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MeandO

An item I've had on ebay for ages finally sold this morning. I will need to retrieve it from the big bag I'd earmarked for the charity shop and package it up to post. It's only brought in under £4 after fees, but every little bit helps and I've transferred it to the new house fund.

System

Bless you. Most old houses are lovely, however it can be so expensive It’s like you have to save hundreds a month for maintenance costs! I lived in a Victorian house 6 years ago, and I loved it, but it was so stressful as once one thing was fixed, another thing broke.

I totally get your feelings on the new build. It’s a shame about the lack of amenities. I suppose the only other option I can think of is to rent a bit until a house you like more comes on the market? I know that’s not ideal, as you’d be moving twice & rent is dead money, but I don’t think it’s completely insane as this new build doesn’t sound like your forever home, so you’d be moving twice anyway. Just a thought!

MeandO wrote: »

In fact, I've just been looking at the tax credits/universal credit calculator again after your last post on the subject. I've taken the £409 off from my monthly earning (even though it doesn't actually tell you to anywhere! ) and, if the calculators and that deduction are correct, I'll be around £50 a month worse off. With a few cut backs to savings pots I will be able to manage. If my first calculation of £150 down a month is correct though I will be a mess!

Yes I never saw the £409 thing either, but according to the members of the Universal Credit Survival FB group, you definitely can use it if you don’t use the housing element for rent. Fingers crossed it’s true!!!

crazy_cat_lady

Just wanted to send you some love and encouragement. I don't have any wise words but I am thinking of you.
I know you don't love the new place but it will be your home - you can make it what it will become. And it will be infinitely less stressful than what you're currently going through. You'll have a roof over your head, and comfort and security to make loads of brilliant memories there with your ds.

Honeysucklelou2

It's always surprising how quickly new builds settle into their locality. A small development was built in our village about 5 years ago and I was surprised how quickly the trees and shrubs in the "blank canvas" gardens had taken and were a decent size. Perhaps think about doing a lasagne pot of spring bulbs topped with pansies or violas that can move with you and be a splash of colour over the coming months.

Hope the conveyancing goes through smoothly.

Eager_Elephant

MeandO wrote: »

No need to apologise hun, I really appreciate your posts and support. In fact, I've just been looking at the tax credits/universal credit calculator again after your last post on the subject. I've taken the £409 off from my monthly earning (even though it doesn't actually tell you to anywhere! ) and, if the calculators and that deduction are correct, I'll be around £50 a month worse off. With a few cut backs to savings pots I will be able to manage. If my first calculation of £150 down a month is correct though I will be a mess!

(

I may have missed a post or 2 so forgive my question - why are you checking your Tax Credits/UC entitlement?
Is it because you are moving and you think you will need to change to UC or was it just because you thought you would see?

If its because you are moving then you dont need to worry as you stay on Tax Credits.

You will only need to claim UC if your Tax Credit claim ends for instance if your OH moves in, you stay on UC until managed migration come in which alledgedly is 2022 but I will be surprised if it is then, more like 2024 or 2025.

MeandO

Hi Eager_Elephant,

I'm probably being over paranoid really, but I just wanted to make sure I could afford this new house in a worst case scenario so was calculating what my entitlement to UC would be once my child tax credits were transitioned over.
I wasn't sure if moving would affect it tbh, but am glad to hear it won't, thank you! OH will definitely not be moving in... I don't think my house is big enough for all his stuff and he is firmly settled where he is!

MeandO

Thank you all for dropping by and for your posts. Love the idea of the spring bulbs HSL2 and love and encouragement much appreciated CCL, sending equal quantities right back at you!

Today is a busy day. I have a gas engineer certifying the gas appliances in the house are safe this morning, thankfully I don't need to be there as he has the key and we know him. I then have an estate agent coming to photograph the house for the developers. I need to phone the solicitor and speak to them about a few things, then I have a mortgage meeting this afternoon at the bank. I've put of off one other guy from coming today - the owner of a business which should have been responsible for some of the work needed on my house which I have had to pay for. Without going into detail, they should have covered the cost but were not complying so I've made official complaints and am seeking to get the money refunded from them. It's around £700, so no small amount. He does not need to come out today, he has already sent two other (useless) reps out to photograph and assess the house and is just wasting my time, so I've told him I won't be welcoming him visiting today.
I really don't think I will be seeing any of that money again unfortunately.

In better news, I have had several craft orders come in, so I need to set to and get making and packaging tonight, ready for posting tomorrow. They will help with a little bit of extra money for the pot.

MeandO

I had to pay a non-refundable £925 towards the new house yesterday, so the house moving fund is looking depleted at just under £800 now. I'll continue to try and build it up though.

My current house is now for sale.

There's been loads of interest - I'm not surprised as the developer seems to be selling it for £12K under what I paid for it which makes no sense to me, but then it shouldn't be of my concern. I imagine it will be sold within a week.
Felt very sad about it all last night, as did OH, but am still trying my best to look forward.

I had a stressful afternoon yesterday, dealing with an arrogant estate agent then rushing to my mortgage appointment only to forget most of the paperwork I needed so I have had to rebook an appointment for 10 days time. It's not like me at all, I'm usually on the ball with things like that, I felt like a right idiot.

I did get the craft orders made though and OH kindly posted them for me today. OH and I had a nice stroll to our local shops last night and picked up a few bits. It was lovely to get out in the fresh wintery air even though it was freezing.

DS and I are going to my parents today after work. It's a 3 hour drive on a good day, so I am not looking forward to the journey, but it will nice to be 'home' for a few days and away from all the craziness. I'll be packing some snacks and a packed 'tea' for DS so we don't need to stop unless we want to and won't be buying food in some overpriced service station.

Happy weekend all, keep warm everyone x

MeandO

£59.34 transferred to the house pot from craft sales and a £15 refund from DS's dinner money account now he can't have school dinners. The house account's up to around £860 now.

MeandO

Well that money didn't stay mine for long... another £120 has gone from the house fund to the solicitors for searches.