Village life

Kittencat

I feel I need a diary!

We have had a difficult 6 months but that will change as you will read below.

Short story - We sold our house 6 months ago and bought an older house in a small village on the outskirts of the town. The house needed work, but not as much as we thought. We were told by our builders that it would take 3 months and 6 months later we are still living with my parents in a very small house.

We = Husband, myself and little girl.

Builder has told us it will be another 6 weeks, we are OK with this as it's realistic and he has been fobbing us of far too long now.

As much as I really appriciate my mum and dad putting us up, rent free, it is really hard. We are in one bedroom, us on a sofa bed and little one on her mattress on the floor beside us. I do feel I have to bite my tongue a lot of the time. I really need my space and own home back now. Everything has been on hold for far too long.

I was going to start a diary when we move but I feel the need to do it now.
All our belongings are in storage, if we had known we would still be with my parents 6 months on then we would have found somewhere to rent. We really miss our family time together, just the 3 of us!

I need to stop moaning and get on with it. Our life is a good one, we are a happy family and very close.

Money was really good before we bought the old house (have you seen the film 'Money Pit'?). We have the money for the refirbishment £31,000. All our savings and £12,000 Loan from family member. We also have a £25,000 Tesco loan on 3% apr over 7 years which was instead of increasing our mortgage. We have never had big debt before and it scares me if I'm honest. We have good money coming in but I feel we can't do anything until we are in our own home.

More later........ need a cup of tea.

Kittencat

Today has been very quiet.

DH is working today so myself and little one popped up to the allotment ( new venture ) only had a plot 2 weeks ago. We just had a look around and did a lot of planning in my head. The allotment is at the end of the street we are going to live in.......eventually. I want to try every aspect of village life and this is one of them (not grown anything before....oh dear). Then walked to the park for little one to run around and play. I planned on popping into a supermarket for little bit's but little one had a leak in her welly and had wet tights so went home. My dad is watching the rugby downstairs and mum is cooking dinner, so me and little one are upstairs watching a film.

So a NSD today. I'm going to wonder over to the challenges as I need to keep occupied.

Kittencat

Well I've joined the NSD challenge. I've given myself 10 for the month of Feb. I think I can do it. I always take a packed lunch to work and pay £1.50 a month for our teas and coffees. Going to keep track in my signature.

Worked today then needed a little top up shop in Ald* and spent £12. Our shopping budget is also all over the place as my parents are insisting they get the groceries, so we have only been buying things that are extra. As my parents will not take anything off us for staying with them (in fact my dad gets quite angry if I mention it) they like going on holidays so when they book their next one, which will be soon, we will pop into the travel agents and pay off £500 and not tell them. Went straight to pick up little one from school after my little shop and we got soaked going from school to the car. We were going to pop into the library but decided to go home instead.

Husband is working nights tonight so I'm already in bed and going to put a film on. My head has been banging for the last hour but I hate taking painkillers. I think it's tension.

I didn't realise how much I miss housework. Husband went up the house today and looks like the builders haven't been there. This is one of the reasons the house has taken so long. So annoying!!

Anyway should be a NSD tomorrow.

Kxx

Drawingaline

Hi

Good luck with the nsd, I tried in Jan but didn't get to grips with them and have a target of 10 in Feb too.

EssexHebridean

Welcome aboard with the diary Kittencat! Well done on taking the loan rather than adding the 25k to the mortgage too - definitely a financially savvy decision.

I can well imagine it must be tough being back with your parents - they can be the loveliest ever but once you've moved out, I think something in your mindset changes and it's incredibly difficult to go back. Fingers crossed things will be sorted out with the house really soon so you can get back there!

Kittencat

Thanks guys for popping in..........cup of tea?

NSD today, mind you that's only because I asked DH to pick up milk instead of me.....does that count?

Popped to the house today and no builders again....... getting fed up now!

Just put 'The good karma hospital' on catch up. It looks really good so I'm going to sign off and pop in later.

Kxx

Apoorwoman

Kittencat wrote: »

Popped to the house today and no builders again....... getting fed up now!
Kxx

Forgive me butting in Kittencat, but I have first hand experience of builders since converting a barn with the use of sub-contractors. Please be very, very firm as they will take advantage. Give them a deadline, withhold payments if necessary. All the time you let this drift they will just pull their workforce for other jobs. I would suggest you give them a firm moving in date and insist the work is completed by then.

Rant over, will go back to my glass of wine.

Worrierwalker

I sympathise kittencat, having a money pit myself. We are living in our uninhabitable house, but I appreciate you can't do that with a child. I will say though that it's hard, awkward and dirty, and I can't wait for it to be finished.

Kittencat

Thanks guys

Husband had chat with builder who keeps saying that the house will be ready in 6 weeks/8 weeks at the latest. We have told him things are getting difficult living with parents and we are looking at renting, he has assured us it will be ready......watch this space!

NSD today......I'm rocking this week. Even DH has been good with money. Even though we are not paying council tax at the moment as the house is being refurbished, that's £185 a month less but we are paying storage for our possessions which is £125 a month so not really saving there. DH's pay day is in 2 weeks time and we have £600 in he bank.........if we don't still have money in the account by then, then I will eat my hat!!

DH is the spender in the family, he is a lot better than he used to be mind. He has 4 days off work now, so let's see how he gets on!

DH is doing storytime tonight then we are going to watch a film. I have never watched this many films in my life.....I'm more a girl who potters around rather than sit still for hours......it's killing me!

Cuppa tea coming up....anyone else?

boxofpaws

You have my fullest sympathy kittencat, having lived with my parents for 3 months between house sale and purchase. It was the longest 3 months of my life...:D

It will be worth it in the end though and you won't even remember the pain in a couple of years.:)

I would kill for a cup of tea right now

Bobarella

Good luck Kittencat we lived in a building site when I was pregnant with DS. We had a bad experience with the builder who did substandard work which we then had to pay to put right. He also stole from us and then did a runner after we gave him an ultimatum.

I really hope your builders pull their fingers out and deliver on your move date.