Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

Hi Michelle thanks for popping in, hope you are all well.

Yesterday was a great day, after months of looking for a wardrobe/hall stand/big chest for the hallway , I found one very cheap at the bootsale. Its a sideboard with carved flowers on the front, then a large mirror above with a shelf and fancy wood bits.

I'm going to have a go at renovating it myself with some of that chalk paint when I get or make some, and best of all it was only £25 after haggling.

This year has flown by, I can't believe we are past half way through already and I'm way behind on target for op's. The second half of the year is usually the most expensive as well with the kids and dh's birthdays/xmas/holidays. I am tempted to set a lower target for the year but I think that might be cheating!

greent

Have you looked on ebay for the chalk paint? It sometimes comes up on there - might be worth having it as a saved search so ebay will email you with any new listings for it

newgirly

Thanks greent I did'nt know you could do that. I am too impatient though and looked up how to make your own with bicarb of soda , paint and water. So have bought a cheap pale grey paint, fingers crossed as I'm having a go today!

greent

newgirly wrote: »

Thanks greent I did'nt know you could do that. I am too impatient though and looked up how to make your own with bicarb of soda , paint and water. So have bought a cheap pale grey paint, fingers crossed as I'm having a go today!

Good luck! Hope it turns out well

newgirly

Oh dear! Mixed up paint as per instructions and its going on pale grey and then changing to a horrid stained yellow :eek: Think I may have ruined it. :rotfl:

JimLad

newgirly wrote: »

Oh dear! Mixed up paint as per instructions and its going on pale grey and then changing to a horrid stained yellow :eek: Think I may have ruined it. :rotfl:

Nothing that a vigorous sanding wont fix !!

newgirly

Had a nightmare day painting the blooming cupboard! the paint came off the top so I have sanded that all back, it should be dry now but as the pale grey turned yellow I went out and bought a pale pink, which is nice but does'nt go with the rest of the hallway. Oh well , in future I shall stick to looking at blogs of pretty furniture its a lot less stressful

No idea how over budget I am this month using cash as I had to buy paint/primer/brushes etc. I have not ordered a veg box for the last 2 weeks either as have been quite lazy with cooking and we have had a lot of frozen stuff.




Aims for today are:

• catch up on this weeks flyladying so far -
• ling/dining room,bathroom, hall/stairs/landing
• check bank accts/cash for the month budget.....done
• do all ironing up to date..........done
• wash everthing in basket and dry on airers/hangers
• cook dh something nice for tea in sc as I'm out later
• wax cupboard...........done
• do a top up shop
• catch up on new diaries, there seem to be lots of new ones.

CathT

Hi Newgirly, just been catching up. Re: the kitchen plans I personally plan to have a kitchen-diner. I think our layout is similar to yours but smaller. We had a lounge-diner 21x10ish and a smallish kitchen. We have separated lounge-diner with french doors which I love. We have removed our fireplace in the lounge as the hearth was taking up a lot of space. We may get a wall mounted fire but although the room has been plastered we haven't decorated yet! We then plan to knock through the kitchen-diner. Our debate is to what extent? Just the top half of the wall and keep worktop and undercounter cupboards? Or knock completely but install a small island to separate rooms a little (I have seen one with storage around the outside). As we have a playroom aswell our plan is to only use the lounge in the evenings!

Also like you I do consider the lack of space as our children get bigger and like you say 'become adults'. I can't imagine 4 adults living here!! :eek:
Our boxroom is pretty much 6x6ft and I have a major issue with it. A relative of mine can't see my problem as it's only for sleeping in but it really is so tiny! :mad:

Your spa day sounded fab, hope it's recharged your batteries a little.

The pot of money is a good idea, I have found when you can physically see what you are spending it makes you more cautious. You're still budgeting really well and that mortgage will soon come down.

newgirly

Hi cath, its the same dilema popping up all the time, move/extend/leave as is and pay off the mortgage! I don't know which way I am going a lot of the time and it does'nt help with trying to focus on being a mfw.

My dd is 15 next week and although I feel very guilty she is in a bedroom smaller than harry potters cupboard under the stairs , she is happy ( well she spends most of her life in there )

Its all a bit of extra parental guilt. As nto said the other day , they won't all be at home forever ( hopfully ) and will we then need a big house for two of us?

ammonite

re: the chalk paint, Wilkinson's used to do it £4.99 for a small tub, did a huge door of mine and various other bits.

I think the housing space is only a temporary issue for most. Between 14 and 21 (assuming they don't stay until they are 25 like I did ) they are like adults so I guess if you can stick it for 7 or so years you will feel like you live in a mansion once they've gone!