It's been about 6 weeks since I bought my new black Compact Royce Mk2. She's much the same as her silver predecessor but a newer model and altogether much nicer. She's also a tad wider, so squeezing her into our bijou garage is just that tiny bit trickier.
She's done a smidgin over 30,000 miles, which I consider just about 'run-in', and as you might see from the dash I have personally driven her only 68.3 miles.
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I haven't owned a right hand drive car for many years, and I still find myself reaching down to the right to change gear. Otherwise I'm pretty well used to the slight differences from my last one.
I do my main shopping once a week on Saturday mornings at 7.30 am, and I have begun to really look forward to the short drive. Often I go with Kimbo, so that's a treat in itself, but even if I'm alone I love it. This is where those 68 miles have been clocked.
Otherwise my days are filled with dog-walking, wandering aimlessly, reading, writing, and cooking/eating. With no gardening or fires to demand my attention, I am pretty well free to do what I wish. Had we been wintering in France, life would have revolved around log-sawing and keeping the fires burning, as well as all the other daily bucolic chores. Old stone houses need a lot of upkeep and heating.
With a limited income, and more than one home to pay for, we need to be cautious. No £Thousands a week Social Security payments in this household; just hard-earned savings. We may receive a £200 'cold weather payment' this winter, but, like so many, we are not using the central heating (as yet).
This is self-imposed 'austerity'. Why the Left hate the idea of austerity so much I have no idea; they accusingly talk of it as if it's a mortal sin. If they thought of it as good 'household management' they'd see how silly they sound. It also used to be referred to as 'cutting one's coat according to one's cloth', but I suppose they'd hate that too. Mr Micawber also comes to mind.
My real problem is that I do like to eat and drink well and I won't normally compromise, so finding ways to satisfy my gourmet demands takes considerable effort. I'd love to buy a big joint of Beef for Sundays, but limited funds won't allow.
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Brighton is a great place to live, I love walking about looking at everything on offer; and it's tempting to spend! As I mentioned recently my legs are a tad dodgy so I've invested in a new walking stick. It certainly helps, but I don't need it all the time. I expect it will become a good friend in time.
Cutting one's coat according to one's cloth seems to be something that is beyond the pale - the 'government' must put its hand into our pocket to bail out the spendthrift all the time, any idea of personal financial responsibility has gone out of the window.
ReplyDeleteMost of our present woes would have faced any colour of government, and they would all have had to budget appropriately. To accuse a government of making 'hard decisions' seems a tad silly; although in Truss's case I make an exception.
DeleteWe live in strange times when it comes to survival and the ability to do so standing on ones own two feet. I note that people do not know how to work out what electricity they are using unless they have a smart meter. I hope this is just over hyped media talk. The mind positively boggles if people cannot read the meter in the morning and then read it again a few hours later. Perhaps some people don't know what a meter is and where it is located now that the meter man never comes round and that the alternative to turning the fire on is to wear another jumper anyway. It works very well.
ReplyDeleteThat's certainly what we shall be doing if we feel a tad cooler than usual. Warm clothing, and even a blanket over our knees in the evening; what's not to like!
DeleteThe meter man still comes around even though one has a smart meter...it can be every quarter or six months
DeleteHaven't seen any meter men in Norfolk for years.
DeleteWith or without a smart meter.
DeleteTotally agree Rachel, people just seem incapable of everything these days unless the government (ie the rest of us!) do everything for them, and the ability to budget for anything has gone out of the window it seems. And whatever happened to the jumper, it seems to have completely disappeared in favour of the T shirt and shorts....
ReplyDeleteIt's also a question of materials. Wool rather than synthetic, etc.
DeleteDespite extra jumpers and a blanket over my lap in the evenings, we have now succumbed to switching on the heating for an hour twice a day. It's become very chilly up here recently and fhese old single glazed leaded pane windows don't hold in the heat.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the IOM had a balmy Caribbean type climate, and that you wore bikinis all year long!
DeleteAusterity in the years of Cameron and Osborne was not spread equitably. The rich still got richer and the poor still got poorer. It sounds like it's more of the same under Sunak and Hunt - both very rich men. This is what infuriates the clear-sighted people of the left who strive for fairness and social justice.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I like your new walking stick.
