Learning to budget to make future adventures happen

Seasidegal58

enthusiasticsaver wrote: »

Congratulations on selling your old house but I am intrigued as to how you are managing to live in a house you have not bought yet.

...and me too!:D. Glad that you’re ‘in’ though.

crunch_time

Morning all

It's a new build and the rest is a really long boring story. We exchanges yesterday and complete on Monday. Hurrah!!

Still don't have internet which is very frustrating and still haven't started Christmas shoping.

We have enough left over from the move to pay the HMRC bill in full but currently agonising over other stuff we need to do like turf the back garden and tile the bathroom floors. We are hoping to get some quotes this weekend so we can make some decisions and take some action next week.

According to my spreadsheet our debt (without HMRC) is currently £6986.

Being able to pay the HMRC bill back straight away and not having it hanging over our heads will be huge!!

Hope everyone is good? Will be back when I have more time and ....internet!!

Crunchy xx

Willowtree222

Glad it's all gone through for you now. What a relief!

I guess you have to decide what is the biggest thing for you. Turf and tiles might be what you need some of it on and rest on HMRC x

crunch_time

It will probably be that way niknak!!

I forgot to add - in unpacking everything I found a £15 amazon voucher and a £10 next voucher!! So that will go some way towards Christmas presents this year. I will use the amazon voucher towards husband and my annual haul of second hand books for our stockings and the next voucher for a new bobble hat for me.

I also have £20 of nector points which can go towards stocking fillers.

I’m still intending to have a very frugal Christmas!! I’m looking forward to it in fact. I’m planning to keep a careful rein on costs!

Crunchy

Xx

crunch_time

It will probably be that way niknak!!

I forgot to add - in unpacking everything I found a £15 amazon voucher and a £10 next voucher!! So that will go some way towards Christmas presents this year. I will use the amazon voucher towards husband and my annual haul of second hand books for our stockings and the next voucher for a new bobble hat for me.

I also have £20 of nector points which can go towards stocking fillers.

I’m still intending to have a very frugal Christmas!! I’m looking forward to it in fact. I’m planning to keep a careful rein on costs!

Crunchy

Xx

louby40

I've just Doubled Up my Nectar points. Don't shop there very often but have my Nectar card linked to ebay and Virgin Trains so I racked up 1,300 points which is £13 - so I doubled up and got £20. Just bought some wine (only 3 bottles but it all helps) just have to resist drinking it!

Congrats on the house move!

enthusiasticsaver

Not ideal I know but putting grass seed down and preparing the ground yourself would be cheaper than turfing it. We did that after some new patios were laid a few years ago and the lawn left in a state. Also Lino is cheaper than tiles

pennywisepoundstupid

Can the lawn not be left until the spring when the weather will be better, turf needs tlc and it would be awful for it to be ruined due to bad weather. Also gives you a few months to save up to have it done.

Seasidegal58

Another vote here for leaving the lawn till spring. As its winter the children wouldnt be out there much anyway. Re tiles - I needed new flooring in the kitchen back in the summer. I went for a “wooden” look lino for now that was cheap and looks very effective as I didn’t want to put anything expensive down because I’m in the market for a new kitchen next spring. Might help as a stop gap till next year when you could then go to town a bit on the tiles.

reality_check

I can't recommend artificial grass enough. It is pricey, but....this is your forever home and with a dog it is the best thing I have possibly ever bought! No more muddy paws and so good for kids too. I got mine in Feb a few years ago and as nobody was thinking of their gardens at the time of year I got a good deal xxx