Dreaming of financial freedom!

ch4rly2002

Thanks for the advice MadVix and Cross Rabbit. We'll be meeting up to talk more with them tomorrow evening so we'll have a chat about 'ground rules' then. We did mention that we're happy to drop them off somewhere if they want to do something alone and they don't need to eat every meal with us etc. but I think you're right that we should sit down together and iron out everyone's expectations and how we want it to work. We're still a little unsure about what kind of holiday they're wanting so I think we need to discuss with them the style of holiday they're wanting and how we can make it work for everyone. I also mentioned there are plenty of places for any of us to disappear to in the house if anyone wants to go and read by themselves etc. so they don't think it's going to be like on Big Brother where we are always sat in earshot of each other I think it helps that B-I-L is going too as the more people there on an evening the more diluted it will be and they love him too. He really likes the same things they do so it should work out well. They're planning on taking a projector and some anime and films so we should have plenty to do on an evening too.

Contract, transfer deeds and answers to the buyer's queries were taken into the solicitor's office yesterday The solicitor has emailed to confirm they have received them, which I am very happy about as I did wonder if they hadn't prepared the draft contract because I hand delivered our initial paperwork rather than posting it so this time I asked for confirmation they'd received it. I'm really hoping for completion in March, but I'm not entirely convinced it will happen this month. Fingers crossed through!

Still no news on the deposit. I hope there isn't an issue and that it's just in someone's to-do pile rather than forgotten. I don't really want to chase them in case it gets their back up but we're weeks past the longest timeline their website indicates it should be so I am a bit anxious now. I'm not sure how long is too long and whether we should say something or continue to keep quiet - but for how long?! Aargh, stressful!

I'm catching up with other diaries now as well. For a lot of diaries I've missed a whole year so it's taking a while to catch up, but it's nice to see so much progress in a sitting

ch4rly2002

Morning everyone It may be cloudy, but the birds are singing so I'm in a good mood.

today I finished paying for our second Hive device. We have a dual-zone system as one Hive controls the heating downstairs and the second controls the heating on the middle and top floor. When I had them installed the British Gas engineer told me that the cheapest way to do it would be to pay a special offer price for the first one (£149) and then £7.25 per month for 10 months for the second one, and the 10 months are up so that's £7.25 back in my pocket and I will make it a regular OP instead now.

I have been approved for a new credit card with 0% interest and no transfer fee, just in time as my current 0% deal ends in just over a week. That should arrive this week as it was approved a few days ago, and then I can transfer the balance from my Halifax card.

I've also just had a sale on Facebook. Our estate has a Facebook site (it's a massive new-build estate so there are about 3000 people living on the estate with a pretty good Facebook group for the community). I've just cleaned up and sold an IKEA children's Poang chair for £5. It cost me £6 last year and I got it for the cat for in the utility room so he would have somewhere to sleep overnight but he never used it, he prefers to sleep high up so ended up in sink, kind of (the washing up bowl is turned upside down so there is a level surface and then a big cushion over the top). We don't use that sink, so it's fine with me, as long as he's happy. I'm going to see if there's anything else I can sell on there are there are no fees, you don't have to wrap and post, and you get cash in hand.

OnePoll is up to £22.70 now and Prolific is at £16.90 with another £1.50 awaiting review - happy days

ch4rly2002

I forgot to mention, my favourite hand cream ran out (Elizabeth Arden 8 hour hand cream). I love it because it isn't greasy and it smells great so I can put it on anytime without worrying about getting greasy fingerprints all over. I had got it as part of a set so I didn't know how much it costs individually - £27 :eek: So, I looked around and managed to get it for £17.99 from amazon and got 90p from TCB too :T

try_harder

Morning ch4rly . I hope the house sale gets sorted soon and that you get your deposit back . All sounding very positive in your house.

ch4rly2002

The sun is shining and the birds are singing, plus the cherry blossom tree in the garden is in bloom so all is well with the world

I had a lovely chilled weekend. DH and I had a lie in on Saturday, which was well needed. My mum agreed to watch The Walking Dead as I've been pestering her about it for a while but she doesn't really gory or scary things. I told her that after the initial couple of seasons it gets to be more about how civilisation evolves and the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, so she agreed. There have been some scary, jumpy moments and some 'colourful' language from her but overall she is enjoying it. We binge watched a few episodes over the weekend and so far we are up to season 3. I managed to mow the lawn on Saturday as the weather was nice and it's needed it's first cut for a little while now but we haven't had the weather. It's looking a lot neater out there now and I felt great satisfaction. It also helped with my step count! After our jobs were done we went out with our friend who plays Pokemon Go. We went to the local park and as there was a Pokemon community Day (they happen every month) there were loads of other people in the park playing the game. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Afterwards we went to McDonalds to get a drink to warm up and I used a free coffee voucher for a latte.

