Hello Dear Reader,
I can so easily recall what it's like to have no financial goals except get through the week, with the lights on and the children fed. I know full what it's like trying to balance the books and keep a roof over our heads. I count my blessings as we know how far we've come. Now though, after many years of being financially prudent our financial goals are mainly long term.
When we have our monthly finance meeting, all domestic costs are met and with a budget we stick to rigidly. Set amount for food, utilities, running the car ect; we know exactly where we are to the point that well under 50% of our joint after tax income goes on running our everyday lives. The other percentage goes into long term planning. We set aside a percentage for home renovation with the view to good quality and durability. I don't intend to spend any more than we have to.
Long term and medium term plans we've undertaken within budget this week. Paid for the underlay, carpets and fitting cost to have three bedrooms, hall, stairs and lounge carpeted, it will be done after half term. Paid for Club Voyage membership for Brittany Ferries to give us a 30% discount on our ferry crossings. Both of which have been saved for since last year. Long term plans are that we've moved money from the everyday account to ISA with the intention of leaving it there for a year or more.
We've also painted the bathroom and another bedroom. We paint everything white in every room, it's clean, cheap and easy to touch up. We've all taken lunches and coffee to work everyday, amused ourselves for free, kept fit with evening walks. I've dried all the washing on the one, shopped at the butchers to give us meat for three weeks and bulk cooked for the weeks ahead.
The picture above is from Huelgoat in the summer. The legalities of the purchase is ticking along.
You asked, what's Huelgoat like in winter, when it snows it looks like this. You'll find out all about it on my first winter that I'm there.
Love Froogs xxxx
