Must keep in line

LondonGirl252

Heya

It's so hard to make those decisions now with all the uncertainty that will happen over the next few years, who knows what will happen to house prices etc?! Nightmare!

Like the idea re the training plan, much better to ease yourself into it I'd say!

Shame you can't online shop. You could use the website to price check against your current place to check if it's worth the extra trip there. You might find its not that much difference, we easily spend £100 in Tesco its scary how much it adds up!!!

Ednoc

Hey peeps. Have been really bad at keeping up my diary. TBH, I think I've just had a really bad bout of depression and just couldn't be bothered with anything.

Not particularly liking my new job. It's much less stressful than what I was doing before but it's still law and I hate law and lawyers (at least most of the ones I know anyway)! Plus it's 26k gross less per annum as it's only a 4 day week. I just wish I could find something I really like doing which will also pay the bills. Just seems I will be stuck doing a job I loathe forever.

On the house front: solicitor is now getting on with serving notice on the freeholder. The people in the flat downstairs have tried the negotiation approach and she is being un co-operative. She will have no choice but to co-operate (or go to tribunal) when she gets the notice but it is annoying in the interim. I really think I just want to sell that property, get the equity (somewhere between 300-350k) out and buy something out right up north near my parents to rent out. But I know that area of london is likely to keep going up in value so it also seems silly to sell.

I have been a bit better with spending. So much so that this month, I should have around a third of my budget left over which can go towards lawyers fees for this leasehold extension.

Had my "our" place valued yesterday (they've not told me yet though) so can do the sums to see what we might be able to afford together. Sadly the boy's flat is worth less than he bought it for but as he's paid off quite a bit of the mortgage he will still have a decent chunk of equity. I guess we have been very lucky on the housing front really as we have managed to get a decent chunk of equity between us over the years.

Just have to try and watch the spending now really as earning much less and may need fees for tribunal!!!

LondonGirl252

Heya

Hope you're feeling a bit better now, sorry to hear you're not enjoying the job much that is very difficuly as you spend so much time there. I guess the benefit right now is less stress but maybe you could put some thought into what else you could do and work on a plan to achieve that over the next year (or even shorter maybe?) you'll probs feel a bit better just for being pro-active about improving the situation?

I really hope your freeholder co-operates and keeps the costs down for you! Legally she has to extend it at a fair price right? Why would she not co-operate if the outcome will be the same is it in her interests? Lease stuff is so complicated and annoying, I'm dreading when we have to do ours next September!

Ednoc

Thanks LG. Actually, this week wasn't too bad in the end. I think it was several things: (1) I had been on some awful painkillers for my facial pain - 1 of them noted depression and suicide risk in the side effects and I had stopped taking them abruptly so maybe I was on a come down from those (as they made me high!), (2) last week I had drunk on thurs and fri which gave me hangovers fri and sat and meant I also didn't sleep properly. I think alcohol has a really depressive effect on me. I haven't drunk since last friday night and feel much better and (3) I think I just felt overwhelmed with how much there was to do and I know I put a lot of pressure on myself and always feel I'm not good enough/not doing enough when actually, I had a meeting with my line manager this week and he said the feedback was very positive. So much so that our service line head out in one of the other jurisdictions is a bit annoyed they are not getting a piece of me! So, anyway, I decided to map out the number of weeks I have left for the year and try to plan what I am going to aim to achieve in that time as a guide. If I don't achieve it as they are wanting me to do some other things like some fee earning work then I mustn't let that get to me and must just use it as a focus instead.

I guess I'm just feeling now that I've taken a paycut and we are looking to buy a house I can't just walk if I don't like it which makes me feel a bit trapped. But in reality, it is much less stressful than what I was doing and still decent pay. Plus if we have kids, it's 4 days a week and I could also probably work one day a week from home which would be ideal. We have also gone a bit mad on the holiday front this year. We've so far been away for 5 weekends in the UK, 1 in france, a week in france skiing and have 5 further weekends away in uk, 2 weeks in italy, 4 days in barcelona and a week in nyc planned. B thinks its because psychologically we are packing trips in this year and early next as we know that we might have to start trying for kids towards end of next year (I will be 39 next sept so we may well struggle anyway). But the cost does worry me.

