Preparing for the biggest move of our life

bellevie

So garage said they think I should just replace both full light clusters, they cant see what's causing bulbs to over heat / melt plastic so could be the wires inside light clusters. Well actually - I suggested that to them they said they didn't think it would be necessary and would investigate today. I turned up, they didn't have me booked in, they didn't seem to do any investigation and came back with what I suggested 2 days ago - they could have ordered the parts and been ready to fit today!


They gave me a 'rough' quote but didn't look up prices or anything which I would have expected them to do, and their rough price I felt was out by at least £40 - every penny counts if its coming out of my savings.


I drove down to another garage, explained what garage 1 had said - they will get a price and call me back. I've looked up the parts already so know the cost of parts, garage 2 said it should be under an hour, so just 1 hour labour on top of parts cost. Garage 2 were confident that replacing the part would sort it, where as I felt garage 1 were taking a guess as they didn't know what else they could do.


I will wait for a price, and if they can fit me in tomorrow or Saturday I will get it done so it is once and for all out of the way!


My lights are working for the time being, but they seem to be blowing every 6-12 weeks, just replaced drivers side Im expecting passenger to go in the next few weeks again.


In other news, a shared ownership 1 bed house has come up round the corner to me, it is only a 1 bed house but the bedroom is quite big and has 2 windows. My brother thinks a house like that I could split the bedrooms into 2 with a stud wall, or maybe pull out doors - I had fun googling for ideas! They would be small rooms but give DD & I our own space whilst keeping costs low and could enable us to stay where we love!


Unfortunately as my signature shows I'm no where near ready - I've seen though through right move there are a few other 1 beds in the same road, another may become available in the next few years when I will be ready to go.


It would decrease my outgoings in rent alone by £200, council tax will be less, energy should be less, water rates should be less. It could make sense.


I saw that if I moved out 40 ish miles, I could get a 1 bed house without shared ownership, but again its the balance doing such a long drive with no one to fall back on, I just cant risk getting stuck on the motor way when I should be collecting DD from after school club.


Whilst shared ownership I know is harder to sell, it will sell eventually when we are in a position to upgrade - if we even want to.


Right, time to stop dreaming and get back to reality, lunch then review my spending see if I can shuffle things along to avoid touching my savings for car repairs!

AspiringButAnxious

My dog wasn't in any pain when he was neutered — then I woke up 3 days later to find that his scrotum had swollen to the size of a grapefruit! The vet was shocked athow lively he was despite having an infection and high fever. Part of my reason for choosing a male dog was that my previous one and my dad's old dog both had problems after being spayed, having a bad reaction to the internal stitches...

Hope your dog perks up very soon and makes a speedy recovery!

bellevie

Mr T is doing very well now, seems to quite enjoy the cone when having a snooze, it acts as a supportive pillow almost!


Got a third quote for the car, will be taking it in next Saturday, trying a garage I haven't been to before, but I was quite impressed with my initial phone call and follow up visit. Was still waiting for garage 2 to call me back, I've just missed their call after I made the effort to get it to them first thing yesterday - unimpressed!
Garage 3 Clearly explained prices and have lower rates if job takes under an hour which they expect it to. When I think back to it garage 2 was one of the garages I attended to get bulbs changed - they should have seen something wasn't right earlier.


I hope this is the last big job the car needs. AT 10 years old, she runs a lot better than my first car did at the same age, low mileage, quiet so I don't expect anything major to come up. I'm convinced this was all linked to the initial problem with the leak - like a chain reaction. Annoying and expensive!


I just want it out the way and paid for so I can get a serious start on savings.


The thought of the one bed house as a more affordable way forward really has got me motivated. I really just want a place that I can call home, without worrying how to get through month to month!


Water bill has gone up by around £2, council tax £2, not sure about car tax yet. Oh, confirmation that we are under a pay freeze - Im guessing for as long as the government forces us to sell our homes at a loss the cut backs will keep coming.


My interviews are fast approaching, the payrise wont make a difference per month as any increase is deducted from top ups, but will bring me very close to not needing top ups - which can only be a good thing!


Still fighting this horrid cold, its on my chest now and I have a really annoying cough that keeps waking me up.


I feel like I have really wasted this precious time off work its so so so frustrating!

bellevie

Took Mr T to the vet, he has healed fabulously - Im sure its the arnica I gave him on night 1! Cone to stay on for 2 more days as she said it may start to feel itchy so he might undo the good healing!


I tried yet another homeopathic remedy after waking up feeling worst than I have felt all week. I opted for a remedy which is for things that take ages to go - and within 1 hour I was feeling massively better, like my body knew what to do - which is the whole point of homeopathy. I kept up taking them every two hours - instead of normal pain relief and I felt well enough to take DD & Mr T for a long stroll!


