Girlfriend - some people recommend 10% mortgage costs for ongoing maintenance of a property, as a rule of thumb. Honestly, I don't know. That would cover boiler servicing, gutter cleaning, the odd basic repair that crops up, window cleaning, oven cleaning, buying paint/tools for jobs that we do ourselves. But it wouldn't come anywhere near the big jobs, like the bathroom renovation we're just about to embark upon, or the new boiler we had installed. But yes to a separate pot, because it's always useful to have something set aside, even if it's not quite enough! the other thing is that expenditure can be lumpy. Our boiler service, plus our house insurance is due in January, which coincides with peak energy usage and the after-effects of Christmas expenditure...for 2025, I'll make sure I have a bigger pot set aside, oh yes!
Bathroom looks lovely need - is that a cup and cove floor? And yes, I can just see the very clever seating, looks great. I'm afraid I also gravitate towards the expensive option, but well, we do make things last!
Spent a ludicrous amount in the posh greengrocer yesterday - £16 on really not very much. Lovely experience shopping there, but I do tend to gag at the till. The fennel and walnut salad last night was delicious, however, as was the purple sprouting broccoli. The chicken breasts were the cheapest things on the plate! (under £6 for 3, from the butcher).