More WIRE than FIRE, simplifying, saving and savvy spending

ShyAndRetiring

Ordinary_Yet_Unique said:

Many thanks for your detailed and informative update.

Thanks for stopping by, it's useful for me to check in too so I can remind myself what I'm doing!   

ShyAndRetiring

BrilliantButScary said:

Lovely to hear from you @ShyAndRetiring. 

You know, I have a theory, that sometimes things happen for a reason. You're WIRE light bulb moment, has enabled you to support your husband through the last few months, which would have proved more challenging had you still been working.

It sounds like your husband is on the mend from his operation and that you have been resilient and productive, whilst supporting him.

I would love to see a photograph of your crocheted item for the house. You never know, one day I might decide to do some crochet, (I have bought a book from the charity shop), but I am a bit of a procrastinator at times.

Thanks @BrilliantButScary for taking the time to comment, I think you might be right there! I'm so grateful that we took the step back at the start of the year. I've still been working part-time from home (across most of the weeks) and it's proved to me that WIRE is the right direction for us.

A photo would be a bit tricky as it's quite a unique item  so it would be a bit identifying but I could DM you with it if you'd really like to see it.

Do take a look at some of the Crochet-Along tutorials online, they can be incredibly useful!

S&R x

ShyAndRetiring

Busy weekend and today ...

Extra income / surveys / freebies

• I don't think I'm going to have time to get any more surveys done before July ends and to be honest it's not been a priority this month. But I've gained at least £10 and have another £5 still pending, which covers a coffee out at some point! 

Spending

• 1 budgeted household spend today, NSD apart from that. Aiming for 4 this week as there are a few things going on.

Saving

• Pup needs his claws clipped but our groomer is on holiday. I remembered though that our VetPlan includes nail clipping so phoned them and they can fit him in later in the week. OK, I guess technically we've already paid for it with the monthly plan payment, but getting his claws done there will save us a bit more!
• Courgettes harvested today, so courgette risotto for tea saves a bit on the food budget!

Sorting

• Declutter #1: Project 1 (CrochetAlong) finished another ball last night so 22 / 52.
• Declutter #2: Two old dog toys thrown out 2 / 365,

Stuff

• Started reclaiming a corner of the garden yesterday as a dining space (sounds grand but literally a corner of the garden with a table and chairs)! Pleasant place to sit though and will be nice to get it sorted as we'll likely have visitors through the next few weeks now that OH is on a more even keel. Resurrected a couple of solar lights, got them working again so put them up in the space and took down some defunct ones. Relocated a random spider plant up there and keeping an eye on other plants in the garden that I can separate and repot to liven it up down there without spending too much.

All good things ...

• Forgot to mention that the beans are growing nicely, gaining a handful every couple of days which feeds 2 of us quite nicely.
• Tide times coincide nicely with morning and evening dog walks, so it's a lovely week for walking!

Wishing everyone a good week, S&R x

BrilliantButScary

ShyAndRetiring said:

BrilliantButScary said:

Lovely to hear from you @ShyAndRetiring. 

You know, I have a theory, that sometimes things happen for a reason. You're WIRE light bulb moment, has enabled you to support your husband through the last few months, which would have proved more challenging had you still been working.

It sounds like your husband is on the mend from his operation and that you have been resilient and productive, whilst supporting him.

I would love to see a photograph of your crocheted item for the house. You never know, one day I might decide to do some crochet, (I have bought a book from the charity shop), but I am a bit of a procrastinator at times.

Thanks @BrilliantButScary for taking the time to comment, I think you might be right there! I'm so grateful that we took the step back at the start of the year. I've still been working part-time from home (across most of the weeks) and it's proved to me that WIRE is the right direction for us.

A photo would be a bit tricky as it's quite a unique item  so it would be a bit identifying but I could DM you with it if you'd really like to see it.

Do take a look at some of the Crochet-Along tutorials online, they can be incredibly useful!

