Preparing for the biggest move of our life

RosaBernicia

Oh Bellevie that's wonderful - so pleased for you all!


Rosa xx

bellevie

Thank you


DD is 9. She had plenty of male role models in terms of her godfather, uncle and one of my closest friends but we only really see them individually a few times a year due to distances. So DP is the first male to have full involvement.


Its gone unbelievably well, never could have imagined something like this just slotting into place.


I was single a long time, the relationship ended whilst I was pregnant. It was quite a traumatic break up so I just couldn't entertain dating for quite a few years afterwards. When things started to fall into place, I lost my nan quickly followed by my mum so it set me back a few years. I just needed to focus on each day as it came.


It was only last year, a colleague showed an interest, it lead to a few dates not going anywhere but made me think OK,....maybe I can do this.


I tentatively signed up to online dating, I was on and off for a year maybe. I had a habit of signing up, then running after a couple of weeks. Re-attempting a couple of months later. Not because of bad experiences it just seemed so alien to me.


I met a couple of nice people for one off dates, no one I clicked with.


DP was the 3rd person I met, we chatted for a good couple of months, he put no pressure on me to meet which I found quite refreshing. We met for a walk around a duck pond the most relaxed and easy date I've ever had. We clicked from the start, which freaked me out a bit. I realised I wasn't going to be able to run from this one...not that I let on.


He said I kept him on his toes quite a bit, which he had never experienced and he liked. I didn't realise it at the time, but looking back I really did give him a bit of a hard time. I kept a real distance emotionally, part of that was DD, but I think also maybe some kind of subconscious testing to see what he was made off? He definitely proved himself anyway

bellevie

Just returned from a long trip for a funeral on DP's side, it was a beautiful service, the sun that came out on that day I felt was little sign.


We left this morning after an initial shock that we might get stuck when we woke up to inches of snow. We waited for the ploughs and gritters to arrive then set off home before it could resettle.


We took my car this time instead of his van, it made the driving easier on us both sharing the journey but we worked out my car is slightly more expensive in terms of fuel.


The weekend was a bit rushed so aside from the food at the funeral we pretty much lived off fast food I don't think I could manage another burger for at least 6 months. Im really not used to it, DD & I would go to mc ds maybe once a month if that. DP eats it regularly and with the stops at services each way wanting something hot there wasn't much choice available.


It was back to a good home cooked meal tonight though, so smiles all round


I have a day off work tomorrow. I need a small food shop and to find a birthday cake for DD! 9 years.....I can barely believe how fast its gone.


A couple more Christmas presents for DP's side. I done mine months in advance, he is lastminute.com. I'm going to have to put in some work there

bellevie

Wow the past couple of weeks flew by. We had a super Christmas with DP's family, it was so eventful that we are now ready for a quiet new year celebration.


Just the three of us, films games and snacks.


DP has started to move bits across, his sofa came over today mine is going to the tip - not possible to donate as lovely Mr T chewed it to death as a pup.
I took cushions over but the base is not doable in my car, so DP will take in his work van when we have the permit.


DP's mum surprised us with a dishwasher for Christmas, after I had joked that he would not move in until I had a dishwasher - I was only semi serious - I had set it as one of our first savings goals as he eats constantly I get quite stressed at the constant washing up.


I also have ordered a washing machine before I have even begun saving. I've somehow already had tons of his washing and my little 4-5k 15 year old washing machine was not built to handle the current quantities! It is my landlords so we will put that in storage so we can take ours with us if we move on from here.


First couple of months this year will be clearing the washing machine & Christmas spends costs then I'm going to start tackling my car loan!


Im feeling quite optimistic about finances this year. Splitting some bills 50/50 with someone will mean I can make some really good progress in savings for the first time in a long long time!

RosaBernicia

Wow Bellevie, all sounding good - you have 2018 off to a great start and I hope the rest of the year is good to you too!


Rosa xx

bellevie

Thank you Rosa Happy new year xx

Tinkerbelle2000

Happy New Year Bellevie, turn my back for one minute and you're all loved up!!

Congratulations hun, it will really be nice to have a bit more financial freedom for you now.

I've been so bad at keeping up with diaries that I have been binge reading lol. I have started a new one for myself as my old title didn't apply anymore and it was kind of a reminder of the carp stuff I went through.

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas, I can't believe your DD is 9. Mine is now allowed to drive :eek: and has already bought herself a car (which I am driving at the minute as mine went to scrapyard heaven). Time flies so quickly, they are soon to independent

Take care.
Tink xx

bellevie

Happy new year Tink, I found your new diary


I know - its a bit of a shock for me too. I truly did not expect anything like this to happen, I've been so anti men for so many years (not all men - just at the thought of letting them close to me) its a pleasant surprise to find my heart isn't pure ice


Oh Im sorry about your car

bellevie

So, I contemplated a new diary for 2018 - but decided my aim for a move still hasn't changed, its just that someone may be tagging along. And him moving in is all part of that journey!


I have started a new spreadsheet, and opened a new bank account with Mr T- mainly for the extra clubcard points and 3% interest on the current account until 2019 - its better than any of my savings accounts


Im trying to work out in my head how best to split things. Im not ready for a joint account until we have lived together some time and I know he is financially safe. I thought we could use my spare account which I just get child benefit going into as a joint account just for bills, so have out set standing orders going in to cover joint DD's but keeping our own accounts for everything else.


Other option is each taking certain bills to make up our agreed input, that seems a little complicated to me as all bills are already in my name.


I know my rent will be increasing this summer, as landlord wanted me to sign a new 6 month tenancy when I told him DP would be moving in - I suspected he wanted to increase the rent right away but agency would have told him he cannot. We have agreed how much we are happy to stay, if its higher than this we will be looking for somewhere else. We have to take into account though admin fees, removal fees - it would be pointless moving unless we find a property a lot cheaper so that we still end up better off after these expenses.


I really need to get a grip on grocery spends. Its already gone up a little since he is here often & eats like a horse....Im so not used to feeding men so its a bit of a shock....when he is here full time......eeek!

bellevie

I really must update my signature! Job to do this weekend.


I made a saving of £108.91 on my pet insurance - I saw red when my renewal came through as I have yet to make any claims and its gone up by quite a bit 2 years on the trot.


Mini shop of £8.91 when we stopped off at a supermarket near the estate agents after paying the admin fee for new agreements. We should manage with what is in the freezer next week which is just as well as I'm pushed to my limit after paying Mr T's vet fees - he got very poorly just before Christmas - it came to £98 which was my excess so no claim made.


Im going to try using lentils to make the mincemeat last a little longer. Ive also got sausages in the freezer which aren't the normal ones we get and not as nice so I want to try to find a way to use those, maybe a stew of some sort - Ive never done that with sausages so that will be an experiment!


I've set up my childcare vouchers to be deducted from my wages for the first time in feb as the small amount of tax credit help I get will come to an end. It will be a shock initially getting reduced wages, but I wont be paying the childcare from my bank so in theory because they are deducted before tax I should feel better off....we shall see!