Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

savingholmes

Thanks Watty, Blackcats, TG, Jwil, Beanie, Dawn, Mark, DIA

I didn't like my broken laptop before so getting the same again wasn't the right option. I followed Mark's advice and successfully connected my laptop to a TV left by my home's previous occupants. That enabled me to panic a little less and watch reviews at a better size.

The laptop is a personal one. I don't have accidental damage insurance on my home as it tends to be too expensive to claim on in terms of excess and future premiums. I will check but my N insurance just covers travel and car and possibly phone I think. Will double check. Their account costs are going up so may need to look for alternatives at some point. 

I daftly purchased a TV for the front room to also use as a monitor but couldn't get the laptop to connect to it. It was also too big and blocked too much of my view. I will move it to a different piece of furniture to the side. It was about £180. I have now got Am**** video set up on it though so hopefully it will work out over time. I also got a 5m hdmi cable for use in the other room for around £35. The laptop question has consumed me for the last few days so after much debate and watching utube reviews I bought one with a good spec for £800 reduced from £1.4k rrp. It comes today. I signed up to a new CC which gave me a £50 instant gift card. I put these spends on my 0% card I think. Certainly the laptop.

Yesterday I bought new clothes in the sale at Rmn and got two short sleeve tops, one pair of black smart trousers, one 3/4 sleeve top, one jumper and a jumper dress all for £112. Size 14-18. Pretty pleased with that. Paid cash. I got rid of my charity bags of textiles at Dun*** which has freed up some space. I have started a new charity bag.

skint_spice

Well done on getting rid of the textiles, having more space and less clutter is wonderful.

dawnybabes

I’m trying to remove a bag a week out as I go, small steps and all that ! 

savingholmes

Thanks Skint and Dawn

Did a tiny bit of tidying today. I've added a few more things to my donation pile. Got a lot more to do even to make my WFH space tidy. I had hoped I might do some work as I'm really behind on my hours as I've lacked focus recently - but it wasn't to be.

My new laptop has arrived and 3 hours later I think it's about ready for proper use. Although I updated my money already - and a chunk of that time was 30 minutes where it said I should go away and do something else - followed by me getting my office software and files and virus and driver protection etc all set up. Thankfully all my main stuff is backed up. The keyboard feels nice so far. Not done a lot with it yet.

I originally had the cleaner in my budget for this month even though they haven't been able to find me a new one. So my clothes spend will soak up that spare - but it means I shouldn't really start a cleaner this pay period even if they offer me one. Both the TV and laptop went on my 0% CC - I've checked - but I'm trying to be better and move to cash spends. My reg saver matures around 6 October - I then plan to pay about £2.5K off my CC. I'm going to go ahead with increasing my pension AVCs in October - as long as I remember to print off the form and get it sent off. I may delay the increase planned for next summer (assuming I still have a job then). My counsellor is only available for three sessions this month not the 4 I budgeted so that will give me £40 back too. I need to get a lot more disciplined with £ again.

I did the whole rollercoaster of emotion and excitement of considering a £2K or more laptop and then did the more sensible thing of scaling back my ambitions and went for the £800 one. It seems an amazing spec for that. OLED. 1TB. 16GB Ram & a touchscreen. So even with the TV purchase - taken together those spends are less than £1K which I thought would be my starting point. I very seriously considered ones at £1.4 and £2K but it feels less pressure at this spend level.

In terms of clothes - I may need to buy a new coat at some point. Not immediately but having slimmed down my coats are all over-sized. Luckily I'd kept a green MK0rs coat (TK bargain) in size 18 so I have that - but I'm wondering if I should re-spray it with some waterproofer as having washed it a few times it seems to get soaked easily. It also feels like a more lightweight summer one - rather than the thicker definitely winter one I had before (size 24in turquoise/teal!). TKs hasn't offered any recent bargains in my size / colours I'd like so still looking. May need to consider new boots at some point too as again because I have wide feet any availability goes rapidly. I have a pair that fit from last year or before but they may slip as my foot width has shrunk a little. I'm trying to make lists of what I need rather than just go into the 'it fits - I'll have it' mode.

Right best do a bit more on my WFH space. I'm also going to heat up a lemon meringue pie and have some with strawberries...

savingholmes

One miracle has occurred today - I had a go at fixing my bedroom blind that I've been propping open since I broke it in May - and I succeeded. I still want a new blind for in there - possibly as an extra - like a venetian blind - but I was really happy to fix it. 

skint_spice

Well done SH!

beanielou

You could try insoles in the boots? 

savingholmes

I tried replying earlier but it mustn't have worked. 

Thanks Skint and Beanie. Will consider insoles. Sometimes I find they make my feet slide weirdly in the shoe but we'll see.

My new laptop caused me lots of angst earlier as my sound didn't want to work. Signed up to a driver updater on a free trial and got that sorted. Frustrating though. 

I used my walking poles and went for a walk at lunchtime and dropped off all the letters and parcels for the previous occupants. Let's hope that teaches them a lesson to change their address when ordering. It freaks me out when I get their mail in case they are still linked to the address. 

Gorgeous moon rise and pink sunset tonight. Struggled with focus today. Had a nice chat with DS after work and will go down and see him some time in October. I've booked on a one off class tomorrow in life drawing. If it goes well they have regular slots but you just pay as you go. I went to a pub tonight as I needed some company and discovered a beautiful pub by a lake. The setting was beautiful. I think I'd go for a desert rather than a main next time.

Discovered my new laptop gives me a 3 month high end creative package pass so trying a few things out. I'm rubbish so far trying to draw on screen. 

Going bowling with DD and her BF later in the week. Still need to book it (postponed from last week).

SandyShores

These are the insoles I use, you cut them to size and I've had no problems with slipping as they are a fabric top.  I find other types like memory foam feel weird and I hate that slipping around feeling.

It sounds like things are going steadily for you savingholmes, I'm glad that things are more settled (despite potential changes at work).

lucielle

Hope the laptop wrangling gets sorted. Nice you caught up with DS and you’ve got bowling to look forward to as well. 

L