Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

PurpleFairy26

Wow, first time I have sat down in a week it seems. What a week we've had. Used our annual passes to a collection of attractions 6 times :T Only paid for parking once, which was at a train station when we got the train to 2 attractions (saved £130 by driving most of the way )

We took picnics where we could so spending was definitely limited and considering this was in lieu of our any holiday this year, it really was fab :T We've hardly been at home too, which means we haven't been spending on food at home either

Plasterer has done our bedroom and the hall, due to the mild weather our room was dry in just over a day so DH has already started painting. I've been cleaning this morning as there is dust everywhere, which is all part of it and can't be avoided.

I've reconciled our just for points CC today and got 800 extra points with various coupons from Mr S today when I did shopping from list. List wasn't too big as I got lots of 10p bargains yesterday when I popped to mr W for a pint of milk on the way home (was nearest)

Next step is to get door and skirting on and blinds back up when DH has finished painting. need to call an electrician to replace some lights too, will do that next week. Can't believe where October is going, so need to plan some stuff for November as I think we're going to hurtle towards Christmas from now on in. Just a few gifts to buy though as I ordered a few this week. Would like to get that resolved in the next couple of weeks as it's always none stop (for lots of other reasons)

brizzledfw

Wow..sounds great and uber busy. Well done to the PF household on winning the MSE Productivity Award

jmscott

Hi, and thanks for writing this diary - inspiring stuff!

This is my first post, so please be patient. ;-)

Can I ask where you got your blinds? We've done some work on our kitchen and back room, and need a few new blinds. There are a few online options that seem quite a bit cheaper than the high street. I'm not afraid of a measuring tape, but are there any hidden risks/snags to going online?

Thanks for any advice/recommendations!

PurpleFairy26

jmscott wrote: »

Hi, and thanks for writing this diary - inspiring stuff!

This is my first post, so please be patient. ;-)

Can I ask where you got your blinds? We've done some work on our kitchen and back room, and need a few new blinds. There are a few online options that seem quite a bit cheaper than the high street. I'm not afraid of a measuring tape, but are there any hidden risks/snags to going online?

Thanks for any advice/recommendations!

Hi. Thanks for posting. We bought them from web blinds online, they were very reasonable and sent samples in advance which were free and allowed us to make the right choice in terms of colour. I went through a cash back site too for some more discount.

We’ve been very pleased with them.

PurpleFairy26

RL has just been crazy. Thank goodness for a freezer full of food that has kept us from takeaways and quick fixes (save for a portion of chips for £1.10 between 4 of us on Friday night)

I’ve also bought some Christmas presents and refrained from some others too. So I guess I may have had some more time that I thought I had.

Man came to quote for new door today so just need to plan that in but we’ll fit in around him as his work is both excellent and reasonable.

Spent quality time with good friends this weekend which is always nice, low cost too as one was at their house and one at ours.

Last debt I came back here to pay off is now down sub £1000, Just 3 payments to go. On 0% so that’s why I’m not paying off sooner. We still have car to pay, which is then our only debt ( apart from mortgage). We’re paying greater than minimums on that anyway and they will be increased even more in 3 months, so I’m pleased with all that.

A week until payday but I’m happy with where we are, pots all in the right place and just for points cc paid up to date. Considering it was half term it could have been worse if we hadn’t been on it.

Need to find some time to exercise which is still lacking but have developed a shocking cold today (which is probably a direct result of how busy life has been) so nothing going to happen there this week until I’ve fully shaken that off. Just off for some ice cream, purely for medicinal purposes you’ll understand :rotfl:

jmscott

Hi,

Thanks for the response. I hadn't thought of using a cashback site (although from what I've read I need to remind myself more often). I'm getting better at hunting for vouchers too, whereas I used to give up after a few clicks.

I'll order some samples and see how I get on.

Thanks again.

PurpleFairy26

Hope you get your blinds sorted jmscott we have outs down in the bedroom due to it being plastered and I really miss them. Can’t Wait to get them back up, hopefully next weekend latest given we have a date for middle of following week for new doors and skirting. I need to buy handle and himdges but I have survey vouchers to use for these that I’ve been saving especially

I’ve found an electrician that’s been recommended so need to call him tomorrow too and see if he can come soon, hopefully only a days work and money in savings for it.

Was payday Friday so money moved into various pots, lovely to see some of the savings ones grow. Quick round up:

EF now at 81% of target 2. When we get to 100% will obviously move target again, I know I could move target now and reduce percentage complete, but I like to get to 100 first, some sense of achievement
Bills account has over £800 in for future annual bills considering moving £100 out as we haven’t used anywhere near the amount for car repairs this year (as we bought a new to us one) don’t want to tempt fate though. May just wait another month and see.
All other pots in positive apart from holiday which is £61 ‘overdrawn’ however paid holiday balance and used saving mugs rather than pay a premium on 0% cc so I’m just paying myself back. Will be back in positive next month

Builder has confirmed quote will be here this week :eek: am both excited and nervous

DH and I have decided he will give up one of his pt jobs and move all his hours to the other pt job, making it nearly ft. Hopefully this will work better for us as a family in terms of time together and pay should be about the same, if not a little more. Will also mean DH is not trying to sleep in the day when there is building work happening, which is just never going to work. I think he will had his notice in this week.

Fantastic weekend with extended family making memories for us all which has been lovely and we’ve vowed to do it more often.

Updated calendar with some events, safe to say between now and mid January it’s bonkers :rotfl:

PurpleFairy26

Finally our online bank have moved (ironically given they are only online) to putting our mortgage balance online with our banking :T I’m so happy it’s silly. It now means I can overlay freely without logging on to pc and do on my phone. Plus I see the balance daily when I log on.

Small things

PurpleFairy26

So, after 18months of starting this diary a quote arrived today that were happy with :j:D:j:D we just need to work out best plans to get it started as there is a chance we could do it in two phases. Personally if we can I’d rather just jump in, we’ve waited this long but we need to think of the bigger picture.

In traditional PF style, I’ve started a spreadsheet, now I have some numbers rather than guesstimates :T

Need to get window man out to quote for some more windows and two doors so we know all in price.

I finally feel like we’re making real progress. That combined with us almost finishing our room this week is good all round.

PurpleFairy26

So we have a bedroom door that can close for the first time in 3 years - it really is the small things!

Electrician has let us down though, so we still don't have carpet as we want him to replace a light downstairs that he will need to access under the floorboards. Thinking about it heating man hasn't come round like he said he would either - oh well, that'll save some pennies with one less radiator

RL life has been brutal, can't wait until next week, hoping it will be a noticeable change when 2 projects are away. Good news is that I have a bonus from work :T Timing couldn't be better, just working out what to 'spend' it on, i.e. which savings pot for it to go to. Think a small amount will go in our holiday pot and the rest will go in the extension fund.

We're nearly done for Christmas, some food bought when on offer too and stashed. Nothing wrapped or any cards writing but have plans for tomorrow night on that front. Need a couple of gift cards, but may ask mum to get one for me as I don't really want to pay delivery and don't have a shop near me.

Payday this Friday and hoping to have a bit left over from last months pay to go to loan overpayment, which will be an added bonus.

Need to finish and submit my tax return too, have all the figures, just not pressed the button. Will do DH first, his is much easier!