Countdown to Freedom

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Last year we had extra insulation in the loft, new windows, new external doors and work done on the central heating system. It all seemed so expensive at the time but I'm glad we did it. The house is lovely and cosy.

Driveway has been cleared of snow and I can see the car again, it looked like a big snow car. Snowball fight with DS, he decided to hide behind the car but unfortunately for him, I crept up behind him - snow right down the neck :T

I'm having a quiet hour, then going to clear the snow off the patio by the back door. I don't want to slip over when the freeze comes tonight, just because I'm taking something out to the bin. A bit more exercise whilst doing something useful.

Chicken casserole for this evening - off menu plan as DD has invited a couple of friends round. Jacket potatoes, broccoli and DS is apparently baking a cake . What a star.

No money to tidy away to the mortgage.

Hope everyone is enjoying their day.

Tilly x

elantan

Love reading the extra wee snippets ( off piste) bits Tilly, I tend to ramble in my diary a lot myself

It's good to hear Katsu her (?) reasoning behind having people stay as well , I think it help shape your thought processes of should I think about that? Could I do that etc

We still don't have any snow, it's more than cold enough for snow but none has appeared as of yet

katsu

Hi elantan, yes I am Mrs Katsu not Mr Katsu (luckily he is a fan of MSE ways, just not an internet person). I'm glad my sharing was seen as OK and not too much of a derailment from Tilly's diary (I fear I may be less interesting than booze or onions... what am I doing? :rotfl:).

As the Tilly and Katsu houses are doing different approaches to lodgers, I think our posts make an interesting comparison - I certainly think from where I am that Tilly has the better idea Not taking in friends and not having people with you 7 days a week would give you more distance and privacy I think. However, at least with a friend you can trust them and get the bonus that the people they invite over are often people you are happy to see too.

The good news in our story is that I hear on the grapevine that when some other friends move to the area they may have space for our guest so he can continue saving money after his time with us is up. Will certainly be wishing their househunting goes well!

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

I do know I'm doing to really miss our lodger next week. Sad when people leave but also great to know we've been able to provide a family for them to live with, chat to and eat with. My food bill may reduce a bit further :rotfl:

Just running a bath and going to have a long soak, dinner is in the oven on low and all the ironing is done. Kids are doing the rest of their stuff tomorrow, so I can sit down with everyone tonight, knowing I've got an easy day tomorrow.

I've only done 10 mins of kettle bell work but at least I've done it.

Tilly x

elantan

I think I did the worst out of you two, had a nephew staying with us for 10 years all in and we never charged him any money ... We tried talking to him about it and he even agreed ... But the money never arrived, or did arrive and was swiftly borrowed and never repayed

I've often thought about a lodger, and if my down stairs was better insulated I could have one potentially ( we live upstairs but have what could be made into a one bed apartment downstairs)

But just now mr el needs his space and we are managing financially ( although an extra few hundred a month would be great) ... The thing is though listening to both your stories keeps it ticking over in my head so that should ever we need to we could essentially have someone to stay ... So thanks ladies your chatting always helps

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Evening El, that's what is so good about this site. There are always things happening which we can learn.

I feel quite sad about being lodger less for a while. Mr T spoke to someone the other day but they would be working weird shifts, so we didn't fancy that.

Sorry to hear about your nephew, that would have driven me mad

Best wishes

Tilly x

catshark88

When we moved into our house, it had virtually no insulation in it. All I will say is, don't be pregnant in a heat wave year, with no insulation... Anyway post kids, we had to live in half the house in the winter, as it was impossible to heat the whole thing to an acceptable temp. for a baby.

Now we've renovated (made habitable!) and I cannot explain the joy of looking at a roof, still covered in snow and not all melted fom escaping, oil fired heat!!!!!

Mind you, you know you're getting bad when the heat given off by your tumble drier is factored into your heating plans.....

elantan

The best thing was Tilly he is not an actual nephew, we jus call him that to save confusion lol ... He was no bother really tbh and at the time we were slightly better off than we are now

Catshark, the way your house used to be reminds me of the way outs is just now, we have loft insulation but it doesn't seem to make much difference, we need to insulate the down stairs now and put more boarding on the walls I think

Dot_Common

Hi Tilly,

Having just properly joined after lurking on MFW, I wanted to pop in and say thank you for your diary - I'm just starting out on my MFW journey, and have already picked up tips from here - especially as there are some similarities to my situation of a mahoosive mortgage, a demanding job, and a spendy past!

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Dot, I sometimes think I am a complete nutter. Fortunately we all keep each other going

Good luck with journey and I'll look to see if you have started a diary. I not, my advice would be to start one ASAP, as it is a big help.

Best wishes Tilly x