Monday 3rd January
 |
| 3/365: this one has a bit of an identity crisis ... it's supposed to be pink! |
Well that's the Christmas and New Year celebrations over for another year so it's back to the routine and time to get on with some grown up stuff, which for me means meal planning and revising my budget.
I'll tackle the budget this morning as it shouldn't take that long. My immediate priority is to save the money to replace my piano, so all I'm doing at the moment is looking at my current expenditure to see where I can tweak things to increase the amount I save each month. Although I'd been planning to add some additional regular expenses on receipt of my state pension I've decided to put those plans on hold until I've bought the piano so this means I won't be employing a cleaner or increasing my Ancestry subscription to give access to all documents worldwide until I have saved the money I need for the piano. The fact that I'm okay about continuing to do the housework is a good indicator of just how much I want the piano! My best estimate is that I will have the money by April, or May at the latest.
I'll be meeting J for lunch again today and I'm looking forward to continuing our chat but I don't think it'll last as long as last time! It's a practical choice of location this time, Sainsbury's café, so I can pick up some fresh fruit and veg while I'm there. I'll make a start on the meal planning when I get home.
I've decided that I miss the weekly choir practice so I've been looking online to see what options I have. I don't feel ready to attend the local choir in person; the fact that Covid safety (social distancing, mask wearing, sanitising, etc.) is left to the individual and not rigorously enforced means that it's not right for me in the current situation. However, the singing was beneficial in so many ways so it's something I want in my life and I think I've found a possible replacement. There will be a cost after the initial free session, which is a bit of a contradiction to my intention to avoid additional regular expenditure but I'm looking at in it terms of self-care and supporting my well-being, so that makes it an essential expense! This is the choir I'll be trying next week in the hope it will fill the gap ... even writing this I feel excited about it, so my fingers are crossed that it works out. If not, I've found another local choir that meets in person but strictly enforces social distancing so I have that one in reserve.
Your plans to save the money for your piano and put other things on hold is sensible. The Ancestry worldwide subscription is expensive and I've decided not to renew mine in March but then I'll have to see how much I miss it. I saw an advert on TV saying that the 1921 census is exclusive to Findmypast which is very disappointing. Enjoy your lunch out and chat today.
ReplyDeleteI'll definitely get the money together before I buy. It is possible to pay in instalments but I don't want to do that for something that is non-essential. Ancestry is expensive and I will renew for the UK records only and wait another year to check the worldwide records for the ancestors who emigrated.
DeleteIt's frustrating about the access to the 1921 census. I will pay to see two records as I'm completely stuck without them but the rest can wait until I can visit Kew and search them for free. They will be available for free access (I think) in the National Library of Wales and also somewhere in Manchester, but I don't think either of those places is close to where you live.
I had a lovely lunch with J today, thanks. x
I think this whole budget thing has to be in balance and that varies from person to person. You love your music and both the piano and the singing are very important to you so it's not really a contradiction, just a balance. It sounds right to me and the piano is short term anyway so then there will be room for the other things. Priorities!
ReplyDeletexx
Thanks Joy, you've got it! I think that, as well as the singing, there will be some other subscriptions to pay over the next few months but they all open up potential social opportunities so are important to me. The knock on effect is that it may take a month longer to save the money for the piano, so not really an issue when looking at the big picture.
DeleteHope you had an amazing New Year celebration.
ReplyDeleteIt was a quiet celebration but I had a good time thanks.
DeleteYour budgeting method should be taught in schools & most certainly governments. Save for you want & really need ... not this immediate I'll put in on my card. The piano is will give you satisfaction on so many levels. I read about your choir - that does sound fun & could fill the need to socially sing.
ReplyDeleteWe are waiting to hear this morning what government new/re-introduced restrictions regarding the surge in COVID Omicron, are. In my year end review when it asks what lessons did we learn ... I wrote that relying on the common sense of others is a dangerous thing!
It's the way we were brought up and the way I've always lived my life - save up for what you want, don't get in debt. I have the link to try the online choir next Monday so will report back on how I get on.
DeleteI don't think we're having any extra restiction over here, which isn't to say that it's correct but more of a reflection of Boris backing himself into a corner with his own breaking of the rules! I agree with the lesson learned!
It is taught in secondary schools and falls under economics and maths. Things have changed a lot these days!
DeleteI'm surprised you say that as my experience is that it hasn't changed that much at all ... based on what the teenagers in the family have been taught. We were taught the basics of money management at school and yes, they still are taught that now, but it doesn't go anyway to changing social behaviour. Some people will always prefer to buy now and pay later despite the extra cost to them by doing it that way and some people will always prefer to save for what they want and stay debt free.
DeleteMy Mum has gone back to singing in her choir, but they are very strict Covid protocols that everyone has to follow so that it can happen. Everyone in our morris side has agreed to do a lateral flow test on the day of practice too. Arilx
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that the other local choir will have those sort of strict protocols and I'll join if it turns out that they do rather than just being left to participants to 'be sensible'.
DeleteSounds like you have things nicely planned, Eileen. I support the idea of saving up for what you want and prioritizing them as needed. Hope you had a lovely lunch with your friend and the meal planning is coming along well. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bless. Sometimes it's tempting to buy now and pay later but I've always preferred to resist that temptation. It was bad enough having to pay the mortgage off but now I'm completely debt free I want to keep it that way.
DeleteIt was great to chat with J again and we're trying for another meet next week before she gets busy with work again. Meal planning is coming along slowly ... I can't seem to make my mind up what I fancy eating!
I wish sometimes that there would be expectations of mask wearing rather than recommendations. I never stopped wearing my mask. I had such trouble at the beginning feeling as though I couldn't breathe or would panic that I decided the best thing would be to keep wearing it now that I'm used to it.
ReplyDeleteI've continued to wear my mask when I go out as well. I honestly don't understand why mask wearing isn't strictly enforced and don't understand why some people refuse to wear one.
Delete