Turning over a whole forest of leaves!

NewlySingle

After 10 years of marriage Hubby has decided he doesn't want to be with me any more. Naturally I was devastated by this and even now it's difficult to struggle with (we still get on, laugh at the same things and have similar outlooks). It hasn't helped that, although he is going to be moving out,we're still sharing a home (he's dealing with it be being out a lot and stopping at friends houses).

To cut a very long story short, Hubby and I share a business premises whose freehold is owned by my father-in-law. I'm over in Cambridgeshire (stopped this side of the country because I met and married Hubby) my family all live in Worcester.

End result:
I was almost debt free (had one more payment on the loan from setting up my business) but have had to take out a £20,000 loan to top up the cash Hubby could raise for me to set up a "new life".

I've found a flat that I can buy outright ~ had to have a loan rather than a mortgage as my name is still on the cottages mortguage (hubby doesn't earn enough to officially have it in just his name).

I'll be moving back to Worcester ~ I'm still to exchange on the flat
so it's all still stressful. In addition to this the shop hasn't had much interest in it and until Christmas is over I can't promote that it's for sale locally (in case it effects my Christmas trade)

Money is very very tight as I have about £3,500 to replace the bathroom sink (it's cracked) fit the kitchen (already paid for), replace the flooring throughout and redecorate. Every penny I spend between now and moving reduces my "budget".

Action Plan:
1) Keep plugging on at the flat purchase
2) Maximise Christmas trade while avoiding keeping too much stock.
3) Keep a spending diary to try and cut costs (I've always been a spender ).
4) Once Christmas is over ~ sell the shop asap.
5) Open new shop in Worcester OR get a job if not enough funds to open a shop.....
6) Try to keep as good a relationship as I can with Hubby to make process /work environment as emotionally untaxing as possible....

Life upheavals much????

NewlySingle

Tuesday 23rd Nov: Started my shopping diary after realising I can't go on being a "spender" when I don't know where my income is going to becoming from or how much it will be....not expecting it to be easy but hoping I'll improve on a steep learning curve...
Purchases: £41.75 :eek:
£2 Lunch ~ burger & chips (chips were free with voucher)
£10.32 2 x Amazonbooks on moneysaving (reccomended on forum)
£29.43 1/2 price Thorntons chocs from Grabbit on Forum (for presents)

Wednesday 24th Nov ~ Purchases £37.86
17p Froddo Bar, £4.99 Hubbys Cold Medicine (he asked me to pick up). £18.95 Shopping ~ including bread flour as I'm going to start using my bread-maker and cheese bargain from the reduced section(yay old school forum), £13.75 Meal out pre-arranged with friend. (realise I need to work harder at this)

Thursday 25th Nov ~ Purchases £13.58
50p crunchie bar, lunch £0 (sandwiches made from bargain cheese and bread-maker bread) shopping £13.08 inc lamb for home made shepherds pie.(which was yum)

Friday 26th - trying to make this a £0 day as have yummy leftovers from last night and stocked cupboards

beanielou

Love the tittle of your diary
Keep posting!

MicheH

Hi NewlySingle. I saw your photographs on OldStyle Shabby Chic and loved what you did with your cottage. Here's to your new different life. I'll join you

SaZoom

beanielou wrote: »

Love the tittle of your diary
Keep posting!

Me too, like the title and have subscribed :T

NewlySingle

beanielou wrote: »

Love the tittle of your diary
Keep posting!

Thank you Beanielou

MicheH wrote: »

Hi NewlySingle. I saw your photographs on OldStyle Shabby Chic and loved what you did with your cottage. Here's to your new different life. I'll join you

Glad you loved my previous decorative efforts, this new place
will be decorated on even more of a shoestring budget ~
more fun to watch I'd imagine!

