Buying a little piece of Middle England; Manifesting my way to mortgage free.

greenbee

I've put cardboard on the ground in my greenhouse for the second year running, and then put the pots on top of that. I think this year I'll empty the pots onto the compost to create beds I can at least plant marigolds etc into, even if I still want to put my veg in pots. 

I you're going to keep the greenhouse doors closed, make sure the vents are open. It might be worth getting some shade netting too. I found putting it across the doorway kept most things out, and I've been using the roof blinds and shade netting already this year because it's been so sunny some days (I've installed auto openers for all the vents as a result, and just fitted blinds to the side so I'll probably put the netting across the door again). 

Of course, in winter, you then need to line it all with bubble wrap to stop thinks freezing!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hey @debtfreewannabe321

Feeling like I connected with you on quite a few things on your recent diary posts. We too have built up a bit of a debt with our energy supplier. We moved to the sea creature in autumn last year and so we hadn't built up any reserve in the summer and with OH he gets cold very easily so have had to have the heating on more etc. Ours is going down but think we may have to make an extra payment or two to clear it. Thankfully as its warmed up he is coping without putting the heating on but we are in a coldish terrace so it won't last too long me thinks!

I love reading and books and they go in phases. Currently enjoying one of my kids primary school reads. I'd started it with the older one in lockdown and as schools re-opened didn't get to finish it. So anyway this is keeping yours truly entertained.

Am also with you on making the most of half term / NSDs. Its been such a blessing having a break from spending good ££ on travel, hotels etc. Currently having a 3 week break and using the opportunity to  step back and do a bit of "cards down".

The garden sounds wonderful. I had some good intentions this year but totally missed the boat, although I have some sunflower seedlings in my kitchen which i'll pot on this weekend and the lawn needs another cut.

Extension plans sound exciting...! Good luck with mortgage company etc. Our place needs updating but there is no plans nor funds as yet for this.

debtfreewannabe321

greenbee said:

I've put cardboard on the ground in my greenhouse for the second year running, and then put the pots on top of that. I think this year I'll empty the pots onto the compost to create beds I can at least plant marigolds etc into, even if I still want to put my veg in pots. 

I you're going to keep the greenhouse doors closed, make sure the vents are open. It might be worth getting some shade netting too. I found putting it across the doorway kept most things out, and I've been using the roof blinds and shade netting already this year because it's been so sunny some days (I've installed auto openers for all the vents as a result, and just fitted blinds to the side so I'll probably put the netting across the door again). 

Of course, in winter, you then need to line it all with bubble wrap to stop thinks freezing!

Oh that is a good idea I hadn't thought of ...some shade netting. I actually have lots of netting rolled up not being used I reckon I could fashion together something temporary to use so I can leave the doors open. We actually have no openings on the greenhouse aside from doors hence why I leave them open all day. DP is going to make one in the roof for me once he's got the fixings bought. I think this is why the greenhouse was so cheap it is pretty basic. 
I've actually got lots of cardboard I think I'll go break it up and put it on the floor in there because the weeds are loving the warm temperatures 😵‍💫.
I have some bubble wrap ..which bits do you wrap? The plants themselves or the actual greenhouse? 🤔😳 I am visualising a pretty packaged greenhouse with a bow on now 🤣.

debtfreewannabe321

Queen_of_the_Hive said:

Hey @debtfreewannabe321

Feeling like I connected with you on quite a few things on your recent diary posts. We too have built up a bit of a debt with our energy supplier. We moved to the sea creature in autumn last year and so we hadn't built up any reserve in the summer and with OH he gets cold very easily so have had to have the heating on more etc. Ours is going down but think we may have to make an extra payment or two to clear it. Thankfully as its warmed up he is coping without putting the heating on but we are in a coldish terrace so it won't last too long me thinks!

I love reading and books and they go in phases. Currently enjoying one of my kids primary school reads. I'd started it with the older one in lockdown and as schools re-opened didn't get to finish it. So anyway this is keeping yours truly entertained.

Am also with you on making the most of half term / NSDs. Its been such a blessing having a break from spending good ££ on travel, hotels etc. Currently having a 3 week break and using the opportunity to  step back and do a bit of "cards down".

The garden sounds wonderful. I had some good intentions this year but totally missed the boat, although I have some sunflower seedlings in my kitchen which i'll pot on this weekend and the lawn needs another cut.

Extension plans sound exciting...! Good luck with mortgage company etc. Our place needs updating but there is no plans nor funds as yet for this.

I love YA fiction! Especially the good dystopian sets they do. Such easy reading. I didn't think we'd get to the garden this year but I made a conscious effort to just do it and redirect all house Diy budget to the garden for six months. I feel like I've actually had enough of painting and sanding and dust and house works going on for a life time. We've done the last lot of houses up whilst living in them and I don't recommend it at all 🤣 I feel like I'm crazy to be doing it again. So the garden took priority instead of all that. - and the extension is totally project managed because we usually do that and i needed to hand it over because of stress this time round 🙈. 

