Black Cat's Year

black_cat

Well, broken my "not buying clothes at the supermarket" rule already. Couldn't resist the good offers for work clothes. I've now sorted my wardrobe out and put summer clothes in a suitcase (in the spare room so still have access), shoes are mended and new opaque tights bought. Clothes are divided into what fits and what nearly fits and I'm going to re-assess in October. Definitely no new clothes once I go back to work next week!

Damp-proof quote hasn't arrived yet but have discovered that BIL will be able to replace our fence for us so plans are still moving forward...

black_cat

Arrived home to find damp-proofing quotation on the doormat - just under £4200 (if I've worked out the VAT correctly). That's about £3k under the previous quotation but itemises everything we want done. Will probably go ahead with this one in September. Exciting - I'll be able to re-decorate at last!

Bought some Christmas stuff from The Works today so I need to start my Christmas spreadsheet to keep track. I bought some nice packaging materials for any jewellery gifts I make, resources for making decorations, some card stock and a few small presents.

Resisted takeaway and made dinner. Going to sort out a few things for the charity shop and then have an early night (have already prepared breakfast and lunch for tomorrow).

black_cat

Current plans:

• Clear downstairs as much as possible (tip, storage, upstairs) - September, week 1 done
• Strip hall, stairs and landing wallpaper - September, week 1 surface stripped
• Damp proofing, plastering and skirting boards - September, weeks 2-4 done but finished late October
• External house painting - September, week 4 not done yet - too cold?
• Replace fence and gate side entrance - September, week 4 fence replaced, waiting for gate to be made
• Replace blown panes (spare room, bath room, conservatory) - October, week 1 no!
• Paint downstairs wood work and ceilings - October, week 2 no
• Begin painting downstairs (sitting room, kitchen and conservatory) - October half term no

Not thinking about this until the new year:

• Paint spare room wood work and ceiling -
• Strip wallpaper and remove lighting and curtains in master bedroom -
• Paint entire master bedroom -
• Redecorate (or gut) bathroom -
• Redecorate hall, stairs and landing -
• Laminate flooring in sitting room, bathroom and hall -
• Re-carpet stairs, landing, and bedrooms -
• Lay conservatory flooring -
• Sort out garage - February half term

All by Christmas (or February half term, more likely)!
Decide to stay put or put house on the market spring 2017

black_cat

External house painting - Make enquires but it's probably too cold now
Replace side gate - waiting for custom-made gate
Paint downstairs wood work - October, week 4
Put up shelves in sitting room
Cover kitchen ceiling leak patch
Paint sitting room
Paint kitchen
Paint conservatory
Replace blown panes (spare room, bath room, conservatory) -

black_cat

New skirting boards and clean walls make the house seem much brighter. I've rearranged the furniture to make the rooms work for us. Previously, furniture simply went where it would cover up the damp. We've also had the heating overhauled and everything's working more efficiently. I'm feeling a lot more positive about the house now but I still want to move eventually. Psychologically, I'd like to pay off the mortgage first - or at least have the remaining balance saved up. So many goals...

black_cat

No debt.

Emergency Fund full.
Holiday Fund full.
ISA full - to go towards paying off mortgage.
Damp proofing paid for.
£10,000 in Pay Off Mortgage Fund.

£1342.37 overpaid on mortgage.

Feel good about going into 2017.

selloptape

Wow, fab review Black Cat!

black_cat

Thank you Selloptape. We were fortunate enough to receive a small inheritance to boost our savings.

black_cat

I've just read through this diary. Financial situation is great but home improvement plans have stalled! I would still love to move but paying off the mortgage is the priority. When we do move it will be for a better location, rather than a bigger house.

Although we haven't redecorated, de-cluttering is going with a vengeance! Bags and bags have been taken to the charity shop and we've cleared a lot of space. I need to get back on track with this diary and focus on the task in hand.

Off to update spreadsheet and then report back.

andy1886

black_cat wrote: »

I've just read through this diary. Financial situation is great but home improvement plans have stalled! I would still love to move but paying off the mortgage is the priority. When we do move it will be for a better location, rather than a bigger house.

Although we haven't redecorated, de-cluttering is going with a vengeance! Bags and bags have been taken to the charity shop and we've cleared a lot of space. I need to get back on track with this diary and focus on the task in hand.

Off to update spreadsheet and then report back.

Hi black cat , this is my situation exactly , choosing whether to do up a place we know or move to a better area and do that up to our taste . In the meantime I will overpay the mortgage in an attempt to become mortgage free . Best of luck with your journey whichever route you decide to go down .