SaZoom wrote: »

Me too, like the title and have subscribed :T

Thanks SaZoom ~ I've only just spotted the subscribe option so if any of you have your own diaries I'd love a link :A

Friday 26th Nov:
Was trying for a £0 day today and was very impressed with myself when I bumped into friends on the way home and they suggested I join them for a quick after work drink....
I made my apologies and said I was having a spend free day :T
Went home and reheated yummy shepherds pie from last night!
Was feeling very pleased and looking forward to an evening in with Hubby (he has a heavy cold / cough so had said he wasn't going out).
Although we're splitting up I appreciate the company as after 10 years I want to enjoy our last time together....instead I get a call to say he's having a drink after work with his mate. By 9.30 I was really fed up so ate the first layer of some Milk Tray I'd bought for my Aunts Christmas present
Bugrit!!!! It had been a £0 cost day but by eating those chocs it means I'll need to get her another pressie (I'd got them at 1/2 price from the co-op, so hope the offer is still on).
Thank goodness my Thorntons chocolate stack bargain hadn't arrived yet, might've ate the lot!!!

Saturday 27th November:
Hubbie came home at about midnight (I'd already gone to bed) woke up this morning with the beginnings of his cold. I brought soup to work for lunch so will try again for a £0 day (it would be nice to manage it at least once this week!)

Nicx

muffin74

Good Luck NewlySingle on your new future. This must be a really tough time for you emotionally and financially but you seem like a resourceful and positive person from what I have read & it sounds like you have the inner resources and strength to make a fresh start. Like you, I am a shabby chic fan.I am sure you will be able to create a lovely new home within budget and move on from this challenging period in your life.

Best wishes and I will be following you on your journey x

NewlySingle

muffin74 wrote: »

Good Luck NewlySingle on your new future. This must be a really tough time for you emotionally and financially but you seem like a resourceful and positive person from what I have read & it sounds like you have the inner resources and strength to make a fresh start. Like you, I am a shabby chic fan.I am sure you will be able to create a lovely new home within budget and move on from this challenging period in your life.

Best wishes and I will be following you on your journey x

Thank you Muffin,
I really appreciate you taking the time to write that. Handy that our favourite design style of shabby chic is also the cheapest, hooray!!!

Saturday 27th November:
A proper £0 day ~ and I'm declaring yesterday a £0 too as the Thorntons box was sooooo big I can give Aunt and Uncle a big box between them

Sunday 28th November:
Christmas Market day so my shop is open to support the villages effort. Quick trip to the Co-op for some milk 86p and strong bread-making flour £1.29 = £2.15 total
Set the bread maker with my last flour this morning - Used Allison strong white but it was £1.58 own brand was in today so will try that for the next loaves. Hot bread when I get home

Nic xx

NewlySingle

A good day at the Christmas market (much needed to help pay the £2000 OD from paying for Christmas stock). Hopefully will be level soon as I need to start building up the cash levels for the horrible January Tax / vat bills
Lucky that I love what I do for a living~ it helps see me through these times when I feel like I'm working for the tax man

Yesterday was another £0 day :T
Nic x

NewlySingle

Mon 29th Nov:
Yesterday my shop was freezing, really really freezing cold
I got the oil filled radiator out of the loft and virtually sat on top of it. So many layers of clothes on that I looked like Fagin (then again Oliver IS very Christmassy isnt it ) Long sleeved t-shirt, waist coat, thigh length cardi, wooly tights jeans AND my fantastic furry Cotton Traders boots from the MSE Grabbit board.
I love love love MSE those Cotton Trader boots stopped me landing on my bum sooooo many times (& look fab too!) . HATE ice & the bloomin rules that mean no-one grits any more. :mad:

Went to the co-op on my way home to get some fish ~ I won one of the "Eat Well Spend Less" books from MSE and wanted to make some home made chips. p76 they are Yummi, thank you again MSE for my fabulous money saving cook book

Also got a tube of toothpaste for £1.00 Macleans whitening normally £3.96 (bargain) Total spend £2.50

Tuesday 30th November:
Woke up with the most disgusting snotty cold (probably got worse after my Arctic shop day) so had to cancel my ultrasound scan at the hospital. New appointment on the 6th Dec so will have to take vit C tablets and hope to be better soon.

NewlySingle

http://www.flickr.com/photos/muranosilver/5220540245/
Who'd have thunk that saving would be so tasty?
Fresh hot bread straight from the previously redundant breadmaker....
2lb loaf Ingredients 50p
Scoffing hot crusty loaf, butter running down your chin ~ priceless!!!!