I have been much better on spending front and though we have to pick up some wine etc to take to 2 bbqs we are going to today, and perhaps some cold nibbles to take to B's mums tomorrow, we are pretty much done on spending and I get paid on weds so a whole new month's budget. I should have around a quarter of my monthly budget from this month left to put towards the lawyers fees.

On that note LG, when you come to do it, let me know and I'll give you details of the surveyor and lawyer I used. One lot were quoting me 1300 plus VAT just for first stage searches/drafting notice (which, being a lawyer myself I know it wouldn't take that long to do as it's just standard form stuff). The firm I'm using are charging 600 plus VAT for first stage which is still a lot in my view but could live with it to get it done quickly! She does have to extend at fair price but she's always been quite difficult! The people in the downstairs flat are also extending however so hopefully she won't want to take the two of us on!

We have 2 bbqs today. Going to try not to drink, or at least not very much. Then some touching up to do in hall and lounge tomorrow. We want to put my ("our") place on the market in october (if I pass probation) and we have to paint the whole spare room including the floor and our room and probably the kitchen too, plus touch up the lounge and hall and paint the outside - given we are away so much it is going to be hard! Bought a load of paint the other night for spare room (which is currently dark brown so want to lighten it - gone for a dark grey for a signature wall and light grey for the rest of the walls) so that's a start!

Ednoc

Been fairly good spending wise. As we already had a bottle of wine from our big shop we just needed one more, so B spent 11.03 on that and the saturday papers. I wasn't so great on the not drinking front but at least it was saturday only. Sunday we spent 7.04 on jacket pots, strawberries and some lime and soda then yesterday we needed some bits from b**ts so that was just under 20 and spent 2.04 on cloths and crisps! Anyway, hopefully that's it now until tomorrow - will have more like a quarter of budget left to put towards lawyers fees so as soon as today over I'll whack that over to another account and start new month's budget tomorrow.

Starts all over again then, trying to come in under budget and save!!!

LondonGirl252

Heya

I'm pleased you're sounding more positive about it and congrats on the good feedback, that must be a good confidence boost!

Yeah I can understand that must feel like a big strain on the finances but I'm sure you can manage it if you're sensible while you're away and budget for it all? So jealous of all your lovely trips!!!

Really exciting re potential baby making haha I will have my fingers crossed you will have no problems!

Thank you so much, I appreciate that and will definitely ask you for it nearer the time, it will be a comfort to know that they come recommended and at the right price!

xx

Ednoc

So, because it was so hot on tues (which was my last day of that month's budget), we ended up going out for a drink and dinner - £53 later!!!!! (though between 2) but it was amazing food and it was nice to get out together mid-week. Anyway, started new budget weds - spent £2.50 that day meeting a friend for coffee. Was meant to be having lunch that day but took lunch with me and just had coffee with her - so that was MSE. Then had a pedicure in my lunch hour yesterday - £45 but as shellac will last between 6-8 weeks and my feet are pretty yucky and given it's flip flop season..........

Today have spent £109.52 already (and it's not even 10am!) as had to renew my car insurance so the £219.04 was split between B and I as he no longer uses his car (it's uninsured and parked in his mums drive as we don't have parking where we live and have to park at his work which is an 8 minute walk away) and is looking to sell it (it's probably only really good for parts now anyway) until we get a new place with parking.