S&R x

I wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable
@ShireAndRetiring. I too am circumspect what I post online. 

I was taught to crochet as a child, but have never followed a pattern. I would definitely need a refresher. It did go out of fashion for a long time, didn't it. I remember wearing ponchos and crocheted dresses as a child in the 1970's. We also had a crochet bedspread, made up of granny squares.

Best Wishes BBS x

Humboldt

Morning @ShyAndRetiring so lovely to have you back.  I've just been catching up with all of your news and updates; what an eventful time you have had.  I was pleased to read that your OH has had a diagnoses and that things are progressing.  What wonderful supportive neighbours you have, just what you need to help you get through these situations.

I am seriously impressed with your daily step count.  Owning a dog certainty has many advantages. 

Your days sound full and rewarding.  Not long now before the family wedding...

Wishing you a enjoyable week x

 

ShyAndRetiring

BrilliantButScary said:

ShyAndRetiring said:

BrilliantButScary said:

Lovely to hear from you @ShyAndRetiring. 

You know, I have a theory, that sometimes things happen for a reason. You're WIRE light bulb moment, has enabled you to support your husband through the last few months, which would have proved more challenging had you still been working.

It sounds like your husband is on the mend from his operation and that you have been resilient and productive, whilst supporting him.

I would love to see a photograph of your crocheted item for the house. You never know, one day I might decide to do some crochet, (I have bought a book from the charity shop), but I am a bit of a procrastinator at times.

Thanks @BrilliantButScary for taking the time to comment, I think you might be right there! I'm so grateful that we took the step back at the start of the year. I've still been working part-time from home (across most of the weeks) and it's proved to me that WIRE is the right direction for us.

A photo would be a bit tricky as it's quite a unique item  so it would be a bit identifying but I could DM you with it if you'd really like to see it.

Do take a look at some of the Crochet-Along tutorials online, they can be incredibly useful!

S&R x

I wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable
@ShireAndRetiring. I too am circumspect what I post online. 

I was taught to crochet as a child, but have never followed a pattern. I would definitely need a refresher. It did go out of fashion for a long time, didn't it. I remember wearing ponchos and crocheted dresses as a child in the 1970's. We also had a crochet bedspread, made up of granny squares.

Best Wishes BBS x

Thanks for understanding @brilliantbutscary ... granny squares are literally the way to go and offer a slight clue to the alternative 'upholstery' I created! 

It sounds like we're a very similar age ... or at least we were wearing the same kind of clothing in the 70s! Some of the outfits were hideous it has to be said, but because my mum dressed myself and my elder sister in the same clothing, I literally wore some of the outfits for years once I had her hand-me-downs too! Very MSE though! 

S&R x

BrilliantButScary

ShyAndRetiring said:

BrilliantButScary said:

ShyAndRetiring said:

BrilliantButScary said:

Lovely to hear from you @ShyAndRetiring. 

You know, I have a theory, that sometimes things happen for a reason. You're WIRE light bulb moment, has enabled you to support your husband through the last few months, which would have proved more challenging had you still been working.

It sounds like your husband is on the mend from his operation and that you have been resilient and productive, whilst supporting him.

I would love to see a photograph of your crocheted item for the house. You never know, one day I might decide to do some crochet, (I have bought a book from the charity shop), but I am a bit of a procrastinator at times.

Thanks @BrilliantButScary for taking the time to comment, I think you might be right there! I'm so grateful that we took the step back at the start of the year. I've still been working part-time from home (across most of the weeks) and it's proved to me that WIRE is the right direction for us.

A photo would be a bit tricky as it's quite a unique item  so it would be a bit identifying but I could DM you with it if you'd really like to see it.

Do take a look at some of the Crochet-Along tutorials online, they can be incredibly useful!

S&R x

I wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable
@ShireAndRetiring. I too am circumspect what I post online. 

