Offer accepted... thinking about being mortgage free already! My diary

ViHan

Whew what a month!

Had a few things to do from the list in my last post. Replaced the Conservatory and Bathroom lights and did a heap of small jobs.
A smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector. Some paint, more (the last lot) storage for shoes and toys, a coat stand... list goes on!

Expenses this month:
£1000 having the Soffits and guttering replaced, Over £500 on the car :mad: which we aim to be reimbursed for as the damage was done my the tyre fitters. £300 with British Gas, £100 of which is disputed. We have a back boiler and when we came here I immediately took out a service plan. I phoned to book my first service and the guys who came took one look and said it needed to be repaired as the flame on the front open fire wasn't staying in. Anyway, they booked a first fix first repair visit to cost £99. Fine.... until the man who came out for the repair told us it wasn't broken, just needed cleaning. So that payment is on hold until British Gas investigate. The other money is for the installation of a vent because the boiler is at risk. Can you believe that the man who lived here before lived WITHOUT a vent and put himself and his family at risk?!?!?!

Anyway, We were fortunate in that the In Laws picked up the tab for my guttering work (thank goodness) and in the nick of time too. Dh has been signed off sick from work. He fell and injured his lower back so he has been off work. Luckily he is also off on Holiday too so its not so bad but still....

I have had all sorts of other strife, Mum and MIL both in hospital this month and of course the pressures that a family bring. My business has gone right down and clientele has slowed to a trickle, Time to up my income again. I got DH comping and surveying while he is off as well as ebaying stuff we brought with us and have no space for.

So wrt the mortgage, I managed a £200 overpayment Its good to see the principle coming down although its slow going at the minute. We have made 2 payments and 3 overpayments and are already £1400 paid off forever

Next jobs on list: Electrics and see if we can vent the UPVC rather than put dirty great holes int he walls

Til next time...

ViHan

This year is going too fast!

March Update:

Reimbursed some of the money for the car damage. Tyre fitters cross threaded a bolt and although it as a tough fight DH got some money back. And a discount when he wants summer tyres.

British Gas - the £100 disputed was written off :beer: They realised I wasn't going to fork out for a repair that was never carried out - cos there was nothing wrong in the first place!

Expenses: Quite a bit again this month - £800 having the master board and alarm replaced. A fair bit on bits and bobs too. A new prescription and glasses for me as I have been getting alot of migraine headaches and it was about time.

We lost our beloved doggy too She was 13 1/2 and had to be put to sleep. We paid £200 to have her cremated and returned to us.

As we lost her we have now adopted 2 retired greyhounds. I cannot be without a dog - I just can't. Because we had 2 the adoption fees were reduced too.

The last big jobs in the house are now done. There is going to be a bill coming in soon for the cutting down of the conifers at the bottom of my garden. I dislike them and while ever they are there its maintenance as they are the fast growing sort so its best to get rid once and for all.

My bank offered me a 0% for 23 months on balance transfers CC so I am going to transfer the outstanding debt on the Nationwide card (about £750) and save on the interest on that.

Dh was off sick and then on holidays for much of March so his wage was less this month although we still managed a mortgage overpayment of £250 Mortgage debt now stands at just under £47600

Booked a holiday - a week in a caravan in Wales - S/c , and a few miles inland =cheaper week's holiday - a week in August for a 6 berth for £255. Can't wait.

Got some stuff to ebay again this month - the extra mortgage payment came from money made from ebay but now I will be putting ebay pennies towards me hollybobs

Thats the lot for March - Til next time...

ViHan

Blimey what a month!

April Update.

I am a bit late filling in my diary too... although I do have a good excuse... honest.

Things have been going ok at home, the house maintenance bills are coming down now as all the major stuff is done and we are working outside when we get breaks in the weather.

At the end of April Dd3 fell ill. Seriously ill. We went from a temperature and viral infection to pneumonia and empyema. (fluid turned to pus) poor little love had to go to the Children's hospital and have a chest drain :eek: so that was 10 days out of my life... and 10 days that DH had to take off work to look after Vi and Han...

Hospital life cost us a fortune. Apart from losing up to 10 days from DH work my business suffered, then I had costs like food, drink, extra phone bill, travel for DH to get to us etc.. the hospital provided NOTHING. Not even a drink. Not like our local hospital where you can at least get a drink... but L needed to be at this one for the procedure.

Thankfully she is on the mend now.. we still have antibiotics for her though for at least another week and she has to go back to the Children's for a check up.

Fortunately DH's parents stepped in... again... and helped us financially. So I was still able to overpay this month.

In other news my gas/electricity DD has gone up by £8 a month... economies will need to be made!!

I need to make some stuff... I sold some stuff on ebay.. just as DD went into hospital.:cool: and it ended while she was in... I got £80 for that lot...

Need to do more... DH work a bit thin on the ground and he still wants to spend on this and that... taking some effort to rein him in at the moment.

Got to look at replacing the car before the year is out too.... <sigh>

Til next time...

DawnW

I hope your little one is fully recovered soon x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi ViHan, sorry to hear your little one was so poorly and hope she recovers quickly. Best wishes Tilly x

ViHan

Thank you both - she is improving daily - still not back to full strength but getting there. I am happier with her now that I was! I rang our local PALS as I feel in hindsight the later admission could have been avoided, but we will see.

ViHan

Tomorrow I will make the overpayment for may - 2 weeks late. Just £200 this month.
Been another pretty disastrous time in the ViHan household. Eldest daughter only went and broke her collarbone. I have come to the decision to close my business too and attempt to open another. Watch this space.
Outgoings - £150 on having a new shower fitted :mad: Yet another thing we were left with.
Will be downshifting lots too. Need to if I lose some income.
Had to book an overnight hotel for the end of the month - surprise do for MIL. No chance of bunking 5 of us in with a friend or rellie. Needed new outfits too. <sigh> Back to ebaying.