Unsure whether to consolidate - please advise

Verbatim

Of course I'm still reading and glad your rent will be a lot more manageable now. That's appalling that your l/l might try to trick you out of your deposit! I'm glad you're up for a dispute with him. Have you been monitoring you electricity usage? Are you on a contract? Not on a payg meter I mean? Good luck with saving for eventual purchase too.

Humdinger1

@zippygeorgeandben thanks for the name check, and your very kind offer to subscribe to mine.  I don't actually have one right now but do keep pondering on it.  Honestly, grabby landlords! Stick to your guns.  Look forward to the next episode! Love Humdinger x 

zippygeorgeandben

Verbatim - I feel guilty I didn't namecheck you too.  Humdinger turns up and gets all the credit.
I say that about the LL as (I probably mentioned it way back, but we got locked inside the flat.  We told him on day 1 (well the letting agent) that the lock needed changing as it was flimsy.  Sent pictures, nothing happened.  December, went to open door, lock just gave in and we couldn't get out.  Rang LA, came round, couldn't do anything.  They tried contacting LL, he didn't answer for 6 hours.  They tried ringing their locksmith, he was 3 hours away so I got hold of a friend who knew someone.  Within 20 minutes he was here and managed to get the door open and replace the lock, £110 paid.  Result?  LL refused to pay.  Saying that I should have rung him personally because then he would have answered.  Boggling. He should (and LA) have been thanking me.  Had a broken mirror since July 2019, that's not been dealt with.  I'm going to complain to the LA Head Office as why they want someone like this on their books is anyones guess as they have been weak.
BUT, let's look ahead - the guy I'm moving in with; yes it is a gamble.  We have been for a few walks together and I have told him things which my sister say people should know about me before I move in! (don't worry, nothing major!) However, the savings should cover any issues and he seems really generous; offering to pay half for removals and just paying for stuff he doesn't need to.
I am excited though to fill in my budget for the month of March and see the reduced payments.  I just need to mentally prepare myself for what to let go of in this flat. I've tried watching Netflix docs, reading online to start that process.
Anyway, I'm off to look for quotes for people to move my goods.
Take care, be safe and I'll keep you updated.

Humdinger1

@zippygeorgeandben surely I don't get ALL the credit?!  @Verbatim is always worth reading and I've enjoyed her words of wisdom on many diaries.  Good luck with new adventure; you seem eminently grounded to me and you're not doing anything that can't be changed.  Sometimes you just know.  Look forward to your next update love Humdinger x 

enthusiasticsaver

Hi zippy.  I haven't read your diary for a while but you have come so far to have that amount of saving after being in debt and good to hear you are moving in with someone as your LL sounds dreadful. Getting the outgoings down will be helpful for your budget.  Are you saving for anything specific? 

Verbatim

Well thank you kindly Zippy and Humdinger! Looking forward to your next update Zippy.

Humdinger1

@Verbatim pleasure! I miss the old icons as yours always gave me a very strong sense of your personality but your words do that too!

zippygeorgeandben

enthusiasticsaver said:

Hi zippy.  I haven't read your diary for a while but you have come so far to have that amount of saving after being in debt and good to hear you are moving in with someone as your LL sounds dreadful. Getting the outgoings down will be helpful for your budget.  Are you saving for anything specific? 

Hey enthusiasticsaver you haven't read my diary because you've been far too busy helping other people I imagine!
I'm not actually saving for anything specific really; the intention is to move closer to my sister (that was going to happen this year but this developing situation makes sense at this moment in time).  Not being able to go out means saving money, not spending on frivolous items and then when the country does gradually open up, maybe I can actually touch base with friends again, and go to a couple of restaurants and spend some of my surplus.  If you remember the Peloton I ordered which came in November, that was a significant outlay but for me, it is worth every penny.  I have been on it every day (apart from Christmas period) and look forward to exercising; something I would never have said before.  And I'm 41!

enthusiasticsaver

Glad you are enjoying your Peloton bike and ideal for the circumstances we find ourselves in now.  I hope you manage to make the move closer to  your sister.  We have saved due to missed or delayed holidays, no socialising/meals out  or days out.  Hope we get back some sort of normality soon. 

zippygeorgeandben

Hi everyone,
I know that I don't normally post mid month but I moved quite a few things out of the flat today and I just felt I wanted to put words on paper.  The removals are coming on Thursday, council collection on the Wednesday and the end of tenancy cleaning on Saturday.  I've spent my night today using the budget planner on this site (I have yet found one half as good) comparing what I spend each month now on 'needs' and what I propose spending on 'needs' when I move next week (just in time for a new month) and I will save approx £950 per month.  This is not including any tutoring that I may also do which is pretty steady each month.  Even with improving quality of life i.e. cleaner/magazine sub etc. it'll all be halved and an enjoyable new experience.
Anyway, you will next hear from me sometime early March.  Just keep your fingers crossed that my move has gone well please.