An in-between phase

ladyholly

PennysIntoPounds said:

I do hope not @ladyholly. The heating allowance decision is very odd, such a comparatively small amount of money saved economically and such an emotive subject, seems a most peculiar way to set your stall out for a new government. I can only think they have great faith in their plan for a British energy company so they can swoop in and save the day from, um, themselves. We shall see

I wouldnt mind quite so much about the heating allowance if MPs didnt get an allowance of over £3000pa. I have already written to my MP (who is of the governing party) what they have against old people and would they think of the elderly who often cant even move much to keep warm when they are enjoying their warm homes and subsidised meals.

PennysIntoPounds

Well we are on our holibobs staying at family friends place with free accommodation, hurrah! I do like to be beside the seaside (tiddlyompompom)

Travelled yesterday with cheapest tickets we could get and outside of peak tube fares, and enjoyed our train sandwiches. Dinner was ready meals from tesco express which we think are pricier than in London! Anyway, grub in the face was needed and included in newly created holiday spend pots.

Today we went to lidl and got reasonably priced supplies (and a free doughnut for my breakfast tomorrow). Spends are checking out lots of local pubs but budgeted for even if we do have to get back on the skint train on our return! Lots of steps, and I was very brave and went in the sea even though it's not terribly warm. Felt too randomly rocky to do my shallow swimming safely but I had a good submerge. Dinner out tonight but from the holiday pot, and I have my eyes on an aubergine parmigiana so keeping up with the fruit & veg (& red wine) portions 

Sun_Addict

Have a great time at the seaside. Very brave indeed to go in the sea, I bet it was refreshing though. Hope the weather stays good for your break. Enjoy 😎

EssexHebridean

well I am beyond certain that I typed a reply on your diary yesterday - but it's not there now so I must have dreamed it!

I'm beyond impressed that your ability to track down what are seemingly tiny little savings here and there has lead you to the point of having £5k stashed in the flat pot - honestly, I hope you know how inspiring that is as in most cases it quite literally is "money from nothing" isn't it - well done! And I missed your diary-versary too, and your interesting question about whether people's diary titles still reflect their aims. My current one is relatively new of course, and so it definitely does, and indeed, a change of circumstances so that our focus shifts (planned or otherwise) has always been something that has tended to prompt me to begin a new diary anyway. 

Have a wonderful time by the sea! 

Blackcats

Enjoy the seaside.  Ice cream is mandatory.

PennysIntoPounds

Spent a big chunk of my meagre holiday pot on the lidl shop but we have to eat. Though also got a couple of their deal bottles of pinotage for £3 each too (thanks @Sun_Addict for the heads up). And my train sandwich for the way back had 60p off so taking that 60p off my I.O.ME as that's a wee gift from the universe on something I was buying anyway.

In build news, the excavations, underpinning, and foundations have been booked and will cost us approx £16k. Gulp. The council really, really needs to sign off on these consents otherwise this is an extremely costly mistake 😂 👀
Exciting to have something happening though, hopefully it will pay off! Otherwise we're f*cked!

Sun_Addict

 I really hope so 🤞🙏

I’m amazed Lid! still have some of that £3 wine left. It’s not the best wine I’ve tasted but certainly better than some I’ve paid £7 a glass for in a pub. 

beanielou

Wow,  Hope you get the permissions soon.

PennysIntoPounds

Thanks @beanielou and @Sun_Addict
Tbf it's not as recklessly costly as it sounds, as if we do have to sell the land because the council are still ignoring us and we can no longer afford to build, we'll get a bit more having had these works done. Though that will mean we have 16k less (oh and we'll need to pay the surveyor approx 7.5k soon too) to find anywhere to actually live, but since we already can't afford that we might as well speculate to accumulate (said in best Del Boy voice)

Oh lordy please can the council stop ignoring us.

@Sun_Addict agreed, the wine is perfectly acceptable and I had a glass of red out earlier for a holiday treat that was £10.50 and entirely underwhelming!

EssexHebridean

Consider me to be directing my best Paddington hard stare at the council...VERY exciting to have things booked to actually break ground though! 

As for holiday grocery spends - I always allocate a bit out of the regular grocery pot towards it as after all we would have been eating had we been at home!