It looks bigger than it did online!
An arm and a leg has been spent on this place since we moved and there are many more things that need doing.The garage roof needs work and the lane needs resurfacing and still the living room and kitchen to paint and I'd really like an en-suite instead of a random shower in the bedroom plus the downstairs loo needs replacing sometime.
All those will have to wait awhile as we work out what money we have to live on. I'm guessing that now Col is getting his County Council pension the Employment Support Allowance will stop or at least be cut. Another four years before I'm 66 and get the State Pension and, although it's no fun to think about it, we have no idea if Col's treatment will be successful or................
The things we have spent money enhance the house or can be moved if the worst happens...........but I won't think about that either.
So spending stops now, even though the bungalow money will be through before the end of the month, we daren't keep spending how we have been over the last 6 weeks.
Back to living carefully.
Time enough for getting everything done later.
The woman who was once frugal returns!
Back Soon
Sue
lovely looking range, I think there is always a splurge on spending when you are making a new home, work will be starting here this year lots of big spends.
ReplyDeleteIt's making your home yours, isn't it, and enhancing the value, so a wise investment.
ReplyDeleteI love the range.
J x
It's tough that you are having to be cautious but it sounds as though you are enjoying the renovations you have done and don't forget the bookshelves......! There'll be many distractions as you unpack those boxes!
ReplyDeleteHope Col is coping with his treatment well and gets home this week to admire the new cooker and taste its fare. Sue
It looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGet those jobs to form an orderly (and quiet) queue on a list. They can wait a while but you, Col, and the family need to be fed. Enjoy the range - make a celebratory batch of bread. Feel no guilt.x
Frugality needs to go out of the window sometimes so just enjoy your new toy!x
ReplyDeleteFinance can be a problem in unknown events but I think you are both being sensible about it and will continue to be. The moving of pension goalposts is annoying isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI think it is quite common to have more expenses when you first move somewhere. I am sure you will sort things out financially, you are a very sensible sort!
ReplyDeleteSometimes big money needs to be spent...as long as it's done sensibly and not frittered away on piddling little fripperies I see no harm. None of us knows what lies ahead...thank goodness for that...x
ReplyDeleteThe way I look at it is that you are investing in your home, making a home nice is important, us frugal folk can afford a little splurge if necessary, I am sure it wont take long for you to get back on the wagon.
ReplyDeleteThat range is stunning! Well worth the money I would think!
ReplyDeleteWe people who pinch our pennies are the ones most able to achieve the big stuff - and without the burden of debt (which must be a nightmare).
When my newest great grandson was about to be born, I said to my granddaughter "I wish I could be there for you". She said "Granny, why don't you just come?". So I did! They live in Malaysia, and the fare went into four figures because it was New Year, but I gulped and paid up! And of course it was wonderful!
Without day to day scrimping, this could never have happened.
I think the range cooker is a very wise (if expensive at the time) investment. When moving into a new property, there are always things which need to be tweeked and put right for you, but it's not as though you're going down the bookies with the Bungalow Money is it?! Don't feel guilty - these things are necessary and you can go back to your frugal ways when these essentials are done and dusted.
ReplyDeleteYou are under a great deal of stress, so enjoy your cooker and new home and try not to worry about the money or the future. Splurging is good for the soul;)
ReplyDeleteIt looks splendid, though, and it will surely last a good long time, so worth it in the long run.
ReplyDeleteThat is the one drawback of home ownership ~ the never ending stream of maintenance and bills!
It's all wise and thought out spending, as I think you pointed out to me when we moved into our house over three years ago and I had my little panic attack at the amount of money we were spending.
ReplyDeleteThe spending you are doing now will make things batter for living in the next few years and are a worthwhile investment in your future.
Frugal Sue can put on her growing and cooking hat and live on much less once the bones of the new home are all in place.
Get that en-suite fitted, repair the garage roof and get someone to decorate the house, it will make Cols recuperation that much more pleasant at home. Forget the lane ... that really can wait ;-)
I'm in total agreement with Sue above. I think you are an amazing woman to be coping and going forward in such a contolled way. I wish we lived nearer and my retired, perfectionist, woodworking husband and I would be happy to come and help you both. Catriona
ReplyDeleteOh my! I have a major case of range envy. It is gorgeous. The things you will cook and bake with her. I hope we get some recipes here.
