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Watty's Awakening
Comments
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A good nights sleep and I feel brighter. I have options. Lots of options. I am resourceful. I will figure something out. Rather than look at the "big picture down the road" the smaller frame/picture of smashing all my goals this year is to progress planning. The architect no longer works on domestic projects and is not self employed so she cannot amend plans, shame as I really liked her. Planning consultant has some contacts so he has emailed (and copied me in) a couple to see if they can help. I've asked him to progress the "heritage statement" for the site we need and I will chase the ecologist today and see if I can get a "bat survey" booked in for as soon as bats stop their winter sleep
I'm not going to sell up until planning is decided so will continue occasionally browsing property sites as entertainment but now the 'Potential for PPH to be a Problem" has been identified and I shall shelve it for future consideration.Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!10 -
In other news the roof on VNM's mothers house is fixed. I asked him to go and check the work before the roofer was paid, and, whilst there he discovered a note left on the windscreen of her car from someone wanting to buy it. It needs a lot of work to be roadworthy so he rang person talked through it, asked for slightly more than the scrap value and the car was sold yesterday
The universe solved that problem as neither he or his daughter wanted to sell her car, so I am thanking the universal energy for sorting that out.
Today I will check the estate agent contract and see what can be done. I've picked the next agent to try, a lovely positive sounding chap in an agency that promises weekly updates. Sounded more proactive than the current shower but not sure when I can move the house, so, contract checking to be done.
And continuing the brighter theme, I have another coaching session today and I am looking forwards to that.
Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!13 -
Of course, buying a house beside land you could lease (the opposite of your current set up) would be interesting to consider.
That and a 2026-2032 tear-off calendar where you can remove a month at a time for the first 3 years, then a week at a time for 2 years, and then a day at a time for the final year - as a senakot bye-bye-poo count-downSave £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £10,020.92 out of £6000 after September
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £2234.63/£3000 or 74.49% of my annual spend so far (not going to be much of a Christmas at this rate as no spare after 9 months!
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here6 -
Love the calendar idea 😂4
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Things move fast in your world, @Watty1! It's great you have that roof fixed, with Storm Claudia arriving. Also great to have that car sold - once it's physically gone, and to someone who wanted it enough to make the first move, that's going to make it just that little bit easier for the rest of you.
I hope your session today goes well.I think a bit of sunshine is good for frugal living. (Cranky40)
The sun's been out and I think I’m solar powered (Onebrokelady)
Fashion on the Ration 2025: Fabric 2, men's socks 3, Duvet 7.5, 2 t-shirts 10, men's socks 3, uniform top 0, hat 0, shoes 5 = 30.5/68
2024: Trainers 5, dress 7, slippers 5, 2 prs socks (gift) 2, 3 prs white socks 3, t-shirts x 2 10, 6 prs socks: mostly gifts 6, duvet set 7.5 = 45.5/68 coupons
20.5 coupons used in 2020. 62.5 used in 2021. 94.5 remaining as of 21/3/225 -
Suffolk_lass said:
That and a 2026-2032 tear-off calendar where you can remove a month at a time for the first 3 years, then a week at a time for 2 years, and then a day at a time for the final year - as a senakot bye-bye-poo count-downNot so sure of this one. It allows PPH to occupy some head space he is not entitled to.We all know that time speeds up as you get older. Look how long ago Covid was - those 5 years have slipped past quickly. Six years will soon be gone, especially if spent having fun.Glad the universe sorted the car issue. Hopefully it may sort the PPH issue in ways we cannot yet guess.Make £2025 in 2025
Prolific £841.95, Octopoints £6.64, TCB £456.58, Tesco Clubcard challenges £89.90, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £60, Shopmium £52.74, Everup £95.64 Zopa CB £30
Total (1/11/25) £1954.45/£2025 96%
Make £2024 in 2024
Prolific £907.37, Chase Int £59.97, Chase roundup int £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus ref £50, Octopoints £70.46, TCB £112.03, Shopmium £3, Iceland £4, Ipsos £20, Misc Sales £55.44Total £1410/£2024 70%Make £2023 in 2023 Total: £2606.33/£2023 128.8%5 -
Good news on the roof and the car - at least VNM's baggage is reducing!
Now you have timescales, you can think about a. what you want to do to make your current home the best it can be for you for the next 6 years - what's worth doing, what isn't both in the house, and with the land and horses and b. how much time and effort you want to invest (and when) in preparing for a move.
As firework season is clearly a key time for aggravation and wanting to move, can you put some time and effort into thinking how you can minimise the stress at this time of year? I'm guessing sound-proof stables aren't a thing (or cheap if they are!), but worth investigating (actually, having searched, there are some suggestions about acoustic panelling, insulation, blackout on the windows, acoustic matting, internal lighting and sound systems etc. I'm sure you know this, but it might be worth coming up with a plan of what's achievable by next year, the year after etc. to reduce the stress for both the horses and yourself.8 -
Fireworks season is part of it, but also the traffic and the busyness of the area and the lack of hacking. When I moved here there were permissive/toll rides around the adjoining fields, now gone and the area was quieter. However, I didn't think all this through, I just wanted PPH gone when I realised there was no chance of restoration of finances.
Great suggestions from @greenbee but the stable design means there is little I can do - but - something I can do is buy Most Handsome a pair of ear bonnets that are used by competition horses to muffle the sounds at large venues so I will research those before next year
The yard already has a pair of outdoor speakers up and I play classic radio as loud as I can on appointed nights to muffle the sounds which helps and I play it other winter evenings randomly too so they do not "know something is up" when it is on.
As many of you have pointed out, "something" may happen. After all, initially I was told absolutely no chance of getting planning on the barn and here I am with a positive preApp meeting and a genuine chance now, just a couple of years later. I will keep my vision board up and just see what unfolds.Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!9 -
I should be in London today at a professional event. There were 4 great speakers and a lot of stands and a lot of people I would like to see for the business. However this week I have been feeling more and more reluctant to go and yesterday anxiety really took over and when my alarm went off at 5.30 I knew I could not face going. I have made all sorts of excuses to myself but the reality is anxiety about being out of the house too long.
I have wondered if I could just get myself there for lunch and the afternoon but we are going out this evening to dinner with a friend of mine and I think it is just too much.
Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!8 -
Interesting about the classic music on the speakers. Could you play the 1812 overture starting at low volume and working up?Make £2025 in 2025
Prolific £841.95, Octopoints £6.64, TCB £456.58, Tesco Clubcard challenges £89.90, Misc Sales £321, Airtime £60, Shopmium £52.74, Everup £95.64 Zopa CB £30
Total (1/11/25) £1954.45/£2025 96%
Make £2024 in 2024
Prolific £907.37, Chase Int £59.97, Chase roundup int £3.55, Chase CB £122.88, Roadkill £1.30, Octopus ref £50, Octopoints £70.46, TCB £112.03, Shopmium £3, Iceland £4, Ipsos £20, Misc Sales £55.44Total £1410/£2024 70%Make £2023 in 2023 Total: £2606.33/£2023 128.8%4
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