet... My broccoli is producing some stems I could cut. My apples are growing well and my plums. Need to keep an eye on them. My raspberries look like they'll be great next year rather than this which is irritating. I have some potatoes growing. I have a huge ant nest in one of those locations though so likely to let that one be!! I am still getting strawberries. My sea holly is turning purple and the bumble bees are loving it as ever. My honeysuckle is now covered in beautiful red berries. I still have pink geraniums in flower. I have some pink flowers at the front that I'm wondering if they could be cosmos. I will try and post a piccie at some point. I have some sedum with white sprigs ready to turn red. The garden is looking good overall. 

Things I need to save/budget for

1. Car insurance
2. MOT, New tyre, Possible water pump to fix back window washer
3. Cottage holiday?
4. Moving?
5. Christmas

My pensions are looking happier this month. My small DC pot has regained around £100 it had lost. My AVCs have currently gained £228. I'm not showing gains in my signature - just my input as they stock market fluctuates.

Apparently the bifold door house with the field behind it - the field can't be built on as there's some kind of fault with the land but despite having nice views it doesn't feel worth moving for.  I wonder if it would help me to go and stay in a cottage again and remind myself I don't need the level of space I have here - and I can always knock walls through if needed. Alternatively I wonder about getting a caravan/lodge somewhere and having that 'escape' option that way. However that is also a huge commitment and I'm not convinced it gives value for money - if I kept this value of house. 

Swayingseaweed

My friend did the caravan thing and really worked for her, in fact it worked so well she moved permanently to the area her caravan was in. She was lucky her investment paid off.
Seaweed x 

jwil

Your garden sounds lovely and productive!  

Well done on the financial gains as well.

I've met someone from here IRL, and also have quite a few on my FB that I 'met' on here when we were all having babies at the same time (little jwil).  I forget that I knew them from here, and I wouldn't remember any of their usernames any more.

savingholmes

Thanks Seaweed and Jwil

Well I painted the boards on the shed and the arbour (purple). Just hope I have enough paint left for any further boards the handyman replaces - otherwise it could be another £16 for another tin!! I found painting therapeutic as it slowed my brain down enough to process.

I was listening to a fiction book this week by Nora R  - in it the character said - if you don't take responsibility for something that's your fault you're an A** but if you take responsibility for something that's not your fault, you're an idiot. For some reason that stuck when all the times friends and family have tried to say the same thing about something I've felt deep shame about - didn't work. What happened to me - was not my fault - and therefore I need to find a way to let go of the shame.  I appreciate that's cryptic but there we go. No doubt I'll discuss it in more detail with my counsellor when I finally see her (after 3 weeks) on Thursday.

I saw my cat come out of the little outdoor wooden home I bought him today - it was the first time I'd seen him in there. (I bought it last Winter!!)  Made me happy knowing he'd be safe and dry in there.

I'm having to work really hard at resisting spending money at the moment. Hopefully after this month I should have some more 'give' in my budget again for a bit.

I have a viewer tomorrow but will need to get everywhere looking shiny again. It's drifted a bit since the cleaner came Wednesday. He's coming late afternoon so there should be plenty of time. I saw someone do a drive-by today and look all happy and excited so wonder if it will be them tomorrow. Ideally I also need to do some work for my day job.

I'm planning a shower tonight before bed to scrub off some of the purple paint adorning my body. I really do have the knack of getting it everywhere - think face, neck, hands, where is soaked through my clothes etc...

DD is in theory going out with Ex in her car tomorrow. Really hope she actually does... She needs the practice. She seems to be doing well at saving which is a good turnaround from doing the opposite before...

jwil

Hope the viewing goes well today

Swayingseaweed

🤞the viewing goes well. 
Seaweed x