SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

joshiesaunt

I think it would be a bit sad for the children if they didn't receive any christmas presents at all - maybe you could get them a token present each or use a little bit of the emergency fund?

Sistergold

@joshiesaunt, thanks for the suggestion! I guess no presents at all will truly be devastating for the children? Thought it might be a “dramatic” way to finish an already “mysterious” year? You are right though I should not skip Christmas presents as it will be “traumatic” to children who might still think that having a bank card means one can pay/withdraw money at will! Took them a long time to understand that one only has so much money in an account and it’s only the money one has in the account that one can use! 

Will now work and plan to put aside around £1000 for all to do December food shops, also cover Christmas Day food and presents. Will see how it goes? This should hopefully cover food and presents for me and 4 children? 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello @Sistergold and everyone, 

I haven't been on MSE much since the kids went back to school. Life is just really busy! We had a couple of occasions where one of the kids had to be home because of covid at school. No need to say anymore just humph!

So some updates on my situation, not sure if anyone call recall but my dream home is sadly still a dream. However I am on my own 'staircasing' journey. So first step to dream property is investing divorce money in a property which was owned by my now deceased relative. The sale is a closed sale in the family so am really lucky to be able to buy below the market value. It does need some upgrades windows, electrics, plumbing etc but nothing major. The property is going to be rented out & my fall back plan if I need it to. So this purchase has been a slow burner. I agreed to purchase back in March but property was still under probate. Probate took much longer than it should. Flash forward to now and I should be getting the keys in the next couple of weeks. Really excited to make it this far and I am hoping to have my first tenants early next year. 

Sistergold

Hello @Queen_of_the_Hive, nice to hear from you! Wow it has truly been a slow burner purchase for sure! It’s nice to know that you got it at a good price so it’s worth the wait! In any case with COVID looks like everything is working in slow motion especially house purchase! At least yours it’s “fairly straight forward” as there is not fear or chance of someone pulling out or being gazumped(not sure if that’s the right word)!
with the current climate it’s good to be able to have some money to invest even if it means you rent somewhere for now! 

Sistergold

Happy Friday diary friends!  👯‍♀️ 

Well this week has been a very hectic week! I am trying to stay focused and race to December with the hope of finishing strong financially. Today has been mixed financially. I had to go to the town centre as was off, needed to do some banking. My daughter was not at school this week due to her year group being asked to stay at home this week not sure why but maybe to reduce numbers and reduce chances of COVID? Honestly I am not sure whether we are coming or going with regards to school? Anyway so she was at home and so we walked together to the town centre! We noticed a new gelato waffle place and so after banking we went for a try! Well the waffle was nice and it worked out to about £10 per person. Spent £30 as we had to take one for my youngest son as peace offering as went without him! Well we got home with the waffle but that did not stop him complaining bitterly and throwing a tantrum for “always going without him”! He did enjoy the waffle though so we were in less trouble and forgiven a bit! 

Well today I managed to add another £2520 to the building fund bringing the figure to £22800. I hope to get as near to £30k as I can before the end of the year! Saving is not as easy as one would hope!

At the moment I am tying up a few loose ends in the form selling a small side business which has been taking my time and wasting my money. It was a real loss maker and I am glad I am winding it up. I will be able to do better doing what I know I can do best! Nothing worse than working in one area making the money and taking some of that money to fund something else! With this I can cut back on the hours I work and have more free time to spend with the children or work on a new project. On a professional note work is fine and I am more relaxed now with the way things are going. 

This weekend I hope to carry on with the declutter. Managed to take one car load to the recycle centre last Monday. I hope to continue to reduce staff. 

Children are going to their dads tomorrow for the week so I will have some me time! Will miss them but I am getting used to it now. 

Managed to go to Lidl and I bought some sirloin 🥩 and other bits(£30). Well it will be steak night tonight with some chips, grilled tomato, asparagus, and mushrooms. 

Tara for now

Sistergold

TGI- Thank God it’s Friday! 

Time does fly and it’s Friday again! This Friday is also month end so money needs to be juggled around. Transferred £1200 today into the building fund. The balance is now at £24k exactly. Much easier to report a round figure for sure! Still no news good or bad on planning permission. 

I am planning to just rest this weekend, children will be coming back from their father’s. 

I hope something exciting will happen this weekend as life is a bit dull with movement restrictions. 

Will report back later! 👋🏾

Sandyra

Hi @Sistergold 🙋🏾‍♀️. Just wanted to say pop by as it’s been 2 months since I’ve been on the forum/ threads other than my monthly post for OP or save 12k. Good to see things are progressing with you and all the ladies. School has been really busy, my school has had limited cases so business as usual, well as usual as it can be. I’m doing 30,000 steps a day as I travel all around the school to different bubbles. September was a nightmare month as I was looking for a lodger, me and my boyfriend of 5 years have broken up and it was my birthday. So as treat to myself I bought a Chanel bag. Not very mse but I have always wanted one and I’m 40 in 2 years time, probably won’t be able to afford it then and feel like I have been mess around for the last 2 years. So needed “it’s all about me” present. Savings therefore have been slow, but OP steady. My new lodger is amazing, he cleaned my oven, it looks brand new 😱. So things are looking up x

Sistergold

Hello @Sandyra
Nice to hear from you! Yes it has been a while and keeping up with diaries has been a challenge for most of us. It’s good that you managed to get a lodger who is clean, and we all know how cumbersome it can be to clean an oven so hats off to him!  So sorry to hear that you broke up with your boyfriend after being together for such a long time. Breakups are somehow always painful even if it’s the right thing to do or even if he is not good for you somehow it’s just sad. Having said that there is nothing a bit of shopping won’t fix, so it’s good you got yourself a nice bag! 

Well the lucky thing is that you didn’t not add him)boyfriend) to your mortgage so at least you can continue in your space to do whatever you please including getting a lodger! 

Hugs and 😘 

sofarbehind

Hello, just having a diary catch up tonight. Good work on the building fund! You have done really well to save so much so fast particularly with the ex being out of work. I'm going to be doing a cheaper Christmas this year too, time to save some money definitely but I'm having some treats and lots of nice food because everything has been so dismal this year. 

@Sandyra I'm also really sorry to hear about your breakup. I LOVE that you bought yourself a Chanel bag though, good for you, you deserve it and we definitely need to remember to live a bit and do what it takes to be happy. I've always wanted a classic Chanel bag too, one day I might join you. The lodger sounds wonderful and has reminded me I need to clean the oven.

Sandyra

Thank you both @Sistergold and @sofarbehind for your supportive words. Onwards and upwards! Just need covid to go away so I can use the bag 🤞🏾.