I cut out grass the other day and it does look so much better ♥️ especially since the rain has made it look slightly more alive too! 

The energy debt- I also had a debt with the one you're with. They opened two accounts for us in one house and then fought with me for a year that I had to pay both!! I eventually got through to someone with a brain who closed one down and therefore got rid of the debt. I cancelled all my DD at that time and just paid on receipt of bill- well one of the bills 😆.

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all, DP and I have a a rare day together alone so we're off out with only ourselves to think about. We're going to the garden centre 😆😆. New month starts tomorrow really but we've been paid so we're off to get the next part of the garden that we've budgeted for- the pergolas to create a walkway through our new raised beds. I have grape vines just ready to attach themselves to something and grow up the side! And I'm hoping we have enough to get some compost too to fill the bed we haven't yet filled and also top up the other ones. 
I've got dinner in for tonight but I need to make a meal plan and go shopping tomorrow.
Bulk cooking for three days is working for me so I will buy a whole week shop and cook tomorrow for sun/Mon/Tues. And on Wed I will do for the rest of the week ahead. It really does make life easier for me and means I can get in from work and then go out in the garden for a bit or just sit and read. 

Right off to get my day started now DD has been taken to work ☺️🌺.

LadyWithAPlan

I only  once been to a soft play centre (with a hangover ) and still remember being traumatised whilst crawling thru tight spaces with noise and flashing lights .. 
maybe it was the ultimate don’t have kids deterrent ! 

Will check out my local aldi for the GF! 

You bought an aubergine plant ?! Have you tried growing them before ? 

debtfreewannabe321

LadyWithAPlan said:

I only  once been to a soft play centre (with a hangover ) and still remember being traumatised whilst crawling thru tight spaces with noise and flashing lights .. 
maybe it was the ultimate don’t have kids deterrent ! 

Will check out my local aldi for the GF! 

You bought an aubergine plant ?! Have you tried growing them before ? 

Yes twice I've grown aubergine. The first time the snails ate it immediately. Left trails for me to find. The second time it got some fruit and then ultimately also got eaten after teasing me that I'd done a better job 😆. Here's the one I bought - 

It looks a lot healthier and bigger than my attempts. 
Soft play is my idea of hell and I thought I was done with it all. Poor DD after running around for an hour and half with them was exhausted last night and crashed in bed after getting home 😆😆 she's not one for the gym or anything so that was quite an exertion for her.
@greenbee I have made a make shift door net thanks for the idea. I will do it properly when home but wanted to protect everything in there whilst out. At least I hope it's protected enough there are still gaps as it was done hastily before we left! 

beanielou

Enjoy your day with DP. 

greenbee

Good job on the door net! if you find it gets too hot in there, then you can use netting to shade the panels. With bubble wrap, you put it on the inside of the greenhouse if you want to try to use it early/late in the year. Ideally you get UV stable stuff.

I grow aubergines, although I'm not sure they're worth the space they take up!

debtfreewannabe321

Thanks @beanielou we had a great day out 😁 
@greenbee did you not get much aubergine from them? If this one fails to produce much I probably won't bother again. 

We went to the garden centre and as we were visiting one out of town we decided to make the most of the quieter tip there. Quieter- we were the only ones there!! Saturday morning 😳 prime time at our local one and we'd have queued an hour at least at that time!
The garden centre proved to be a bit of a waste of time though as the pergolas I'd seen last time had all sold out 😭 they were perfect but wasn't meant to be. Anyway we priced up bits separately and realised we could make it for a similar price (the pergolas were pretty cheap hence why they sold out so quick). So we drove back home a little deflated. Decided to pop and see the guys doing our extension as we've not heard anything - I was purposely leaving it to be honest to make sure we had some savings in place for the extras and also the appointment with the mortgage people isn't for a couple of weeks. So anyway we had to pay planning costs. So we popped in and spoke to the manager and he said we are quite literally next on the list to do 😬😁🥰🥳🤯 🫰🏻♥️ which created a whole host of emotions like those inside me 🤣. I said to them we've got a mortgage meeting in a couple of weeks and they seemed fine with that as we have the back up finance if we can't get it (we better do) sorted elsewhere. Soooo we should have ground broken by end of June 😁😁 how exciting! 

Anyway then we went on to w1ckes and spent £200 (5% CB so a tenner back) on pergola bits. We still need to buy more but were arguing about the size of what we needed 🤣 so we've bought the main structure and DP will put that up and paint it then we will see what size will look best for the smaller slats. Right off to pot up a few 50p strawberry and tomato plants I got at the garden centre 😁.