Extending our house without extending ourselves beyond our means

One-step-at-a-time

That's really good going on the loan!

My sourdough starter is on day 4 as well - my first go, so I was very excited to see some bubbles today :j

PurpleFairy26

One-step-at-a-time wrote: »

That's really good going on the loan!

My sourdough starter is on day 4 as well - my first go, so I was very excited to see some bubbles today :j

Hey OSAT sourdough twinnies :rotfl: mines got bubbles but looks like it's gone down a bit from this morning. We'll see. Looking forward to a weekend loaf let me know how you get on.

brizzledfw

I had a great Herman starter for a bit...but then managed to kill it!!!

I may have to start a new one:) Made Some HM bread in the BM when it was snowy and it reminded me it can be lush.

Great news on the extension plans and full EF etc PF, youre doing great. Hope ankle rehab continues to go well x

PurpleFairy26

So managed 25 minutes on the bike yesterday and 25 minutes of weights and the ankle held up well, still difficulty when flexing it for some weight bearing moves so will continue to work on that slowly. Still not built up to running, will give it another week I think, although it's 4 weeks today since I did it.

I'm going to go the gym again today, so we'll see how we go. Definitely getting our membership worth and more.

No sourdough loaf yet, I have bubbles but it hasn't grown any since I did my last feed. I had to add more flour as per the instructions as, as suspected it was overactive so I got a layer of liquid on top. May feed again today and see how we get on.

Will likely make this later on, current favourite

https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/clementine-almond-and-olive-oil-cake

House ticking along, Although I really want the electrician to give me a date this week, otherwise we may have to go elsewhere. I'll glare at him in the playground :rotfl:

DH did some significant overtime last week, including working a few hours Saturday and Sunday, he's also working an extra day this week. So pay at the end of the month should be very healthy. Depending on how much we'll either pay the electrician so we don't have to tough savings or do Half electrician and had half to loan.

Have been exploring other savings options and considering putting some money in a s&s isa (wholly inspired by Brizzle) as it had not crossed my mind before reading her diary and possibly a tax free bond too. We need to think about paying down our btl mortgage at some point and having some money in a plan for 10 years would work well for that. We already save a small amount in my work shares scheme which is a 3 year maturity thing, but now have 3 running so we have one maturing each year. We have upped the contribution each year (less noticeable and you only seem to have to get use to the increase then not the whole amount) and intend to do so each year until we are at our maximum. This will give us c£6k a year back (without any share increase, if they do it'll be a bonus) that we will throw at one of the 2 mortgages each year but it would be good to have something else longer term too.

Was looking at some and they have sign up deals which would be a bonus, need to think about portfolio range and fees they charge for s&s to factor in.

PurpleFairy26

Happy Sunday peeps. Snow has affected plans but I can see some money saving opportunities instead.

Have some batch cooking to do and have a clothes sale in a couple of weeks I really need to sort the too small items out for. Today seems a perfect day to do it.

Played around with mortgage overpayment calculator last night and worked out what we would need to do to have paid it off in 15 years. I’ve saved it as a separate sheet so I can refer back to it. It seems we have a plan. No overpayments yet (still have car loan to pay down) but we are already paying in to 3 year redemption plan thing so that’s effectively our overpayment.
DH got a 5% pay rise yesterday so that’s good and there has been more promised later in the year. Will be great if that materialises. Part of me wants to skim off the pay rise to either future long term investments or in the short term LPDF. Something to think about.

Have negotiated a good deal with tv and broadband, just wanted to check with DH. Will call them tomorrow.

Hoping to go to gym today, we can walk as there is snow. I ran for the first time on Friday. Not far, but further than I’ve been in months. Hoping to build on it today. First aim will be to build up to 5km.

Lovely family day out yesterday with family. Cheap train tickets, bought lunch for DH and I and took snacks/food for smalls. Use our season ticket for last time. Won’t renew this year. Maybe we’ll get them again next for best value.

Spent loads of time in a free museum which was amazing (and warm). Will take a picnic and have in there next time for all of us.

Great memories.

brizzlegirl

Sounds like you're having a great weekend

Glad you're thinking about salting away the bonuses and any pay rises before you get used to them. Its the way to do it I think...otherwise its harder to claw your way back to managing on what you managed on before.