'Generally' there are always more measures to help the poorer, and tax the richer, but this will never mean that the rich get poorer or the poor get richer!
DeleteI hope that makes sense!
Careful now, YP. Good job you gave Cro the Laughing Horse Award back in 2020. Otherwise you might find yourself severely reprimanded and your "logical" thinking abilities under scrutiny.
DeleteWhat would help debate might be to remind ourselves of the definition of "austerity"; namely, "difficult economic conditions created by government measures to reduce public expenditure". I won't go into why public expenditure should be reduced on the back of those who have the least in British society, otherwise Cro will turf me out. Anyway, it would explode the confines of his comment box. Just two questions - to anyone who cares to get their brain around it: Why are some factions of the British so, let's say, protestant. Suffer yee little children lest you may not enter the kingdom. Which reminds me, and I smile: Jesus Christ had the right idea: Be practical, water into wine, stones into bread. Also, Cro, who did he throw out of the temple?
Which reminds me, YP, I have nothing against the rich, and if they find legitimate tax avoidance loopholes good on them. Any of us would/does use same. And, bonus, Sunak won't be swung by financial incentives serving dubious outsider interests. Neither does he need to tighten his belt since he is already super slim :).
Question Two: Why do certain factions don't channel their outrage to, for sake of argument, the money poured into defense, the money poured into financing wars on foreign soil? Instead concentrating on some isolated case of, possibly, what do I know, exploiting some social security backdoor?
And lastly, may I remind you, Cro, that child benefit which I believe is paid to everyone is investing in the future. The future of our collective children - come they from privileged or underprivileged backgrounds. To complete your education: Child benefit for a first/only child is currently £21.80/week. For any other child it's £14.45/week/per child. Do the maths. And don't spend it all at once.
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Thank you for that sermon. Have you ever thought about becoming a Labour MP?
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DeleteWe learnt a lot in our first years of austerity but it's not easy when it goes on and on and you yearn for extravagance. But K and I certainly can't complain. We have all the family wine, 300 litres which cost us only the petrol to get there and car ferry costs. We have fresh oil at a discount price from neighbours. The wood pile is stacked high.
ReplyDeleteAs I grow older I am happy with what I've got and grateful for small pleasures.
Well, I don't have the wine or oil, but I do have common sense, and I try to employ it on a daily basis. I may not have huge spending power, but I use what I have sensibly. I don't smoke, take drugs, cover myself with tattoos, or buy flashy cars. What I do do is enjoy what life offers to the best of my ability.
DeleteGood food, a good read, time to write, we have wealth in ways that many rich people are poor.
ReplyDeleteWell said. That's exactly how I feel.
DeleteA lot less stress to live within your means. I watch people who don't and the chronic grappling with bills seems like an awful way to live.
ReplyDeleteA perfect example of Micawber-ism.
DeleteFine debonaire "stick".
ReplyDeleteI don't really need it as yet, but it does make me feel slightly safer.
DeleteIndependence and self-sufficiency are skills I regard highly and admire in other people as well. That said, I do look forward to my prime rib roast this coming Thursday. Good food and drink with friends and family is important.
ReplyDeleteI would need to take out a mortgage for a rib of Beef these days. Eye-watering prices. I'm jealous!
DeleteThat's a handsome walking stick!
ReplyDeleteI had to look hard for one as simple. So many these days are far too fancy.
DeleteI've been living to a budget since my wedding day and it wasn't easy, but we managed. there was always food on the table bills were paid and the children had decent clothes, often secondhand and not the latest styles, but they didn't complain. They didn't have rooms full of toys either and were happy enough with bigger things they could share, swing set, wading pool and so on. When they got to high school age, I got a department store credit card for uniforms and made those payments religiously. once the last child left school that card was cut up and the account closed. Since then I have never owed a single dollar to anyone. It probably helps that I don't drink, don't smoke, don't take drugs or much prescription medication ($18 per month) and I don't own or drive a car. I am also in subsidised housing, so my rent is reasonable, whereas others in private rentals are struggling because of all the rising costs.
ReplyDeleteI like your walking stick.