Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

savingholmes

Thanks for the encouragement DIA, Blackcats and HSL 

This morning and early afternoon:

I've been productive and updated my spreadsheets and opened some new savings accounts - including an ISA with Z. It pays monthly interest and is 5.08% and has unlimited withdrawals. I find monthly interest a lot more motivating.

Last tax year due to retaining some home equity (and not paying it off the mortgage instead) was the first year I've ever filled my ISA allowance. Makes sense financially as I'm on a low mortgage interest rate and I wanted a decent EF. When I set that up - I picked an account that has a 90 day penalty for withdrawals - which given at the time I saw it as just an EF made sense - but which if I now want to use any of that for home improvements feels a mistake. However, I've moved some penalty free £ from other savings accounts into my new ISA - and by early next week there should be close to £9.5K in there. There are limits on how much I can send to a new account on one of my accounts, hence the slight delay. That still leaves some savings in higher interest regular saver accounts but should mean that I'm below the taxable interest range. Some of those accounts may have penalties for withdrawal - I need to check that and when they are due to mature. This new savings pot is therefore what I'd ear mark towards any further building work - e.g. a garage conversion and/or drive if I go ahead with those - and possibly the patio door if I can't pay that on a 0% CC which I'm hoping I can.

I have been beating myself up a bit for recent home/garden related (or art related) voluntary spends but having updated my spreadsheets I'm more comfortable with where I'm at as even though I've spent more than I'd like - I have also cashflowed some out of my monthly pay - and there are some categories in my budget that some of that spend could have sat within. I do need to curb fritter spends however - starting with taking some unsuitable curtains back to D**elm.

 

savingholmes

Thanks too for the plant suggestions HSL - not keen on cotoneaster except as a background plant as it tends to take over. My garden isn't particularly deep so want to focus on plants I'm particularly keen on. I have bought similar plants to the Erigeron though... 

I made it to the beach this afternoon and left just as it started to rain. There was even a lighthouse which is one of my fave things. I'll post some photos shortly. I did come across a fallen tree on the way there but thankfully got past it safely - I'm so used to it being windy around here - as my house feels quite exposed - I hadn't realised it was anything unusual - Jwil.

beanielou

I love lighthouses. Always have since I was wee. Used to write to Trinity House for information!

skint_spice

I am with you on curbing the frittering. Glad you had a nice day at the beach.

savingholmes

The beach ... My first sighting in 2024! Beautiful blue sky, sunshine but fierce wind. I'm a massive fan of lighthouses hence picking this beach.





When I tried to get closer to the sea my feet in my posh trekking trainers sank!! These seemed to be more like mud flats and if you weren't quick your trainer was half swallowed. You'd have a firm bit then suddenly start sinking!



 So main shots were of the lighthouse!



I even managed a small ice cream without pain so happy end to mini trip.

I also did about 3 x the walking I normally do so hope I don't pay for that tomorrow. Worth it though. One of those afternoons where you feel vibrantly alive!

savingholmes

beanielou said:

I love lighthouses. Always have since I was wee. Used to write to Trinity House for information!

I didn't know you were a fellow fan. I'll send you a picture of a lighthouse painting I bought years ago... 

skint_spice said:

I am with you on curbing the frittering. Glad you had a nice day at the beach.

Thanks Skint. I need to improve. It's like with moving and then being ill some of my impulse control has gone for a wander - although thinking about - given I'm off the ADHD related meds - not surprising that my control has suffered.

@Blackcats - lots of wisdom in what you wrote too - you and my counsellor are on the same page. By then though I'd already asked for just a week. I figure I can always revise if I need to though.

jwil

Glad you had a nice time at the beach

KajiKita

Glad you felt vibrantly alive at the beach and yaay for the icecream 😊
Would you be allowed to restart the ADHD meds now?
Totally with you on cotoneaster having plans for world domination! 🙄😳😉😂

KK

savingholmes

jwil said:

Glad you had a nice time at the beach

Thanks Jwil - it's all the seaside trips mentioned by you, EH, HSL and others that make me crave a visit of my own. It's rained most of today so grateful I went yesterday. I only got up around 11.30am!

KajiKita said:

Glad you felt vibrantly alive at the beach and yaay for the icecream 😊
Would you be allowed to restart the ADHD meds now?
Totally with you on cotoneaster having plans for world domination! 🙄😳😉😂

KK

Hi KK - I should try and restart the ADHD meds this week before I try and go back to work. I took my BP on Friday - the bottom number was okay the top number was higher than usual for me - and I never got around to posting it on the portal to the meds people to ask advice. I need to retake my BP and do that tomorrow - and then potentially start. It's likely to boost my concentration but initially mess with my sleep. I also don't know if they'd want me to start back on a lower dose or not. If I needed a lower prescription - I could be liable to pay something like £130 until or unless a GP agrees to take it on... It would also take a few days to arrive. I have about 4 weeks supply of the higher dose one though...

Cotoneaster is great for birds - it has flowers and berries and winter interest - but yes world domination seemed to feature in the plans of the ones I ever had... 

I've made art this afternoon and am thrilled with it. I found a female version of a mad httr on P - and used that as a base (and traced the main silhouette) and am thrilled with it. I started by using translucent paints so it was more forgiving of mistakes. It's not finished but really encouraging. It also helped me see how few lines you need to create a portrait. I need to learn how to paint detail more so may have a go at painting some roses and watches and gilded epilate type ideas separately - and then see if I can translate that onto the painting. I've used 300gsm paper. I need to default to paper rather than canvas more as canvases take up too much space - and I think it's too close to the 'source' to be able to sell. 

I did a second tracing onto a different sketchbook (facing the other way) - and I'm thinking of having a go using some of my collage papers to create some of the background on that and then see how it develops. Trying to break my perfectionism!! 

I need to check out whether the local college/uni are running any short art courses too. There could be one starting this coming week so will check that next. I then need to do the exciting stuff - like do some washing!!

SandyShores

I'm glad to see you are feeling loads better.  There's something about a bracing walk on the beach that really makes me feel connected.  Hadn't heard of cotoneaster before, but seems that they like clay soil so might be another for our wet clay garden.