Turning Straw into Gold: Creating Long Term Security & A Solid Home

MillQueen

Watching videos about under-consumption this afternoon (I am currently thinking about this all the time) and doing a few tasks around the house. I have got a presentation to make and I am going to have a scary hour to get that done. The scary hour is when you spend an hour doing the tasks that give you anxiety that you have been avoiding. I should be able to get away with not putting any petrol in the car until payday now, as I will be able to have a couple of days of working at home, although some days I do need to be on site.

MillQueen

Working from home today to save on fuel, which is mostly going to be online appointments and getting stuff done on the bits in between, amongst the influx of tasks and emails. I must get that presentation made today as it's hanging over me and I need to remove the stress of it remaining undone.

I am not getting great sleep in the hot weather, as I turn on the fan and wake up freezing, so I turn it off and wake up hot, and repeat all night long. This is added to the way I have been waking up early every morning around 3am or 4am and am unable to go back to sleep despite being exhausted. Starting the day tired.

I decided I am going to attempt to earn enough points on survey sites to get a microwave. It's not as cost effective as doing my self-employed work, but far less tiring to sit clicking through surveys.

MillQueen

I have started to look forward to payday, paying down debts and updating the spreadsheets. Only one more week to go! I am working from home again today, as I'm trying to make it to pay day on the last day of the month without putting more petrol in the car. This afternoon someone is coming to quote for some work that needs doing in the garden. The roof repairs are now finished and I am waiting for the total cost of that.

Chocolatefund

I'm also counting down the days till payday! One week to go. Im glad I get paid on the 'last working day'. Think it would drive me nuts if it was in the middle of the month. Cuddos to those mid month payers who mange it.

My spreadsheets are also eagerly awaiting.

MillQueen

Up early today as I am in work and we have no air conditioning in the building. I have appeared on here to tell you about my trusty Karrimor rucksack, which I bought in a sale for about £20 and that was 20 years ago. So this bag has cost me approximately £1 a year and for many of those years has gone through daily use and has gone through the washing machine many times over the years and still looks in great condition.

I think this is the way forward, to buy and keep things that will last for many years instead of following trends.

Smudgeismydog

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82045681#Comment_82045681

For the last few years I have made a conscious effort to buy fewer quality things I will love and enjoy instead of cheaper items that are short lived. I also feel it’s better for sustainability, so makes me feel good. My daughter is also on board and prefers buying her clothes, shoes and accessories from charity shops and Vinted, she is now really shocked at the prices of clothes in shops

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82045706#Comment_82045706

Yes, I agree with this so much! That's good that your daughter is on board with it too - a frugal family passing down good habits. It's just corporate greed in the modern world that tells us we need new stuff all the time. We actually don't need to buy that many things and there are probably enough existing clothes already for everyone to last decades. I refuse to pay £60 for a single item of clothing now, it's unnecessary and people increasingly haven't got money to spare. I love getting vintage stuff for the house in particular and choosing it carefully so I know it will last and will be loved. I bought all my furniture second hand and looked for timeless wooden pieces that I can keep for decades. I want to start using old clothes for cleaning too - cutting them up for rags.

In other news, I just paid the final installment of the roof repairs (£4500😶). This was what I got the personal loan for, so at least I already have the money and it's not going to impact my finances much going forward, but it will reduce my net wealth total. In future I will plan ahead for these things and have an emergency fund. I do regret that I didn't learn about finance earlier as I could have saved the money in advance, although I am getting on track now and developing better habits than I used to have.

liselle

Yes I absolutely agree and my daughter’s also very happy for the grandchildren’s presents to come from Charity shops.There’s usually a wide range of board games, craft works and books, all in good condition.

in_need_of_direction

I’m not sure how big an adverse impact there will be on your net wealth. As someone currently waiting for a roof repair and wincing every time it rains, I think maintenance of your biggest asset is a very prudent step.

MillQueen

@Chocolatefund, only 6 more days to go… I am £149 in my overdraft and trying not to go further.

@liselle that sounds brilliant, gift shopping in charity shops is great for sustainability. There is so much seasonal tat produced and sold it blows my mind.

@in_need_of_direction, I think you’re right about maintenance being a good spend and I am counting it under the good type of spending on things that are needed. I do need a whole new roof within a couple of years though (it will be 30k as I chose a stupid house) but this temporary patch up was all I could now afford.

Future me will take care of the rest, as I'll probably move once I can or I'll be better off then.