A Diary of Reinventing Ourselves

getmore4less

Have a read on your rights as a tenant on a AST and ending it(post 4).

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/67759913#Comment_67759913

getmore4less

what about something like this one...

£400(and not black)

Only has to last 3 weeks and you start saving money for a better one at over £600pm

http://www.stallionauto.co.uk.razsor.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/ford-galaxy-2-0-aspen-5dr-7-seats-harrow-201602100909480

greensalad

Honestly, I think your children will be fine. They won't be ostracised. I had friends who lived in the villages and used to cycle down to see them when I was around 11 or 12. They still go places. They get more independent. I think you NEED to downsize and move further out.

Your kids will be fine. And if they're not 100% happy? Well do you think they'll be 100% happy when you're in dire straits and can no longer afford to clothe, feed etc? I know it will never get to that stage but chances are your children will recognise that you are making this change for them and it will affect they profoundly. Perhaps not now, but in a few years they'll realise why you did what you did.

It's not like the places further out you are considering are completely devoid of children... right? It's not a retirement village? Then they will make new friends, and retain many of their old friends. Older ones can easily get on a bus to see friends. Younger ones will make new friends easily.

enthusiasticsaver

Ask your OH how you will afford the rent in retirement FT. Unless you had kids very young I am guessing you and OH are mid to late 30s based on ages of your kids. That means time is running out for you to buy a property and build up pension etc. Also you should not be using the protected car money for rent. I would have removed it and put it in a separate savings account ready for when you see something suitable. Juggling money around to pay bills is classic avoidance tactics. Shame about you having to move but it can be used as a positive although it might mean compromise. Your OHs reluctance to transfer business money over to the personal account indicates that all might not be well in his company finances either which I would have to say doesn't surprise me given his ostrich attitude to money. When is he going to wake up to your situation? I feel for you though as it does seem like you are doing all the heavy lifting to get on top of your budgets

getmore4less

He went from angry about the car money to paying the rent with it!

pelirocco

getmore4less wrote: »

He went from angry about the car money to paying the rent with it!

I missed that ?

If you cant pay the rent money this month...........and that would be my first reaction as to why the car money was used , you are basically screwed

There are plenty of good schools in other areas , I went to 3 primary schools and 2 secondary schools , and tbh it was the making of me

One of my favourite quotes is ' If nothing changes then nothing changes ' and that doesnt mean saving the old £ here or there it means a complete change in everything you do .
A major set back is the chance to try something different . This is something I use in my business.
Lose a key member of staff? ...the chance to employ someone who will bring a new perspective to your business.
A change in part of your business , meaning its now losing you money = cut it loose , downsize , less hours less stress but a larger % profitability .....this is what we are doing now , its very liberating

But if by any chance s**t hits fan then I have enough equity to downsize , ok its will be a smaller house in not as good an area , but it will be mortgage free and that freedom will be priceless

You have a large house , have you considered child minding? ......i know your choices of work are more restricted because you have children , bt frankly I would be scrubbing toilets if need be

getmore4less

You still need to sort some basics.

How much can hubby provide month in month out for the next two years and sort out his company finances mess at the same time without any BS about it's complicated?

How much do you need to run a house how much is going to be left for rent?

Shame you did not follow through your plans in early 2014 you could be sitting pretty now rather than having gone nowhere for 2 years and having a similar decision to make again.

Forward_thinking

It's all getting a bit dramatic ladies and gentlemen. OH hasn't spent the car money on rent - he just didn't rush to put the money in because he knew it was covered for a few days. The money has now gone in today after I asked him. All sorted. That part anyway.

Pelirocco - no, I haven't considered childminding - I am a professional who has been working blood, sweat and tears for eight years and have just achieved my qualification at last. No further comment on that - not sure if you were being deliberately provocative but yes, you won!!! That did rile me slightly.

I'm feeling fed up at the moment. Went to buy a car, just about to buy it and I decided to just do a few background checks on the company. Turns out he is the biggest con-merchant in town. Just our kind of luck at the moment but it has taken up my whole day. I guess it's just a lucky escape and we should feel glad.

matchboxfull

pelirocco wrote: »

I missed that ?

[snip]
You have a large house , have you considered child minding? ......i know your choices of work are more restricted because you have children , bt frankly I would be scrubbing toilets if need be

To be fair (and I am picking on myself here too as I mentioned work a few posts back) FT shouldn't have to work. Her husband earns over four and a half times the average salary. They should be perfectly comfortable. It's all about the spending here.

Forward Thinking, how are your bottom lines looking now? Putting aside a house move, have you got to the point where the monthly income will cover the monthly outgoings? Is there anything else you can cut? Has the cleaner completely gone? Ironer? Other large expenses?

I know that YNAB is struggling to cope with bitty income streams, but when you write it all down is your standard month still in deficit?

You need to focus on that car. You can't afford to hire a car. Buy something now. This weekend. Anything.

I'm not going to tell you to move area. You live in one of the most expensive parts of the country, but with your household income you should be able to afford it if you cut out all the other stuff. You need to focus on your basic household expenses and your debts. Cut out everything else until that bottom line is black, not red.

Oh, and get on and balance transfer those cards now before you change address. Don't lose momentum. You can do this.

Forward_thinking

Thanks for your equally cheerful ending paragraph getmore - feel a little let down after your wonderful support so far. Yes, we are moving but I've never liked the house anyway - but we won't be moving area so we will still be "going nowhere".

Off to bang my head against a brick wall.