Balancing not just the budget

Buffythedebtslayer

I think it is really hard not to worry or feel bad for having organised necessary debt that will be paid for in the fullness of time when you/me/everyone here has had crazy holy crap pants how am I paying for that debt. It still feels weird. I mean I know if house bun sees the specialist he will cost me a fortune but I can afford it if  use my spending money across two months or three months. 

I bet the house will be amazing XXX 

RosaBernicia

Buffythedebtslayer said:

I think it is really hard not to worry or feel bad for having organised necessary debt that will be paid for in the fullness of time when you/me/everyone here has had crazy holy crap pants how am I paying for that debt. It still feels weird. I mean I know if house bun sees the specialist he will cost me a fortune but I can afford it if  use my spending money across two months or three months. 

I bet the house will be amazing XXX 

Thanks Buffy

I think the house will be genuinely lovely once it's done, and in fact it is already a good place to be, just cosmetic stuff really. 

It's about what we choose isn't it?  We don't think twice about money spent on pets, and I've never regretted my debt situation for my learning - it made me who I am.  I am going to try and make a bit more of a plan in the next week or so, as I feel things are getting a little more settled and I can think about what next. 

RB xx

RosaBernicia

Sooo in aid of getting myself sorted...

• I paid a chunk off each of the CCs last night.  Not clearing the full bill, as I want to know what else I may need cash for this month, and I am knowingly accepting the potential interest cost in order to keep that cash for work on the house. This has turned out to be a good decision so far as I've just confirmed another bit of work will be in November so need
  
• I opened a new current account to replace the one whose app has gone doolally. 
• I thought about doing a balance transfer for one of the CCs, since if I am not dealing with that bank any more it might be a good point to go elsewhere.  But decided to revisit this at the end of the month when I have a better idea about what can be paid off with September paycheque. 
• Realised I had double counted a clothes order which put a chunk of money back in the budget
• Also realised I have some expenses coming back at the end of the month so that's another bit back in the pot too. 
  
• Crossing fingers for MOT not being too expensive. 
  

My food bill has been (even) madder than usual this month as I had an issue with the freezer door sticking open and had to replace everything.  So that will hopefully be less next month. 

Things to think about...

• Ideally I should have enough money in the cat and dog pots to cover their insurance excess.  Need to work on that once other things are sorted. 
• Need to consider winter clothes.  For once I'm doing this early as I didn't get to do any winter shopping the last couple of years and things have got to the point that they need replacing.  I think I will need walking boots, long boots, possibly a couple of tops, and some good outdoor gloves.  I already bought a lovely winter coat and some other bits, and I don't need 'office' clothes any more so previous stuff will be plenty. 
• I think /  hope [touches wood, crosses fingers] late Nov, Dec and Jan will be less expensive and give me a good chance to catch up as by then the majority of house stuff should be done. 

RosaBernicia

Ooh.  Also just realised I need to do a tax relief claim for some work related expenses.  Which I have been putting off due to the hassle of gathering info and HMRC forms - but actually looks like this year it would be well worth doing. 

bellevie

Fingers crossed for your MOT.

Enjoy refreshing your winter wardrobe - I do love a winter shop
 

RosaBernicia

bellevie said:

Fingers crossed for your MOT.

Enjoy refreshing your winter wardrobe - I do love a winter shop
 

Boots, jumpers, snuggly pjs, thick socks... I love winter shopping too 

RosaBernicia

I'm starting to just put stuff on the interest free CC so that I can stop worrying about having cash available, and just untangle it all in November when most of the work will be done.  Thank goodness I did get a 0% for purchases as well as the BT.  Some of the decorating could wait, but I'm keen to get things sorted so I can have time for just relaxing. 

I also finally lost it with the doolally current account and put in to have it switched.  Tried to send some money to the new account last night and it still wouldn't let me add a new payee on the app, which amounts to refusing to allow me to spend my money!  Already complained twice as it didn't go through with one payment and wouldn't add the plumber when I was trying to pay that invoice.  I still have a CC with them, but will close it as soon as it I can pay it off since it's out of the 0% period and doesn't earn points. 

Clothes refunds were more than I thought (just added up wrong, blush) so that's a bit more back in the pot. 

EssexHebridean

My experience of "things that can wait" is that you end up convincing yourself that it's liveable, and so just putting up with it, so if you *can* deal with it now, probably best to. We had a slightly different situation with the bathroom and kitchen - both were "liveable" although not ideal, but we wanted to wait to do both until we at least knew we had the money stashed to clear the mortgage even if due to fixes etc it hadn't quite gone, so the bathroom got done a few months before, and then the kitchen - finally -  a year or so later, but the hallway which we've been talking about forever is still waiting. The last leak from upstairs will help to spur things on there though as this time we had no choice but to strip the carpet and walls... 

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean said:

My experience of "things that can wait" is that you end up convincing yourself that it's liveable, and so just putting up with it, so if you *can* deal with it now, probably best to. We had a slightly different situation with the bathroom and kitchen - both were "liveable" although not ideal, but we wanted to wait to do both until we at least knew we had the money stashed to clear the mortgage even if due to fixes etc it hadn't quite gone, so the bathroom got done a few months before, and then the kitchen - finally -  a year or so later, but the hallway which we've been talking about forever is still waiting. The last leak from upstairs will help to spur things on there though as this time we had no choice but to strip the carpet and walls... 

Thanks EH.  I'm trying not to fall back into 'ages to sort it' like with the last house, so am hoping most of the internal will be sorted by Christmas.  The garden and bathroom will be next year's projects and the kitchen further down the line. 

Hope your hallway is getting there

RB xx

MuffinTops

Hello Rosa,

You sound like you're in a better place about the work that you need to do in the house.  It sounds like it's all under control, but I understand the worry about the expense of a new house.

Take care, 

MT xx