March Financial Outlook + New Neighbours

Last year in March, having just moved here we spent several thousand pounds.......... There was........... the removal company, a new lap top, a whole load of painting by the painter-man, a years council tax, a cupboard for the dining room, Col's 60th birthday bash, building insurance on the bungalow (later mostly refunded), The final electric bill for the bungalow, some wood cutting, a safety fireguard and cot for visiting grandson, the cat's flu jab and wormer drops, bits to repair the bathroom loo and the chimney sweep.......phew.

Thank goodness this year March won't be so expensive!

Last year we paid the council tax all in one lump because we weren't sure of our income, so thought we'd better pay it while we had the money, this year it will go back to 10 monthly payments. The vet has already sent a text message to remind us that Polly needs her booster jab but all the rest of that list above doesn't have to be spent out  on this month although we'll get the chimney swept during the summer.

We have family visiting mid month (hopefully) so I'll need to get in some extra food things. There will be car boot sales at which I MUST NOT SPEND TOO MUCH! normal food shopping and  we are due an electric bill. I'll need to get some bags of multi-purpose compost too. That's about it........she says in hope.
Being cut off by snow means spending so far this month = £0!


Looking back at the February finances........total outgoings including House Insurance, LPG cylinder, Diesel for both cars, 6 month water bill, food, bits, bobs and all the usual expenses was £797. I put off the Beach Hut ground rent until March.

We've met our new neighbours .........not a holiday cottage thank heavens, but a couple just a bit older than us so hopefully no loud parties! They've moved in late Wednesday in the worst of weather conditions only to find that the previous people have left them with hardly any heating oil, which is a bit mean. We said that surely old neighbours had had some delivered not many weeks ago and the new neighbours said that 500 litres had been delivered 4 weeks ago but it was almost gone - good grief................ I'm glad we have the wood-burner so we don't have to have the boiler going all day. We also discovered that because of the weather and us being cut off, only half their possessions had arrived as the second lorry couldn't get through late Wednesday afternoon. One of their cars full of stuff was stuck at the bottom of a hill 2 miles away, they had some food from their freezer, but no alcohol, no comfortable chairs and had run out of tea and milk!  At least we could give them tea bags, milk and the sun loungers - but we couldn't do much about the alcohol!

Have a good weekend.......stay warm and safe if you are in this countries snowy conditions............It started snowing again here yesterday afternoon - making it the worst snowy cold spell for 30+ years.

Back Monday
Sue