Back filling the big hole I dug with my credit card

AllThatStuffIsJustStuff

I'm feeling much better this morning. The weather has improved so I could go out the back, but I don't want to overdo it. The last hing I want to do is make myself ill again for tomorrow when I have my interview. So I thought of doing an eBay-a-thon. We've been a bit lapse on listing lately so I thought I could package and post the last few bits and aim to get 20-30 new bits up there.

However... we may have just suffered a major set back. I've sat down at the computer (now in the upstairs back room) and heard a noise that sent a shiver down my spine. A drip. The previous slightly suspicious mouldy patch on the cieling has been transformed by yesterday's torrential rain into a bulging dripping lump of terror. So instead I'm going to be climbing a ladder looking at a roof I know very little about and hoping that there is something obvious that I can fix and that we aren't going to have to pay out a large sum to get a tradesmen in. Best go break the bad news to PBS. Though I think I will at least let her have the slight lie in I promised her. She has been fab working from home and looking after the kids and doing the night shifts while I've been unwell. An extra half hour in bed is the least she deserves.

Aesop

good luck with your interview tomorrow.

Hope the roof can be fixed easily, ie a slipped tile.

I admire you both, you are being so positive about everything, we are allowed minor slips and rants and moans, and the way you are working together to achieve things is wonderful to read.

PiggyBankShaker

Hi Aesop, Thanks as always for your positivity and your support. The back roof if a flat felt roof, I've been concerned about it since last may when black mark started appearing on the ceiling in the back bedroom. At the time there was a condensation problem in the whole room and we remedied that and I just assumed the back on the ceiling was the same as the black on the walls. But then after redecorating it came back in about September time and has been getting slowly worse ever since. As I write I can hear teh slow drip drip - its terrifying.
AllThatStuff has been up on a ladder and has identified the problem, but I want to get a professional in to do the job, I just don't think we can take any chances or risks where something as fundamental as the literal roof over our heads.

I'm trying not to panic, and failing to be honest and AllThatStuff is bearing the brunt as usual. We know a bricky who we can ask to recommend a good roofer but I can't get his mobile number at the moment as Facebook messages is down for maintenance - and teh last thing we can afford is to be ripped off by a cowboy.

I think I need a cup of tea.

Aesop

Aesop

sorry I have been so long, went to get a cup of tea for you and go sidetracked.

AllThatStuffIsJustStuff

Just a quick post on my phone before bed.

PBS rang all the local roofers earlier and two are coming tomorrow. There's not been much rain this afternoon so here's hoping there won't be much overnight. I reckon its just the joints between the tile roof and the flat roof that needs fixing so hopefully it won't be too expensive.

I did manage to list 20 items on eBay this afternoon while PBS took DD swimming. All tat though tbh so will just be pleased if it sells. Doubt any of it will go for more than 99p. Still, just glad if more stuff goes out the door. One day it might actually start to feel like there's less stuff in the house...

Anyway, hope to get a good nights sleep as I need to be all fresh for my interview tomorrow.

PiggyBankShaker

A quick post on my phone before bed (what saddos we are)
Ok, two things from today.

1. Roof is going to cost about £1000 to get sorted, but that is for full job, not repairs.

2. I got paid, and made payment to CC debt, enough to bring it down to 50% and also finally (since I can not remember when) the balance now starts with a 3!

We'll need to do some serious budgeting over the weekend, what with the roof, the parquet and van hire, sundry costs of the roof like the back room ceiling (wallpaper/ing paint) extractor fan etc etc. But there should be enough money for me to make another decent payment this month I hope. Have to see what AllThatStuff says.

I'm going to list 5 items on eBay tomorrow and 2 books of ATS on Amazon. If. It. Kills. Me.

AllThatStuffIsJustStuff

You think you're sad - I'm typing this on my phone while giving DS his early morning feed.

In theory roof, flooring and cc payments shouldn't affect one another as they come from different funds - emergency savings, special projects and general income respectively. That said, the roof will make a huge dent in the emergency fund - over half of it in fact.

Tempting as it would be to pay another 500 - as this would mean us having paid off half all our unsecured debts in six months - I'm going to actually suggest we wait till mid August till we make another payment for one simple reason and three simple letters - MOT. Much as our car is an absolute trooper tolerating the ordeals we put her through, we both know there's more than an outside possibility of her just dying on us one day and I'd like to get her approved for another year before we decide how much emergency fund we need.

PiggyBankShaker

Ok, so AllThat Stuff is working had in the back yard - the raised bed should be finished today if the weather holds (fingers crossed) I have listed his two books on Amazon (one for a whopping £80 !!) and listed 2 new items on ebay, 99p'ers I think... if they go at all I have done about 10 relists too. But again I'm not holding out much hope.

Someone did ask for a Buy It Now price on something that I thought would only go for 99p (if at all) so I said £6 and they paid straight awaY!

[Deleted User]

Have read your diary with great interest- well done both, youve done so well. My debt is much greater (30k) and I had my LBM at the end of Feb, have paid off some, about £2000, but you have inspired me to get selling on e-bay. At the moment I am trying to de-clutter and make live simplier and less stressful. My theory is one my home and mind is clutter-free I wont want to go down the same road again.
You certainly sound very determined, good luck both. Will follow your diary with interest :beer: