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

Dakota_Rose

I did a car-boot sale last year and was so sickened by the amount of ‘stuff’ we had to flog that I swore to myself that my over-consumption would stop. When all unwanted items are laid out in front of you like that, it’s hard to justify the spends of the past.

I’ve also noticed a huge shift in what comes up on my social media since then. The algorithms have kicked in and I see so much more simple-living stuff now - not sure the van life reels I get constantly are appropriately pitched though 😂 I’d like a simple life but a really cosy one with space to swing a cat.

Things to do that cost little money? Reading, walking, painting (once you have the initial outlay out of the way), thrifting/reselling, journalling…

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894244#Comment_81894244

I hear you on the amount of stuff it’s possible to accumulate without realising! A few years ago I had to move into a rented room and I had to get rid of a 3 bedroomed house worth of stuff. I have tried not to build it up again since, as clutter makes me feel stressed, but I still feel like I have too much stuff and not enough places to put it. I’m doing a “just one of each item” approach.

P.S. I love those van life reels! My particular favourite though, are the tiny home ones, which I can’t stop watching even though my home is pretty big for just one person 😂.

I do own some paints but for some reason never use them. I’ll dig them out….

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894195#Comment_81894195

Staying at home is the best thing isn’t it ❤️. Nothing better than being curled up on the sofa under a blanket I’ve been really enjoying sitting in the different rooms of my house (as the house I was in before held no joy at all and most of the rooms weren’t particularly useable. At some point I’d like to have a big cosy chair in the kitchen (and an aga if they weren’t so expensive) so I can read in there too. Reading spaces all over the house! I have long term plans for the dining room, to make it into a library with bookshelves, as it has a nice high ceiling, a chandelier and a big window where it would be nice to put a comfy sofa in front of it and a blanket box. There’s a room in the loft that would make a nice study or art room. I want bookshelves and interesting objects everywhere 😂. Once I get the lodgers I am hopeful I can get a TV. I got a rustic little wooden sideboard I saw in the charity shop to put one on.

Blackcats

could you do a bit of low cost gardening? Perhaps a few herbs and veggies and maybe growing some flowers from seed? Not free but if you can eat some of it and be outside in your garden in the fresh air when the weather is better it might be good value.

I like knitting and crochet - ideal for sitting in your comfy chair by your aga when you get them. Crochet is quite easy so how about making a cosy old style granny squares blanket for your winter reading zone?

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81894331#Comment_81894331

@Blackcats I was thinking of getting a composter or one of those kitchen waste digesters, to help with growing a bit of veg, if I see one on marketplace. I guess I could just chuck stuff in a plastic box and cover it with cardboard in the meantime. I haven't done much outside yet, as the back garden is more of a yard, so all it really needs is a clean with a jet washer when I can get one. It has tall stone walls on all sides and would be a lovely growing space. Potatoes can probably be grown in one of those heavy-duty bags for life, which I already have, so once I've created some compost I'll give it a go. There are a few old plant pots in the garage. I'll have a hunt around for what else I can find once I've got the energy. The front garden is gravel, paving and hedges and will need a bit of trimming, jet washing and weeding at some point, to keep it looking tidy-ish.

I have to find a few hundred for some new glasses, as I am having eye strain headaches. They said last time I had an eye test (last year) that I need a reading prescription now, so my old lenses aren't right anymore. I've been waiting as long as possible to get some (MSE style) but it's reached the point where my head is hurting. I have a "complex" prescription for bad eyesight so the lenses tend to be expensive even if I only get cheap frames. Annoyingly, I had been saving an old pair of frames to get the new lenses put in there, but I have stood on them yesterday and snapped them beyond repair, so I will have to get new frames too.

I have made £150 in self-employed income through working over time this weekend (trying not to think too much about how it's only half of that I get to keep, with tax and student loan, as it was hard going). My eyes need a break! I am going to do some cooking and go out for a walk. I think realistically it will be April when I get the glasses, as I have some other things I need to pay for next month, as I have a dentist appointment. Hopefully nothing else big comes up in the meantime, as I need to get the car from my savings next week, then I have a leaking radiator that needs fixing and and a door lock that needs replacing. I am already in my overdraft and don't get paid for another week! The extra income has been slow to arrive and will hopefully mean I don't end the month in my overdraft. I am probably not going to overpay anything extra this month.

I am planning to use up eggs this afternoon, that have been in the fridge for ages, by making a frittata with some mushrooms that I got in the TGTO and maybe other bits of veg from the freezer, like onion and spinach. I will eat this today and make enough to take to work tomorrow and Tuesday, with edamame beans or spring greens as a side, and either buckwheat groats or quinoa. I have had the groats and quinoa for ages, and I am trying to use what I have in the cupboard, like lentils, black eye beans, arborio rice, soup mix etc, adding them to the fresh stuff I get from TGTG. I ought to make soup too, as I have carrots to use up. I have a £4 voucher for TGTG, but I am trying to do a no spend except for petrol until I get to pay day on the last day of the month.

Blackcats

milqueen - after your free popcorn and my extra bag of cooking apples a couple of weeks ago I was amazed to discover 3 packs of fancy, delicious and v expensive dy son strawberries in my dad's shopping delivery today. I had ordered 1 pack as he enjoys them with ice cream but 2 additional packs is fabulous. I'm already looking forward to having some with breakfast tomorrow 🥳

MillQueen

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81895105#Comment_81895105

What a wonderful discovery! A little win like that is great isn't it and your breakfast will taste super good because they were free 😂. I love these nice little moments. My own nice moment is that this week I think I will be test driving my friend's car that I will be buying. It's a little car that's economical to run and has super low mileage. It's also significantly newer than my current car and needs no repairs. Getting it for a good price ❤️. I will be taking the money out of my savings, as I think that's better than getting into more debt. This car should last 5 years at least (hopefully longer, as I will keep it until it dies). An added bonus of it being tiny, as well as fuel economy and low insurance, is that it will prevent me from buying big stuff as the boot is small.

Enjoy your strawberries!

doingitanyway

Car sounds great

MillQueen

I decided I need to make a list of things I need to find the money for with rough prices…

Short Term:

New Glasses: £250

Sofa: £600 - bought, actual cost £549

Microwave: £50

Nice Saucepan Set: £50

Dehumidifier for Cellar: £60

Dehumidifier for Washing: £60

Jet Washer: £200

Lodger Wardrobe: £200

My Mattress: £599

Lodger Mattresses: £600

Leaking Radiator: £300

Lock Repair 1 - Front Door: £100, actual cost £30

Lock Repair 2 - Back Door: £100, actual cost £30

Lock Repair 3 - Side Door: £100, actual cost £60

Replace Broken Window: £1,000

New(er) Car: £2,000, actual cost £2,100

Roof Repairs: £5,500

Long Term:

Whole Roof: £30,000

Specialist Building Report: £1,000

Cellar Tanking and Renovation: £20,000

Garage Windows & Door: £7,000

Garage Conversion: £30,000

This should give me some motivation to tick these off gradually.

MillQueen

I have left a deposit on the sofa that I saw that I liked and I am going to see it later this week. I had been putting it off, but I worry about missing out on it. It's a John Lewis one and they have given an extra £50 off and offered free delivery, as I popped into the shop but it wasn't out on display yet. I reckon I will buy it unless it's unexpectedly horrible, as it's 65% off and it's doubtful to get another one like that for the same price.

It's pale green and I had been thinking I'd get something in a dark colour to avoid it looking scruffy, but I have noticed that the colour of things fades in the rooms here (big windows, south facing and lots of sunlight). A more muted, faded look suits the house. I can just put blankets over if I decide a different colour is needed.