Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

TallGirl

Sounds sensible to put the bigger conversion on hold if the price is that much. Being able to leave work if you want to is a peace of mind that is priceless. 

Fence painting is so boring hope you are getting there at least you get instant results but I hate doing it. 

Great to read about the small wins sounds like you might finally be taking things slowly. Enjoy your sisters company at the weekend and don't fret about the house they have come to see you!

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil, TG and Watty

I won't fret about the house with this sister as she's the one I find the easiest. Hoovering yesterday helped too.

Once I get in a rhythm I enjoy fence painting. It seemed very thirsty wood though and I broke a brush. I'd had it less than a week so wasn't impressed.

I saw a great tit at my bird feeder yesterday which was good.

Really tired today. Need to take my meds next which should help.

EssexHebridean

I’ve been reflecting on your comments about your spending previously. Obviously the first little while after a move is going to be more spendy than otherwise you might be - so that is certainly going to be one aspect, but if frittering is occurring because of the combination of the 0% card and the money in savings then that probably does need looking at. 

One idea - if you are using the actual physical card for the 0% one, then add a sticky note to the front of that card saying “this is real money!” or similar wording to make you think before using it. If you are using it via your phone, then switch to use ina the actual card instead as the act of taking it out of your purse might help focus the mind. The other idea that occurred to me is to write all your non standard spending down on a sheet of A4 - split out into “necessary” and “fritter”. For me for example - with the garden spending of late - the herbs we have bought are fully under the “necessary” heading whereas some of the pretties, while nice, are really more of a fritter. Similarly - the welly boots I have just bought are needed - but the salted licorice I am planning on purchasing is definitely a fritter, and if I wanted to rein in spending I would be striking that from my list of planned spends!  I think it’s incredibly easy to get onto a bit of a roll with spending though and get pulled back into that feeling that “buying stuff is nice” - it IS nice, but not as nice as not having to worry about bank balances or card statements! 

beanielou

Yes. It’s definitely easier to spend than not. I am currently trying hard to cut down on the unnecessary spending. Spending is so easy but it’s harder to stop. I have decided to have a May of no spending. 

badmemory

Are you using that fencing that fits in posts & is removable.  If you are may I make a suggestion which I will explain.  Several of my neighbours have these as I used to until a couple of years ago.  They only seem to last a couple of years even if they paint them straight after installing them.  My old fence lasted nearly 30 years.  Exactly the same except for the initial treatment.  Before I installed mine to replace the old one when I moved in, I painted them, then I turned them round & painted again, then I upended them & painted them again, then I turned them round & painted them again & finally I turned them round & painted them for the fifth time, I think it was cuprinol or similar so not actual paint.  Even then all those years later it was only the top edge that had gone.  I've gone a bit more expensive now & got UPVC which comes with a 20 year warranty but expected to last at least 30.

savingholmes

Thanks EH and Beanie

I originally had a move costs tab on my finance spreadsheet - and initially was adding garden spend etc to that. Now however I should be moving to a more budgeted spend approach with limits. I've not been applying limits to any of my spends recently and it shows. 

In my c £2.4K (cough and excluding planned refunds) CC spend of the last few weeks there is:

• upto £450 of planned normal spend - but compensated for by savings 
• £800 of patio door (half cost) - rest due out of next pay day
• £160 of new shoes - 2 pairs (with £282 ish of other spend to be refunded)
• £320 on new hoover
• £60 on new curtain pole and mini steps
• £35 on new elec blanket after breaking the controller
• £52 on new lighting 
• £25 fire safety blanket and extinguisher
• £33 flea sprays
• £15 garden food
• £35 primarni

£1983 with the rest on garden and home etc at HB, R, garden centres etc. Fence paint and related equipment £24. Banister paint £18 etc. Some is justifiable but there's a fritter element that I need to get back under control. Some of the above I would normally pay for out of an 'unplanned' spends category of £100 or savings - but because I'm getting 5% plus I've not wanted to raid those.

I've also spent £1155 on the handyman in cash. I will have added £650 into savings plus c£140 in credit interest to help compensate for the above by the end of the pay period. It's DD's special birthday this pay period so I've also allocated a chunk of my normal spends towards that. Luckily I'm due some extra £ this month but it arrives right before pay day.  It's also my birthday in May - and I've tried to allocate a pot towards that too out of next pay period. 

Using the CC for ordinary spends and stoozing isn't working for me so I need to go back to trying to pay as much of that off in month as I can ideally without raiding savings - so think that will be my new plan for now. However the other half of the patio door will be added to my bill next month. 

I need a garden line on my budget. I also need to set a limit for the handyman spend - as it was significantly above my budget for the month. I also need to ensure I only use him to do stuff I can't do myself.

savingholmes

Good news - just been able to sort a return label for the third pair of shoes so will make sure I drop those off this weekend. That's £90 due back right there plus the £202 for the other two.

MovingForwards

Think you need a reliable cleaner, rather than the one you have. Even 2 so they come alternative weeks and could possibly cover if the other was off.

Are you able to break up a box each day and put it in a cupboard or spare room. If there's part of the garden that's dug out or where there's weeds put the boxes over and weigh down with stones etc.
The garden is coming along and the photo shows how gorgeous it looks.

JGB1955

Get that robot moving - you can't even be sure it works.  If you just 'don't get on with it' you're probably out of time to return it....  It represents 13% of your expenditure.

jwil

Good news about the return.  Get that money back into your account.

Have a lovely weekend.