In Your Field: Amy Wilkinson - 'Renovating a house in a cost of living crisis'

Since October, I have embarked on the most stressful experience of my 26 years to date. "What’s that?" you may ask. Well, completely renovating a house solo during a cost-of-living crisis, of course.

The best way I can sum up this experience so far is around that old saying about pots and peeing. The thing is, I can afford the pots. In fact, I actually have two: a lovely new one and an avocado-green, 70s monstrosity that came with the house.

But, getting said new one fitted and functional for the actual peeing to take place is a whole different matter, let alone the stress of getting someone to fit the blasted thing.

Some would say I should be used to being strapped for cash as a tenant farmer, and I definitely don’t have a trust fund (that I know of anyway).

I have never wished for a silver spoon in my life, however it’s just me, my life savings, my full-time job on the farm, two part-time jobs and a small beef box business trying to keep this project going. My parents have kindly helped where they can, but I want to do this for myself.

So, I have been trying to use everything at my disposal to keep the cost down, and being a farmer helps massively with this, especially when it comes to clearing up.

Bricks from my house now fill in holes in the yard and tracks around the farm, and I think we all know by now my love for a blow torch – if it’s burnable, it’s gone.

But my favourite way I have found to save money is Facebook Marketplace.

I know a lot of farmers love eBay for machinery and parts, but for furniture, Facebook Marketplace is where it’s at (especially when you have a cattle trailer and a willing volunteer in your dad to help with collecting the bigger furniture items). 

So far, I have bought all of my furniture second-hand.

My dad, however, did draw the line when I disappeared with a load of muck to tip and spotted some great quality furniture at the side of the road with a sign saying ‘free’ on my journey back.

You bet I pulled up, cranked open the back board and loaded the lot up, much to the annoyance of some road-users. I rocked back up at home for the next load and dad just shook his head as I unloaded my new furniture.

My favourite Facebook Marketplace adventure was when I managed to buy a beautiful cowhide rug (something I have always wanted). I could not understand why they were selling it.

Anyway, I pulled up in my beef box delivery van, which clearly says ‘Southport Salt Marsh Beef’ on the side, knocked on the door and the woman selling the rug said: "I absolutely adore it, however my son has gone vegan". She looked up at me, then at my van and said: "Oh... well that won’t be a problem for you, will it?"