Walking into another chapter ...

benbenandme

Downstairs carpet has been Vax'ed No time like the present and all that! I do now need to do buy some more solution for the Vax machine but it does last absolutely ages. I can't walk on it for a bit now while it dries so I guess I need to sit on the sofa and watch the football  

benbenandme

I thought it would be a good idea to write a list of all the things I'd like to have the money for. Some are things that need to be done around the house, some are pie in the sky / if I won a chunk of money on the lottery type things, but it may be useful to have them all together on a list

1. The back garden: I've got about £1000 already put by for this, I need it turfed (currently it's just mud), a step by the back door and one day I'd like the paving re-done
2. New garage door: The door system has broken and either needs replacing or ideally an electronic door would be nice (had one at my old flat and loved it)
3. Sorting the front garden: either turfing it or landscaping it to allow a second car to park
4. Teeth: My teeth are appalling, I know I will need serious money to sort them
5. New carpets in the bedrooms
6. New car: mine is fine right now but one day will need replacing
7. Skip: to gut the garage and shed
8. Proper bath panel: mine is a bodged job as it isn't a standard length. Looks naff.
9. Shelving in the airing cupboard. One of the cheaper things on the list and will helpn with storage upstairs once I get this one sorted.
10. New garden furniture - I want a couple of recliner chairs, mine have gone to the tip finally, I had them over 20 years and have had my moneys worth from them
11. Outside rendering / painting: quote coming this week
12. Retirement cruise - already underway, £1000 per year being saved towards this

benbenandme

Been looking at my various savings pots in Monzo and have decided that the gas/electric pot can go. I had this one as for the last couple of years to cover excess usage in the winter but I haven't dipped into it. My direct debit seems to be on track still, I pay £157 a month currently, I may up it to £160 so it's a round figure and then move the money from this pot into my general savings pot. I will set up a new pot for spending money for our holiday. I don't think this will need to be a huge amount as all food is included on the cruise, it will just be for drinks (I've had one alcoholic drink in the last 12 months so don't expect that to be much), and for any shore days. I do have some Euros from our last cruise, will check how many and what they are worth currently. 

benbenandme

Have dug out the euros and I have 100, which is worth about £85 currently

Drawingaline

Shelving in the airing cupboard can be really cheap. I did ours when I dismantled our massive wardrobes that we inherited with this house. Bought a piece of wood for the supports and then sawed some of the wardrobe into shelves. Works well and just added more space for bedding and towels. 

And as someone who has had teeth issues recently, get a pot going now for that treatment! 

benbenandme

The airing cupboard is my next project - it shouldn't be a huge job but should mean I can then sort upstairs a bit more. 
This week has been crazy at work - we've done the school production this week so I haven't finished until 9 each night. I was hoping for a lie-in this morning but it didn't happen, awake as usual at 5:30am
I was planning a decent walk today but I'm really tired and it's chucking it down with rain, so a housework, football and chilling kinda day ahead. 
My home insurance renewal was due to automatically renew today - last year was £136, this year they wanted £195 so that has been cancelled, so I do need to sort that out. I also need to start looking at the end of month banking, ready for payday next week. Where did February go??!

Sun_Addict

I always wake up at 5.30 on weekends, have to get up at 5 on working days 🙁 The weather here has been glorious, really sunny and quite warm all day despite a frosty start and not a cloud in the sky. For such a small island I’m amazed how the weather differs. 

benbenandme

The guy came today in the end to quote for the rendering - he has been recommended by a couple of friends. He doesn't do the scaffolding so I need to get separate quotes for that. He is going to email me this week with the quote, he reckons it will be best to do it in the summer which would suit me as I am off work then and I can save up a bit too. No idea of actual amounts yet but I know it isn't going to be cheap. It is something that needs to be done though as it will just get worse, and if I do want to sell at any point in the future it will need to be done first. 

This morning I popped into town and got a couple of bits I needed for work (will get the money back), and popped into M&S and got a few yellow stickered bits, so a reduced extra large chicken is currently roasting in the oven to be had with some chips and reduced coleslaw/potato salad, salad followed by reduced apple pie and custard

This afternoon will be spent on the sofa (avoiding the rain again), sorting the banking pots and getting my mojo back for saving

benbenandme

So to start me off I have done a bank switch, I moved a Chase account (you can have more than 1 chase account) to RBS - no direct debits need to be switched, took 5 minutes on the online application, now I just need to move £1200 in (can move it out again 24 hours later) then I get £200 within 7 days, very happy with that

I've done a couple of Prolific surveys, ate some chicken and salad and am now going to watch the cup final with some apple pie and custard x

benbenandme

I've sorted the contents/building insurance - It was £149, I had £140 in my savings pot for it so just needed to add in a tenner.