Today have another estate agent coming round to value "our" house as we have had 2 very differing valuations so far - 1 was ok and 1 was way too low - I went skiing with the girl who is coming today so at least I know she will give me an honest view. Then have to do weekly shop with B. Shouldn't be too much this week as we are both out quite a bit next week so we just want to get ready meals 3 for £10 plus veg to go with, stuff for lunches, cereal etc (and most importantly chocolate!!) then need to get my mum a card and chocolates as she passed a second degree recently (v proud!). Have a manicure at 245 but that's with a voucher my old work got me so free. Then need to get the cat another bag of his special diet food. That is also free as they are on buy 6 get one free and have bought 6 over this year so this one is free.

Poss need to nip into town to get a sun hat as we are off to watch england v pakistan at old trafford tomorrow (was my christmas present to and not sure if it's going to be hot. Tonight we are just staying in and having jacket pots, chilli cheese and beans - very MSE!!!!!

Sadly rest of weekend won't be as we are going with B's cousin and his best mate (his female cousin is married to his male best mate) so will be drinks all day, plus food there and then we are to a curry in Rusholme tomorrow night. Sunday we are having lunch with my parents so hoping dad will pay but think I should offer to split bill. Thankfully I've already paid for our accommodation back when I booked it.

Next week I am going to try to be so MSE that I don't spend anything until our big shop Friday!

Ednoc

So we still managed to spend £70.89 on our food shop!! I had imagined it would be around £50 and it would have been though we bought 2 x cards for B's dad and sister as it's their birthdays next week, card and chocs for my mum and magnums! So all of that pushed it over the £50 mark!

Had my manicure - have to say, I don't like non-shellac manicures anymore as they do chip easily. At least it was free.

Then bought sun-hat - £19 and a very mini backpack as we are going to the Lakes walking in 3 weeks' time. B said I need to get a backpack as he normally carries everything but I only needed a small one, mainly to carry extra water and a jumper so bought that - was half price in sale - only £6.99.

So that's me for the day - j.pots tonight, fake tan and a very early night!

Ednoc

Last weekend was good and not tooooooo expensive in the grand scheme. Spent around £100 on drinks, meals out etc and dad paid sunday so that was nice. Not spent a whole heap this week as had a "free" massage with a voucher and we've not been out. Today is weekly food shop so need to make a list. Hoping it is under the £75 (each) I've budgeted. We are not going out this weekend - to B's mums for dinner tonight so just have to take a pudding which we will pick up on weekly shop. Then we are painting spare room rest of weekend so that should keep us from spending (and paint etc already purchased)!

B had his flat valued yesterday and it was slightly better than expected. Will probably still make a slight "loss" given stamp duty and fees paid out to purchase but as he's paid off a fair chunk of mortgage, hopeful it will give us a whack to put towards a new property. We've now decided to put "our" place on in Jan instead of October as we've a lot of "touching up" to do and we are away a lot between now and October so won't have enough time to do it all otherwise. Just hoping it shifts quickly when it's on. Good thing if we flog B's place first is we will then have a better idea of what we need to achieve from this place so can then take a more realistic view.

Still 3 weeks to go until next new budget and we are away for a weekend in lakes in 2 weeks time - so need to cut down on this week's budget really.

Work going ok at the moment. Produced a pack of stuff which had taken me ages but which my boss said he was "blown away" by as it was "totally excellent" which gave me a bit of a boost. Also, I've bene there 11 weeks (4 days a week) and 3 of the articles I've written in that time have already been picked up by 3rd parties wanting to publish them on their website/in their publications. So I must be doing something right! Even though I think I'd rather be doing something else (though can't decide what), it's a fairly cushy job - get to do 4 days a week and can even work some from him if I like, 9-5 and pretty much chart my own course each day. Could be much worse.

Ednoc

weekly shop was £106.11 and still need to get a few things but they should hopefully be no more than around £8 between us, so under budget but still expensive, and that's even with 2 of next week's meals (main part, not veg) already in the freezer! At least though it was under budget.

Not done a whole lot today other than read - but that's what I wanted to do - got really into my book!

Off to B's mums for dinner in 10 mins or so - bought a salted caramel tart to take - looks yummy!