ReplyDeleteSpending goes in cycles doesn't it? When you are in the fitting up a new home cycle it can be sooo distressing as it seems like spending money like it was water, just gushing out. Very stressful as well as exciting to those of us who are frugal. I think we end up enjoying these things all the more as we have thought, really thought about the purchase.
Enjoy her!! : )
Cooker envy going on here too. What a magnificent beast and I love how you have your pans all hanging ready and waiting. It all looks so cosy.
ReplyDeleteWe have invested quite a lot of money into our house over the last couple of years to bring it up to scratch and have yet more to do. It's pretty scary spending the money but luckily we are not in debt for it and we only have the jobs done when we can pay for them outright. The cost of the recent change to oil heating made me feel sick to my stomach but in the long run it will save us money we think....which in turn can be saved and go towards the other jobs.
Hope Col is doing well this week-x-
Moving is costly, but you do need to be comfortable in your new home. We had everything done with in months after we moved, but eight years later it's all still perfect. It's so easy to overspend.
ReplyDeleteHere in the states we say we are saving for a rainy day. But at some point we have to say "It's raining" and it is time to use some of our savings to make life more comfortable. So your spending is fine and your cooker looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMy that is a beaut of a cooker I can see you cooking up a storm on that. Just a thought is Col not eligible for PIP and you carers allowance? Good place to go is Citizens Advice, when I applied on behalf of my late elderly father for him to have attendance allowance a very knowledgeable lady came from the CAB and gave us a lot of help with the forms. Though dad did get his AA, he was not entitled to any means tested benefits but the kind lady did a thorough check for him. But surprisingly he did qualify for a new boiler under a scheme. Which we wouldn't even have found out about if we had struggled and filled the forms in ourselves. - Yes I am like you and do not receive state pension till 66(very annoying!).
ReplyDeleteAs long as it's making life more comfortable for you then I don't see a problem. It's good to have a splurge every now and then. Hope Col's treatment is going as well as expected so far. xx
ReplyDeleteI love your new range. Sometimes a person needs to spend in order to be thrifty and frugal.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
I have that cooker - but only the left hand side!! Our space couldn't accommodate the full range so made do with half :(
ReplyDeleteI do love your new cooker, can almost smell the bread baking from here xx
ReplyDeleteLove the cooker Sue. H told me how nice you had made the house. Its not always what you spend on the house but what you put into it to make it a home. I'm on the look out for a cheap coffee table, need to get to the local auctions. Wishing you both a Happy Easter x
ReplyDeleteI can almost smell from here all the wonderful, frugal home cooking and baking that you will do with your new cooker, Sue. Perhaps, although an initial expense, it's one that will save you in the long run. Meg:)
ReplyDeletep.s. Hope Col is doing as well as he can be right now.
Your new range cooker is wonderful and looks to have oven doors that are hinged on the sides - a feature that is not easy to find in NZ. Cook and enjoy - with all the wonderful cooking and preserving you do this new cooker will be well worth it. Sending care and love to you and Col (I went through 6 months of chemo for breast cancer so understand what it is like when your red blood cells and your white ones drop in No.) Michelle in Wellington, NZ
ReplyDeleteGorgeous and probably one of the best investments you can make for home. I hope you'll enjoy it for a long time and best to you regarding the health matters.
ReplyDeleteMoving is always expensive, but it can be so very "worth it" when it's a good move that's a good fit for you. We just moved house yesterday. We'd been in the old place for 15 yrs. Although we're downsizing (smaller space), this house is definitely a step UP.
ReplyDeleteGlad your cooker is there and you can be happy in the kitchen baking goodies. Homemade bread is so delicious! I'm sure you'll get things figured out a bit with the money. Hard to know with Col's condition and as life is hard to guess when something will pop up! oh dear. I pray all goes well with your organization of your "new" home. Exciting! I've started purging things I don't like now and it helps. So much stuff! Take care!
ReplyDeleteHappy to have found your interesting blog Mz Frugal. Will enjoy reading about your new adventures. My grandmother's old saying: Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.
ReplyDeleteOMG...what a lovely cooker....so envious....
ReplyDelete