Live on £4000 for a Year, 2009 Challenge, part 1

savingfortravel

Hi All
Woke up this morning and still can't quite believe what has happened since Sunday!!!!!
I think this thread (and forum) and given me the support to be true to myself and make it financially possible. Thank you all.
We will take measurements and photos as soon as we've sold this place, otherwise I will lose my heart. This happened a few years ago when we saw a cottage in a village and they wouldn't wait for me to sell my house.
So we ended up in our present house and until now I still longed for that cottage. Especially when we went for dinner at a house that was right next door (small world).
Estate agents are coming round tomorrow and Tuesday. Solicitor rang this morning. Getting a plasterer and builder in to sort out ceilings and bathroom. So its all systems go.
SF-How are you ?
See you all later.

jtb2412

Morning all ...

Half term has wizzed by (as usual) but I've got done most of the things I wanted to do. Not got down the beach as the weather has been pretty naff. Kids have had friends round instead so that's kept them happy - they've stayed for tea as well so have had another mouth to feed although it hasn't affected grocery spending (which is over this month :mad: :rolleyes: ).

Have just helped DH sow his chilli seeds (first lot) and i'll pop out after lunch and start a few more things off. They're all going inside on the windowsill so will get a bit of a head start. Hope the chillis come up as quite a lot of them are going to the car boot in the summer .

Took DDs friend back earlier (sleepover) and nipped to PO to post another amazon book so that's a bit more money to go into money neutral for birthdays. Am pleased with how amazon is going atm. Had to nip into Mr S for tea bags but used £3 luncheon vouchers that I received yesterday (from online survey site) so they were free :T . I also had £50 of M&S vouchers arrive from Sky so that will also go into money neutral for birthdays. (Shhhhhhhhhh, this is the second lot they've sent through :eek: :rotfl: :j - will keep hold of them for the meantime in case they realise their mistake .)

Weather isn't looking too bad for the weekend so hoping to finish the digging at the allotment - then it's ready ! :T

Haven't managed to catch up properly with posts yet so hope everyone is ok. Just wanted to quickly mention YAY to bails re: puppy :j Really pleased for you.

Off to sort out some washing ......... have a great day everyone xx

skint_chick

Nyk - of course everyone is welcome! I thought you were saving to buy your own place cash though? I can imagine you with lots of land, having your own farm shop to make yourself money neutral

SFT - good luck getting all your home improvements done speedily - have you checked out the local competition on right move to see what you're up against. Last time I sold my house I checked out anything in a similar price range to see what my place had that was nicer/bigger than the competition and emphasised it.

I got a lot done this morning- I bought work shoes for new job (old ones were leaking in the rain) for £18, 3 vest tops from Dotty P's to replace 2006 models for £10.50 and my new mascara for £4.88. Also found some amazing material for handbag project -that's going to be started this weekend:o - for £2.

Boots have 3 for 2 on Sanctuary and Soap & Glory stuff so I'm going to take OH to get his sister a birthday 3for2 when he gets paid. Music magpie cheques went to the bank too so another £68 into the money neutral present fund I'd better get going to work now before I'm late :eek:

Brighton_belle

Have been lurking for a few days as been a bit pale & wan. There's so much to comment on - lots of ooh, aah's etc from me on the quiet, but I just don't have the energy at the mo to respond to all, but have enjoyed both the oodles of exciting news and the great support:T .
Thanks SM for your nice little coment re my to do list - it really encourages me to keep doing them. So today, a very brief list as a bit too soon to push myself too much:
frugal simplifying aims for today:

1. Paint next coat on kitchen wall.
2. Spend 1 hr creative writing.
3. Look at charity shop box and think ' I really must take that in'.
4. paint coat of 'kitchen cupboard' paint I found in attic on two kitchen cabs as a primer for orange top coats.

savingfortravel

Hi Everyone!
Skint-Chick
Had a look on right move and saw the house opposite is up for sale. It is very similar to ours but

• has been completely decorated to a very high standard.
• has a larger kitchen/bathroom and a utility area in the same space as our kitchen/bathroom/study (3rd Bedroom).
• has not sold yet.
• off street parking but there is loads of space on our wide road.

