On the up (Hopefully)

sugarcube84

Decision made I'm taking the new job, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages which primarily is the commute. In other news husband has been offered a new job as well, its closer to home better shifts and better pay and there is more scope for advancement so....he is going to take it. New jobs all round :-)


My mum has very kindly offered us some money to get our kitchen done, we already have the kitchen units and appliance just no tap, worktops or handles so I have started the process of arranging electricians, plumbers, skips etc. I'm going to update my to do list as our jobs will have totally changed.
To Do List

- 3 NSD's 1/3
- pictures on walls in living room and swap switches/sockets 2 up 1 to go!!

New List
- sort plumber
-sort electrician
- get skip
- buy worktops, handles, tap, tiles
- sort plasterer

sugarcube84

All systems go on the kitchen, electrician arranged, 2 kitchen fitters coming round to give us quotes, plasterer lined up to give us a quote and plumber arranged to carry out the work this week. I batched cooked yesterday and have 3x chilli, 3 x spag bol, 4 x curry and 2x beef and ale. So we have a few teas sorted for when we lose the oven. Not looking forward to the mess though!!


To Do List

- 3 NSD's 1/3
- pictures on walls in living room and swap switches/sockets 2 up 1 to go!!
- sort plumber -done
-sort electrician -done
- get skip
- buy worktops, handles, tap, tiles-samples in the post, sinks shortlisted but dependant on worktop
- sort plasterer arranged a quote


New List
- kitchen fitter

sugarcube84

Still looking for a plasterer but everything else is slowly coming together, I'm now without a cooker but are managing well so far.


DH first day at his new job today fingers crossed it goes well. I've had a bit of spare time so I've updated our budgets and next years forecast to reflect our new wages/spending.



To Do List

- 3 NSD's 0/3
- sort plumber -done and work complete
-sort electrician -done
- get skip
- buy worktops, handles, tap, tiles-got samples and chosen just need to order now
- sort plasterer arranged a quote, didn't turn up!! trying to find a replacement
- kitchen fitter -sorted just need to confirm a date when we have a plasterer


New List
- after first new wage contact student loans company about swapping to a d/d as I'm within 12 months of paying my loan off

sugarcube84

Plasterer sorted, door knob sample ordered, tap ordered, going picking up the sink on Saturday, worktops ordered. So I've just got to wait on electrician confirming that he can come before the plasterer, order the doors and flooring and decide on knobs once my sample gets here. Phew I have been busy :-)


I've signed my contract for my new job and start date has been confirmed for the 1st August, it's going to be a stretch money wise as I end up going 6 weeks without a full pay, swapping from mid month to end of the month pay. Hopefully this will be eased with my 4 days holiday being paid next month rather than this month and I'm putting material purchases on the credit card and keeping the cash for labour that spreads it a bit better and I won't leave myself short.


To Do List

- 3 NSD's 0/3
- sort plumber -done and work complete
-sort electrician -done
- get skip
- buy worktops, handles, tap, tiles-waiting on door knob sample and need to pick up sink and look at flooring
- sort plasterer done
- kitchen fitter -sorted just need to confirm a date when we have a plasterer
- after first new wage contact student loans company about swapping to a d/d as I'm within 12 months of paying my loan off

sugarcube84

My kitchen is being plastered as I write this!! The kitchen fitter is booked for a week on Saturday which leaves us a week and a half to paint, do skirting's, window boards, swap plates on sockets/switches, install the radiator, install light and maybe blinds and then shop for flooring.


To Do List

- 3 NSD's 0/3
- get skip
- buy worktops, handles, tap, tiles-waiting on door knob sample and need to pick up sink and look at flooring
- sort plasterer done and plastering
- kitchen fitter -date confirmed
- after first new wage contact student loans company about swapping to a d/d as I'm within 12 months of paying my loan off
I'm not in a rush for the flooring, part of me wants to see the kitchen installed first and there is a layer of vinyl tiles stuck to the concrete floors that can't be removed so in the short term we have a floor we can live with.

sugarcube84

Trying to sort all the jobs I can before I start my new job next week, I've sorted the travel insurance for my girly trip next month £2.21 (bargain!!) and applied for a balance transfer for my one credit card left, the 0% runs out next month and I got it fee free :-)


Feeling very organised!!

sugarcube84

It's been a crazy few weeks with starting my new job and then going away with my friend so I haven't been on here much.




The kitchen fitter let us down so it's going to be another couple of weeks before the kitchen is finished but it will all be worth it in the end.

sugarcube84

Another kitchen fitter has been found, hoping for a start mid next week :-)


I have got my first pay slip and rung up the student loan company to swap to a direct debit, for some reason they want to reduce the payment amount by around half of what is taken out of my new wage and extend the repayment period from 9 to 18 months. I can only assume they make more in interest that way. I asked to increase it to my current deduction amount but he said if I want to pay off more I'll have to make an overpayment through the website, a right faff every month!!


- 3 NSD's 0/3
- get skip- getting it this week I think
- buy worktops, handles, tap, tiles-just tiles to sort now
- kitchen fitter -another sorted
- after first new wage contact student loans company about swapping to a d/d as I'm within 12 months of paying my loan off

sugarcube84

A very productive weekend and gorgeous weather as well :-)


Managed to get a lot done in the garden, lawn mown, seeded and fed. Hedge cut. Skip filled and ready to be collected, Garden weeded and decking stained. I ran out of stain to do the garage and the DIY shop had run out so I'm going to have a look online.


We didn't finish painting the kitchen but dh is on earlies this week so he will be able to do it in the afternoons when he finishes.


The food spend has gone over budget this month with us not having a kitchen for a lot longer than expected but it really couldn't be helped. I'm getting excited now about going shopping for the new kitchen.

sugarcube84

The kitchen has been started!! I was an hour late for work and we are already missing a unit and a door but it's been started which is the main thing.


I might have to reduce the amount I've budgeted for the credit card this month to pay for the little extras but I have to bear in mind that we are trying to finish off the house so we can sell it as well as paying off our debts. An overpayment of £500 is still great and it's no good paying off the debts and then not being able to move as we have a load of jobs to do, there needs to be some balance.