TallGirl's 5 year plan to own a 2nd home in her homeland

TallGirl

Wow a whole week has gone since I last posted and it has been a busy one workwise. Still have some work today this weekend something I don't usually do but I am way most of next week and need it for that. Been quite productive today went into town and paid two cheques into the bank and so did DH.

Then went to look at what upgrade DH could get with his phone and he got one of the new Google phones, really nice and £5 cheaper than what he currently have. Saves money and I can now download android apps (when I suss out how to use it properly. Not as easy and Apple things. Still not got my Blackberry but not really that bothered to be honest. Was a bit of a pain being in London with work and not have internet access but our laptops are so heavy and the hotel did not have free wifi so did not bother using the ipod.

DH has applied for the Barclay Platinum card with 12 months interest free and 2.5% balance transfers. He can "borrow" money for the holiday and it will only cost him £25 quite good I think. I wanted one too as it has the contactless technology but mine would not accept immediately maybe because of the two applications from the same address.

Chilling out now but should really do some work just don't feel like but must get it done or I will not be able to do my appointments properly next week.

Had a little look at different jobs and the one I quite fancied has been re advertised part time. Not sure if I should go for it now. Would not want to work part-time and it is a big drop plus would have to buy a card as the job is county wide.

Got some more MS lined up 3 local ones and 1 hotel for DH and me next Saturday should be good.

Also got on the scales and nearly back down to where I was a few weeks ago, so happy with that. New clothes from Ebay is not all that great some is fab but some need a lot more weight off.

TallGirl

Warning proper MSE related post coming up

DH and I both applied for the Barclay Platinum card with 12 months interest free and 2.5% balance transfers DH asked for £2000 balanace transfer and I asked for £1500. DH got accepted straight away but just got an email to say he has got the Barclay Card Gold Credit Card with a £1450 credit limt.

I did not get accepted straight away but got an email saying I had got the Barclays Card Platinum Card with a limit of £3000.

We earn the same, OK DH owns his own ltd company and we have no mortgage. MAD MAD MAD, will have to check what Barclay Card Gold offer not sure we even want it.

Back to ramblings:
Away in the West Country this week, I do so love Cornwall and Devon and the people I have got to know via my job. They are just so so nice. Travelling back tomorrow then Kent Friday and then weekend. Nie and Sunny here all day.

So looking forward to some time off.

Right now I am going to go next door to Sainsbury to get some food for my dinner (restaurant is not nice and I cannot be asked to go out).

Telly not too bad and I have all the channels here so happy day.

Take care all hope you are all doing OK>

TallGirl

Again another week had gone have an unexpected quiet day as I meeting I was going to locally has been changed. Got 3 MS so will still have to go to the town and do them in my extended lunch hour but I have worked loads of hours over the last few weeks so don't feel too guilty.

Got the bill for the golf club its £150 more a year to pay by DD so we always pay a lump sum. Quite a bit to find and actually as I have not played since October I really must get out there again its so expensive otherwise. Will juggle some money around and DH got his expenses so we should be fine.

Did a MS last night so did not get to the gym will go tonight though.

Weight stayed the same but did have a total Rose binge at the weekend on the MS wekeend. At least the 3 I have today do not involve food of any kind.

TallGirl

Alert proper money saving post coming up:

Went out to get some breakfast and look for a travel cover ended up buying DH a car on Saturday.

Good news is his is worth £4800 in trade in which is a lot more than we thought bad news is now that we have paid off the mortgage we can no longer "borrow" from the offset at 1.25%. Dealer firstly offered finance at 6.9% (flat rate) then dropped it to 6% thats 12% apr scary scary that is.

We need £8000 over 3 years so the options are:

- Borrow from Sainsbury at 6.9% (if he gets it) plus double Nectar Point for 2 years.

- Cash two ISA in 2 x £3700 and put the rest on credit cards then balance transfer for 2.9% for 18 months 0% interest free. ISA pay 3% at the moment.

- Ask if we can borrow the money at 5% from his brother (looking for better interest rate is lives overseas so cannot do ISA). Disadvantage don't really want to owe money to him.

DH is a total worrier if he hasn't got money in the bank but I am thinking the ISA option is best as I would still have this years full ISA saved as backup.

Nice weekend though listed 7 things on Ebay all nearly new clothes that was lying around also relisted some that did not sell last time.

TallGirl

Car paid for but still need to set up ISA's and SO but that wont take that long.

Have had a busy week, went up to HQ for a leaving do and only came back Saturday but well worth it and nice night out. Got a new Blackberry Torch and a brand new HP laptop too so a nice visit to HQ for a change.

Not set that up yet but will be so nice to have a fast laptop again might not need to use the PC so much well at least I wont have to think about replacing it just yet.

Inlaws came down for lunch so cooked roast beef with all the trimmings really nice it was plus Blackberry and Apply pie with my own apples and blackberrys from the 17th fairway.

Ebay sales ticking along offering a buy one get one free of postage so might even list some more today. Mainly clothes.

Been up and nearly emptied the loft as they are coming to insulate it on Wednesday. 1 trip to the tip and 1 to the charity bin with clothes. Still loads left though. Need to go through more boxes as they are not going back up there again. Found my pilking shears so missed those nearly bought some a few weeks ago. Also found a load of patters so will not need to buy that for a while.

Diet still not going great and gym I have missed all week. Hopefully next week although I am going back up to HQ tomorrow.

Right that is enough will get some more stuff listed on Ebay now.

