Hoping for a better 2011

Angela84

Well here is another week, officially 2 weeks to go for baby. Had a busy but good weekend, OH's family stayed here, had a big roast yesterday which was good, OH got busy painting fences. These little cheap things we've been doing round the house to spruce it up are making us both feel much happier I think, doesn't take much to make you feel a bit happier.
Have got about 4 loads of washing to do today, eek, so will be cracking on to that, and then just chilling I think, my feet are swelled up so much they feel like they might burst, DS could do with relaxing as he had a busy weekend.
No chance of clearing debts again this week as have to pay vets bills from last week taking stupid dog to see if he'll calm down, £50! Thats for the appointment and the 'calming' tablets. And also have to pay energy inspector man who came and did a report on old house to put on market. Brilliant, just when we decide to not sell it, totally defeating the point of this £40 certificate.
And we've realised seeing as we've only just put it back on the market 2 weeks ago, we'll have to wait another 10 weeks to take it off and rent it out. So there's another 2 mortgage payments down the drain!

Angela84

God, landlord wants to keep £250 back from my deposit because of the carpet stains. I can't really argue as there are a few marks on there, including a (probably irremovable) foundation stain. Will still be £545 which is great as will go straight for mortgage, but still!!

Angela84

Had a good day yesterday despite the terrible weather. Helped a friend out by donating some sofas from OH's brother. She text me saying thanks so much, she was just about to order some from a catalogue and pay it off over the next 20 years, so that was good to know I saved her all that money and flipping interest!
Friends over for dinner, so only spent £4 yesterday on a bottle of wine, and that was from change I found lying around in the kitchen.

Today Im off to pick up my 12 yr old sister, she's coming to stay for 2 nights so that should be interesting! My friend works in a restaurant and said come in for a free pizza for lunch so that'll be good for something to do tomorrow, and Thurs am gonna take her to Primark as she's asked to go, and its her birthday Saturday.

Angela84

Gosh, having my sister here is blinking handy, there was me thinking she'd just sit playing on my phone or watching her tv, but she's basically taken over looking after DS and dog and left me to get on with housework that needed doing.
Off to midwife shortly, and then out for pizza, and then she's asked to take DS swimming so will do that.
MA started today, not the full amount yet, will be paid every 2 weeks, so will use first chunk to pay off h of f and littlewoods, promise promise promise! And also this week going to finish off photoing my maternity clothes, then can put them on when I've got a sec.
Think also I'll ring agents today and see if anything we can do about taking old house of the market. And also carry on trying to persuade OH to set up Internet banking so I can keep an eye on things. If I bring him up he clams up.

Angela84

Thursday already! Had a lovely day yesterday, went for lunch and then swimming (silly me didn't think that of course a 12 yr old can't take a 4yr old in the pool on her own!) so had to fish out something for me to wear in the pool, OHs trunks and a long vest! And being pregnant I was free!
Spoke to mortgage people who explained we don't have to keeping marketing old property, it's simply that if we sold it with someone else during the 12 week contract period they'd be due a cut. Safe to say we aren't going to sell it!
So can now find tenants asap and get that damn mortgage covered. Still want OH to include me in finances, but less pressure then as he won't be in trouble each month.
Off to primark today to get a couple of things, sisters birthday sat also so want to get her a nice present to say thank you for all her help. Then dropping her home, and friends for dinner.
Tomorrow looking forward to a photoshoot which was a present from a friend at my baby shower. She works there and has got me a free shoot, and a disk of all images for free. Brilliant as recently went to a different studio and 1 framed 10x8 was £690! I'd just got one from tesco for £1.20! The disk would have cost £1500! Totally ridiculous!

Angela84

Dear dear, really not well, had to cancel photoshoot but managed to rearrange for Monday. Thought it might be baby making an appearance but nope, just ill.

Other than that, have just paid friend money I owed him that i'd forgotten about, energy assessment people, and just need to pay vets now so I'll be square for a minute. Might go and put £100 to Littlewoods in a minute, don't have anything to buy for the next week I can think of. Always happens though, I put it off as Im worried something else will come up, can't stand the thought of having absolutely £0 or going overdrawn.

All confirmed with estate agents that properties are finished, going to call letting agent now to discuss fees to find tenants. Turns out we would have needed this energy assessment certificate for renting the house out as well, so at least that wasn't a waste of money like I thought previously.
Also finding it difficult with the new account to be able to get it right in my mind. Ive spent the last 7 years seeing my overdraft account as £-1600 means £0 to spend. Now Ive got the new one, Ive got to see £100cr as meaning I've got £100. It just looks so different to normal, Im used to working backwards, not just seeing my available funds. Not sure if that even makes sense!

