In June I thought about moving again. A bungalow came onto the market in another village which would have given me the opportunity to help more easily with two of the grandchildren. It was a bit bigger than my bungalow with a slightly bigger garden and not on an estate but at the same price as mine was valued at because it needed a lot of updating- all flooring, kitchen, bathrooms and probably the boiler too. The housing market is a bit odd at the moment - over 200 new homes are being built in that village - plenty for sale but difficult to find a definite buyer.
In July after a month with virtually no interest in my bungalow, the other one was sold and I decided against trying to sell and bought some second-hand books from my wish list instead!
The vegetable garden really got going through July. I had a lovely lot of raspberries for nearly three weeks and I'm now eating courgettes, aubergines, cucumbers, tomatoes and green beans plus a few beetroot. Despite all that my spending on food was up again. I'm sure prices are still rising. For instance I noticed that Allinsons bread flour which only a couple of years or so ago was £2 for 3Kg, went up to £3 a while ago but jumped up to £3.40 recently.
I'm still doing all the usual things I do to save pennies and still clearing things out and out of the house this month went 2 pairs of shorts - one pair were too big and went to charity shop and the other into the clothing recycling bin. Also out to charity shop went 8 books and some small craft kits that I'll never do.
Just a very small car boot haul yesterday for 50p and 25p. I got a couple of bean cane fixer things similar to this online but they are smaller, keeping the canes a bit too close together. This one should let a bit more air around. Plus a pad of nice cream writing paper
Surprised you could even contemplate a other move. Very brave of you.
ReplyDeleteor mad!
DeleteWe’ve just moved from to be near middle son. We bought a lot of work…floors, plumbing, electrics, bathroom conversion to shower room. A good move to be near son and with beautiful countryside for walking. But has been beyond stressful and can’t wait to start living again: doing what you do in getting out and about, meeting people and enjoying life. At 70 years old, our bodies don’t enjoy roughing it any more. Keep enjoying where you are !
ReplyDeleteI liked the size of the bungalow and it's position but it wasn't to be
DeleteThat was a surprise that you contemplated moving once more, you will probably be glad you didn't.
ReplyDeleteIt was a sort of half and half thing - couldn't really be sure so best not to move
DeleteYour bean stick tops look very handy to use, perfect for a wigwam. The housing market is funny at the moment, we live in a very popular area, normally houses are sold within a week of listing, a bungalow in out street has taken much longer to sell.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping this bean stick fixing thing will be better than the two I have which don't let the canes spread far
DeleteWe moved house last year, it took us so long to find a house we wanted to move to but now we could take our pick of dozens, there's so many on the market but not so many buyers. I think things happen for a reason though so that other bungalow can't have been for you.
ReplyDeleteMany Many houses on the market and anyone who can get a definite buyer has a choice. Lots of people having to drop the price to sell.
DeleteI also think that grocery prices are still rising. The supermarkets are just taking advantage whilst they can. I stopped off at a small Budgens on the way home, everything was so expensive. Eggs, rolls and bananas were so much more expensive, I bought them anyway as I was tired but never again!
ReplyDeleteI added up my month of food spending and got a shock!
DeleteAlthough house prices have generally fallen and not expected to recover for considerable time the cost of buying and selling is still high without factoring in renovations, buying new things and getting rid of old. The outcome that your bungalow didn't achieve any interest was most probably was the best result. Enjoy your home and garden!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll have an extension instead!
DeleteSorry I have been AWOL for so many posts.
ReplyDeleteWell done for considering a move, guess it was just not to be at present. If you did sell your bungalow would it ever be practical for you to temporarily move in with family so that you were then a cash buyer with no chain? I suspect the current mortgage rate problems will make moving even harder than it usually is with chains breaking down.
I agree with you about food prices continuing to rise, and if it's not the ticket price going up then package sizes are definitely going down where manufacturers think they can get away with it. I understand what is going on but I don't have to like it 😤
No where to move in with family. I'll stay here for now and maybe just extend a bit
DeleteMiddle daughter moved three weeks ago and is still in the middle of boxes. Blending two households is challenging but she's getting there in between work calls.
ReplyDeleteThe hassle of the actual move didn't appeal much!
DeleteI was surprised that you considered moving, just as you seem to have got this place the way you want it. Yes, the property market is very strange at the moment, but it is definintely a buyers market rather than a sellers one.
ReplyDeleteI am currently debating whether to go on long-term wartime rationing, as a way to save money and challenge myself. All the challenges I have done recently have almost geared me up for this. I do want to cut all additional expenditure after today, and with food prices rising it's a good place to start.
It was the size of the bungalow in the other village that appealed. Lots of house prices having to be dropped to sell - even on the new houses on 4 different estates being built there
DeleteHouses are still selling quickly here in the New England area of the US but the prices of the houses are so crazy. The price of food keeps going up and up. I do expect it to go much higher because of the bad weather destroying crops this summer
ReplyDeleteCathy
The problem in Europe might be shortage of flour and oil . I wish I had room and energy to grow more here
DeleteI was surprised, too, that you were thinking about moving again, but I guess it wasn't to be. You seem to have got your place how you like it, too. You don't mention neighbors. Mine are lovely and very important to me. I hope yours are friendly?
ReplyDeleteMy neighbours each side are good although someone over the back on the estate is quite noisy sometimes
DeleteI totally understand wanting to live near family. Helping out with the grandchildren is also more convenient for everyone when living nearby. A house with projects is ok when you know good builders and tradesmen (which you do!). I suspect there will be another house and this one will work for you. House pricing in my area is madness. Sellers are getting well over their asking price. Food prices are up again and with fire and floods this certainly does not help our farmers.
ReplyDeleteI allow myself $200 of discretional spending each month and had quite a bit left over in July! I'm hoping that will continue into the Fall but once activities start again in September I always seem to spend more. I'd love to sell and rent but rents are ridiculous right now (and not expected to go down any time soon) so I may be stuck where I am. A two-bedroom condo is almost $3000 a month. Luckily I am quite close to family - a half-hour drive.
ReplyDeleteWe do give ourselves a bit of an allowance every month. Any I don't spend goes into an envelope and I use the accumulated cash to purchase anything I want. It usually goes for craft supplies.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Oh wow, that is interesting that you thought about moving. Sounds like it would have been a lot of work though. I suppose if it was easier to help with the grandchildren it might have been good though. Nevermind.
ReplyDeleteBefore you know it grandchildren have grown up. Do your own thing for you.
ReplyDelete