Balancing not just the budget

EssexHebridean

Great news all round - as DIA said, well done asking for the help you needed to get things sorted without giving yourself undue stress. :T

Good also on the progress with the house - and for getting the forms returned promptly and the money on account paid. They'll now be waiting on the contract pack from the other side - which contains things like the copy title to the property, the information forms filled in by the sellers and that sort of thing. Are you getting a survey done?

No idea on the Waitr0se question I'm afraid, but wouldn't be in the least surprised!

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Great news all round - as DIA said, well done asking for the help you needed to get things sorted without giving yourself undue stress. :T

Good also on the progress with the house - and for getting the forms returned promptly and the money on account paid. They'll now be waiting on the contract pack from the other side - which contains things like the copy title to the property, the information forms filled in by the sellers and that sort of thing. Are you getting a survey done?

No idea on the Waitr0se question I'm afraid, but wouldn't be in the least surprised!

Thanks EH

I'm intending to get a homebuyer's report done, if I've understood this right it means a surveyor approved by the mortgage company does more than they would for the basic valuation and has a responsibility to me as well as to the mortgage company.

I have also heard that I can get a full structural survey done separately (or possibly with the same one by paying more again) but I'm not sure that's worth it for a fairly recent property with no apparent issues. I'll find out more as we go and if necessary I will get a separate one as I'd rather pay out now than risk problems later. The solicitors info said they can recommend one.

I must ask the solicitors about timescales as soon as I hear confirmation that they've received the payment and got started. It would be good if we could exchange contracts before Christmas so that I can give my notice on the flat in line with my rent timing - though I'm not sure I have to stick with that anyhow as the tenancy agreement is rolling now and my landlord is usually reasonable.

Are you off to the islands over the holidays? There is a small chance I might go up with a friend but I don't think it will happen as I am a bit late to book the cats in somewhere. Hopefully soon I will have the option of inviting cat sitters instead which will make going away a whole lot less expensive!


Rosa xx

EssexHebridean

You might be pushing it a bit to get exchanged before christmas now - although a lot depends on how fast your local authority is with searches. The environmental and drainage searches are really quick as a rule - we get ours back inside about 3 days normally, but the Local Authority search can be anything from 5 days to...well, let's say "quite a lot longer" :eek: The solicitor will be able to tell you whether it's at all feasible, though.

Yes - we're off to the Hebs for Christmas - can't wait, VERY excited now! :T A week in a rather lovely looking cottage on Benbecula, 200 yards from the beach - pretty much perfect! (And that reminds me, I have a feeling the balance of the cost on that must be due for payment - must message tomorrow and check!

RosaBernicia

Thanks EH

Yes I thought it might be less likely now - and I've just found out my local authority can't even manage to collect a dead freezer til after Christmas, so I don't hold out great hopes for them being fast with anything else! Still, it's no real issue for me so if it's later then it's later.

Cottage sounds fab - I hope you have a proper fire to thaw you out after the beach!


Rosa xx

ZTD

RosaBernicia wrote: »

I picked them up on a 3 for £10 offer as I knew I wouldn't have much time this week, and I was thinking 'serves 2' would mean I'd get two meals out of them. Hasn't happened - the meat portions are so small I'd be embarrassed to serve somebody half of what's in there!

Have they always been like that, or are they another victim of "shrinkflation"?

Iceland meals are normally reasonable.

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

Have they always been like that, or are they another victim of "shrinkflation"?

Iceland meals are normally reasonable.

They've always been on the small side IMO.

Haven't tried Ic3land - there is one near one of my work offices though, so could have a look.


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

Sunday shuffle time

All OK - I have £20 left in the groceries and £10 in cash budget lines that I hope I won't need in the rest of this month and just realised that some of the entertainment money can carry over too, as it hasn't been used this weekend. Everything else is covered, and as I've been paid already I've sorted my December budget. The gifts pot should cover Christmas with what's there, so no need to use December pay. I've also got enough set aside to cover the rest of the solicitor fees for the house, which means that with cashback on the HTB ISA and the mortgage, about half the stamp duty is also covered and the rest will be sorted with the return of my rent deposit. I will need to hire a van to move, but have decided to do that so I can take my furniture and replace it gradually, that way it can all be done slowly. I suddenly realised that the only thing I really need to buy is a sofa and I can work with what I have for the rest, and I'm sure I will be able to find something second hand that will do. Assuming (touch wood) that all goes well with the house purchase, that is.

I have a few more presents to buy and ought to send a couple of emails to confirm not doing presents this year (for people I won't be seeing) but have included the extra petrol etc for Christmas in December's budget so I think things are OK. I've bought cards today (50% off in M&S ) and must make a note to place an order with one of the local shops so that I can collect the fab dessert and a few other things I will be contributing for Christmas dinner. It all feels unusually under control for this time of year so I have the vague feeling I've forgotten something :rotfl:... no doubt it will turn up!

I'm loving YNAB as always - I've started using the Quick Budget features now that I'm settled into a pattern, so can just work my way down the budget lines clicking to either budget the goal amount I set, or the amount I actually spent last month, and that works for most things. There are a few categories where I decided I don't really need the amount to build up month to month, I just need a little in there in case it's needed, for example Stuff I Forgot To Budget For so that just gets topped up to its goal target rather than increasing. The goals are really helpful in setting aside enough to meet an expense at a particular time, like my insurance payment - you just put in that you need X amount by Y month, and YNAB will work out how much you need to put in each month between now and then to make it happen. I've got a spreadsheet set up to outline my budget in the new place, so will start a new budget when that happens, but it isn't likely to be very different from the current one.

So plodding continues... and there may soon be a budget that's aiming for MFW!


Rosa xx

doingitanyway

So in control Rosa! Will you start a new diary when you move or keep the current one?

RosaBernicia

doingitanyway wrote: »

So in control Rosa! Will you start a new diary when you move or keep the current one?

Very good question DIA

I don't know yet. I feel a bit of a fraud being on the DF board with my present disposable income , compared to how it was when I arrived here! But I don't know that I feel a need to track my journey in the same way about aiming to become MF (once I am even M, that is), because it just doesn't have the same urgency - and although I've started to read the mortgage boards, I find I'm astonished at the amounts of money casually mentioned and don't really feel I belong there either!

I think I will wait and see how I feel when I get there. I would like to have a bit of chill time over the holidays and think about what next so that I can come up with some goals. In some ways it would be good to continue a diary and keep myself on track, but in other ways it would make sense to lessen my focus on money and put that energy into other things.

I've just ordered the Early Retirement Extreme book for some potential inspiration so will let you know how I get on!


Rosa xx

Tinkerbelle2000

Wow I go away for a weekend and look what happens!! So pleased for you Rosa and at least you aren't pushed for time on top of Christmas.

I am really going to make an effort to use my YNAB next year as it is just a waste of money if I don't and I'm not into wasting money any more.

I really don't hope we lose you altogether from your diary. Weekly or monthly updates would do ;:D Please don't leave us, I will really need a kick up the rear next year from everyone lol.

Take care.

Tink xx