TallGirl

Well another week and its the weekend fantastic. Good week nice weather and not too bad with work only 1 trip in overnight in a hotel and that was at HQ. Still not 100% happy with laptop the mouse pad is so hard to use. Had a wireless mouse I bought at a MS and its rubbish, uses two AA batteries in 1 day and thats even if you remember to switch it off. Will just have to get use to it as I like typing in bed which I what I am doing right now with Jack next to me.

Loft got insulated we only had 100 on one side and 150 on the other but now we have the full 250 so that is good. I hae bought the boards to do the area just insde the loft hatch as they left the insulation lower there. I might have to move some of the other as I don't think it will be enough for us. The lounge upstairs is full full of stuff that needs to go to the dump or go back up there. Guess I shall be doing that today with a trip to the tip.

Also want to cut the edges of the lawn and take the soil to the dump it makes the garden look so much neater and nicer.

Ebay nearly done 1 more item ending today and I need to post one thing but I have got stamps on it and the address written just need a post post.

Done quite a bit of MS got a present for my sisters kids and nie gym top but still no gym thats two weeks now will go to Zumba tomorrow I promise.

On the money front done the balance transfers to pay for the Golf Club membership over 12 months interest free but not set up any ISA's I want us to go with Santander as I think they are the best rate. DH is not sure he can afford to pay back into them at the moment so will leave it for now. As long as I get his balance transfer done and set up the S/O thats ok. If you remember he took a big pay cut when we had paid off the mortgage as the company was not doing so well. That's really why we have not seen a huge increase in savings since we became MF. He does say they are doing a lot better so he may give himself a pay rise or get someone else in. Actually I would rather he got someone in so he does not have to leave it all to his 84 year old dad when we go away. Less stress etc.
Well its 7.51 now and have been a awake since 6am so may as well get up.

TallGirl

Morning:
Got the loft boarded so I now have somewhere safe to walk on and also got my old storage area back (took away the new insulation as I could not live without that space. Still most of the loft has got a lot more insulation now. Such hard work bruises everywhere and my arm ache. Did not make it to the gym but worked all day Saturday on the loft so would make up for it.

Sunday I had planned to do Zumba but woke up with a sore troath and felt crap so did not go. Got another load to the dump (plus breakfast at Weatherspoons). Put everything back in the loft so the house looks a lot tidier in particular the lounge upstairs which you could not walk into before. Also made a list of everything I put back in the loft so I can find it again. Such nice weather must get back out on the golf course.

Listed 5 new things on Ebay and put a whole host of things on Freegle incl some of DH wrapped LP's (could not sell those) and already 2 emails from people wanting them. I really hope the rest goes on Ebay and Freegle as that would clear the room completely.

Should have a nice week work wise not staying away as far as I remember. Quite a bit of prep for meetings to be done today so better get on with it.

abouttimetoo

Hi there TG

You put me to shame with the tidying up and getting rid of stuff that you've been doing, I really must do somthing similiar myself, I did start a charity bag last weekend but then I got sidetracked so I must get back to it, I'll hopefully have time to do some more over the weekend. I really need to go through my wardrobe and that's a job I never look forward to and I seem to have a huge number of pairs of shoes, most of which I never use but because they are 'so good' I can never seem to bring myself to put them out,

Have you made any more Groupon purchases? I had one of my massages last week, all very nice but I felt a bit sorry for the salon as they said that 800 people had booked it in the 24 hour window that the offer was available and that they were completely swamped and had had to extend the offer first for a month and then until September as they are only a small outfit so couldn't accomdate everyone along with their regulars. They said the management had completley understimated how popular it would be as it was the first time they'd done it and that as Groupon take 50% (not bad ay!) they had 800 full hour long massages to do and were only getting £7 an hour so I guess they'll be running at a loss with that. That said my mother made another three bookings for treatments while she was there so i guess if a proportion of the 800 do the same then that will help their coffers.

Hope you are well

Regards
ATT

TallGirl

abouttimetoo wrote: »

Hi there TG

Have you made any more Groupon purchases?
Regards
ATT

Hi ATT funny you should mention Groupon I had a leg wax yesterday and that was fine but this morning my neighbour and I were booked at 10 and 10.30 for a massage. 9.10am I get a call you are due now at 9am. I said no way and they did not have my friend booked in either. Crap so now we are all dressed up so we might as well go out. First time this has happened to me but guess as you said they are small salons this one on had one person doing it so there is no way the appointments would have been 30min apart as it takes 1 hour.

Going to book my flights to Denmark as my neighbour is coming too. Its in September but such a good deal with worth doing it now. She had just gone back to take her husband to the football, MSE for them as it saves him taking a taxi. Actually they are MF as well. She is 10 years older than me and was made redundant after 20 years with Abbey. She used her redundancy pay to become MF first of my friends to achieve about 6 years ago long before I even thought about it.

So lets see what today brings might go and get the freebie from the Mail at the Bodyshop as we have bought the paper anyway.

abouttimetoo

It's good that you've got your flights book now and it makes it more 'real' somehow doesn't it

Sounds like you've had a bit of toodoo with your Groupon voucher, I had my normal monthly massage this morning and they were also talking about it in there and before I could tell them about the other place and the £7 aspect they were telling me the exact same thing so all in all they've decided to do a local promotion with discounts and also offer the regulars some discount too which is good.

I don't know anyone who is MF, well, what I mean by that is no-one has told me they are; I don't talk about my own MFW plans too much outsdie of family although there a few people at work who know I OP my mortage and I've encouraged a couple of others to do it to. If only the numbers went down faster ay but I must say I got a huge boost from seeing my number start with £159k+ this month rather than £160, I really feel like I'm nearer the £100k mark now than the £200k mark if you know what I mean, even if the numbers don't say that