Millionaire Challenge

lessonlearned

Thank you.

Unfortunately we are having to withdraw from the purchase of our "diamond in the rough".

The survey flagged up some expensive issues, however I wasn't too concerned because I would have either negotiated a price reduction or just walked away.

The big problem was not the house, but rather what is lurking in the garden. Japanese Knotweed :eek::eek: - not just in our hoped for garden but in the neighbours gardens too.

Now I may be one of life's eternal optimists but this was too much even for me. :rotfl: Too much hassle, too much expense and no real guarantee it can ever be fully eradicated. Just a risk too far for my liking.

I'm sure there will be another house somewhere. Hopefully just as nice - and just waiting to be rescued.;)

lessonlearned

Just noticed you signature. Great film and that quote is so apt. Hope can indeed be harder to bear than despair.

I won't clog up this thread with the details but my OH and I have been thrown a lifeline by his consultant. Basically it involves a load more tests, treatments, some radical brain surgery :eek::eek:.

Just when we had given up all hope and were resigned to the fact that OH was embarked on a one way journey we get offered this slim chance.......

Of course we are going to grab the chance with both hands, even if it is a slim one.

However, talk about emotional roller coaster:rotfl:

I will keep hopeful.

usa1

LL,

Its a shame about your rough diamond project, but I am sure another project will come among soon, lots of prayers for you OH and his treatment.

troglodyte

Shame about the 'rough diamond' LL but much better to have avoided potential problems in advance than to find out later.

The slim chance involving radical brain surgery sounds frightening, but a lifeline is worth grabbing so I really hope that it works out for you and OH. You will both be in all our thoughts I'm sure. When will all this happen?

lessonlearned

troglodyte wrote: »

The slim chance involving radical brain surgery sounds frightening, but a lifeline is worth grabbing so I really hope that it works out for you and OH. You will both be in all our thoughts I'm sure. When will all this happen?

Not sure to be honest. First he will need some drug therapy to give him a much needed boost. We originally refused the surgery because he really isn't strong enough at the moment. He's just battling yet another chest infection.

So the plan is - experimental drug therapy first. If that works then a brain biopsy to ascertain whether or not further surgery is worthwhile. He did have a biopsy four years ago but the results were inclusive.

However, recent MRI scans seem to suggest that things have changed quite a bit since then.

Who knows. It's all rather in the lap of the gods.

Anyway I would imagine this will take months rather than weeks - he's certainly not strong enough for surgery at the moment.

Anyway I was feeling a bit down in the dumps this morning - not sleeping very well oddly enough........

So I've treated myself to a new hairstyle and some new clothes.

Very naughty

Not quite as bad as it sounds - I used some Sainsbury's vouchers towards the new clobber and the rest was funded by a cashback on my contents insurance.

So, maybe not quite so naughty after all.

I'm still micro managing my money and haven't dipped into my ordinary funds. :rotfl:

Yes I could have saved my cash back and invested it wisely but hey you have to have a little treat every now.

Anyway my wardrobe was looking a little tired .......;)

GreatBigBookcase

LL, you absolutely deserve to treat yourself, so not naughty at all!

Like everyone else on here, I'm sure, I have everything crossed for you regarding the possible treatment for your OH.

tinktay84

Wow LL just caught up, I have no idea how you are feeling as ive just had a mini emotional rollercoaster reading your updates! Wow.

Best of luck with OH possible surgery, I know it may seem like months and months of waiting, drugs trials, mri's etc but im sure you know it is better to take things slowly than storm straight in.

Re the house, boo and yeay all in one, boo that it wasnt to be but yeay that it was discovered before contracts were exchanged & too much money was spent. A house a couple of doors up from us is on the market (think i mentioned) it would be ideal for our family home.....big price tag ...deposit would be minimum of £50k. As with everything...you cant eat an elephant in one go...cut it up into small chunks.... I currently have £1000 towards a deposit on a rental property, hopefully will be turning this into £2000 in a month, £8000 within 6 months. £8000 would get us something in the £50000 range & we would then hve to do it up as we go along i.e. when money comes in, do a job, wait for more money coming in..not ideal but do-able.

Just spoken to a gentleman that has asked me to do some product testing. I mentioned how busy we are..h asked if I had considered franchising...of course I have..would be fab but I wouuld need someone to set up all the details, paperwork etc to make the package.... 'ho ho' says the man. This is what I do for a living..branding, packaging, marketing,paperwork etc! Wowza!
Can you tell from the way im writing im on a bit of a buzz today?!
Ive been to a boxing circuit class so am currently feeling very energetic.
Ive managed to list how much income/expenditure for my business in the last year, last month & projected for 3 months...uh oh I need to toughen up. I am spending as much as im making and leaving myself with no wage or profit. Projections show that by carrying on as I am I would make approx £400 a month for myself?!barmy for a 7 day week BUT I can now start to bring my prices up.

