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MagicCat

I'm always so impressed by your overpayments with everything else you have going on.
Glad you've had some time with your parents even though it sounds like a difficult week.
Hoping everything works out well with the house and you're not kept waiting much longer.

MeandO

Thank you all so much for your finger crossing and well wishes, but I didn’t get the house, it went for £15K over asking price or £20k more than my offer. Quite ridiculous really. It was beautiful but I thought my offer was probably £5k - £10k more than the house was actually worth tbh. They also said they won’t be moving if the house they are moving to has issues when it comes to the survey (they only want to move to a particular house, that’s the only reason they put theirs on the market). I’ve seen the house, there will be issues. Someone is going to get badly let down by them when they pull out of the sale, I can foresee it now. I think I may have had a lucky escape.

Another nice house has come on the market today, not in my first choice of area, but nothing wrong with it really nd within walking distance of everything we need. The house is smaller than the last, but with plenty of space for DS and I. I really like the look of it and it has absolutely spectacular gardens. It is also £40k cheaper than my current house and £50k cheaper than the ‘not-so-much-of-a dream house.’ I feel really hopeful about it. 

We are home from my parents after a 3.5 hour drive today. It was really hard saying goodbye, but I’ve promised we’ll go back again in 10 days or so. 

My parents gave me £50 petrol money today and a grocery voucher, despite my protests. They also sent me back with a couple of boxes full of groceries they had been collecting up. Bless them, they are so kind and generous to us. My sister has also put £50 in my bank account, again, despite me telling her not to. They are all so good to me. ❤️

I will put £50 in the premium bonds account and maybe top up the gifts account and put some towards petrol next time we go home. 

Honeysucklelou2

Sorry that the dream house didn’t work out...does sound like a lucky escape.  The house with spectacular gardens sounds interesting.

Well done on the overpayment - you are an inspiration on chipping amounts off the mortgage.

enthusiasticsaver

I think you might've have had a lucky escape with the vendors of the house you offered on. I am sure you will find something you are happy with. 

MeandO

Thank you HSL2 & enthusiasticsaver, I do think I have had a lucky escape there. Problems with the vendors aside, that house would have meant increasing my mortgage again and having no money left for any repairs etc that came up, so although it's disappointing and I am gutted it won't be our home, I can see it has probably worked out for the best.

This morning I have transferred the £50 my sister gave me into my premium bonds account, taking that up to £500 again. 

I've updated YNAB and have just over £40 in the groceries budget left until payday in 10 days. This will be plenty as DS is with his Dad for a week from later today and I can pretty much live off what we have in, and DS and I will be going to my parents house again the week after that so £20 should do us fine for the next couple of weeks.

Today I've pulled all of DS's school uniform out of the drawers and will be coaxing him into trying it all on later. I have LOADS of bigger sized pairs of trousers and shorts that I'd put away in a drawer that may now fit him. My family picked up three packs of 3 x white polo shirts for him in a promotion a while back which should be plenty for the year and his school jumpers should still fit him as I bought them in a bigger size previously. I have two pairs of school shoes ready for him (black trainers), so I don't think any more spends are needed on the school uniform front. He also has a new coat I bought in a sale at the beginning of Summer too so we're all set for the new term.

Homegrown0

Sounds like you're super organised with the school uniform - well done. One less large expense to worry about. 

I'm glad you managed to see the 'not-do-dream-house' situation for what it really is. Of course, it's so easy to be swept up in the dream but you'll be glad that you dodged a bullet with that one, where the owners are concerned. The other house that you mention sounds lovely - will you be going to see it? 

Your family sound like a really caring bunch

MagicCat

I agree, it sounds like the house would not have worked out well for you and the vendors sound a bit of a nightmare. Fingers crossed something better comes along soon.

crazy_cat_lady

Best of luck with the new place that you've seen x

MeandO

Thank you Homegrown0, MagicCat and CCL, definitely a dodged bullet there and feeling quite relieved about it. Hopefully I will be able to view the other house I’ve seen soon but it’s proving difficult as it is currently rented and has tenants who haven’t responded to the agents regarding booking in viewings yet. I have been plaguing the estate agent though and have told them that I will offer the asking price if the house is as it looks in the photos and there have been no ‘clever camera trickery’ involved to hide any nasties. Unfortunately it is now generating loads of interest and there is a list to view, so I can see another bidding war going on here now. Buying a house at the moment is an absolute nightmare.
I viewed another house today. It was looking really promising downstairs, but the bedrooms were absolutely tiny upstairs and there was a lot of road noise in the garden. It was also a lot of money for what it was. Another definite no. 

I spoke too soon about not needing to buy any more uniform. DS duly tried on everything and even a lot of the new larger sized trousers and shorts I had been saving for him don’t fit him! He had also grown out of most of his PE kit, so I’ve ordered a tracksuit, two pairs of shorts and two white t-shirts for £41.99 from sp0rts direct and two more pairs of trousers and two pairs of shorts from Asda for £21, using a gift card my Dad had kindly given me for food shopping. That should be everything then. No point asking DS’s father to contribute, it’s not worth the stress and the hassle, I do it all myself now and I will never let him go without what he needs. 

crazy_cat_lady

It's a pain in the bum about the school uniform - pleased you've managed to get more without breaking the bank.
Keep going with the house hunt - as my mam says 'What's for you won't go by you'