Prosperous soul in the making

savingholmes

Goals for today:
1) Paint some more of the shed
2) Take the dog somewhere she can run around
3) Do some more washing
4) Put some more of the washing away (lol)
5) Declutter
6) Do some batch cooking

We ate leftover roast beef dinner for lunch. OH has already fitted an outside light today. So making progress. DD is away camping with a friend - so peaceful!

girlatplay

Hello :wave:

That's me just caught up with your diary.

Very thought provoking. I was thinking earlier about how, when one keeps one's eye on the ball, positive things seem to happen. Since I started my diary at the end of May I've made £300 in overpayments to the loan, I've saved £433 in a separate savings account, I've made a PPI claim from an old statement that I found when clearing out old bags at my folks' house (which I'm confident I'll get something back from, even if it's just the £5 on the statement), I've started a course relevant to work that work are paying for (I couldn't afford it myself) which will increase my future salary potential, and there is a possible small windfall coming at the end of August (not set in stone yet, it's an unconfirmed work bonus which may or may not be approved). That's loads for me!

I'm so chuffed for you about your PPI payouts. That's a brilliant amount to reduce your debt. I'm actually disappointed that I've caught up with your diary as I was really enjoying reading it

savingholmes

Thanks GAP! Really glad that you enjoyed reading it. It is amazing the benefits that you track and get when you focus on a) where you want your money to go and b) how to get more in. I just did a mortgage calculator on what we would be allowed to borrow - and if we put £80K down in deposit (minused some off for fees, stamp duty etc) then we could buy something in theory upto £400K. However, at this moment in time I think that would be unwise. However, I am aware that is is easy to choose a cheaper house that needs work - and find that the amount of money you have to spend means it cost far more.

I love our current house - it was built 2001 - but if we were to stay - I would be tempted to spend money improving the bathroom and the kitchen and the patio - call that £12-14K. Then improving the carpets etc... I am bearing that in mind in considering other houses...

Done some pruning - but then we had a bit of squall - so think will go onto clothes washing and batch cooking next. I've ordered £42 of stuff to arrive tomorrow... Let's hope we stick within that...

parsniphead

I've just caught up with your diary SavingHolmes. I was half way through a while back then got sidetracked. Very inspirational.

I've always longer for a little bit of paradise in the country but it seems so I achievable. One day I will hopefully put more of my John Seymour book into practise.

savingholmes

Ended up going to collect DD from a campsite late last night - got home around midnight. Feel exhausted. Our dog got a very brief walk earlier in the evening - as by that point DD had already started making noises about coming home. She was there with a friend and their family. Shattered.

Not in the mood for work, nor is OH. He is debating ringing in sick but trying to force through it. I have a day off later this week but DD has a couple of appointments - so the morning will be taken up with them.

I've spent a bit more than planned this month - I reckon about £150 - mostly on food, anniversary meal out and some on fuel. So need to do better next month. Not had to move any money - yet anyway - as OH's motorbike insurance is £174 - and that can be paid out of next month if needed.

Right off to finish getting ready for work.

savingholmes

Hi Parsniphead - hope you get your dream in the country too. What is the book you referred to?

jwil

Glad you had a nice time away

parsniphead

It's The New Complete Book of Self Sufficiency. Always makes me feel happy but I'm a little odd.

savingholmes

HI Jwil and Parsniphead.

Well I've booked to see the house on Thursday. Hard sell by estate agent to value my home and see their mortgage advisor which I didn't like at all. She also appeared to lie about what is meant by Grade 2 listed which really annoyed me. I still want to go and see the house rather than always wonder about it. I wasted a whole year wondering about the last house I looked at. I think if we fell in love with it - we would significantly underbid to reduce our listed status risk. I would also want a professional listed status surveyor. We will ask if they have a report from one - as you immediately become liable for anything others did wrong in the house before you - once it changes ownership.

Work was okay today. Yesterday though in the garden I seem to have collected multiple insect bites. Today the bites have been itching like crazy despite antihistamine.

In other news, I am currently investing in my education by listening to a book on investing... I hope something sticks...

Honeysucklelou2

John Seymour...the author who writes extensively on self sufficiency. If you can read his book suggested by Parsniphead, it will give you ideas for how to best manage a 1 acre holding or a 5 acre holding. It's fascinating reading and gives lots of insight into smallholding without a lot of machinery or technology. I think it was written in the 70s, possibly early 80s.

Informal tender is a way of selling properties within a specific time frame. In the past the ex and I put in bids by informal tender. Basically you have to give your first, best and final bid in a letter by a certain date and your position in terms of ability to proceed. The vendor then opens the bids and chooses which buyer to go for. It's not always the highest bid that gets picked. We bid £3k higher on a property but weren't in a position to proceed as we hadn't yet got a buyer for our house, though it was on the market. The successful bidder offered less but could proceed straightaway.