The Cottage Dream

Runders

Thanks for the congrats guys

It's very surreal knowing I have finally made the move! I am back in Norfolk this week for work - but come next Monday I will start working from home, with just one week a month back at the main office in Norfolk.

I am also going to take a week's leave in August so I can start doing some of the DIY bits and bobs. I plan to do as much of it as I can myself this time round.

Little bit of MSE - I have a £7.31 in the OP pot from selling a few books and DVDs. I am hoping to cream some interest of some of my savings to add to this and overpay it at the end of the month.

Bit of non MSE - I have a horrible feeling I got caught by the speed van on Sunday morning. I am so angry at myself for rushing as really at the end of the day, does it matter if you are a bit late? I will be dreading the post from now on!

Runders

Hey all,

Well it's my first day working from home today. It feels so weird, and I already miss all the chit chat from the office. I think this is going to take some getting used too. I have to say that not having to drive an hour into work this morning was great though. I have made plans to go and meet a friend for a walk this evening so that I don't spend all day on my own. I am ging to try to make the most of the evenings now I won't be tired from a drive.

Still waiting with fear for the postman each morning - eeep!

In other MSE news, I received a £120 gift card from BT after I took out my fibre with them. I will save that for next month, and use it instead of the money I have aside for groceries. I will then split half of that towards my mortgage and half towards my savings. I miss the ease of my offset mortgage I had before, where everything just counted towards my Mortgage, but I could access it anytime I wanted. As I don't have that this time around, I have decided to try to split any extra monies between mortgage and savings. I should also get £120 cashback for this too - but that won't come through for a little while yet.

I think it would be good to have a few August goals. I am panicking a little with this 'new life; as it were, which is ridiculous I know. But the stark fact is, I am a marine Biologist in the middle of the country and I would like to change my job at some point. I've worked for my current company for 11 years and I really don't want this to be all I ever do. I need to get settled and then work on a game plan for finding a different job. But, I digress, August Goals:

1) Find one form of side hustle - maybe matched beting
2) Paint the Kitchen and/or Bathroom
3) Attempt a £250 mortgage OP and £250 to savings
4) Post up a new SOA on my diary
5) Get more savvy with food and batch cook!
6) Visit a new place in the Shire that I have never been to before
7) Start working out again
8) Go for a lunchtime walk each day
9) Try to loose half a stone in August
10) Investigate some courses - I'd like to get my powerboat licence

Okay - I think 10 goals are enough to be getting on with. We shall see how it goes!

sofarbehind

Congratulations on the new home Runders.

Be kind to yourself about feeling a bit anxious about things, you have been through a lot and made huge changes. It's natural to feel like that. I'm an over thinker too and tend to want a perfect solution to everything NOW even though life isn't like that...

You are very capable (You are are a marine biologist! You are awesome!) and you will work things out over time.

I am wondering if next year I will manage to harness some of your bravery and also increase my mortgage to move where I want to....

Runders

sofarbehind wrote: »

Congratulations on the new home Runders.

Be kind to yourself about feeling a bit anxious about things, you have been through a lot and made huge changes. It's natural to feel like that. I'm an over thinker too and tend to want a perfect solution to everything NOW even though life isn't like that...

You are very capable (You are are a marine biologist! You are awesome!) and you will work things out over time.

I am wondering if next year I will manage to harness some of your bravery and also increase my mortgage to move where I want to....

Hi Sofarbehind,

thanks for stopping by. Like you I am on over thinker and if I don't have the perfect solution in place I start to get panicky - I'd say this is a more recent thing for me, certainly it became more pronounced after my Mum got ill and the died. It can be utterly exhausting at times. I keep telling myself, that just staying put for a year and working on my own health and fitness is no bad thing. I'm also doing a lot of different volunteering to meet new people and up my skill sets in other areas, which I am really enjoying.

Re moving, I was terrified of taking this mortgage on and moving away from my home and friends of the last 11 years. I still don't know how I am going to find life with less money - but I am determined to make it work and there are loads of free things to do and see out there. Also, my friends are all still my friends and we just make sure we have things in the diary to see each other over the coming months. It helps that I spend time back in Norfolk too as part of my job. So if you want to move, and it's financially doable, then go for it. At the end of the day, the worst thing that happens is it isn't the right move and you rent the place out or move somewhere else. Not ideal, but at least you gave it a shot, that's what I am working with anyway.

Runders

HI all,
I've been a bit hectic these last few weeks - work has taken a lot of my time up. I'm actually currently back in Norfolk for 2 weeks during holiday cover.

I am house sitting for friends and they live on the road over from where my old house is. I have walked down my old street a couple of times going to the shop and it is so surreal seeing my old house with someone else in. I'm not sure how I feel about it really, did any of you lot see your old house after you had left?

Anywho - I have made a few over payments this month, but I have also had to spend just under £2k having the roof maintained :eek::(:eek: To be fair, it could have been worse so i shouldn't complain too much.

I don't think I have achieved any of my goals I set - bit of an ulitmate failure!!

1) Find one form of side hustle - maybe matched beting Not really had time to look into this properly yet
2) Paint the Kitchen and/or Bathroom Nope! But I have potted some things up in the garden, being in Norwich obviously doesn't help this one
3) Attempt a £250 mortgage OP and £250 to savings I have made a £250 OP, savings eaten by roof
4) Post up a new SOA on my diary I may leave this for next month as I am still not sure what my pay is in my new role after a few mis-calcs by my company
5) Get more savvy with food and batch cook! :rotfl:
6) Visit a new place in the Shire that I have never been to before I have done this, I went for a gorgeous walk with my friend, visited a lovley pub and found a wild swimming spot
7) Start working out again :rotfl:
8) Go for a lunchtime walk each day Does my lunch time icecream today count?!
9) Try to loose half a stone in August :rotfl:
10) Investigate some courses - I'd like to get my powerboat licence Still want to tdo this, still ahven't found a course

lets hope I do better next month ey!

Runders

Hello all,

Wow over a month since a post from me - it's been hectic, due to holidays needing covering etc. I have spent a lot of time back in Norfolk and so not much MSE or house activities have gone on.

I have just had a letter saying from the tax man saying I am owed a refund - woot woot. I will keep £100 back for me to enjoy and I have paid the other £139 to the Mortgage. I just bought some theatre tickets so the £100 I am keeping back will pay for those I've been a bit naughty on the theatre ticket front recently. I am seeing two things in October, one in November and I've also booked something for Feb next year. Very naughty! But I love the theatre.

Hoping this weekend will be pretty thrifty apart from petrol costs. I am a member of the NT and they have given me a free day pass for a friend, so we are going to go and have an autumn walk around one of the nearby properties on Sat which I am really looking forward too.