Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

TallGirl

Well done on the exams relief to have that out of the way I bet. Also good to be in credit with the flexi. I used to have it it was great!!

savingholmes

Thanks WD, Beanie, KK, Skint, Blackcats

So relieved about the exams. I definitely do better with applied knowledge than just learning random stuff. Last night I hoovered my work from home space for the first time in months. I'd earlier emptied most of the room in case the examiner wanted to see it as it was video invigilation. Unfortunately I emptied that into my bedroom so I had to clear that before I went to bed. I need to find long term homes for most of the stuff as these are things I actively use. I have space - I just need to plan it better. 

KK - I definitely have a mini piece of work - but some of the other work needs approvals and policy decisions etc - so may only officially get in November - but I know enough to start work on it earlier. It's going to be tight to do it in the time (roll eyes) if I wait until I'm officially given it to do.

I've taken this afternoon off - after adding my weekend hours in - so that feels good. Will still be in credit. Managed to clean the kitchen counters after the passata up the tiled wall disaster zone I created (and left) Sunday!! Feels a lot better. About to have chilli for lunch.

Sis encouraged me to get some solar lights I can nail to my fence - so they came today and I only had to put £5 of new money towards them as I had a refund credit. Hopefully resolve that this week as it will make going to the bin etc easier - as two sides of my house have wired in lights but the side by the back door doesn't. I need to get an electrician to look at my fuse box as apparently it doesn't have the fire protection it should. A family member may be able to fix some sockets that aren't working right but doesn't want the responsibility of the fuse box. Ideally I'd get the electrician to put up a couple more outside lights I bought previously and put electricity through into the garage. I think I'm scared he'll say it's a big amount. The family member doesn't think it should be though. I'll ask on FB for some suggestions. 

I tidied away the hose reel today that had been left as a trip hazard for a couple of months and put some other tools and a step stool back in the shed. I've been really struggling to motivate myself to do essential / maintenance type activities. I want to replant a hanging basket this afternoon if the rain holds off, feed my acid plants and re-pot a couple of house plants. I also saw a houseplant the other day in l1*l's I may got and get. It had purple and green leaves and was tall for £13.

My mortgage went out today so that was about £650ish off my capital. I also received some £ so I paid £500 off my CC and updated my finances. 

Some family members also think I should get on with doing my drive before the worst of winter. If I did I may add some re-fencing to it so it potentially makes that a bigger job too. One of my garden walls is in danger of falling over so it would be good to resolve that and it seems daft to do the drive and then need to mess with it to resolve the fence. I may give the best quote person from earlier in the year a call to discuss.

jwil

Well done on the exams, and good to have recognition from senior managers at work too.

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil.

I took today off (asked yesterday) - and ended up sleeping in until after 1pm. I'm getting to sleep between 1am and 3am currently and it takes it's toll. Made some art yesterday which was fun. I also strimmed the lawn. Just vegged today so far. Hope to get dressed soon and pot up a couple of new plants - a pink outlined red cordyline and some sedums and a load of bulbs - and picked up another half price huge yellow pot of crysanthemums which I also need to find a pot for. Yesterday I put a new orchid in a pot and was delighted to realise that it was a 3 stem one (£8 bargain buy at Li*l's).

I've updated my £ and I'm still spending more than desired - and so tempted to spend more. Art, plants, compost, clothes, food are the main culprits but also damp absorbing type stuff. I really need to do a gas and elec meter reading but haven't yet. I also belatedly need to see if there is anyone cheaper I can move to but probably missed the boat on that. I feel constantly behind on life admin. I'm also really missing having a cleaner - and while at one point it looked like DD might offer a solution for that - currently it seems less likely.

My ill relative appears to have stabilised which is positive. 

I've had confirmation of the pension change I requested - so this month's pay will be dramatically less. I've had about £89 in interest this month - and am due more interest on Monday from two sources - including a regular saver. I can then pay a chunk off my CC. If I only spend on budgeted items over the next 10 days - I should have improved my CC vs savings balance by £400 this month. That's after paying my annual car insurance bill. My AVC and mortgage capital repayment improve my net worth by around £1.1K if the market is stable - but from my next pay day - this should be by approx £1.65K a month. 

I asked a garage for a service quote the other day but they seemed really dear so I need to look for alternatives. I might therefore default to some national chains because I don't know the area or just go for an MOT for now and worry about a service early next year instead.