It is overpriced in my opinion by 10k at 230k...But a similar price to other bungalows in the area so what do I know??
We bought our bungalow 3 years ago for 198k
Our offer for the new (little) cottage is 181k.
I think it will cost about 5k to do our house up to a similar standard. So it should be worth doing unless someone wants to take it as it is...
Do people like that exist?

Having a MS day (I hope). Went to the Harvester for lunch (Early Bird deal which includes salad starter and main for 4.99 and able to use Free sundae dessert coupon for all 4 of us-so my share came to 5.60 in total-this evening we are going to the Theatre..after seeing a 2 for 1 offer in a local paper.

BB-Now creative writing is something I'd like to do..maybe even children's stories one day. Hope you feel better soon xx

SFT

cw18

savingfortravel wrote: »

I think it will cost about 5k to do our house up to a similar standard. So it should be worth doing unless someone wants to take it as it is...
Do people like that exist?

As long as the main structure (eg. foundations) are sound, the rooms are the sizes I'm looking for, the location is 'right' and the price reflects the fact works need doing, then yes I do :rotfl:

Seriously, our last house needed a lot - but it was that or not get into the area we wanted with decent sized bedrooms/kitchen. We ended up with a re-wire, DG installation, bring gas into the property and converting from solid fuel boiler, replacing the kitchen, replacing the bathroom, decorating........

The main advantages to this (in my eyes) are that I ended up with sockets and light switches where they suited me, the windows were the sort I like (full height opening for fire escape, but with the ability to lock in a part open position for child safety - you wouldn't believe how hard it was to find a company who did this back in 1991!), and the layout of the kitchen suited how I work in there

We were looking for a similar project when we moved to where we are now, but the only property with large enough rooms (and that wasn't on the estate we wanted to avoid) had problems with the foundation under the kitchen extension, and the whole roof needed taking off and replacing !! So we ended up in a new build which (unusually for new builds) had good sized bedrooms rather than 'box rooms'.

Brighton_belle

savingfortravel wrote: »

BB-Now creative writing is something I'd like to do..maybe even children's stories one day.
SFT

I'm half way through a children's novel SFT. I've had some children's poems published by Macmillan etc, but the novel is my first love, but has been on hold for a year for various health reasons(brain kn****red by essential drugs) but trying to get back to it now as a priority for what I want for me.

Yes, I think some people would want a bungalow for less but do it up themselves. It is what might make it just affordable for some. Veyr excited for you.

savingfortravel

Thanks CW and BB-Gosh, if we could sell without having to do the work that would be great.

Don't want to lose the cottage but trying to be fatalistic about it..

We only made a final decision to move to the countryside on Sunday, viewed houses on Monday..Made an offer Tuesday..Offer accepted Wednesday/Got Solicitor/Book own estate agents..Now Thursday..Things have moved quickly for us.

Had to laugh as when I saw my father earlier he started talking about what happens if you live on a country lane and it snows....??

Answers on a postcard

My dad is the eternal pessimist..Its all doom and gloom..we've only said we are dabbling with the idea..god help him if he knew what was really going on.

BB-Wow the novel sounds so exciting..I was thinking more of a picture book.

SFT

Lesley_Gaye

nykmedia wrote: »

Is your offer open to all? It's something I think about quite often, especially with interest rates being what they are and savings earning a pittance. Paying the tax doesn't really bother me as I need to pay it on interest earned, so I'm sure it would work out less if I was doing improvements to the property along the way. Just another mad thought from planet Frugaldom

I'v been letting stuff out for a few years now too (got the first one in March 1997) so have picked up lots of ideas along the way. Got a great accountant who does all kinds of whizzy things. If you want to chat about it, I guess it's off topic, so you could pm me if you like

slowlyfading

savingfortravel wrote: »

SF-How are you ?

Hey, I'm okay today. Work was busier than usual so it kept me busy til 3pm! Mum has gone away for the night so I have the house to myself and can do as I please, so I'm going to take full advantage of that However, she has left me a list of things to do, so I have to be productive at some point :rolleyes:
Just want to say a big THANK YOU to those who sent lovely pm's and who sat and listened to me waffle on yesterday. I think I will make an appointment at the doctors, to get things sorted out once and for all, but until yesterday, i had no one to talk to about it. I honestly think that this forum is just amazing.
Sending big (((HUGS))) to those who want/need one.
sf xx