My mortgage free mission!!!!!!

frugalfrog

I agree, I was a very easy going toddler, however, my other half was apparently a nightmare! (still is a bit ). I do wonder whether they way people turn out is due to nature or nurture, but I suppose we will never really know as everyone is different...

Made a big pot of chilli, but DH was rather hungry after work so not sure whether I can stretch it to 3 days. May chuck in another passata & try

Had a bit of a flood in kitchen when I was washing the potatoes for dinner, it turns out our drain is blocked which the kitchen sink (and dishwasher) goes into & water running out of sink has nowhere to go. Luckily it only seems to be the potato water and not drain water ewwww! My parents had popped over & for a bit just before it happened so luckily they were there to help me pull dishwasher out & clear up. They are coming back tomorrow with their drain sticks, so hopefully we will be able to sort it ourselves. Really don't like spending money on things like this! Luckily the drain from the kitchen is separate from the bathroom/toilet/washing machine or we could have been in a bit of a mess. I just can't use the kitchen sink or dishwasher tonight, so kitchen is in a bit of a mess & cant make up my mind whether to take washing up bowl to bathroom & wash dishes there or just wait for tomorrow.

It was lovely weather when we went into our little town centre to the bank & popped into a couple of the shops. But my little girl doesn't want to go in a pushchair anymore & wants to run around and explore & she is getting too heavy for carrying, which can be very tiring when you're pregnant. I'm only 5 months but have started to get some pain in lower back/pelvis which isn't fun

Due to the flood, dinner was late, which mean DD didn't go to bed until nearly 8pm & she was getting overtired and grumpy. But since I have been working on surveys, today's totals are as follows:

Swagbucks- £3.12 (a lot for this site in a day, normally only get 50p-£1)
Valued Opinions - £0.50-£1 not sure until it clears
Crowdology- £0.24 (but the survey was only 2mins)
Panelbase- £0.50
Vanson Bourne (new one I am trying out)- £1.00
Total - £5.36 (or £5.86 depending on VO survey)

No more surveys left today so going to watch TV for a bit, then early night (and ignore the mess that is my kitchen:p)

frugalfrog

Not having a brilliant day today! Managed to clear the drain but it appears that we have a broken drain somewhere as there is a lot of mud and silt blocking up the drains. I have also worked out that the one that is blocked (from kitchen sink) actually goes into the surface water drain rather than the foul water (which I think is wrong). I know the rules have probably changes since my house was built (1904!), but as I believe the surface water goes straight back into water course we should not be putting chemicals/washing up liquid into it. But luckily we have no blockages/problems with our foul water, as I don't think I could cope with that! But we have managed to clear it through so we can use the dishwasher, but just have to keep a close eye on drain outside!

I've checked with our house insurance and they do cover drains and are sending the Drainage Advice Services out to do a survey and check the damage, so hopefully it will be all covered under insurance, however, do have a £200 excess!

Also, my other half's work vacuum extraction gave up the ghost today, which is extremely necessary for his job, so had to go out and get a new one (spending around £100), ok that will be written off against his tax bill, but still, we need the cash now! He used it for a few minutes and the new one cut out, so will have to take it back tomorrow for another one! grrr, I'm stressed and so is my other half!

Tenant has left our BTL so going with letting agent to do final viewing tomorrow to check that everything is ok. Another viewing happening this evening (but we use a letting agent to deal with all this). Hoping we get someone quickly & someone who will stay a while.

Surveys are a bit light on the ground so far today, only managed to get about £1 on swagbucks but thats about it! May get something later on this evening...

Not had chance to go shopping today either. I can no longer go on my own with my girl, I struggle pushing the trolly empty, but when its full & a toddler on top not great for my back. So I've got to get some time when my other half is not busy...

frugalfrog

Last week wasn't great financially, but I have more hope today!

Went to look at BTL house & it was in a pretty bad state. No wonder no one has made an offer who have been round to view. It smelt all musty, with dirty hand prints on loads of walls & black & red mould around the bath. That bath was newly sealed before this tenant moved in, so he must not have cleaned it... He also has not taken care of the garden, so it looks pretty wild. Letting agent is trying to get money off deposit, but I wont hold my breath. However, had a call today as we have a prospective tenant lined up who is looking to let long term, and asked if we minded him doing a bit of gardening/planting! As he really loved the house and large garden (quite surprised at the state it is in!). So fingers crossed on that front!

Worked out all the figures for both mine and DH tax returns, just need to punch them in online tomorrow. It looks like we may also be eligible for a few extra tax credit pennies as we overestimated last year, so every bit helps

AND my advert has just appeared in local magazine (delivered on Sunday) and already had a call off the back of it from someone wanting their self assessment done :j Going to meet up on Saturday morning and go through what he wants. Its not going to make me millions, but will hopefully get my credit card debt in the right direction.

