Dreaming of financial freedom!

ch4rly2002

We've been to sign the papers today for our house sale and purchase ready for exchange. The solicitor will hang on to them until we're ready to exchange (assuming the last few queries come back ok) so that's another job ticked off our list.

We're seeing the seller tonight for her birthday party. We have no idea what to expect really but she said no presents, she wants a donation to Macmillan on the night, so we will go and take out some cash on the way down but I'm not sure what an appropriate donation amount would be. I think we'll take out more than we think we need and see what others are donating. I already have a lovely Me To You 40th birthday card so I don't have any expense there.

ch4rly2002

We had a good time at the seller's birthday party and it was great to meet her parents who will be our neighbours. They were lovely. It wasn't very money saving though... £20 donation to Macmillan for her birthday present (she requested donations), £5 for parking and a whopping £32 for 4 drinks! We went to the bar and ordered a glass of wine and a glass of diet coke and it came to £16 :eek: I might be out of touch as we rarely buy alcoholic drinks out but it seemed a little pricey to me. Needless to say we made our 2 drinks each last as long as possible.

After a pricey Friday night we've had a couple of no spend days over the weekend and we've stuck to home cooking. The in-laws had us round for tea last night, which was lovely of them. We had a nice chat in their conservatory (very relaxing) and then BIL in California Facetimed and we got to see the nephew. He's only a couple of months old but the change is unbelievable and he's already holding his own head up and is so alert. They're coming over next month and I can't wait to meet and cuddle him, I just want him to stop growing until then!

I've renewed the Landlord insurance today. I shopped around and in the end I went through TCB so hopefully I'll get £70 back from that and the premium was £230, much less than the £310 renewal from our current insurers so I'll class that as a win.

I also got more good news this morning, Hermes have accepted my lost parcel claim and will be refunding me I've cancelled the eBay order and sent her the refund along with a thank you message for her patience. Hermes needed the eBay transaction details for their investigation so I asked if she would mind holding on for the refund as I thought if I cancelled the transaction before Hermes investigated they might reject the claim. She was great about it and has waited the few days needed for them to look into it.

themadvix

I don't think you're out of touch Charly! That sounds very expensivo!

You might want to edit your post for anonymity though

Excellent news about Hermes - it's good to know they'll sort things out if it goes wrong.

ch4rly2002

Which bit Vix? and thank you

try_harder

All very exciting on the new house front .

Great result with MH ,as i think i said to you or maybe it was TM that i have always found them very good and i send all my parcels via them.

themadvix

Don't think you've mentioned your DH's name before.... x

ch4rly2002

Thank you x

ch4rly2002

We went out for a lovely meal a few days ago for our anniversary, which was the in-law's treat as they couldn't think of what to buy and we couldn't either so they suggested they treat us to a meal - it was great. I think we'll go there again for a celebration. It's my birthday soon and we already have somewhere booked, but I'm sure there will be another occasion at some point where we're struggling to decide where to go so I'll make a note of that place.

The house stuff seems to be dragging and not getting resolved. We've mentioned to our buyer on a number of occasions that there are documents she needs to request - and it will take time for her to receive them - and our solicitor has also reminded her solicitor, however she thinks everything is sorted now. Her solicitor has told her everything is fine from their end and she signed a contract yesterday! We're going to see her over the weekend to measure for something so we'll mention it again to her in person to try and make her see that she needs to act soon. Basically if it's not sorted before the exchange date, we can't exchange, so it's really important she does it To add to that, the bottom of the chain have now changed their mind from "we can only do this one day in March" to "can we do 26th February?". I 'm not sure if everything with our seller will be resolved by then so we're pushing to keep the date in March if we can. DH and I have decided that we will go ahead with the sale regardless and if the purchase can't go ahead we will look for a plan B. That would be very sad and we don't want it to happen but I think we need to be prepared of it the purchase doesn't go ahead to try and buffer some of the disappointment. With the seller burying her head and ignoring our information about what she needs to do, I just don't think she will get it done in time. I've just discovered Kirstypoos' diary and have been reading about the trouble she had with the house buying process and solicitors and I can now fully sympathise... why is it all so complicated?! Still smiling though

Mum messaged me to say that Dad is being re-assessed for his CHC next week - that is the payment for his nursing home. He got accepted by the skin of his teeth last time as they are so strict on the criteria (e.g. it's not enough to be doubly incontinent and need to have your pads changed regularly by 2 members of staff, apparently they require 'manual evacuation' :eek:). Someone in the home just lost their funding and I dread to think what will happen if Dad loses his. Mum has burned through all their savings and ran up some credit card debt last time just trying to cover his nursing home bills, bills for all his care needs (things like his Tena pull ups as he doesn't receive many through the NHS and she has to top him up, smoothies as he can only drink thick drinks etc). I think if Dad loses his funding Mum may have to give up her flat and I don't know what she'd do for the interim period until he passes away. I'm keeping all my fingers and toes crossed that he doesn't lose his funding.

I sold another necklace with a percentage going to Dad's charity. I have 2 left so I'm hoping they sell, which would be a win-win for the charity and me. That'd be 2 fewer items to take with us, albeit small ones, but they're the kind of things that could probably get lost easily.

try_harder

What a stressful time you are having at the minute .I am especially sad to hear about your dad and his funding ,i find it all so heartbreaking how on earth have things got so bad ,i am so sorry ,it must be so difficult for you and your mum with your dad so ill and all this to contend with too ,keep your chin up ch4rly ,i am thinking about you but sadly nothing i can do i wish there was but your mum is lucky to have such a caring daughter .I hope all resolves soon with the house buying /selling too just make life a little easier for you.

EatingTheElephant

House buying/selling is such a stressful time without all of the worry you are facing with your dad. Fingers crossed you get some good news on the funding front.