A Year in the Life of...

astrocytic_kitten

I know it’s come from a bad situation (that you’re still in), but I’m so happy your dream of house and garden is within touching distance - how exciting!

girlatplay

beanielou said:

Wow, all happening in your world.
Fab news on the mortgage & the EF.
21 ~~how time flies!!
Enjoy the celebrations 

When I first came here she was 8/9!  Can't believe it's been that long.

girlatplay

astrocytic_kitten said:

I know it’s come from a bad situation (that you’re still in), but I’m so happy your dream of house and garden is within touching distance - how exciting!

We do think it's the push we needed.  It's not ideal and it's horrible living here right now but we now have clearer plans.


We viewed a property tonight.  It's absolutely perfect for us.  We have someone coming to look at our flat next week.  If we can get a fair offer for ours and get the mortgage sorted we will put an offer in on the closing date (which is not set yet).  I have a new mortgage advisor on the case.  I used to work in property and still have some contacts (and friends).  This guy came highly recommended.  Even just the sound of his voice on the phone made me trust him.  I know he will do what he can for us.

savingholmes

Lovely when you get surprise help

girlatplay

I've not been on for a while.  Just had a lot going on IRL.  Popped in yesterday to catch up with other diaries.

Quick update for my diary:

We didn't get the house we offered for.  Missed by just over £4k and we were 3rd so someone else missed it by less than that.  We're a wee bit disappointed as it was the perfect house for us, ticked everyone single box, but it's fine, we'll find something else.  Checking every day.

I have been offered a promotion at work.  They took my role and the role I have been covering, put them together and JEGS'd them.  It has come out as a hybrid of the two roles and lands within the higher grade.  My salary will drop by £3k from what it is right now (temp salary covering the other role - my part time salary was red circled when they JEGS'd originally) but it will be worth it in the long run.  I will be eligible for pay rises and I can work up through the grade.  I get a better title and I can continue study without having to worry about what to do when my salary drops (because it now won't go below the new band).  I think I would be foolish not to take it.

LMG went for an interview for a new job and was offered it in the room.  They were lovely to her which she hadn't had in a work situation for so long that when she got outside she phoned me and burst into tears!  Many emotions. She has been so miserable at work that it has been great to see her so happy.  She starts mid-October.

She's making our tea as I type this so better get off here before she gets annoyed.

beanielou

What lovely news for you both job wise.
Boo to the house though.

savingholmes

Congratulations to you both 

As you say the right home will come along

astrocytic_kitten

What’s for you won’t pass you, as I keep on getting told!

Good news on the jobs for you both too

girlatplay

It's been a while. Again.

I started my new role today.  Next payday will be my first at the new salary, £150 less than what I'm on now.  I can work it into the budget as I spend less than I earn anyway, just means less will go into savings.

It was payday yesterday, the last of the 6 months of covering the other role.  That was a quick 6 months!  I have managed to put away another £500 into savings this month but it's LMG's 21st this month so I'll need to pull some back out.  At the moment it is sitting at £2,940 so I beat my target of £2,500 at the end of September but I always knew I would need some of it this month.  Not sure how much yet, I need to speak to my sis as she has been organising it all.

We are no further forward with buying a new house.  We looked at new builds near us and we are keen.  Like the one we offered for and didn't get, it is perfect for us.  It's all about the layout and it's not easy to get properties with the layout that we need.  The next phase won't go on sale for another 6 months though and I worry that you pay such a big premium for a new house.  It's a lot of money too.  We're just playing around with ideas.

LMG has one week of her old job to go and there are days I don't think she'll last that long.  I keep telling her she will be fine.

beanielou

The good thing about a new build is that you should not need to spend any money on it for a good while.