Watty's Awakening

PennysIntoPounds

That sounds really useful, good for you having the meeting and getting that insight. 

TallGirl

Sounds like you have got some clarify for now but worthwhile doing. All I would say is do you envisage yourself always having that amount of animals or is there a plan not to replace as you move toward retirement. Buying a place with same facilities that then might not be needed could mean yet another move in the future. I do get your desire for a fresh start and maybe that is what is right however for now at least you have the views of what might need doing should you wish to sell. From someone with the house currently on the market and working from home it is a pain having to go out all the time. 

Good luck whatever you decide.  

Watty1

I think most likely I will always have horses (they have a provision in my will after all) but having spent a while doing sums on the back of the envelope I have decided that now is not the time to move. For a start I would have to make a superhuman effort to clear up and tidy up even doing the minimal work the agent said needs doing and just "staging" the house but more importantly the chat with the agent focused my mind.

If I can get planning permission on the barn at the end of the drive it will potentially nearly double my pension.  So I will stay and continue as I was.

Nice diversion but I am back to the usual plodding along, making the house my own and having the barn as a plan when I get to it.  The Estate Agent recommended a planning consultant to have a chat with and another route to discuss so that is now in the background.

PennysIntoPounds

That's really exciting that you're refocused on getting your home how you want it and hopefully developing the barn plan (not that I'm wishing planning departments on you 😂). Not having to move *and* potentially nearly doubling your pension sounds like a big win!

daisy_1571

sounds like a very productive day giving you lots of professional advice and solutions to some things that might help in the long term.

Dxx

Watty1

Back to school for Watty.   I have lost sight a little of my goals for the year so in the final four months I need a bit of a refocus.      I started the year wanted to rebuild my savings.  That got altered in favour of doing the much needed work on the house.

The handyman has yet again disappeared so a lot of the outside work has, again, halted but inside I am aiming to be done by Christmas.   I didn't start the year with the house as a goal but it is one that evolved and now needs finishing.
It does mean finding "some trades" to finish off but I think the jobs are smaller and so can be sorted out.   Outside the bigger stuff needs "someone" but I can at least finish the garden.

The plan to rebuild savings went as work evolved but I am ok with that if I can finish the house, but, I need to clear up and declutter and sell or donate stuff so that is on the back to school list.  To be finished by the Christmas break

Getting the Charming Cob fit has a plan but this weeks plan has not happened. I worked out a schedule for us but what I realised this week is that to do that I need to work in the office at weekends so I can take the required hours out of the day. That just needs discipline and now we are in back to school mode that can happen.   BabyFell has his own person so I'm leaving his education for now and Most Handsome would be appalled if anyone suggested a work plan for him, however, I have wanted to get him out to some competitions for a while.  

I'm meeting a friend shortly on work day too which means Charming Cob wont do his exercises today either - but- when I get back I will get out my planner and mark it up until the end of the year.  

I need to get really clear on finishing the year business wise.   I have done all the background stuff on getting help including installing a computer, sorting out a generic email and so on and now I am ready to sort out a person. My year end books are ready for the accountant, again just need to tell him.

Rather than muddle on, I need a plan.  I think the Estate Agent rather focused my mind on where and what I want so the time spent with him was really worthwhile

WelshmansDaughter

It can be reassuring enough just to know you have options, an extra oomph of motivation 

Watty1

Started working on a plan and also did monthly review of finances (readers can skip this, I just record it for me really )

I won £75 on the premium bonds this month so this year my winnings to date equal what would be an interest rate of 2.357% if I won nothing else.    I'm happy with that, all winnings are re=invested and so I have £12725 as an emergency vet bill fund (plus my credit card if more is needed).  

The "bills savings account" could fund 3 months of household bills if it had to (actual bills that need paying like water, council tax and so on).   Again happy with that, I eventually want to get that to a years worth but last month it paid the chap who chopped up all the wood and did the clearing for me so I think having 3 months there is great.

I also have enough money "put by" in my personal savings account to clear my credit card, pay the horsebox insurance and (hopefully) cover my tax bill in January.

Food overspending is very noticeable though so this month that needs addressing which I could do by using the slow cooker.  That would also give me meals in the freezer for days when I just "cant be bothered" and so end up buying food locally at expensive places.

PennysIntoPounds

As if we'd skip your post! Excellent win on the PB, and how fab to know all those potential 'pots' are covered or can be utilised for other necessary spends. It's definitely turned to the cosy autumnal batch cooking season, so that's something that will hopefully bring you contentedness rather than feeling like a chore. Even if you don't yet feel to engage with the slow cooker, just making a big pasta bake and bunging a few portions in the freezer will save you money, time and energy 

daisy_1571

I love my meals in the freezer.  With mince, stew, roast, cauliflower/brocoli cheese, lasagne etc I would rarely cook only enough for 1 meal.   I figure it doesnt take much power difference to cook so much or 4 times as much in the slow cooker (or on stove for mince) It gets portioned up into 1 or 2 people meals ready.  Its great having that and some cooked potatoes on standby in freezer.  Then when I can't be bothered 1/ phone for takeaway, £30 and half an hour wait or 2/ defrost our own food, ready in quarter of a hour ......we pretty much always go for our own stuff.  Must have saved us a fortune. 

Dxx