And now we go again...

Sun_Addict

I think the new camera is well justified. It's a hobby you enjoy and you take such beautiful photographs.

lucielle

Good for you! Hope it comes quicker than expected.
L

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82062767#Comment_82062767

Thanks lovely - that's very kind! 😊 The intention is that this one will last me a good many years, and my current "2nd camera" will be sold to help cover some of the cost also - although as it's now a number of years old I don't expect to get that much for it! If the new one lasts as well as my last main camera did - 7 years - then I'll be fairly content with that.

L - I've had the order processing confirmation this morning along with the courier details (DPD - thank goodness not Evri!) so hopefully I'll get the tracking link in the next few days.

EssexHebridean

I'm bracing myself for 'spensivnesses.

We've said yes to the quote for some building work at home - which is good and needs doing. This was planned and is budgeted and will add both safety and kerb appeal to the front of the house. This is without question all good.

MrEH's car has also finally gone to the garage and we have a choice between a £1k bill that might fix the problem - but might not - and a £3k bill that would fix the problem but is probably more than the car is worth. Ouchy ouchy OUCH. This is without question not good at all - we'll be having some tough conversation this evening. 😣

Sun_Addict

The first spend sounds like a no-brainer but ugh to the car decision. What a dilemma!

Cheery_Daff

Ouch to stupid car spending, I feel your pain! 😬 Especially at the same time as other spending, even if it is planned 😬

Cheery_Daff

I've got a couple of old cars going cheap if you need one 🫢😂

PennysIntoPounds

Looking forward to hearing your reasoned outcome, good luck!

lucielle

Iuurgh I feel your pain re cars. I might need a new alloy if OH can’t bash it out.
L

EssexHebridean

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075431#Comment_82075431

I know about your cars Cheery…let me think for a moment….errr - no! 😂

So - initial decision is that we've ok'd the lower cost repair and will then be replacing the car immediately, before it has the chance for anything further to go wrong. The fix should work in the first instance, but may not solve the issue long term, so the plan will be to keep mileage to a minimum while we look for something else. It's far from ideal - we'd anticipated another 4 - 5 years out of the car really as it's only 10 years old, but ultimately needs must, and thankfully we do have the savings there to solve the issue. Thankfully we had already planned that it would be mine, not his going to the Hebrides this year, so at least we don't have to mess about with that!

The building work will be paid from via the proceeds of regular savers (2 x N@t10nw1de and 2 x Pr1nc 6 month) that are maturing over the next few months - and the balance of that money will now have to go in the direction of the car replacement. Then any surplus over what we want for mortgage overpayments each month will go towards rebuilding the savings.

the Spanish Bank credit card has paid its first lot of cashback - that's gone to the OP account. Something coming back in, at least!

The garden is also creeping towards saving us money on the food shop now - I'm getting a handful of tomatoes each day, and the tromboncino squashes are keeping us well supplied, at the stage we are harvesting they are pretty much like courgettes, which is excellent!

Oh - and my new camera arrived! Very exciting - first impressions are good, I'll be using it to shoot an airshow at the weekend so will see how that goes - I suspect a lot of fiddling with settings will be required though! That reminds me, I must sit down with it and the old one and spend some time mirroring the usual settings across.