Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Feeling a bit brighter this week, at last. A couple of days sunshine has definitely helped with this, hopefully I'm getting back on more of an even keel. 
Finally had our electrician round to do the first fix on the living room, next task is to pin down our joiner to a date. Everyone I know in trade is just so busy at the moment with so many people adapting their homes to accommodate being at home more. 
On the finance front DH has been paid today and the mortgage payment has gone out. Have sent an over payment which has taken us down to £51,999 (just had to pay that extra £ to get into the next bracket   ). We've overpaid £897 this financial year (overpayment allowance resets tomorrow) just by rounding the account down each month and, more recently, throwing the odd bits of free money across from surveys, receipt scanning, etc so pretty pleased with how that's stacked up.
EF is still intact and my wage this month is being kept aside again in the savings account to cover the work on the living room. Also need to sort out both car insurances and breakdown cover towards the end of April so a spendy few weeks coming up.
Hope everyone else is keeping well xx

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Such sad life about your SIL, life can be so cruel. Glad your workplace is being supportive

DancingInTheRain

Evening

Just a quick check in, nothing much happened since I last updated. Joiner came to look at the work required last week so just waiting on his quote and availability but looks like we'll be without that room for a while longer. We can manage but it is a big miss.

Have checked and can work from the office when I return to work next month, will just need to do a lateral flow test on the days I'm due in which, although unpleasant, is worth it.

Got a £10 voucher for Amazon using a referral from @Poppycat on the MFW diaries so sent £10 across to the mortgage. Continuing to hang on to my furlough pay to pay tradesmen. One good thing about them being so busy is that it's giving us enough time to build a savings cushion to pay for them without (hopefully) dipping into the EF.

We haven't been overly fussed about shops and pubs reopening yesterday, would prefer to wait until we are vaccinated before getting too excited about anything. DH is 45 and I'm 41 so probably have a few weeks to wait for our first vaccinations.

We've been continuing to support my wonderful brother and nieces, along with other family members, since the loss of my sister-in-law. I couldn't be prouder of how well they're coping, they're obviously on an emotional rollercoaster and have faced some very dark days but are reaching out for help and support as and when needed. We're all very relieved of some of the lockdown restrictions easing so we can be more present and available for them as required, still can't believe she's gone so goodness knows how they're managing. DS1 is missing her lots as they had a very close bond but we've put some photos up of her with him and DS2 and just tried our best to answer any questions he has. DS2 is none the wiser bless him although knows it's his Aunty in the photos.

Hope everyone is safe, well and relatively sane! Hopefully not too long until we're back to some sort of normal if everyone can be patient for a little longer xx

savingholmes

So sad with your SIL and the family left behind. Hugs. Sounds like you are doing everything you can to support people through the grief. 

DancingInTheRain

Hi all.

Hope everyone is well.

I was paid yesterday so thought I'd better do an update here.

Since my last post both DH and I have been invited for or first Covid vaccinations, no overly adverse reaction although I did feel exhausted for 3 days afterwards and struggled to stay awake past 9pm. Worth it though

We've also had some glorious weather so have been able to have some friends and family around in the garden which has just been amazing to see people in person, between this and generally spending a lot more time outside as a family, we've all felt our spirits have lifted as a result.

Quotes back from the joiners, so just waiting them to confirm a start date then we should be all systems go on the reconstruction of our living room.

I'm back at work after the bank holiday so it's looking like life is about to get busy. I definitely appreciate having the extra few weeks off during April as I'm now feeling back on track mental health wise and that I can take on the stresses associated with my job. I honestly felt like I would have crumbled had I gone back earlier so I'm truly grateful to have had this period of extra furlough leave.

DH continues to enjoy working from home, I'm hoping for a hybrid of home and office so will see what my management team say. They boys are enjoying being back in school and pre school so it feels like we're back on an even keel.

Have cashed out on a few survey sites, receipt scanning apps and TCB i the last two weeks so have sent all this 'free' money to the mortgage.

Car insurances and breakdown cover sorted for both myself and DH, came in at £395 against a forecasted budget of £500 which is what it cost us last year so we're happy with that as have also got £58 of cashback pending as a result and also got a deal on the breakdown cover for 15 months for the same price as 12 months, 

All other money from wages and CB is being held on to as much as possible to try to cash flow the living room work without dipping into savings too much if possible. It's been a good challenge to keep me focused on keeping spends under control.

I think that's enough for one day!

Stay safe xx

FootyFanDan

Hi, 

It's great to read that the family time and spending time with friends as helped so much, after going through a very tough few months. I think sometimes we under estimate the impact these lock-downs have on other things. I hope once you go into work that you can settle/adjust and the stress doesn't get to much, I think a few will find it strange to be back in offices after so long out of them...some might even have to dress fully now haha!

It seems like things are hopefully getting better for you so thats a positive, take care x

DancingInTheRain

After the success with renewing car insurance and breakdown cover the universe decided to take the savings made back off us - DH's car needed the front tyres replaced, managed to get a deal on tyres he prefers £185 with 5% cashback. But while getting them fitted the garage checked the rear tyres and there was some sort of internal buckling, DH was given the opportunity to see this for himself so he knew they weren't trying it on. End result all 4 tyres have now been replaced and a whopping £370 spent 😱😱
So almost £800 spent on the cars over the last week 🤯
On the bright side we can cashflow this out of the living room renovation savings as we won't have to pay any bills for this during the next pay period so can top these savings back up next payday.

savingholmes

Ouch to the car bill. Great you had savings though. Hope that next week goes well. At least its a short week the first one back so that should help. Glad you are feeling better - gives hope to the rest of us... this too will pass.

DancingInTheRain

Thanks @savingholmes I'm definitely appreciating the short week next week as I already know work will be full throttle as soon as I log on 
It's been a tough few weeks but the fog is definitely lifting, I really hope the same happens for you sooner than later xx

savingholmes

Thanks, I appreciate it. Holding on... Still in a storm that's outside my control - likely to drag on for a few weeks yet if not longer... Don't worry I am asking for help in RL