Peonie's journey to smart money management

mpgsheep

lol yes, well logically was best to keep it, but then OH said to go ahead and do it, was all the encouragement I needed! Have to admit, although you are benefitting, I am not a fan of stoozing/0% cards, just hate it hanging over us. Once the M+S card is paid off (April/May 2012) then that will be it for us.

Hurdler

I would have totally paid off the credit card too.

I did my finances a bit half heartedly over the weekend - I am not looking forward to the Xmas spend credit card bills (which also includes me buying a Netbook for Journo related stuff, and then having to fork out to Upgrade the useless Windows 7 Starter to Windows 7 Home Premium).
Damn those impulse buys!

Peonie

Hi Hurdler - I hope your bill is not too high but if they are something you are going use (don't tell Mr P I said that).

My impulse buys don't tend to go over £40 so it's not too bad. The last time was in October and I bought a bed set; I was going to take it back but two months later it was still at home; we only put it on the bed for the first time at the weekend.

I'm going to keep the CC and intend to use it to get the points but will be pay off the balance each month; I don't think I'll apply for another any time soon.

We added the final winter duvet at the weekend so it's nice and warm. I even turned down the thermostatic radiator valves. As Mr P & I are very different temperatures I have an extra layer of duvet, now 3, on my side of the bed. To make this extra layer I cut down a larger duvet and attached it to the others. If anyone wants the instructions or costs to do the same let me know.

On Sunday I got a few things done: I cleaned, did 3 loads of washing but still have 3 to go and wrote a few cards. A few friends have bought their first home or moved and I sent them notelet cards rather than specially bought cards; I hope they don't mind. My parents unexpectedly came round and we made them lunch.

coldcazzie

Hi Peonie, just read your diary (some light distraction from the sprogs before breakfast :rotfl: ) and wanted to say well done on the saving as well as the renovations. Which kitchen have you gone for as we are also looking at an Ikea kitchen.

Also, I have a mooncup too and I absolutely love it! I wasn't sure about it at first, and it seemed a bit awkward but now I'm used to it (have had it for about 6 months now) I wouldn't be without it

I am aiming for £12000 saved as emergency funds as well, but I have to consider the things we need to do to the house in that: kitchen, bathroom, garage... I can't decide whether a 0% interest credit agreement or a 0% credit card would be better... which have you found better? (think I know your answer but want to make sure )

Peonie

Hi Cazzie,

We have the Faktum/Adel units in the cream. Originally we were going for the white but the cream will look warmer. We have quite a few appliances from the old house: the double integrated cooker, the washing machine, dishwasher and the fridge freezer. There are some items we decided not to buy from Ikea but still need: the tap, extractor fan, hob and door handles. This is the second kitchen we have designed and installed so did not feel like we had to buy everything from one company. We did like some handles from a specialist kitchen company but would not sell us the handles on their own.

I'm not too sure about the Mooncup yet; I need to give it another go.

The credit card/agreement question is interesting; it was like answering a financial questionnaire as I thought about the different types of credit and debt we have. The kitchen is on a 0% credit agreement and it does not bother me one bit; this maybe because it is paid from the account in equal payments and it is not my sole responsibility to pay it off. The 0% credit card was always at the back of my mind as I was not sure of the end date; it was paid solely from my account and it's too easy to spend on it. I do prefer the credit agreement if it's at 0% otherwise I would probably try to save for the item first.

Are you thinking about getting the 0% credit agreement for a kitchen from Ikea?

coldcazzie

It is one of the possibilities yes. The problem is that we don't have the money now to be able to pay for it, but will by the end of the year. We will need to create a stud wall between the dining and living rooms first. There are also other elements such as moving the water/drainage, flooring and possibly under-floor heating. I have no qualms with buying different things from different companies (and indeed will have to for the building works, flooring, decorating etc) but to do that would lean me towards a card rather than a finance agreement. I'm fine with reusing appliances: integrated hob/oven, and the washer and fridgefreezer we already have. However I don't think I can live with this kitchen until we've saved up enough for it...the storage is non existent, the appliances haven't been installed correctly which means they're unsafe/inefficient, the plumbing is absolutely appalling, plus it looks wonky! It's driving me batty! :rotfl: I think I'd be more comfortable with a card because of what we need to do... but as someone who's had both I thought I'd ask how you found them

coldcazzie

Happy Christmas Peonie x

Peonie

Merry Christmas everyone.

coldcazzie wrote: »

It is one of the possibilities yes. The problem is that we don't have the money now to be able to pay for it, but will by the end of the year. We will need to create a stud wall between the dining and living rooms first. There are also other elements such as moving the water/drainage, flooring and possibly under-floor heating. I have no qualms with buying different things from different companies (and indeed will have to for the building works, flooring, decorating etc) but to do that would lean me towards a card rather than a finance agreement. I'm fine with reusing appliances: integrated hob/oven, and the washer and fridgefreezer we already have. However I don't think I can live with this kitchen until we've saved up enough for it...the storage is non existent, the appliances haven't been installed correctly which means they're unsafe/inefficient, the plumbing is absolutely appalling, plus it looks wonky! It's driving me batty! :rotfl: I think I'd be more comfortable with a card because of what we need to do... but as someone who's had both I thought I'd ask how you found them

We need to do some similar works: lay a new floor, build stud walls to make a downstairs wash room, and make a false wall around the utility room as the existing wall is only single skinned and thus is not insulated. It's the extra things that need to be done and the labour that seem to cost more than expected. We have some funds that we were going to use to reach our rainy day target but are now being used to fund these renovations. Unfortunately we still do not have enough funds to complete the project at once. In stage 2 the drainage works will be completed and the toilet and wash basin will be purchased and installed. But that's for the future; until then the wash room will be used as a storage room. We have constructed some of the units but the kitchen is still not fitted; my goal is to have the kitchen fitted before we finish paying for it; lol.

It does not sound like you can split your renovations into stages like we're planning. I'd be interested to hear how you get on with the credit.

Px

coldcazzie

Thanks. Unfortunately a lot of things will all have to be done at once - the wall being built means the laminate will gave to come up, so we'll have to be able to refloor the living room as well at the same time. Can't do the kitchen til the wall's built because some of the units will back onto the wall. Can't leave floorboards or unfinished work with 3 kids running around like lunatics. I kind of want to do an ostrich impression about it, and am hoping for a miraculous lottery win (miraculous as we don't actually play it :rotfl: ), but it will have to get done. I don't want to be in the situation you are - with unfinished work all over (not a dig I promise!). Anyhoo, I'll update my diary when I've more of a clue, feel free to pop over and poke holes in my ideas! whenever I mention it to the man-wife he gets this weird glazed look in his eyes... can't think why.... :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Peonie

I won't take it as a dig I promise.

I must have quite high tolerance levels for living in unfinished rooms in comparison to others; which must come from my parents constantly renovating the house as I grew up. It also helps that we don't have children. Fortunately my dad is pretty handy so can help out with a lot of things and Mr P is learning from him. But my dad is/has been busy at work and we took a long time to make a decision about the layout and the new window and doors we want.

We've had the surveyor in to measure the window and we've asked for a quote on an A-rated window but we've not had it back yet. The manufacturing company was very busy before Christmas and now they're on holiday for 2 weeks so I am estimating the window will be fitted by the end of January.

Mr P said next month he will: chisel the runs for the electrics, run the wires and fit the back boxes. We'll employ an electrician to safely connect everything.

His brother is visiting for a few days so we won't be decorating in our days off