Mr T was not sick in the car!!!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!! It took a lot of hard work, We sat in there for a long time playing before the journey so that he almost forgot where we were. I laid in his bed and I gave dd a noisy packed of mini bones which sure enough kept him fixated. Plenty of air in the car - he started whining just as we were pulling up but no vomit! We then took him through a walk in the market near the vets where he enjoyed a fuss from lots of passers by. Then back in the car. I decided to stop of at a park not far from home so that he gets that going into the car can mean going somewhere fun. For the final part home he was exhausted but starting to dribble lots just as we pulled up so I think it was a close one.


I ordered a dog booster bag from amazon, I wondered if he could see out the window if it will help his motion sickness - worth a shot!


I've set up a monthly transfer to my amazon account £10 per month - mainly to get Mr T's bits (worming / flea treatments) and also to help towards birthdays. Money in my normal savings I don't like pulling out unless its an emergency which means if I haven't brought something in advance I still end up scrapping around for money.


In other news, more time on right move this evening, there are some really really big new 1 bed & 2 bed flats that have been built in what used to be an office. It wouldn't be my first choice to live, but I decided its worth contemplating. The 2 bed is still just out of reach, but the 1 bed is massive and the two bedrooms could still be split - well semi split, not a proper wall as there isn't a second window. Because of where the window is we couldn't even 'share it'. Some pull along doors could work though, or perhaps like an archway to separate my area with curtains pulled across. Each flat also has separate storage on the ground floor, like huge storage not sure if its garage style or standard door as it isn't pictured - but its a very good bonus.
The one beds are £50k cheaper than the 2 beds - so as it wouldn't be a lifetime home it just wouldn't be worth the additional expense.


Anyway, I was thinking with the help to buy 20% deposit loan from the gov, and my 5% monthly mortgage repayments would be around £700 per month, then after 5 years the loan from govt would become payable.


The 1 bed house that I saw - 50% shared ownership. Due to the low rent on the remaining 50% I don't think it would ever make financial sense to buy that remaining share if that makes any sense? The monthly cost would be the same as the above flat - mortgage & rent! Something to do with the rent being set on original price of property keeps the rent on that house low.


The despite the massive size difference in the flat & house and the house being more expensive, I think if I HAVE to start with a 1 bed, I'd prefer the house. It's smaller but homely, and a small private front garden - Ideal for Mr T. The flats may or may not allow pets - so may not even be an option. They are seriously huge though and surrounded by parks / woodland so and if they do on the off chance accept pets it could be a serious consideration for the short -mid term. I would expect to move on from there as soon as I have saved sufficiently and hopefully have some equity.


The house, I would consider it a long term option as although its very small when DD leaves as an adult, I would be comfortable growing old there if that makes sense.


Both require the same deposit from me and the monthly outlay will be the same.


I am feeling a lot more positive now I have opened my eyes to things we can do to make owning our own home possible!


There is also a new estate planned near to DD's primary school, a lot of that will be shared ownership. Building hasn't commenced yet its only just been approved after many consultations but timing wise that could work out well for when I am ready to go!

bellevie

I woke up feeling so very ill - seem to be worse in mornings better in afternoons! Still so excited at the same time. I'm starting to picture our home what it will feel like to have our very own little piece of land on this earth, a home that DD will remember full of good memories and hopefully enjoy bringing her children round to visit in years to come.


I'm going to have a hunt around the house to find what I can sell to add to my savings - if we have to downsize anyway may aswell sell some things to clear space and help the move fund!

catriona79

Bellevie,

I have read the last few of your posts and think
1. You're doing a sensible thing
2. You sound happy and hopeful!

Both are amazing, but While I know you're sensible, it's great to read the positivity re the housing situation. It's expensive in your neck of the woods and I'm glad that you've found a way:)

Hugs to you

bellevie

Thank you Catriona - I am very hopeful - just got to keep going!

bellevie

Insanely busy day at work today - I had planned to prep for interviews but no chance.

Im getting nervous now, I spoke to someone who had applied for the full time version of the role I am applying for and she said the interview was harder than she expected, questions appear to have been reviewed and changed direction. All relevant I expect, but I guess designed to make you think a lot more.

Still, worth a go I have a job so nothing to loose - aside from a dented pride perhaps

bellevie

So, I got the job!

It'll be a 4.5 day working week - but still mean a very good payrise that would have taken me years and years to build up in my current role!

Should be starting in 6 weeks - ish to be confirmed in the next few days.

I'll need to sort out my car insurance for business use which means a slight increase in cost. I may however be able to drop either one morning at breakfast club or one evening at after school club which should cover any increase.
Not much else to update as its all been work work work this week!

On a good note, very low spends as lunch breaks I have just been too exhausted to step out of the office!

PurpleFairy26

Well done on the new job bellevie