Escape to the country & living off savings

MovingForwards

You're totally living the dream that the "real average" person desires and proving it can be done. Yes, you've sold up and relocated to enable this dream, however you're a totally different person now and have a chance at health stability. 

Bargain towels and great idea hiding chocs at DFs to avoid temptation 🤭

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks SQS and MF ☺️

I have started the November money shuffle early as there is lots to move from different pots this month. 

Phone (sim-only) £10                  (unlimited calls & texts & 20gb data

Tv licence 13.25

Water 24

Council tax £97

Union £2.14

Gas & Electric bill £57.05 

Gas & Electric winter pot £50

Annual bills £100

Birthdays / Xmas £50

Petrol £40

Entertainment £100 (including trip to see sister on east coast)

Food £160

Leisure centre membership £32.50

Christmas shopping trip £50           (train, lunch)

Income £833

Outgoing £785.94

My savings pots now stand at:

Gas & Elec £500  (plus £100 per month in budget from 1 Dec)

Annual bills £450. (£100 pm)     car/house insurance, breakdown cover, clothes shoes/boots, car tax, boiler service, dentist, cheap internet glasses, (eye test & medical prescriptions free due to health condition)

Car fund      £800. (Mot/service due November then £50pm from December)

Xmas/bday £330   (50pm)

Today I am going to dig out my winter clothes. I have thermals, jumpers, hat big warm coat & boots. May need a new scarf & gloves, but will check first before adding to my Christmas list for family to gift me 😉

SuzeQStan

Thanks for posting this SYA - your new water rates make me smile. Savings pots looking very healthy.

sorry I’m not completely understanding one thing - you are currently putting in £50 additional PM for energy savings pot but come December you will be putting in addtl £100 - is that on top of the £50 or increasing to £100?

great to see that extra £47 above your current outgoings. This will pretty much cover your additional energy savings pot increase!

Skint_yet_Again

That’s it for now for the winter g&e pot SQS. So going forward I will have £100 per month in the budget for the monthly bill & anything over £100 will be covered by the £500 credit pot. 

I haven’t got any plans for the money  remaining in the budget. I might treat myself to something when I go Christmas shopping in the city with my friend or if I haven’t spent it by the end of the month I might start a holiday pot

DF gave me another cauliflower from his allotment, so that has been steamed and frozen. 

Very little else done today apart from washing up and a quick whizz round the laminate downstairs floors with my speed mop. It’s been cold & grey & damp / raining. Forecast for sunny & breezy tomorrow so I hope to get some washing done and line dried. 

time2change_2

It sounds like you're living the best life for you now and that is all that matters.

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks @time2change_2 😊

All clocks put back an hour. Enjoyed an extra hour in bed. It’s a bright sunny morning but no wind blowing at the moment. Hopefully it will pick up later as I have lots of washing to hang out. 

Today I plan on checking my tyres with the little compressor DF bought me for Christmas a couple of years ago. It’s easier at home on the drive with my thick foam “kneeling” pad rather than embarrassing myself at the garage and not being able to get up 😆 I will also top up water & go to garage for petrol. I am planning on going to see my sister next week. 

Leftover roast chicken on a wrap
for lunch today with roasted veg, natural yoghurt and grated cheese. Dinner will be the rest of the chicken breast warmed in gravy with swede & carrot mash & veg from the freezer. 

SuzeQStan

Hey SYA - glad you enjoyed your extra hour - I was up at 4am 😱 just can’t seem to lie in these days and bedtime gets earlier all the time.

Your foam pad is very sensible - less pain & dirt.  

My very last trip to W!lko before they sadly closed I found a foam backed kneeling pad with arm handles either side so you can pull yourself back up to standing.  Bargain in the closing down sale at less than £7 - OH laughed at me but I painted all our fences in less than a week sitting on it (if you turn it upside down it forms a small bench/seat).

I know you ain’t into your gardening 😉 but if you come across one I can highly recommend it for any fiddly tasks you have to get too low to the ground for!

I am really sad about W!lko actually - for the people who lost their jobs & also cos I was in there most weeks.

meant to ask you before - these wraps you get - are they nice?

hope you have a great time at your sisters xx 😊

Skint_yet_Again

Thanks SQS. Your kneeling thingy with arms sounds like a bargain. 

It’s been a lovely warm sunny autumn day today. Washing dried on the line. Filled the car up with petrol £40 & did tyres / water. Also bought a few bits in asda including their own brand porridge £1.20 for 10 packets, 4 tins of tuna £1, 6 apples 95p and 4 small bananas 48p. 

MovingForwards

Budgets look good and it's great you're planning ahead with winter bills.
Food is yummy, as always, and DFs allotment has added so much variation to your meals.

Can't believe it's Nov already, have you much left to sort out for next month?

Skint_yet_Again

Had a lovely time at my sisters. Total spends apart from petrol £33, including a pretty little book for passwords reduced from £6.99 to £2. I will fill in all my details and lock it in the safe. 

Returned home to some sad news that a family member has passed away. 😢 Not immediate family but still a shock. Not much older than me. 

Made myself go to aquafit today & was glad I went. Called off for a cooked chicken on the way home & got 2 cakes 80p which I took to friends when I went for a cuppa. No plans for the weekend. Rain forecast for tomorrow. Warm & sunny today, got towels washed & mostly dried on the line outside.