Aim to get mortgage down before increasing again

Schoolworker

The groundworkers is delaying the slabs at the back to the same level at the weekend.

Lots of the snagging was finished up today so hopefully the builder will send in the completion paperwork to the council so he gets the last of his money Nd only a few jobs left if comes back after painting work done.

Painting coming on nicely and getting there. Kitchen is due mostly so this weekend we are putting up the smaller tree Inthe kitchen which will be the kids tree and keep the main tree in the living room but it will only be up for 2 weeks or so as it will need to go up after carpet is laid on 18th Dec.
Tried to get the rest of my Xmas shopping done today whilst off work - still got to get part of a present for my mum and dad to get but happy with what I purchased today. Back to work tomorrow. Well it's only 8 more days of work for me until Xmas.

Schoolworker

Kids stayed at man's and papas last night so we went out for a pre theatre lunch in a nice Italian restaurant then back to the house to wrap up presents. all done and put away for big man in red suit to deliver. Got a TV for DD and an aerial but it does not work so need to take back and may have to get the fire stick so DD can use her TV in her new room next year.

Going to put up the smaller tree today as well as some Christmas stickers on the windows for now until some decorations can go up.

Slabs did not get done yesterday as the temperature was too low so they are frozen down. Hopes to get this done if temperature rises slightly. Painter due back tomorrow so we have get living room ready is put all furniture in he middle so he can do walls etc. All stuff back in the cupboards etc and new tumble dryer in place as well as wee chest freezer in kitchen cupboard - it will be great not having to go out to the hut for extra food as this was where the old freezer was.

Coming together - need to when find out when DS furniture will be ready for collection as we want to put it together next weekend after carpet down and try to get him in his new room before Xmas. It will be a job moving all stuff including all the toys there.

Schoolworker

2 bedroom carpets being fitted at the moment as well as the stair. All painting done and most of the new curtain are up. Hope son bed can go into his new room once carpet fitter do e once we come back from scouts family badge night.

Hubbie got an electrician to hang the kitchen light up. Living room carpet to get done on Monday so no TV in the lounge as all furniture needs to be out of the room. Hope we can do some of the move around this week.

Need to post my Xmas cards before time's runs out and buy my last present as well as get the Xmas dinner food in the freezer. Getting there but not sure when all done as we have to choose drawers and beside cabinets for our new room - built in wardrobes being done on 9th January.

Going to see Santa tomorrow afternoon after kids activities.

CathT

Your extension time frame is impressive. Having decorating done and new carpets is so disruptive as you have to move everything. When we had our extension done, the decorating was definitely the most disruptive part as the lounge had to house everything!

Hope the children enjoyed Santa, we saw him at our local NT property when we had snow recently so was really good. Have you finished work for Christmas?

Schoolworker

Thanks Cathy for your response and glad someone is reading my blabble. We love seeing Santa and it was a package where you went on a wee train, saw a wee show see santa, on the carousel ride and then we went ice skating.

Lounge carpet was fitted this morning so we had help to get all furniture back into the lounge but lots of arguments about where things are going as hubbie wants to change things majorly. Anyway we managed to swap some of the furniture and beds into the new rooms but the wee boxroom has lots of stuff in it to put away properly but think I will leave most of this to be done after Xmas.

Kids like their new rooms and have to go to get new duvets covers for us and daughter but will see what I see over the next few weeks.

All very stressful as hubbie wants to do everything straight away rather than going through things so many arguments but hopefully it will be back to normal by Xmas and still on speaking terms.

I'm still working this week we'd to Friday as our schools finishes on Friday but off until 10th January so can get all homely things up on walls and put things away etc.

Schoolworker

Tonight when I drop off hi bid and kids to the house as we are out at my mum's I will continue on to a big supermarket to get most of the Xmas day food stuff as not got this.

Got part of hubbie Xmas present to get as well as buy for my dad - not sure when this will be done as I think hubbie is going his Xmas shopping tomorrow night, wed night we are out for my brother big 30th birthday dinner and then see what happens for the rest of the week.

Schoolworker

Well got the turkey and a few other things for Xmas at least. Only got a few items to finish off hubbie present.

Made last overpayment for 2017 today of £40 before it gets spent on other stuff.

Managed to get a white stool for daughter's new big desk in her room as well as new duvet covers - will see if she likes these or are they going back to the shop.

Some Christmas decorations are out now that all the painting done and carpets are down . Box room is a dumping ground so will need to try to tidy up a bit before Christmas if possible.

Schoolworker

Finished work.on Friday until 20th January - hurrah. I think I'm all set for Xmas and if not bought then too bad.

I thought I had lost the santa key so had to visit several shops to get this. Anyway told daughter we have a new key - the old key is under the smaller Xmas tree on the table - we have 2 now.

Yesterday took back a duvet set DD did not like and ended up leaving my bank card in the machine. We were out buying a new lamp for our living room in the afternoon when I noticed this so phoned the shop and went to get it. Thank goodness I got this before Xmas shutdown.

New curtains are up in the living room and looking good. Need to decide on the furniture layout after Christmas decorations are down in the new year.

Heading to soft play shortly for Xmas Eve play and lunch with the kids and then may try to sort out sons toys as just dumped in his new room but need new storage for these etc. Lots of stuff to sort out after Christmas and this is before we have new toys from.santa and everyone else.

After dinner we are heading to church for family service and then back to the house for the kids to get their Xmas Eve parcel from us which has new pyjamas.

Turkey is out defrosting and need to make the trifle base for tomorrow.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Schoolworker

Well we had a nice Christmas and kids say that santa was good to them so that's great. I got quite a few new perfumes which I needed so great

Christmas dinner was good with all hubbies family including his sister who only recently started talking to their parents earlier this year after a big fall out. Played some games after dinner which was great fun in our new big kitchen.

Relaxing this morning whilst trying to get washing done and try to put away some of the Christmas presents away before heading to my parents this afternoon for dinner.

Kids were excited to see a small covering of snow outside this morning.

Need to look at finances before end of year as we have ordered our bedroom furniture and need to get a few more stuff for daughter's room. We pay off my credit card every month but got another interest free credit credit which has a big balance on this - used for the extension over £10k. I thiink we will need to pay off a big part of this - use the money in the build account and see what the balance is.

Hubbie needs a new car in early 2018 fue to not going to pass next mot so will need to see how much we can put down for deposit from savings and see if we can take out more finance I'm very worried about this as still got 1 year left on my car finance as well as increase mortgage. Will need to try to work on all this in 2018.

Schoolworker

Just had a look at mortgage balance which currently stands at £115304.02 today since we took extra borrowing this year for an extension.

I have put my name forward for 2018 challenge to pay of £2500 which we nearly made this year. This means that we have to pay £208 every month to meet this budget - not allocated this amount but will try to achieve this.

I have decided to empty the build account which still has money in it to pay off a chunk of the 0% credit card which has the carpets and kitchen on it. Hope to bring down from £10k to £2k then continue to pay off small amounts during the rest of the year.

Hubbie needs a new car and will see about this in April after the new cars out - also he may get a good bonus so this as well as some savings could go towards the new car so only taking out a small amount in finance.

Looking at a wee abroad holiday for me and hubbie only as he celebrated his 40th end of October - had a meal out and a private reg plate but I owe him a wee break away since I had this for my big birthday. Hope to book a bit of sun soon for the two of us if my parents will take the kids for 3 or 4 days. Also hope to go a caravan holiday in July as well as maybe visiting my brother for 3 days in Aberdeen during Easter holidays.