The Senior Wonder Years!

[Deleted User]

Elderly relative is poorly with heavy cold, so I am on light nursing duties providing drinks, tissues and a little food. February budget is underway and hopefully will go to plan.

Tomorrow I am taking 4 wrist watches to the local jewellers for new batteries. I have been wearing my apple watch mainly for the last few years and have neglected the other watches. I will start wearing them again for evenings out lol.

I also need to take back a jumper for either refund or a smaller size. I forgot that at M&S I am definitely only a medium!

Today nothing much planned apart from usual chores and a walk.

Car insurance payment goes out on a few days and my English Heritage renewal went out on January 31st. Money moved from annual spends to cover both.

Towards the end of the month I need to pay for villa in Cyprus. Fortunately my share of the cost is only £300 as 3 others are also contributing. I also need to book the airport hotel for the night before, the airport parking and the ferry. I will book the South Terminal Hilton and South Terminal Valet Parking as it minimises walking distance for my elderly relative. Assistance is booked from check in onwards.

Total cost of the trip to me will be about £2000. This includes flights, ferry, airport hotel, airport parking my share of the car hire and villa. I am paying for elderly relative’s flight as her birthday present. We are flying  BA Club Europe as it gives us a middle free  seat on the plane, in flights meals and use of the executive lounge, where we can have a great breakfast!

Personal spends in Cyprus will not be very high as we will be sharing costs for villa foods basics and I am being treated to several meals out during the week😉. 

In March house insurance is due and in April Car Service MOT and Road Tax. £1000 is ready in annual bills pot for these and hopefully there will be some change lol.

Well I had better get up. Today is bed change day lol and I need to have that walk too!

[Deleted User]

I had a takeaway for the first time for about 4 years yesterday evening. The pizza was tasty enough bit certainly not worth how much paid! I will not be doing that again!

For comparison as a little treat for my elderly relative today I have just bought an M&S dine in for two. A main, side and dessert for two, for exactly half the price of the Pizza!

Successfully returned the jumper and went for the refund instead of the exchange, so that's £24 handing back to the clothing pot. 

beanielou

Your trip to Cyprus sounds fantastic.

Arthurian

I am agog at how well Baron Dale manages his money: an Apple watch, good clothes, a £2,000 holiday, lots of meals out, good food, thinking of buying a new car, etc.  It's making me think that perhaps I'm being too parsimonious in my life, worrying too much about the cost of living crisis and the future. Thanks, Baron Dale!

[Deleted User]

Lol. The Apple watch was a present. The holiday is paid for for from savings. I did work part-time for several years after taking my TPS pension. I don't have a huge amount of savings. The car would only be new to me lol. Also I am single and share some expenses with elderly relative. As for clothes I tend to buy in sales and take advantage of offers. I do budget, but I am not particularly frugal!
Don't be too parsimonious. You are a long time dead!

[Deleted User]

@Arthurian. Are you able to update us on your situation. Remember I am a facts and figures man lol.

Arthurian

I'm not brave enough!

beanielou

Arthurian said:

I am agog at how well Baron Dale manages his money: an Apple watch, good clothes, a £2,000 holiday, lots of meals out, good food, thinking of buying a new car, etc.  It's making me think that perhaps I'm being too parsimonious in my life, worrying too much about the cost of living crisis and the future. Thanks, Baron Dale!

As my dad always said no pockets in a shroud.

[Deleted User]

Arthurian said:

I'm not brave enough!

    That's a shame lol. Not even an inkling?

Humboldt

@[Deleted User] I hope that your elderly relative is recovering and that you both enjoyed the M&S 'dine in for two' meal.  Such a nice treat and at a reasonable price when compared with some takeaways or eating out.