Atrixa's Saving Diaries

MovingForwards

Welcome to the wonderful world of home ownership! 
You've saved some money by shopping it at BHF, the difference has helped buy your other things.
Have a look on FB selling groups as in a few of mine there's some carpet fitters, they couldn't really make a mess refitting yours.

It will soon be time to depart your old place and move to your home 🤗🤗

Irenadler

Wowsers, well impressed! You are definitely on the ball, and though it's tiring, it will be worth it when you shut the door to the new home, sit back, and look around your own home. Make sure you have some time out to enjoy it!

atrixa

Thanks both
Let's see what's been going on this week:
Eventually found a carpet fitter who'll do it for £80(!) tomorrow before I get the furniture in. Hardly anyone was available, seems to have been a carpet fitting boom lately...
Washing machine turned up on Wednesday, was going to get it installed at the same time but they didn't have an appliance connector and the hole in the cabinet wasn't big enough to get the plug through , so ended up frantically ringing round for a plumber to come round and sort it properly. Luckily I got the installation fee back, but the plumber cost me double what the installation cost from the company was. I thought they would have parts to fit any appliances if they're installing them... Oh well, it's sorted now.
My mattress and dining table were delivered without incident, they're just waiting to be unpacked/put together now.
Decorating wise, we got the kitchen fully prepped and now we have lining paper on some of the walls. I'm using the extra thick stuff and a stanley knife is useless on it, so I've picked up some wallpaper scissors. Rest of the house is an absolute tip, but I've been working full time so it can't be helped.
Since last night I've been packing up and cleaning my flat. It's pretty much done now. Kitchen is spotless, so just need to do the last bits of packing and cleaning tomorrow before a friend comes round with a van. 
I'm off Monday and Tuesday next week so I'll hopefully be able to get the house into reasonable working order by then. I don't think I'll be finished decorating until the end of the month at the earliest.

MovingForwards

It's been an expensive week, but should start to settle a little bit now you've got all the big things out the way.

Focus on kitchen, lounge and main bedroom. Those are the rooms you will use the most, then slowly work your way through everywhere else. If you try and do everything after moving in, it will get too much, especially with working.
Set a goal every day of unpacking a box, bag, case or something else. Bite size is easier to do.

Not long now until you return the keys and settle into your home ☺️

Skint_yet_Again

I had a new carpet fitted in my bedroom recently. I was lucky enough to get an end of roll on the Monday of the week I was off work and they fitted it the same week. The fitter was £40. I suppose you are paying a premium if they are busy. 

Edit - if £80 is to refit carpet in the whole house I guess that is a good price. 

You will soon be sorted & moved in and it will be a lovely home 😊

Irenadler

Agree with what they said! One room at a time, and you will do it, hard graft now will pay off when you are enjoying your first Xmas in your new place. 

atrixa

Thanks
I'm all moved in now, keys handed back for my flat and most of the kitchen has lining paper on it so good progress!
I've actually unpacked most things, just need to have a bit of a tidy. I've ordered the rest of the furniture/storage I needed and also some paint so I can carry on decorating. It's odd not having a bathroom cabinet, so I've ordered a tall shelf thing to go in the corner. It's absolute bliss having a bath instead of a shower! My kitchen is so much bigger than in my flat it feels like cooking in a cathedral!
I have to pay next month's rent as I missed the cut off for my notice, but she's returning the entire deposit, so it evens out. Also, my mortgage lender paid my £500 cashback, so I don't mind going a bit mad on furniture and homeware.
To keep my budget (and my waist) in line, I'm now on healthy batch meals for the rest of the month. I did a lovely soya and lentil chilli yesterday and got 5 or 6 portions out of it. Tomorrow I'm going to make a sweet potato and chickpea curry and some cookies. They can all go in my freezer that has THREE WHOLE DRAWERS! No more letterbox under-counter job!
Ooh, I didn't update you about the limescale in the loo. I'd gotten some of it off, but then I didn't go in for a week while the rewire was being done. I don't know what the sparkies/labourers did, but the limescale is almost completely gone. 
The fridge now doesn't smell as bad since it's been switched on. 
I need to research on how best to get soot out of a carpet tomorrow (sparky realised that the loft is full of it when he drilled a hole then ended up with a face-full) and finish lining the kitchen and put up a dining table and chairs. 

atrixa

Bed was delivered! I've put it together and it's looking quite smart (beige divan I got on clearance). I'm off to return my old broadband equipment now and do some grocery shopping.

MovingForwards

The limescale may have gone because of it being used regularly, plus all the pop you dropped down it helped.

Use the hand attachment of a vac to get the soot up. Don't run over the top of it, but try from the side to begin with. It keeps it loose and not pushed in further..

Boring stuff out the way.

You're in! Congratulations!

Don't worry about unpacking and finding a place for everything, you will move things around a lot while looking for just the right spot 😁

Enjoy your first night in your new home, the novelty doesn't wear off when you've waited so long for it 🤗

Irenadler

Incredibly good news! Congratulations!! I am giving you a virtual celebratory hug.... 

Picturing you stuck at the top of a ladder now, covered in paint..... you will have a fantastic time making it your home. And in time for Christmas, the best present you can give yourself, your first Xmas in your first home....