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.

clock • 3 min read
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?"

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit Sales

BNG National Habitat Bank Creation & Unit

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

FARM LOANS & RE-MORTGAGES

FARM LOANS & RE-MORTGAGES

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

Commercial Secured Bridging Loans for Business Purposes

Commercial Secured Bridging Loans for Business

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

More on Farm Life

Scottish farmer Kenny Logan to take on 555 mile fundraiser for Doddie Weir and motor neurone disease

Scottish farmer Kenny Logan to take on 555 mile fundraiser for Doddie Weir and motor neurone disease

Kenny Logan, Gabby Logan, Ally McCoist and many more are set to embark on a mammoth fundraising challenge on behalf of MND charity My Name'5 Doddie Foundation

clock 20 April 2025 • 3 min read
Baroness Batters makes heartfelt appeal on BBC Radio 4 on behalf of Farm Africa charity

Baroness Batters makes heartfelt appeal on BBC Radio 4 on behalf of Farm Africa charity

As an ambassador of the charity Farm Africa, former NFU president Baroness Minette Batters highlighted the story of Kenyan smallholder Juliet Muthoni

Farmers Guardian
clock 18 April 2025 • 6 min read
Entrepreneurial spirit behind success of Scottish farming enterprise with 700 staff and exports overseas

Entrepreneurial spirit behind success of Scottish farming enterprise with 700 staff and exports overseas

Now processing 500,000 litres of milk a day, Graham’s The Family Dairy has progressed way beyond its humble roots of 80-plus years ago, when Robert Graham senior’s parents took on the rent of Airthrey Kerse, Bridge of Allan

Lynsey Clark
clock 17 April 2025 • 8 min read