KajiKita

Could you ask any of the neighbours about local garages or mechanics? I try and avoid national chains as much as possible as the worst service and most expensive costs seem to come from them ….

Ikwym about the ‘spend urge’ …. I’m distracting myself by ‘shopping from home’ for as many things as I can, which has two advantages - less spending and a sense of pious virtue! 😉😂

I’m glad to hear that your relative has stabilised. Does that ease the pressure on you a little?

🥳 for the interest 👏

KK

Blackcats

Hope your sleep pattern stabilises a bit.  It must be very debilitating in the longer term.

it's so easy to spend on hobbies.  I think gardens just soak up spending.  Seasonal plants always lure me in.  Spring bulbs are cost effective though - reminds me that I need to get mine planted 😇

SandyShores

Its a shame your cleaner didn't work out.  Don't give up the search, it does make a huge difference when your home feels sort of tidy, even when you know there's diy jobs to do.  A friend came round for coffee today so I made myself do a quick clean of the downstairs.  I only had an hour so ended up clearing off the tops, some stuff went into cupboards and I took some stuff upstairs, then had a spray/wipe around with the P&Figg spray I bought a couple of months ago, and a hoover.  After my friend had gone I had to have a tidy away upstairs because of the clutter I'd stuffed up there.  I always think I'll clear a whole morning to do a full house clean but then never do it, I'm much better at doing a half hour every day - I did join the fly lady thread before, I think I'll have another look at that.

Sleep is so important, it can really mess with your thought processes when you don't have enough.  I'm an awful doom scroller, I know its not good for me.  I've got loads of books to read and need to get back in the habit of reading, at least I feel I'm doing something productive when I'm reading.

Agree with Kajikita re. the car.  Someone at work recommended my garage, is there anyone at work could recommend somewhere?  Maybe you could drop it off before you go to work then and pick it up after?

I sympathise with the spending, and gardens seem to just absorb £££s.  Its never ending, and we have the basics in place so I'm trying to sort out what we have already before adding any more.  

Sorry to hear about the damp issues, is it something you can get sorted easily?

savingholmes

Thanks KK Blackcats and Sandy

Saw DD and her BF briefly yesterday which was nice. This weekend I went to a sculpture park. The sculptures were impressive but too crowded together and with no tall trees to add mystery so I didn't totally like it. An annual membership was only £6 more than a single visit though so I would go back but probably with others.



Other than that I made art and either played with mud in the garden (repotting plants or planting bulbs in pots) or did similar with houseplants inside. Bought more houseplants with fancy leaves or red flowers etc. Not remotely on budget. Also bought a mini trolley for £15 at Mr M. Bargain. I have done some cleaning, hoovering, tidying and decluttering in the front room while listening to books.

I did not sleep last night. No idea why other than sleeping later in the morning Friday-Sunday. Started work late today after I'd dozed for about 3 hours from 8am...

Sandy - I've got rid of the black mould in the house. The damp crystals and stuff are preventative.  My humidity register seems to be in the 60-70% range - currently mostly at the top of that. I even put crystals in my wardrobe that you hang up and they immediately began absorbing water. Of course since I never used this stuff at my previous house I have nothing to compare it to. I haven't bought a dehumidifier as I'm told it can crack the plaster...

Some good news. I have found a new handyman gardener. He's going to trim back my hedges and bay tree and remove the bamboo x3  and take it all away for £140 fixed price. He's also going to get me electrician details. He's just cut back the hedges that would otherwise block my view to the front at the below neighbours' cost so really pleased about that. He's done a good job. Will be great to get some items ticked off my list but will mess with my budget. He seems likely to be a lot cheaper than the previous handyman so hopefully things will work out.

Savings boosted by around another £146. Sent £2.5k from matured reg saver to CC. If necessary can use savings to get some jobs done.  Sis is nagging me to do the drive but I am unsure... would like greater confirmation about future job first as cheapest quote is £5.5k and I'm tempted to add other things to it.

KK - I still need to investigate the car service and mot. Both my immediate neighbours should be able to advise but time is running away. May just book mot for now...

LadyWithAPlan

Congrats on the exam results and the v impressive AVC's - they are the size that can really shift your retirement age and plans

TallGirl

Great news about the handyman it is so nice to get all that ticked off your list even if it costs I know you have budgeted for it. I found long waits for MOT's so would check your area so you don't end up with an inconvenient time. I have never heard that a dehumidifier can crack plaster but glad you found a solution.