DS is off to nannys soon, so I'll be cracking on with housework, and finishing off photos for ebay I think. Nice quiet weekend planned hopefully.

Angela84

And here starts what could be our last weekend before the baby. DS is away until
Sunday as well at a birthday party sleepover thing, so were on our own. Rain is pouring though.
My plans are to do nothing, only time in my life don't feel guilty about saying that!
Had an hour yesterday looking at these 'reclaim your charges' threads, so have started writing out letters. Am actually rather excited, at one point in my past had 2 C/Cs 4 store cards, and of course littlewoods that would all have been paid late, so might be able to get something back. Had to ring the old companies to get the details, barclaycard apparently can't give me my old account number so apparently have to write to them and ask for it.
Will post letters today and keep an update here on what happens.
A few years ago did my Natwest bank and immediately got transferred £1221. And also going to have to see about loan charges, know there are lots of those built up. Apparently they are from when it was with A&L, now it's Santander they don't do charges. Here's my list of who I'm writing to:

Creation Finance Sent letter for list of charges 17/8/10
(Faith Shoes Card)

Sygma Bank Sent letter for list of charges 17/8/10
(Mark One Credit Card)

Santander Cards Sent letter for list of charges 17/8/10
(River Island Card)

Santander Cards Sent letter for list of charges 17/8/10
(House of Fraser Card)

Barclaycard Sent letter requesting old account number, and list of charges 17/8/10

Santander Loan Sent letter requesting £225 letter charges returned 17/8/10

Angela84

39 weeks today! Come on baby!
Have got a busy day today, and pricey as well. Got my photoshoot and then tesco, but have to get weeks shop, plus food for curry tonight. Thought I'd invite some friends as a kind of 'let's have a hot curry to get things moving' night. Have just counted up everyone has said yes, that's 10 adults, 2 children! Crikey!
Yesterday was nice, went to the shops with my mum and nan, did the 'double up tesco vouchers' thing on a couple that were going to expire soon so got £20 worth of toys, and £20 worth of baby clothes for only £10 worth of vouchers each. Then just got a joules baby suit in John Lewis in the sale as couldn't resist, £18 down to
£7.
My nan also offered to pay towards fitted wardrobes for Xmas, would be brilliant as ours must have been built before the war it looks like, always hated them.

And OHs car sold sat, so really pleased. The person px'd a car, and paid more cash, so he's got the cash, just have to wait for the other car to sell for the rest. But that's fine, good to know it's gone at least and OH has a chunk to put in the bank. Still won't let me in about finances though, will try again this week.
Right better get up and start this day, photoshoot, tesco and then cooking and cleaning, and then curry. I'm hoping I'll be in hospital by tomorrow!

Angela84

God was in a stress yesterday. All my tesco bags broke on the way from the car to the house, all my shopping was everywhere, in fact one bottle of lemonade went under the car, and has now been half inched as we couldn't find it this morning!
Did cook a lovely curry for all my friends last night, think there was 12 of us in the end, and treated us all to some Krispy Kreme doughnuts for desserts. Oh my god they are amazing!
Just on online support with Apple as Ive been billed £59 for some subscription I cancelled before the free trial ran out. 'Wendy' and I are online chatting and sorting the issue right now. How modern!
Going to the post office today to send off these 'reclaim' letters.
Have decided not to persue the Shop Direct Littlewoods one, as have read they are impossible to deal with, and also because its in my mums name, but still in her maiden name. All a bit complicated, but I reckon they'll look into it and cause a fuss. Will just clear that as soon as I received my deposit cheque (will text landlord now actually) and forget all about horrible catalogues. Terrible horrible ways of stinging people who can't afford to buy things straight away.
Have to pay vets today for these calming tablets, neighbours have officially 'had a word' with OH now, so need to sort this damn dog out.
And tomorrow is the day for Ebaying, take the photos and list it all. OH's last day at work tomorrow as well, might suggest a Pizza Express celebration dinner.
And in the next few months should probably start sorting this wedding as well, 9 months to go, haven't got a marquee yet, dress, toilets, rings, booze, decorations, flowers, photographer....
All I've done is found and paid 50% to the caterers, and spoken to the vicar.

Angela84

Another day, no baby still. I know Im not even due yet, Im just really expecting him before my due date, my first was a day early, so I thought this one would be here by now!
Posted letters off yesterday, so thats the first step there. Ebaying today, although going to have to leave some of these maternity clothes as who knows how long I have left!
Got to call electric and gas people with last readings, dreading a massive bill there built up from last year.
Still have to go to vets, will definetely do today.
And going to measure up wardrobes, seeing as DS is off tomorrow morning until next day evening, could give OH a project of getting new carpet, ripping out old wardrobes and building new ones.
Although bit of a silly project to start when I could go into labour at any point, but will see. Want to keep OH busy!