I have also just set up a cleaning division as my sister needed a job, wanted flexible hours & wanted to do caring or cleaning... what do you alwasy have to do when trades are due in or have been in? shift things, tidy up etc... so my sister goes in before us, helps to move or package ornaments, pictures, furniture etc, we go in and decorate, she comes back and moves things back.

Oh and ive made about £60 using quidco in the pastt 3 months woowho :-)

anyway must dash off to do the school run, 2 quotes then taking my munchkins out for some tea :-)

lessonlearned

Hi Tink

Fab to hear from you..... Things seem to be rocking along now. :j:j

Great idea about the cleaning division, will suit your sister's need for flexibility and it means you can "tailor a package" to suit your clients. Some will want you just to decorate, some will be glad of the whole organising/cleaning/re-arranging thing as well, especially when you get onto the larger projects.

Would you sister be interested in build cleans for developers. They pay really well.

Like the sound of your rental ideas. A few of those under your belt and you'll soon have that dream house. I'm sort of watching a few properties at the moment, fixer uppers and potential rentals.

I think I will probably concentrate on refurbs first though.

My "dream house" involves buying a plot of land and designing my own. I actually own a plot of land - it just doesn't have planning permission at the moment. Unfortunately it will take years, it is very flood prone because it is right next to a brook which tends to break it's banks every so often.

I really fancy a house on stilts - sort of modernist/Japanese style. It would overcome the flood risk but I don't see our local planning department passing something so "avant guarde".

You're right about losing the "diamond in the rough". It's for the best. I paid £385 for a full building survey. Some people think it's excessive and that a lender's valuation or a home buyers report is enough. I tend to err on the side of caution, especially with older properties.

That £385 has probably saved us tens of thousands. I had hoped for around a £15k spend, six months turnaround. Instead we were looking at £30K and Lord knows how long to clear the knotweed. Apparently it can take up to 5 years so no good for my time scale.

I'm quite happy to take on a major refurb but it has to be in the right area. Whilst technically it was on the edge of an up and coming area it is still be a bit "studenty" so spending £30K would have been crazy.

Re not taking out much in the way of wages yet.

I know you have been crazy busy but have you managed to develop your marbling/special effects work. I think you'll find that is what pays the mega bucks.

Finally yes I agree if the suggested treatment plan is suitable for my husband then it is likely to take months. It will have to be done in stages.

It's not a miracle cure by the way. I think stem cell is his only hope for a cure and unfortunately we are probably 10 to 20 years away from that. However, if the treatment is successful then it would definitely improve his quality of life.

As you might be aware he is only 56 so yes I think it's worth grabbing whatever slim chances we are given. Hey, it's better than nothing.

Moneywise - well I'm still micro-managing. Well done with the Quidco. £60 is better than nowt.

Yesterday I didn't actually save money but I got a better deal.

I have swapped our denplan for something better.

DS2 and I have the world's worst teeth - they look pretty but they are rubbish. We both spend a lot of time at the dentists, hence the need for dental insurance. DS1 has perfect teeth and his best mate is a dentist so he doesn't need cover.

Anyway I wanted some private medical insurance. I'm getting so decrepit these days.......

I was previously paying £28 each per month for DS2 and I for dental cover. I've just bought pmi for me to include dental for £54 per month (I'm 61) and £27-70 for pmi and dental for DS2.

So no actual money saved but better money management.;)

Of course when I'm ready to form our property company - probably some time next year - we will then get it even cheaper by putting it through the company.

Sorry rather a long post - but it was great to hear from you - glad all is going well.

Haven't heard from Young Businessman for a while - perhaps he's too busy making serious amounts of dosh.

tinktay84

You may feel a bit of a geek micro managing but I can top that...I sometimes let things slide just so I can arrange it all haha.

Totally understand re OH treatment but as you say any glimmer is something to grab on to.keep us updated.you are doing great just to keep going.even though in reality you probably feel like screaming, hopefully this thread gives a bit of 'therapy'

Its the old 'You don't have to be crazy to work here....' Haha.

I went on a specialist effect course a few weeks ago which was a real eye opener...commands £50+ per m2 so trying to tap into that.

We have lots of packages for cleaning & are going to run it parallel to decorating so its got its own client base(already got 8 hrs a week before advertising) PLUS landlord packages, commercial,office,domestic,home help etc. I should earn anything from ££3.50 an hr upwards just for finding business.basically she is employed by me, i get customers but then she has her own phone so customers arrange direct with her re times etc so she is managing her own schedule and is completely accountable.

I must now work on my business model to ensure its water tight ready for franchise!

lessonlearned

tinktay84 wrote: »

I went on a specialist effect course a few weeks ago which was a real eye opener...commands £50+ per m2 so trying to tap into that.

Sounds great. I'm sure once you've done a couple of projects you would get referrals and recommendations. It is very specialised and highly skilled work.