Living Large, on a Small Income, by the Sea.

redofromstart

Hosting the teaching staff sounds promising, I get what you mean about structure.  I am finding it quite hard to motivate myself to get up and get on without any set commitments.

beanielou

Hosting the teaching staff sounds good.

janb5

Also maybe consider Spare Room.  It`s free and often people are looking for short stays rather than commit yourself to long stays.

Tresinia511

Hi dia, hosting for a short set period like 4 weeks would appeal to me.  Gives you the opportunity  to review if you feel you can do this as an ongoing arrangement,  with little risk. You get the chance to meet new people,  and its amazing what things other people know once you get chatting.  You could find potential  new friends or even colleagues, or other business/ income related ideas. And if not,  well, little lost. Good luck!

doingitanyway

Thanks @redofromstart @beanielou @janb5 @Tresinia511

I like the timeframe...it can be up to 4 weeks. I was asked about 3 day stays too but I'm not going to do under a week, although a week is ok. By the time I prepare the room, wash the bedding and do a shop it isn't really worthwhile for anything under a week.

The rates are lower than I could get, but they all work with children and come with enhanced DBS. They are also known to the college as they have been coming back for a few years so I feel safer this way.

I am looking forward to the structure. Being forced to be a bit more social is probably good for me too. It will be good to meet new people from different parts of the world. And as @Tresinia511 notes, if it doesn't work out little is lost and I have a few hundred pounds to go into my EF

This morning I returned a library book I didn't know I still had until the reminder (after a month) came in the post! TBH I'm not taking anymore books out...

I found a pair of excellent JL curtains in the cs. They are cotton, lined and retail at £90. They were £7 and will work for my bedroom. They say dry-clean only, but I will take a chance and stick them on a handwashing's cycle in the washing machine. They are in the freezer now in case there are moth eggs...I wanted today to be a NSD, but I needed the curtains, so hey ho. 

Later, I have a committee meeting where they are ordering in Chinese food for us all   

I hope your day is going well reader

Skint_yet_Again

Well done on the cs bargain curtains dia. Hope they wash ok 🤞 

Renting to teaching staff is a great idea. I like the sound of the enhanced DBS checks. 

biggerpickle

@doingitanyway just been reading your diaries - what a way you've come! Living by the sea is a retirement pipe dream for me - there's something about the water that draws isn't there? I grew up on the North Sea coast but been urban / southern for the last 35 years now. 

Liking the sound of your community involvement, teacher hosting and woo on the new bedroom curtains too! Have a lovely day!

BrimfulofSascha

The curtains sound great, sometimes it is worth buying outside of budget if it's such a bargain (unless adding to debt of course) 
I also think the college stays could be a good idea too, especially with the added security of the college support and DBS checks. I hope it works well for you.
Sascha

doingitanyway

Thanks @Skint_yet_Again I will post on whether the curtains washed ok. I'm waiting for the weather to be warmer so they can dry outside 
Thanks @biggerpickle I appreciate your posting. I can recommend the seaside life. I definitely felt the sea 'calling me'...
Thanks @BrimfulofSascha I hope the college stays work out too. Fingers crossed!

So today, my tiny funds shrink yet further and to make it worse I am facing Easter with no funds. Gulp. The plan is to keep myself very busy. 
Anyway today in Mr M (was there picking up a prescription) I found pillow protectors. They are waterproof are machine washable and zip closed. They are usually £6 but they were on at £2 so I bought 3 packs. £6 for 6 protectors. I wanted some for the guest room plus a mattress protector, although they were sold out of those. I will keep checking in...

I made a chicken curry and also some turkey and feta burgers today. Burgers great. Curry ok.

Now the bathroom looks super gorgeous, my attention turns to my bedroom...the problem there is insufficient spaces for my clothes so I'm going to get some storage boxes down from the loft for now. At least that will help the space look tidy. When the new-to-me curtains go up, the window can be cleaned, both of which will help greatly.

I also need to clear the small room that is where I store all the 'not sorted' things. A friend is giving me a free single bed and will bring it over at the weekend so the room needs to be ready for it  

My money making activity will be weighing two odd gold earrings that I plan to sell for scrapped gold! That will have me rolling in luxury for the Easter. Haha  

I need to clean the kitchen...off to make a start!

PennysIntoPounds

Could you tell your relative things are tighter than you expected and that if there's a way they can pay you back earlier that would be very much appreciated? 🙂