Running sounds good. Haven't been since mid Feb. Need to go out this week. Done a few classes but really need to do both.

Enjoy your evening x

PurpleFairy26

So up early which wasn't the plan, hoping to get a few jobs done in the next half an hour and then a small nap before the smalls get up.

We're having new windows (again), long story.... tomorrow and Tuesday. Can't wait to see them then sparkie finally coming on Wednesday to do all new lights upstairs. DH finished all staining this weekend, just a small amount of painting to do and we're good to go

Went to the Swedish shop yesterday and just bought the unit we wanted :A did take loads of photos of other things that would be useful but not a deal breaker, will reflect on them and think about best options.

Weather looks set fair today so will be pegging out, one of my favourite activities :rotfl:

Family over for lunch, so need to get some prep done and vacuum the stairs before they're here. Need to get in the spare room too and move some stuff around so workmen can get to window tomorrow. Hoping to find some gems to go on fleabay as haven't listed any yet this year and I really want to both get rid of some stuff and obviously make a few quid :rotfl:

I've negotiated one of our subscriptions that was due to go up by about £5 a month and mitigated that and reduced it by another £20 :T updated my sheet I've also put in ct increase.

Ran first 5k this week since injury, had to stop a few times but it was more the mental step of doing it. Need to keep it up, really busy week at work so must make sure I make time to go to maintain the balance.

4 days till pay day and bank accounts look poor, but nothing due out either. Hoping for no spends other than milk. Here's hoping.

PurpleFairy26

Ended the month with 79p in the account was hoping for so much more, but a) we weren't overdrawn and b) the spend of what I though could be LPDF went some other, (fairly) non avoidable costs. So whilst we didn't cover ourselves in glory in March, it could have been worse.

Small shop today using nectar points and bought an egg using a discounted voucher I bought earlier in the month. Need tyres for DH car, not cheap but have money in piggy. Possibly enough left to make an overpayment to LPDF. DH also has done most hours at new job since he went ft, so will just overlay when this comes in rather than leave until end of the month.

Made a quiche today and will make some biscuits in a minute to take on a picnic tomorrow. Maybe in the car picnic at this rate :rotfl:

DH and I both used gym again today, definitely getting more than money's worth from membership. Will go again Sunday.

Architect still awol :mad: will call builder next week and see if he knows where he's hiding :rotfl:

Had a 'discussion' with the carpet man whose refusing to replace the faulty carpet. So I raised a section 75 claim, which I told his wife, before I did it. They obviously don't talk as he called me saying he knew nothing about it and he wasn't happy with the tone of the letter the bank wrote, I explained that I neither wrote the letter and I didn't like the tone of my now, two tone carpet either :rotfl:

Electrician didn't turn up and said he'd been kept on another job when I called. How difficult is it. If he doe st come back to me thx week, I'll call someone else. It's been 7 weeks, which I think is long enough.

Wet and miserable here now, hope it brightens up tomorrow.

PurpleFairy26

We've had a lovely weekend, mixture of family time, friends time, outdoor time and some house stuff so a really good balance. Not spendy either, just coffee and cake treat on Saturday which out of 4 days isn't bad.

Been researching some stocks and shares isa and think I've come to a decision, just need to discuss with DH and also do a budget based on this and planned other investments to see where it leaves us. Also want to talk to DH about his pension and whether we should transfer it so we're not quite so passive in its management

I've managed to list 2 things on fleabay, well gotta start somewhere :rotfl: but spent big chunk of yesterday sorting out dds clothes, eldest has so much in next sizes that has been gifted, I'm really not sure I'll need to buy anything :T and smallest has the hand me downs so win, win. Have a big box to label for a charity sale this weekend. Hoping for some profits to go to LPDF.

Hopefully DH will be paid today, if so will top up some pots that are looking a bit lower than I would as he should be getting some ot. Will also look at an overpayment to loan too depending on how much it is.

Freezer is full, so this weeks meal plan will be about using what's in there as a starting point. Currently have 5 things on shopping list, all fresh really would rather not go today but not sure where else in the week I'll fit it in if I don't.

Hoping DH will cancel his car insurance today so we can move provider and save £200. Savings for this will be going to LPDF

mfmaybe

All sounding good and very organised PF. :cool:

Remind me of LPDF?