Another update from me

tesuhoha

Just thought Id let you know how Ive been getting on. Have been lurking a bit lately but also have been very busy so have not been on site so much. Since we moved in there has been no work done on the house as we have decided that we are not going to borrow money but are going to save for it. We estimate that work will be able to start (by OH) next summer. Realistically we have to save £10,000 first. During the first month we have spent an extra £2900 on the credit cards to pay for some kitchen units ( no doors) and a cooker (no cooking facilities or usable kitchen cupboards). The cooker will be used in our eventual new kitchen. Also we bought our son a wardrobe, bed and desk as he was sleeping on the floor and living out of a suitcase. However, I am determined to pay off this extra debt this month without paying any interest on it. OH has had a good month and I am using all the savings for the new house and Christmas but that £2900 will be paid off next week. I do not want to add to what I call the 'main debt'. The main debt has dipped below £18,000 again I am glad to say and I have also managed to pay another £600 off that this month. I have worked out that even if I carry on paying off as I am at the moment we will be debtfree in about 3 years. However, I will probably increase it as long as I can save the set amount i have worked out for the work on the house. You may think I am wrong in this but our present heating system and wiring is 40 years old and nothing else in the house has been touched since it was built in the 1950s. There is no insulation so we are going to have a very cold winter. i am not moaning aboutg this as it is our own decision to live here but that is why we are saving as well as paying off debt. The only work that has been done so far is that OH has chopped down the massive tree outside the back door. It was so big that it was way above the roof. There are 3 big trees in a very small garden but we are going to keep one. There is a beautiful scots pine at the bottom of the garden and its too lovely to chop down and doesnt interfere with anyone's light. This week I have been going to the tip every day taking bits of tree (a carload each time) and i think this is the DFW way of doing it. The price of the petrol must outweigh the price of a skip but there are some branches that are too large to take and I have asked OH to burn them but he is too conscious of the neighbours to do that. I have gone back to online shopping as it seems the only way I can regulate my spending. I lose control in the supermarket and go for all the bargains and BOGOFFs and end up spending loads more money. At least with online shopping I can see how much ive spent, use vouchers and save the petrol although Asda is only 5 mins away I find it expensive. Must go now. Have some tree to take. Love Tes. Hope you are all ok.

scorpio_biker

Hi,

Would it be possible to put your wood on freecycle (or wood-turnaround which is similar but just for wood). I'm sure someone would take it for their fire and it would save you having to try and dispose of it yourself?

memorygirl

Hiya - just a thought

You might want to check if you can get some grants for insulating walls n loft n hot water tank. Mangaged to get my Mums done for free - and she owns her own house and is only a very young 55 ( so not just for pensioners)

Worth a phone call for a "slightly" warmer winter - although I remember Mums house when it was metal windows and one coal fire - Brrrrrrrr!!!

Memorygirl

Annie_Fanny

What kind of tree was it that you cut down? Just wondering because my dad (aka cheap jack charlie) takes fallen branches etc lets them dry and and then uses them on the bbq instead of buying charcoal!

Also, if you are that way inclined, you could use some of the chopped wood to create a little wildlife area in your garden for beetles etc. You can find plenty of info about this on the internet.

Just a few ideas for being a money and environment conscious!

Floss

Another idea for your spare logs...I passed a house the other day with a pile on the front verge by the road, with a sign that said "logs - please help yourself" - when I came past again 2 days later they'd all gone apart from a few twiggy bits!

tesuhoha

Thanks for all the ideas about the logs. I had wondered about freecycle myself. Im not sure about putting them outside as the drive is very small and narrow and the pavement is not suitable. As for the grant, that is an idea, but we dont even have a hot water tank, just an ancient boiler that heats the water. We also have some metal windows, though there are a few that have been replaced by double glazing, the only improvement in this house apart from a downstairs toilet without a washbasin (and its outside). I understand that was put in as the old lady found it difficult to get upstairs. There was a chairlift but that was taken out before it went on the market.

tesuhoha

It was a conifer, very large but Im not sure what sort. Im not very up on trees.

Verbatim

Could you keep the wood to burn in the winter? If you have an open fire you then get free heat and dispose of the tree too. :j

tesuhoha

Verbatim wrote:

Could you keep the wood to burn in the winter? If you have an open fire you then get free heat and dispose of the tree too. :j

We have an electric fire in the chimney breast at the moment and its a smokeless zone around here but I am very tempted to have a massive fire on bonfire night if OH will let me.