Austerity has to start here.

[Deleted User]

We were bobbing along nicely, having recovered from a move last year. We have rented for many years mostly from the private sector.

In January we had a serious talk and decided that with OH at 82 and me at 72 maybe it was time to look at sheltered housing. So we went on the council waiting list. We had to bid for a property, the list came out each Thursday and closed at midnight Monday. We thought we would have to wait upwards of 12 months before we found something suitable.

Several properties that interested us we bid on but were not lucky, then in May a bungalow with 2 bedrooms and a garden came up in one of the villages, we bid for it and got it..........:T:T

We took the property over on June 4th. As we had already paid the rent on our present home we decided to move at the end of the month. So far so good. Then I began to count the cost. Although the bungalow had been painted right through there were no carpets...............we needed a cooker as all the houses we had lived in had built in cookers. there was the removal expense and also the chimney needed sweeping.Various other sundries which crop up when you move house.

This adds up to a grand total of £2491.22.:eek::eek:
I have had to spread the cost between 2 credit cards. I now need to keep on the straight and narrow and get this money paid off. I am juggling the amounts around so I can get some of it onto naught % but even so life is going to be very tight for the time being, so a diary it is to keep me on the straight and narrow and pay the cash off as quick as I can.

We will get our deposit back on the house but this is only a quarter of the dosh, in actual fact, almost exactly what I have had to pay the removers.

Life is going to be interesting especially as for the last 10 days I have been incarcerated in hospital having a pace maker fitted, just what I needed in the middle of trying to arrange a move!!:mad::mad:

Once I have sorted whats going where I will post the totals in my signature and hopefully will be able to watch the amount decreasing month by month.

I know I am going to need support through this especially as OH is inclined to spend first and find the cash later................or look at me to provide it.

mumblingtaff

Good luck and hope you're feeling better after the pace maker op!

in_need_of_direction

Best of luck with the health issues and the move. Try and take care of yourself.

DawnW

Good luck - sounds as though you have a plan

Enjoy your new home

Take care, and get well soon.

[Deleted User]

Not a good start, we went over to the bungalow and put stuff into the airing cupboard, I found an off cut of lino that will do fine on the floor so I can store stuff there. I ordered 16 bog rolls last night.

On the way home OH wanted something from Boyes ended up costing £24. I told him I have a lock on my purse, nowt else. I must admit he needed a new pair of shorts and some slippers, so I told him I am taking it out of his pocket money. The two things I wanted cost 80p!!

I need to sit down and sort out money, We had to pay the removers in cash and OH drew too much, its in the safe. It needs to go back in to the bank pretty sharpish.

So from Monday the battle is on!! and the padlocks on. CC's in the freezer frozen in an ice block.

Bobarella

Good luck sorting it out. It sounds like you have run up the debt for very specific reasons that should not repeat in circumstance so provided you are sensible you should see that figure coming down. Sorry to hear about your ill health.

[Deleted User]

Austerity did not start there, as with all moves there were things we needed, but this weekend I have ordered the last thing for the house an all night burning grate.

When the other bungalows were offered gas central heating the lady who lived here elected to keep her storage heaters and open fire. We have applied to have the central heating put in, but we have to wait for at least a year.

I hate storage heaters, the one in the sitting room will not be put on unless its an absolute necessity, the one in our bedroom will not be used either, we do not like a heated bedroom, I have a heater with a time and temperature control, it will be set to come on for 2 hours when we go to bed and the same when we get up. The storgae heater in the hall will be on low.

The grate in the open fire is a very old one, so I have bought a grate that, if banked down, will burn slowly all night, opened up in the morning it will soon burn up.

The figure we have spent on the move is just under £3,200, once the local council have decided just how much our rent is and also the council tax I will be able to sort out how much cash I have to throw at the debt to get it paid off asap.

I am thinking of trying to get a 0% card and transfer all the debt onto it, then I can work out how much and how long its going to take. I am not sure if we will be able to get a new card, we have moved 3 times in the last 3 years, although my credit rating is very good.

pelirocco

Deleted_User wrote: »

Not a good start, we went over to the bungalow and put stuff into the airing cupboard, I found an off cut of lino that will do fine on the floor so I can store stuff there. I ordered 16 bog rolls last night.

On the way home OH wanted something from Boyes ended up costing £24. I told him I have a lock on my purse, nowt else. I must admit he needed a new pair of shorts and some slippers, so I told him I am taking it out of his pocket money. The two things I wanted cost 80p!!

I need to sit down and sort out money, We had to pay the removers in cash and OH drew too much, its in the safe. It needs to go back in to the bank pretty sharpish.

So from Monday the battle is on!! and the padlocks on. CC's in the freezer frozen in an ice block.

Why did you have to pay the removers in cash, was that what they stipulated because that's worrying

[Deleted User]

I wanted to pay them with a CC but they did not have the facility. Cash or cheque, OH gave them cash and we have a signed receipt from them.

Nothing underhand.

Ches

I am about the same age as you and I have had about the same amount of debt. Mine was built up making the house disabled friendly for OH ie; walk in shower etc. I will subscribe and cheer you on from the sidelines.

[Deleted User]

Hi Ches, one thing with it being a council property we get things done. We have a bath which is not full size neither of us can sit down in it, we were assessed by an occupational therapist and referred to the Red Cross, the lady who came out has said we need a wet room. Waiting for the surveyor to come and sort it out. In the mean time we have to have a strip wash.

I really want to get rid of the debt asap, not much left in the place we can sell to make some cash. We do have a largish garden so will be growing as much veg etc as we can, it's a bit late for this year, but we will be doing what we can next year.