Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

PurpleFairy26

DH asked me last night about the survey site I got vouchers from, so (re) sent him a referral and he is going to sign up. He's also not far from payout on 1poll, so will be doing that again as he said he'd not for a few days :T

I've had loads recently (long may it continue) and I up to £12 somethings quite quickly it seems going to have a look at a couple of other sites I see some people talking about see if I can get a little bit more to the 'free' money pot.

£1.95 tracked for car insurance search. £50 waiting for confirmation now

Plummer man came back with a quote for 3 new radiators and moving some unsightly pipe work in the process. We're not going to bother getting other quotes, might seem not very MSE but last person has been saying he would come round for about 2 months and hasn't bothered, so far this guy called and turned up when he said he would which in this day and age seems a big step forward. Also on reflection, this is all the radiators downstairs (apart from a teeny, weeny one in kitchen) so effectively means half the house is done :T cost from savings, so all good and he can do it at end of August

Need to message man about fitting door as its now arrived. Then just flooring (relatively big expense and some savings required for this), skirting, curtains and sofa to go. So still a decent spend but manageable based on amount were saving each month I think. I would imagine we'll be done by Christmas

Right off to meal plan for the week so I can go shopping later with moc and DH discount.

hugglemonster

All sounding good, I know what you mean about not getting other quotes when you find someone reliable that half the battle with tradesfolk. When we were getting quotes for tilers one didn't turn up, one told us about the fact he had been suffering with D&V (yuck get out) and the other one was really expensive.

Great news that half the house will be finished, must be so exciting!

H x

PurpleFairy26

Thanks goodness it's Friday. Another long 4 day week busy weekend too, family stuff so should be good and hopefully little money spent a week until pay day and just a small amount in the pot but all bills paid

Got the official offer for the new mortgage - wow a long time coming but got there in the end! Will sign and put in the post tomorrow, gives them nearly 3 weeks to change the rate to make next payment £100 less :T

Right off to check some more surveys and early night as long day tomorrow.

PurpleFairy26

Happy Sunday frugal pals. Spent 10 hours in the car picking up an elderly relative and dropping her to another family member. Was lovely to see her and we were happy to help. She offered to pay for our fuel but it's paid through work so there was no need. She did cook us a lovely lunch. Today must do some exercise to counteract the sitting.

Need to get back on with running, got out of the habit when we went on holiday - but that was 2 and a half months ago :eek:

Did a p1nec0ne survey yesterday and withdrew £1.20 from £co so £4.20 to go to savings when it arrives. I've added several more ambitious savings targets to my spreadsheet, so which will be a long burn but it's good to have them there and see it all in one place.

Family meal out for a birthday today, hopefully not to spendy as its a set amount. Pay day Friday so keen to get there will small balance we have left, budgeting is really paying off but having so many savings pots for each thing means there's much less opportunity for TT each day :rotfl:

PurpleFairy26

Happy Monday. Lovely chilled day after busy weekend. Thought I was going to be short before payday on Friday but forgot a credit that was due in so will be fine, despite splitting bill 3 ways yesterday. Was lovely and came away with huge share of the most amazing cake ever. Because of credit managed at TT to savings

Today was a NSD :j spent at home, took girls out on bike, few extra steps for me. Went bunk bed viewing, finally got some ideas, just been online and looked at other options and double checking cash back etc... Beds are being gifted by my wonderful parents, but I'm still being frugal, want them to last but not be anymore than we would pay.


Got a £4 voucher from t3sc0 for any of 7 brands, no minimum spend. Need to leave a review of them but £4 easily earned. Only issue is I don't go that often, so must use before it expires. Cashed out £3 p1nec0n3 to PayPal, plus I think product is on its way which will mean extra and another £3 for follow up survey.

Had leg of lamb (not all of it :rotfl:) for roast for tea. Made hm yorkies and put half in freezer, used veggies from fridge, including some from box. Loads and loads left for extra meals and will go in freezer. Made extra crumble topping so that went in freezer too. Homegrown gifted rhubarb for fruit element. OOD custard to accompany

Long couple of days at work coming, but also means no spending it's nearly the big payday shuffle. Just going to watch the cycling and then I'll be off.

PurpleFairy26

Quick check in whilst at work I'm loving watching the olympics, particularly seeing my eldest get in to it, however, I'm looking forward to next week when I can go to bed earlier :rotfl:

Managed 2 p1n3c0n3 surveys today £6 a few points in ip0s and a few 1poll to do :T man confirmed he is going the door next Thursday. I'm ridiculously excited DH has also agreed to moving dd2 bed in to dd1 room for a trial - pre bunk beds. Hoping to maybe do it tomorrow. We can then sort dining room out into spare room and things would move on massively :T

Still in credit in both bills and spends account before payday tomorrow. Both will be tidied to savings later. Not huge amounts but it's all positive and not been in overdraft for so long, it's liberating.

New meal tonight pork and rosemary lasagne, will add some mushrooms as don't have anything on planner needing them in next few days. Cupboards and fridge still not rammed but am learning to accept that that is fine as what we have in is planned and we don't need extras

I cooked a lamb leg overnight in slow cooker for stock, picked the extras off this morning. Also bagged up 4 portions of lamb, 2 big, 2 small - 2 small will be for pasties

PurpleFairy26

Just sat here with a coffee :coffee: and completed the big money shuffle as its payday :T thought it would be good to reflect on achievements since last payday:

Finished flooring in loft
Bought internal door
Sold items on fleabay
Took 3 large bags to charity shop
Monday's payment will mean we have paid 50% off our debt since January 1st
Met savings target
Reduced mortgage by nearly 2 years and reduced payment by £100
Done about 75% of my annual accounts
Got to month end with £7.50 credit across spend and bills account

Not a bad month considering it's also been school holidays.

Today I've also renewed library books for all of us online to save a journey and/or fines

Right, must go and get ready as have meeting in next town.

brizzledfw

Great stuff PF! Fantastic to see!

Xx

crazy_cat_lady

You've done loads! I like the idea of reflecting over the month gone by. Helps to focus on the positives a bit doesn't it?

PurpleFairy26

ccl I found the reflection bit definitely helps, sometimes it feels like you're wading in treacle but when you right it down the progress is actually really good.

Brizzle hope the rain this weekend hasn't been too grim compared to your holiday sunshine

Well it Sunday morning, everyone is in bed and I'm enjoying a lovely cuppa and browse in the diaries. Must get on shortly but I thought I'd commit to some stuff on here first to keep my feet to the fire

We're out for the day using NT membership to one of our favourite places with two other families, spends will be low as well take a picnic, maybe a brew and an ice cream later for the smalls. So need to do picnic in a minute.

Need to cash out £3 from paypa1 from pin3c0n3, plus another £3 due, fair bit of £co payments saying due early sept so that's good, will keep an eye though as some tend to drift.

Moved dd2 to dd1 room as a trial pre bunk beds, so we can no sort out little room. Have 4 charity shop items and 2 fleabay already. Means I can also now sell the nursery set on one hand but an another, glad someone else will get sue of it and hopefully a few £ to my savings just need to wash curtains tomorrow when they can dry outside

Tonight DH going out so I'll start to price up loads of items for local nearly new sale that's less than a month away. Have tons to sell, so that's good, plus what didn't sell last time I organised when I got back and it can just straight back in

Need to think about what we are going to do in spare room, I'm guessing well need to start by taking paper off and seeing state of walls, would take long for our platerer to do though so might just be worth doing anyway. Hmm, sorry for thinking out loud on here but it does help.

Right off to get on, typical children are still asleep on the day we are going out :eek: I've never know both to still be asleep past 8