Sepa seeks freedom

Sepa74

Well, it's been quite a good week really.

I spoke to my accountant, who told me that I there is some more money I can take out of the business. I had no idea I could take it, so that was a very pleasant surprise. Yippee!!!

It's sitting in the offset, so if I view it as an OP, then not only does it take me into the £129xxx's, it also takes me just below 70% LTV. Woo hoo!!

I have also had a much better month than last month, although I have still over spent. I have had 11 NSDs so far which is great going for me!

It's been another expensive month for the cats - 3 trips to the vet and a big food purchase (which should last 2 months). But they're worth it!

The other big expense has been health care - lots of vitamins, and a prescription for anti-biotics, However on the bright side I managed to avoid taking a day off sick, which would have cost a lot more!

I'm going to head off now and look at options for the kitchen and bathroom floors, although I probably won't do anything until the New Year now. I'm also off to a friend's place for dinner, so I have to buy a bottle of wine

Have a good MSE week, everyone!

poorbutrich

Sepa74 wrote: »

Well, it's been quite a good week really.

It's sitting in the offset, so if I view it as an OP, then not only does it take me into the £129xxx's, it also takes me just below 70% LTV. Woo hoo!!

That's wonderful - you are making great progress! :T

How is the bathroom situation?

Sepa74

Well, it hasn't leaked again, or at least I don't _think_ it has, at any rate, but I am out of the house a LOT.

The freeholder contacted the head lessee for me, who is going to arrange for a plumber to come around on Thursday - he has never worked on the flat before, so will be a fresh pair of eyes. I like the head-lessee a lot - she's great, actually, because she sub-lets to a housing associate who are meant to look after this stuff, but they are rubbish, so she is picking it up herself, even though it's against the contract. She would like to break the sub-lease, but can't, so as she says, if she breaches the contract, what can they do? Terminate??!

So fingers crossed it will be OK.

My plumber has also been and fixed the (clean water) leak from the toilet and moved it another inch away from the wall, so hopefully that will be OK - it was too close to the wall before and I kept getting a cold bum when I went to the loo :rotfl:

Next step is the kitchen and bathroom floors - I ordered some karndean and vinyl samples yesterday, so am looking forward to those arriving. Yippee!!

I can't wait until it's sorted, although then I will need to start focusing a lot more on the mortgage and resist temptation to do things like put in a wood stove and new carpets in the bedroom! It will be strictly maintenance only, from now on!!

Hurdler

oh but it is SOOO tempting to keep "improving" though...
I had a pleasant surprise when I asked a Double Glazing repairer/installer to give my windows the once over ... the conservatory windows either refuse to open or refuse to close. It's potluck what you get (so now I never try anymore)...

I deliberately left it open ended when the guy came over - to see if he tried to spin me a line... and to my immense surprise - he didn't.
As a result - only some broken down units in the conservatory are being replaced, the back windows in my study and spare bedroom don't need anything done, but he might reseal them to give them a bit of a tidy up.

So I am only replacing the two front windows in the house because they are impractically HUMONGOUS and such wide expanses of glass ... I much prefer two side opening windows (only have one) and a fan light (by bedroom one refuses to open now).

What would have cost around £10-12K to replace all the windows with new is now going to be:
Broken unit repairs, new back door, new front door, new locking mechanisms and nice new handles,
New front windows
£2,500.

THEN... only maintenance for me - as that is pretty much my blood sucking money pit, finished!

Sepa74

My bathroom window has stuck shut, which is a bit of a disaster as I love steamy showers and open it afterwards to get rid of the steam.

However not having a floor in the bathroom at the moment (ie just the floorboards) means it's very leaky so no mould growing... yet!

But I definitely need to get that window open somehow, so I'll be heading down to my local double glazing shop for a quote very soon too.

Hurdler

Do I remember that you might be based Surrey way...? or am I imagining things - if so, and if my window bloke is as good as he has been so far - I can PM you his details to add to quote-dom.