That reminds me, I need to update signature to something more appropriate.

Been bashing away at the surveys, not 100% sure of the figures (as I'm on my work laptop), but I think I was averaging at about £3.50 per day, keep that up for the month, that will be an extra £100 in my pocket.

frugalfrog

So I can see a light at the end of the tunnel! I called tax credits up today to give estimates for this year & it appears that we way underestimated out income last year. I wasn't able to update last years figures, as I have to wait for the renewal pack to come through, but what I didn't realise is that they will reassess the whole years payments & not just back dating to 1 month (which I thought)! So I worked out using the online calculator (estimated with this years figures) we are possible due a payment which is in the £1000's! :j Not going to count any chickens yet, but has lifted some worry! This should come through before baby comes & will clear all our cc debt and have a bit left over!

I know people are currently moaning that benefits are being cut, but I am just ecstatic that we are getting anything! It is not something I expected.

On a bad note, I think I may have shingles. I came up with a funny rash on my back a few days ago, but as I have quite sensitive skin, I always have itchy skin in some place, but this rash looked a bit different. I haven't felt ill (that I remember), but its difficult to be ill when you have a very active toddler! I showed my Mum today and she thinks it looks like shingles. I made an apt with my doctor, but couldn't get in until next Monday, but I'm going to call my midwife in the morning to see what she says, whether I need to see someone a bit sooner. The only worry is that DH and DD neither have had chicken pox & I'm worried I will pass it onto them.

Lois_E

Sorry to hear about the possible shingles. Calling the midwife to discuss it is the best thing to do, but a quick google suggests that having shingles in pregnancy doesn't harm the baby, so that's reassuring.

I hope you mean that you overestimated last year's income? If you underestimated it, then the tax credits people will be wanting money off you, not giving it to you!!

frugalfrog

Lois_E wrote: »

I hope you mean that you overestimated last year's income? If you underestimated it, then the tax credits people will be wanting money off you, not giving it to you!!

Yeah did mean overestimated income not under. I read that about six times and thought it looked wrong, but my brain wasn't working!

Lois_E wrote: »

Sorry to hear about the possible shingles. Calling the midwife to discuss it is the best thing to do, but a quick google suggests that having shingles in pregnancy doesn't harm the baby, so that's reassuring.

Just spoken to the midwife & she has spoken to the consultant doctors and he said not to worry, but still go to doc apt on Monday. But they are not likely to give me any antivirals, but may want to do a blood test to check my immunity to the chicken pox virus.

frugalfrog

Just seen weather forecast for the weekend - around 18 degrees and no rain :j

frugalfrog

So another potential customer rang up (just as I was putting DD to bed!), wanting his tax return doing. Sounds easy as its only a Landlord return, he hasn't got all paperwork through so may be a few weeks before I actually get the work, but it is a start!

frugalfrog

Good news! New tenant sorted for BTL property :j (depending on the checks), but agreed moving in date of 26th, so should have rent in time for mortgage payment! Yay! That £435 less I need to find this month (it may be a little less as I think there is a new tenant setting up fee).

Just need to get down to the property and sort it out :eek:. Last tenant was not the cleanest of people & has pretty much ruined the bathroom :mad:- black & red mould in the bath sealant (which was put in 18 months ago when he moved in), broke the mirror on bathroom cupboard and I have no idea how he has ruined the toilet seat (wood has swelled under the paint coating - that was also new when he moved in!). And there are dirty hand prints on the cream walls of the living room & white walls in bedroom! The new tenant is a single lady, so hopefully she will be more inclined to clean!

Still trying to rangle some money out of the deposit to get house sorted and liveable! He agreed £80 but we are trying to push for £150, to cover cost of replacing bathroom stuff & spend a few days cleaning/gardening, going to have to drag my parents down there as DH is busy at work & I don't think I can at 5 month pregnant with a toddler in tow do it on my own!

Now trying to prep for client meeting on Saturday. Trying to sort out a "new client questionnaire" which will cover everything I will need to know, so I don't forget anything!

Also ordered new phones from Tesco for myself and DH I've put them on the same contract so we get the extra 150 mins. We do need quite a few mins as both using them for business, but contract including new phone is £15 per month each. We both decided on the Nokia Lumia 800 - not the newest one but better than my current one! So both are getting new phones for the same amount as we are currently paying, but getting an extra 150 mins per month each.

frugalfrog

Oooh just check bank a/c & see that the tax credit payment is £47 more this month. It may be because I updated the TC people the other day, or just the normal annual rise. Will have to wait for the letter... (I'm a bit impatient when it comes to money!)