Let's get this sorted then!

in_need_of_direction

we held of doing things until we had cleared debt, had a fully funded emergency fund and then some. We have since asked why we denied ourselves the joy a new bathroom and a new window brought us, for so long. Every morning I see sunlight on my landing makes me smile. So long as you aren’t jeopardising your financial future, I’d say start with the improvements. You’ll probably have more time than anticipated to fund these as invariably work takes longer than expected.

Rhyddid2026

Good catch @vampirotoothus I'll change that now.

I don't plan on doing anything too crazy, just enough to feel more at peace in the house and work towards feeling I can invite people over. At the moment it feels like it's getting worse not better. I had to rewash socks yesterday because I forgot to take them off the kitchen radiator and they got slimed overnight. The slugs are coming from a variety of places, including the ceiling because that one wall is underground. They are also coming from the floor/under the remaining cupboards. The floor has been crumbling for years. I won't be able to do the full kitchen reno as it needs taking back to the bones and redoing completely, floor to ceiling, but I can hopefully find some ways to make it more habitable for me and less habitable for the slugs.

Failing that I might start letting the chickens sleep in there overnight. Fewer slugs and more protein for the chooks might be the kind of win I have to accept!

I remembered I had £650 in a pot for a kitchen floor, I hadn't contributed much to it yet so don't have enough for tiles and fitting, but I might use that towards other home improvements.

My MOT is due in a couple of weeks, so I'll get that done before I spend any wages on the house just in case.

In happier news - first browned butter home grown tomatoes of the year for lunch today! With the last of my Olio ancient grain pave. Delish!

I'm off work (technically) Monday and Tuesday so can get some cleaning and sorting done hopefully. Although it is the weekend when I'm not supposed to be working and I've still worked every day of it. Let's rephrase that as I have annual leave on Monday and Tuesday so I don't have to answer any calls or emails from work and can get stuff of my own done.

Baileys_Babe

@Rhyddid2026 said:

Failing that I might start letting the chickens sleep in there overnight. Fewer slugs and more protein for the chooks might be the kind of win I have to accept!

Sounds like a very practical solution to me 🐔🐔🐔

Rhyddid2026

@Baileys_Babe they would love it, they're always trying to get into the kitchen.

Playing around with all my figures today, trying to keep my motivation up. I started overpaying the roof loan in August last year, and made more effort from March this year. I can confirm that over the year I've paid an extra £1,785.98!! Hopefully that's saved me a good few hundred pounds of interest. I'm going to ask for a settlement figure again in September and then see if I can pay it off by the end of the year. I have a regular saver maturing in October which I might be able to use (if no financial disasters and car continues to survive).

Rhyddid2026

I'm home from house sitting today, it's nice to be back. I did some washing and had a nap. Went to get a contact lens check. Used the last bit of fuel money to get £25 of fuel. That would normally be enough for this week but I am having to drive to work 3h away on Thursday and back on Friday. I'll need to dip in to my buffer emergency money to fund that. Payday Friday though. I had a look through my food n fuel credit card statement to see why I've maxed it, but it really is only food and fuel on there. My grocery shop at the start of the month was missing quite a lot, and that coupled with a few work days out and house sitting meant I've made a few more smaller shops than usual. I suppose it all adds up.

From 4 - 5pm I lay on the sofa eating a cornetto with extra chopped nuts, and watched an hour of stand up comedy, just to do something nice with my annual leave day.

I've done some house work and have the robo vac on at the moment (Rosario Salazar). It's only the 3rd time I've used her and already she has been blocked up by white dogs hair. I thought it was working too well for my luck.

Dog trainer has contacted me about my first session with white dog, booked in 10 days time. This is part of my getting my life back masterplan. He already knows her and I've been impressed at how well he reads her. I've asked for help to build her confidence and reduce her lead reactivity. I'd like to be able to walk in places where other people and dogs might be, and ideally I'd like to get to a state where we could find a quiet corner in a quiet pub. August is going to be an expensive month.

I think one of the ducklings laid her first egg this morning - cute!

Rosario has just chewed my converse laces and got clogged again so best I go rescue her. I could have just got Hetty out. I should have just got Hetty out!

Rhyddid2026

I got Hetty out. The house just doesn't feel as clean with any other hoover.

My work trip 3h away is cancelled. It's been replaced with a day visit on Friday 2h away. Much better as I won't have to take money from the emergency pot for fuel. I've still had to pay the pet sitter for Thursday though as it was a late cancellation. Grrrr!!

The odd job man didn't turn up to measure on Tuesday, he said he was running late and would come today instead. He didn't.

I wonder if my payslip will come through tonight. I'm expecting lower wages as I don't think my expenses went through and I've increased my pension contributions.

Rhyddid2026

I was correct, my expenses didn't go through. Short wages is not really what you want when your MOT is due on your 12 year old car with 130,000 miles on it. I'm not aware of any problems so I might be lucky 🤞

My increased pension contributions did go through though so I suppose future me will be happy about that.

I was going to say that as I didn't have to go away for work today I'd managed to finish the month without dipping into any of the emergency pots or buffers. However my Calm subscription expired a few days ago, I was waiting til payday to renew, but they just offered it to me for half price. So I've dipped in to pay that. £25 for the year is an absolute bargain, I use it at least a few times a week.

I've got another busy day at work (when don't I?) and tonight I'm volunteering for a local event. I've rejoined running club even though I can't join them to run yet. I'm helping at a race tonight so I'm a bit nervous, but this is all part of the plan to sort my life out and embed myself in the local community (instead of moving house).

I'm very much looking forward to Sunday when I'm planning a day of being mostly horizontal.

Rhyddid2026

Still no sign of the odd job man. Apparently (according to FB) he's having car troubles.

I'm just about to plan out my wages for August. I am a little short for all the things I had hoped to do with it, but I'll do what I can. I'm very much looking forward to updating my signature on Saturday even without any massive overpayments. I'm still slightly overpaying most things, and as I've only spent £18 on the 'sort my life out plan' so far I'm starting August in a better position than I thought I would be.

I've also eaten a lot of mystery items from the freezer this week, but I've done well with a chilli one day and bolagnese the other. The Olio bread is still going too.

I've been invited to a friend's house tomorrow but as I'm exhausted and going to a gig on Saturday I think I'd better give it a miss. My tired body can't do alcohol two day in a row.

Rhyddid2026

I got in from work and had to go straight to bed, exhausted, shivering, aching. If I rest up I should be ok to go to the gig tomorrow.

I've put £200 aside for my MOT, but I'll be short for everything I need to pay out this month. I also forgot to add in money for 2 days of dog minder. I also forgot I had to pay £70 for an annual prescription and £10 for the pet sitter I cancelled yesterday.

I'm trying not to panic, I have an emergency fund, but it does seem a bit awful that I'm working a job that takes so much out of me and it's still not enough to pay everything.

I've started the money shuffle anyway. The figures won't come down til Monday so I'll update my signature then.

I'll phone to book the MOT on Monday.

Sun_Addict

I hope you feel better and have managed to make it to the gig.