I should add I asked a couple of other folk - one bloke who insisted that ALL the windows had to come out, and that while he was at it he could redesign a new conservatory and the other..? Was a no show, and when I called back to ask why he hadn't turned up - he said that he was too busy and didn't need the work at the moment.
Why are some companies like that - especially at this time of year!

mortgage_girl

Hey Sepa, just stopping by to have a nosey and see what you're up to. Sorry to hear about the leak, I bet you were absolutely gutted You sound like you've really got a good momentum going with your house renovations, it's always exciting doing housey things, I love it when I get a project finished - not that i'm doing much housey stuff at the moment! Keep up the good work!

Sepa74

Hi Hurdler, yes, I am in Surrey, and would love you to PM the window-guy's details to me. My house is getting damp because I can't open the window to let the steam out I could stop having really long hot showers I suppose...

Hi Mortgage girl, thanks for popping in, yes, I'm very nearly there with the renovations, just have to sort out the floors :j

You'll all be pleased to know the leak was caused by a problem with the overflow in the bath upstairs and is all sorted now :T

I have had a VERY expensive week! I went shopping today and bought some shoes and other much needed essentials - my socks and underwear had gone all religious on me so I needed replacements, and I bought some thermals to keep me toasty when I'm in NY at NY :rotfl:

I was very good and didn't buy any snacks while I was out, although I did indulge a little on my socks... I could have got 6 for £8, but instead I got 5 for £10, but they have cute little animals on them

Two people I knew quite well left work this week, so I put a fiver each into the pot for them, and I also bought a few more Christmas pressies, which I will post on Monday. I have also booked two tickets to see the Railway Children, and am shouting one of my closest friends. I can't wait!!! :j

And then probably the naughtiest thing is that I've put a deposit down on a sculpture by a local artist however it's my birthday in January, so it's my present to myself

I am off to a Christmas Carol concern tonight... it's with my choir, but I'm not singing as I have taken a sabbatical for the last couple of months as I've been so busy with work. I'm looking forward to it, but that's another £10... it never ends at this time of year, does it!

Have a great MSE week everyone!

poorbutrich

Sepa74 wrote: »

Hi Hurdler, yes, I am in Surrey, and would love you to PM the window-guy's details to me. My house is getting damp because I can't open the window to let the steam out I could stop having really long hot showers I suppose...

Hi Mortgage girl, thanks for popping in, yes, I'm very nearly there with the renovations, just have to sort out the floors :j

You'll all be pleased to know the leak was caused by a problem with the overflow in the bath upstairs and is all sorted now :T

I have had a VERY expensive week! I went shopping today and bought some shoes and other much needed essentials - my socks and underwear had gone all religious on me so I needed replacements, and I bought some thermals to keep me toasty when I'm in NY at NY :rotfl:

I was very good and didn't buy any snacks while I was out, although I did indulge a little on my socks... I could have got 6 for £8, but instead I got 5 for £10, but they have cute little animals on them

Two people I knew quite well left work this week, so I put a fiver each into the pot for them, and I also bought a few more Christmas pressies, which I will post on Monday. I have also booked two tickets to see the Railway Children, and am shouting one of my closest friends. I can't wait!!! :j

And then probably the naughtiest thing is that I've put a deposit down on a sculpture by a local artist however it's my birthday in January, so it's my present to myself

I am off to a Christmas Carol concern tonight... it's with my choir, but I'm not singing as I have taken a sabbatical for the last couple of months as I've been so busy with work. I'm looking forward to it, but that's another £10... it never ends at this time of year, does it!

Have a great MSE week everyone!

Sounds like a great Christmassy week in the Sepa household! Love your positivity and your enthusiasm for socks with animals on them :rotfl:

inigma

Wow sounds cool that you are supporting a local artist! I am still finding it hard to get the right balance, I'm only shopping on the high street at present!