A couple of our friends were in London for the People's Vote march on Saturday so DH and I were on kitty feeding duties. On Saturday evening I went with mum, although she stayed in the car, as DH was shattered. I took advantage of the cats' "cupboard love", which is what my friend and I use to describe when cats are all frisky and wanting attention before they are fed. When I got there the little girl was waiting in the dining room so I picked her up and cuddled her for a little bit then the boy came inside and I did the same with him. They are never normally bothered with DH or me when our friends are there as the boy tends to stay outside more and the girl only wants to sit on our male friend. I fed them and managed to set the alarm with the correct zones excluded. On Sunday DH and I went together and again we took advantage of the "cupboard love" and gave them some fussing before putting down their food. As soon as they have their food, they lose interest.

On Sunday evening we went to our friend's house - the one who is having trouble with her ex and trying to get him out of her house. We had a good catch up and it was lovely to see her and her new bf (they've been friends for years). She has both of her dogs now as her ex texted her last week saying that he'd taken an overdose (he hadn't) and was in hospital (he wasn't) so there was noone to look after the dog. It's actually her dog but when she left her home she left the dog there as he said he needed her for his mental health. all he's done is use the dog to get at our friend (constant texts saying the dog has run away, it's got cancer, it's fallen and broken its ribs, it's died, there's noone to look after it) so finally enough was enough and our friend came to pick up the dog (DH and I stood outside when she came in case he was in the house, but luckily he wasn't). She is so happy now she is with her family again. Our friend gave her her first bath in 7 months and she has spent her time either running round the garden like a madwoman or sleeping in her brother's basket! While we were there, she and her bf were telling DH and me about the Irish lottery. We don't normally play the lottery but thought it might be a fun thing to do once in a while if we see any offers or feel that way inclined. I noticed BETFRED have an offer on of £10 in bets for £5, for new members. I might give it a go.

Our other friends are arranging an escape room as a belated birthday experience and sent some links. DH and I have had a look and decided which one we like the look of so we're looking forward to getting that organised.

This morning I rang the new credit card company and gave them the card number for my 0% balance transfer. It won't cover the full amount but I can pay the rest off when the house sale goes through.

Still no news on the deposit or house sale but, OnePoll is up to £24.05 so it's almost at cashing out time, and Prolific is up to £19.25 :T

ch4rly2002

Great news - DH's cousin has confirmed that we can use her villa in Spain on the dates we requested so we went to our friends' house last night and booked the flights. Although the flights had gone up slightly while we were waiting for confirmation that the villa was booked, they had gone down again by last night and worked out £3 cheaper overall. In total the flights came to £800 for flights, bags and seats. DH noticed that the offer of 20% of seats, bags and food would mean that if we ordered a sandwich each we would actually save money, so by purchasing a sandwich each in both directions, it actually reduced the total to £763 and we had sandwiches included as well! our friend is now researching rental cars as she doesn't work so offered to spend the time looking for a deal as she knows how busy we are, which I thought was very kind of her.

Still no news on the deposit. I rang the DPS yesterday and they said that all deposit claims are delayed as they have been inundated, so it's just a case of sit back and wait.

No news on the house sale front either... I was hoping to complete in March but that looks unlikely.

I've just requested a payout of £3 from Pinecone and OnePoll is at £24.70

ch4rly2002

Oh, and I forgot to mention that Mum and I saved a baby bird that naughty kitty had brought in.I found feathers in the utility room this morning and assumed he'd eaten it, but it must have flown up onto the units where he couldn't get it. Mum found it flying round the kitchen and when I walked in the poor thing flew into the patio door and then walked off stunned into the corner of the kitchen. Luckily I managed to scoop it up and put it on the table outside and after a minute it composed itself and flew off. I love saving animals when he brings them in, it feels like I've done a good deed for the day when the animals get to live another day :T

the_cross_rabbit

You deserve one of these for your good deed :A
CRx

ch4rly2002

Thanks CR

themadvix

Well done for saving the bird!

That's a fab deal on the flight - food thrown in and a discount, what a result!

Glad you rang about the deposit - at least you know they haven't forgotten you now and it's just a case of waiting. Frustrating, but nothing to worry about.