I was taught to crochet as a child, but have never followed a pattern. I would definitely need a refresher. It did go out of fashion for a long time, didn't it. I remember wearing ponchos and crocheted dresses as a child in the 1970's. We also had a crochet bedspread, made up of granny squares.

Best Wishes BBS x

Thanks for understanding @brilliantbutscary ... granny squares are literally the way to go and offer a slight clue to the alternative 'upholstery' I created! 

It sounds like we're a very similar age ... or at least we were wearing the same kind of clothing in the 70s! Some of the outfits were hideous it has to be said, but because my mum dressed myself and my elder sister in the same clothing, I literally wore some of the outfits for years once I had her hand-me-downs too! Very MSE though! 

S&R x

Hot pants, Oxford bags, Smock tops and 'Chelsea Girl'!
to name a few ......

Some of the recent fashions have reminded me of 'Holly Hobbie', and I just can't go there!

https://meadowtreestyle.com/2023/08/21/holly-hobbie-for-style-imitating-art/


I also had a very MSE childhood, with both clothing and food often being 'home made'. I think many of us, on this over 50's forum, utilise skills we learnt during our formative years.

ShyAndRetiring

Humboldt said:

Morning @ShyAndRetiring so lovely to have you back.  I've just been catching up with all of your news and updates; what an eventful time you have had.  I was pleased to read that your OH has had a diagnoses and that things are progressing.  What wonderful supportive neighbours you have, just what you need to help you get through these situations.

I am seriously impressed with your daily step count.  Owning a dog certainty has many advantages. 

Your days sound full and rewarding.  Not long now before the family wedding...

Wishing you a enjoyable week x

 

Hi @humboldt and thank you for your warm welcome back. 

Yes, we are lucky where we live - the place and the people are lovely! We've had to be quite gentle who and how we mention OH's condition to, as it's been quite a shock for the neighbours who see us as the young and fit ones. They've always called on us for help but one positive from the roles being temporarily reversed is that I now know I can call on any of the neighbours to help if I need to, which is very reassuring, especially as we live in a pretty rural spot.

Step count is work in progress but I'm so pleased it's on the increase lately and yes, it's all down to the dog! I'd done 7,000+ steps before 9am today thanks to early morning walkies! 

Hoping to stop by your diary soon, and hoping your week is a good one too, S&R x

ShyAndRetiring

BrilliantButScary said:

ShyAndRetiring said:

BrilliantButScary said:

ShyAndRetiring said:

BrilliantButScary said:

Lovely to hear from you @ShyAndRetiring. 

You know, I have a theory, that sometimes things happen for a reason. You're WIRE light bulb moment, has enabled you to support your husband through the last few months, which would have proved more challenging had you still been working.

It sounds like your husband is on the mend from his operation and that you have been resilient and productive, whilst supporting him.

I would love to see a photograph of your crocheted item for the house. You never know, one day I might decide to do some crochet, (I have bought a book from the charity shop), but I am a bit of a procrastinator at times.

Thanks @BrilliantButScary for taking the time to comment, I think you might be right there! I'm so grateful that we took the step back at the start of the year. I've still been working part-time from home (across most of the weeks) and it's proved to me that WIRE is the right direction for us.

A photo would be a bit tricky as it's quite a unique item  so it would be a bit identifying but I could DM you with it if you'd really like to see it.

Do take a look at some of the Crochet-Along tutorials online, they can be incredibly useful!

S&R x

I wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable
@ShireAndRetiring. I too am circumspect what I post online. 

I was taught to crochet as a child, but have never followed a pattern. I would definitely need a refresher. It did go out of fashion for a long time, didn't it. I remember wearing ponchos and crocheted dresses as a child in the 1970's. We also had a crochet bedspread, made up of granny squares.

Best Wishes BBS x

Thanks for understanding @brilliantbutscary ... granny squares are literally the way to go and offer a slight clue to the alternative 'upholstery' I created! 

