Tete en l’Air’s Feet On The Ground Diary

tinkerbel

(think that came out wrong, I do have a life, sometimes I just want to not live somewhere rubbish and I want to live with my bf!!)

Tete_en_l'Air

I don't feel like I have a proper life Tink, I'm 28 (just) and live with my dad! Everyone has their own circumstances though, I had a rough few years after uni but feel like it was all worth it since I met OH, doesn't matter that I'm doing some things later than other people. Sorry I sound like I'm justifying myself there a bit - just trying to explain why I'm a bit of a saddo!

Ah you'll fnd somewhere Wendz, are you still looking at getting the police housing benefit thing (whatever it is?!) or is that a bit limiting?

Tete_en_l'Air

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

- 3 x Dooyoos - FAIL
- Copy two reviews to Ciao - FAIL
- [STRIKE]Put coppers in bank[/STRIKE]
- [STRIKE]Buy birthday card and mother's day card[/STRIKE]
- [STRIKE]Shampoo and shower gel[/STRIKE]
- [STRIKE]Visit gran[/STRIKE]
- [STRIKE]Supermarket[/STRIKE]
- Look at breakdown cover
- Raise query with Dooyoo
- Continue query with Quidco
- Look at gas bill with Dad

So the only things on yesterday's list I succeeded with were the shopping bits! I did do a bit of my mood board though :A

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Still not heard anything about Cottage #1, but now we have Cottage #2 which definitely allows pets, Cottage # 3 which is a close second to #1 and a converted chapel in the middle of nowhere! Feeling very upbeat about the whole thing. Still like #1 best though

Well been doing a bit of ringing around today and cottages #2 and #3 have both gone (I was really starting to love #3 as well!), but I've spoken to the letting agent about #1 - the landlady is OK with the cats as they are 6 years old, house trained, and won't go using the neighbours' gardens as a toilet (they're such scaredy-cats they don't even like going outside on a summer's day!), but she would want us to sign a lease of longer than 6 months. Which is fine, we'd want to be living in wherever we get longer than that anyway.

We now just have the problem of the rent being £25 a month over our top budget... I don't know whether it would work in our favour that we'll be committing to a longer lease, so she might agree it, on the other hand we might be being too cheeky asking for pets AND a reduced rate! But then, is renting houses like buying houses where you're almost expected to haggle on price? It's all so new to me! Have downloaded the application form for the property from the LA - it's much more in depth than anything I've done as a student - 6 months' bank statements! I'm feeling very anxious about the whole thing!

wendz86

We aren't going for the police housing as tends to be in terms of them helping you buy somewhere and we are going to be renting. It is also limiting like you said.

You can haggle on rent. We did on our flat, we got it £50 a month less than was advertised as we wanted to move in soon. It is definitely worth trying and £25 isn't much! That is great news about her saying the cats can live there as well.

Dinah93

Aye expect to haggle on price. £25 reduction a month is nothing. If the property sits empty for only another fortnight before another renter comes along she'd have lost that £25 over a year anway. Its not worth her turning you down at all. I've always got at least £50 off.

Tete_en_l'Air

Thanks girls - we'd like £50 per month off really, but that last £25 is the real sticking point. Might get OH on the case, he's better at those kinds of things than me, I'm too meek! Trouble is, it is probably worth that much - BUT how many people in this traditionally quite deprived area are looking to spend that much on rent? I think it's a funny one - it could either get snapped up or stay on the market a while, just depending on who happens to be looking at this particular time.

Sorry Wendz was getting confused with the buying/renting thing. At least you've got Mr. Moneybags so rent shouldn't be a problem eh?!

Lara44

tinkerbel wrote: »

oooh wish I could be looking a houses! Its wierd, I always think you girls are loads older than me but you're not not really, I'm nearly 21 (eeek!) its just that you guys have all finished uni and everything and have propper lives, rather than student-dom where we actually do live in hovels! *fingers crossed I'll get a job and be able to get a life too!*

LOL Tink, I feel like I'm only just starting to get my life together, and I'll be 28 next month! I think you seem super sorted, although I am of the opinion that you should definitely do a bit of hellraising before you settle down or else you might regret it later

Yay Tete! I love the first place and I hope she gives you the money off.

You cat is so sweeeet - our current landlady doesn't allow pets so we are going to get a cat when we get into the new house. :j

Tete_en_l'Air

Me too Lara, I was a teenager til I turned 25!

Hurrah for the crazy cat ladies! How exciting - will you get a kitten or a cat? We've always had our cats from kittens when I was growing up but when I got these two I thought I'd go for adult cats firstly because I was getting them from the RSPCA and thought they'd be less likely to be rehomed than kittens, and secondly because I didn't want to have to train them. I regret it in some ways though because my girls are quite wilfull with certain thinkg and you can't teach an old cat new tricks. If you get kittens you can mould them to how you want them (ie to ENJOY being cuddled!!)

poddle911

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

If you get kittens you can mould them to how you want them (ie to ENJOY being cuddled!!)

I wish! We've had our cat since he was wee and he was super friendly (and a bit bonkers) until the snip and he's been neurotic ever since - I don't blame him though... He still loves us and tramples across you when you're in bed, but as soon as the doorbell rings he darts out the cat flap and you don't see him again for hours

If you feel ready to move (despite mild panic) then I'd ask the landlady to knock off £50 from the rent - if she lets you have £25 off and your cats, surely that's a bonus

Aw Lara, soon you'll be a cat lady too

PS. I've been 28 for a few months now, and still don't feel like a proper grown up! Except for spending the weekend arguing about DIY *harumph*

Tete_en_l'Air

Haha, that's definite grown up behaviour Poddle! You've got a mortgage and everything!

Poor snipped kitty my last cat was a boy and he used to snuggle in and put his 'arms' around your neck and everything, I was beginning to wonder if it's a boy/girl thing but maybe we were just lucky with him?

Yes that's a good way of looking at it Poddle, aim for £50 but anything over £25 off is a bonus You're right about the mild panic!