It sounds like we're a very similar age ... or at least we were wearing the same kind of clothing in the 70s! Some of the outfits were hideous it has to be said, but because my mum dressed myself and my elder sister in the same clothing, I literally wore some of the outfits for years once I had her hand-me-downs too! Very MSE though! 

S&R x

Hot pants, Oxford bags, Smock tops and 'Chelsea Girl'!
to name a few ......

Some of the recent fashions have reminded me of 'Holly Hobbie', and I just can't go there!

https://meadowtreestyle.com/2023/08/21/holly-hobbie-for-style-imitating-art/


I also had a very MSE childhood, with both clothing and food often being 'home made'. I think many of us, on this over 50's forum, utilise skills we learnt during our formative years.

Ahh great link @brilliantbutscary ... I should've recognised that being in the over 50s forum meant lots of childhood fashions and treasures in common!

I used to adore Holly Hobbie merch and also (left to myself) would've dressed totally with a Little House on the Prairie vibe! Thank you for the link, I feel I may spend a bit of time over there! 

S&R x

ShyAndRetiring

Really pleasant and focused day today 

I did need to do some work but managed to sit outside to do some of it, so it was all quite relaxed and made the most of a fair-weather day. 

Extra income / surveys / freebies

• I've set myself a £10 goal for this week with surveys and had a couple of small ones so £2.91 / £10 so far.

Spending ~ ooops, definitely not a NSD!

• MOT passed without too much work, certainly it was a relief that it came to much less than the amount I'd saved towards it. BUT, lots of advisories of future work and a couple of issues which don't impact the MOT but do impact longer term use and performance of, what is now quite an old vehicle. Mechanic says if it was his car, he'd be looking to replace it before the next MOT. 
• For the moment, we've decided to use some of the underspend from the MOT budget toward 2 much-needed replacement rugs for kitchen and dining areas, before visitors come later in the summer. I've used the credit card for the purchase so we get some additional insurance protection, especially as many deliveries arrive here in a shocking state! The CC is still 0% for purchases so I'll be able to make a payment from the MOT pot, then spread the cost from next month. Will add to the debt count once the payment appears in the account.

Saving

• Beans from the garden with dinner.
• 2nd baby Spider plant potted and relocated to the table end of the garden, and a 3rd one potted up and put into kitchen, so getting lot of free plants from one big one.

Sorting

• Declutter #1: ongoing 22 / 52.
• Declutter #2: OH cleared his 'drop zone' ~ lots of bits of paper and cards into the recycling, counting this as 1 so now 3 / 365. In the process, he found 2 gift cards he's not yet used so £40 spending power rescued from his pile! 

WIRE stuff

• Linked to the rug purchase mentioned, we've had a chat about picking up with our plan to decorate some of the living areas before the autumn. This was always a plan for this year but once OH became unwell it was shelved for the time being. Thankfully we can pick the idea up but doing less of a revamp and more of a tidy up. We do have a small budget for this and will hopefully make a bit of progress across the next few weeks. This comes under WIRE as it's a classic case of getting some house bits done before properly retiring, so definitely we'll get it finished before winter.
• And linked to all of this, we'll now look at savings vs income and work out a sensible budget and timing for getting a new-to-us car in the next 12 months. Currently, living rurally and having lots of medical appointments as well as caring commitments means a car is essential for us so we'll have to bite the bullet on this.

All good things ...

• 7:30 am ... in jobs I've had previously, this used to be the deadline for being out of the house or to be at my desk by, depending on the role. Currently, it's the time my alarm goes off (unless the dog gets to me first) before starting the day with a walk and doing a bit of work later on, which all feels much more civilised!    Of course, it's the summer though so do feel free to remind me how wonderful this is when the cold, dark winter mornings return! 
• Saw a fledgling Heron trying its wings out last night. How on earth do they manage wings that size the first time around? Truly impressed.

Hope everyone is OK, S&R x