It's time to begin.....

Kakiste

So positive news on the house front; I've got a house viewing early next week- it's for a small Mews 2 bedroom house just off the town centre (I've lived in that same area years ago and it's a decent area- within 5 mins walk into the centre- however I've not asked about the cats yet- and they might want a credit check. However on the plus side- it's in a good area for where I want to be, in my price range and also it's furnished (presumably why it's not been let yet- was put up on Monday) which would mean that I'm not having to buy any furniture in order to move. 

However my friend at work has said this morning that she wants to let her two houses in the next 8-10 weeks. Plus side they're mortgage free and she's said (on a very brief discussion back and forth) that her main aim is getting someone in who she trusts and who will look after the house to a good standard (when I asked her what ballpark she would want for rent she said "what do you fancy paying?") as her previous tenants (one family but living across two houses next door to each other) trashed both the houses and she had to go to court to get them evicted. So it would be affordable- it is a beautiful area (green belt and closer to work but further from my daughter's school) friend knows about and is fine with the cats, fine about my previous debts (she's very grateful as because I was talking so much about the DMP at work back in 2019 she went with an DMP herself the same year to clear her own debts and she's now debt free as well and partially credits me with it) and it'll be a stable home for as long as I want it. She wants to completely redecorate both houses in the next 1-3 months but has said I can come look at them next week and pick whichever one I want- one is 3 bedroom with a large garden and the other is 2 bedroom with no garden but a small yard. I'd have to look at both of them and council tax bands/projected utility costs before making a choice between them. 

Two issues though; they're unfurnished (which gives me a big list of things I would need to find on freecycle/fb marketplace or buy but the main issue is that it's in a tiny village just outside the next town north from where I currently live- a distance away from daughter's school- so would involve me having to drive 25 minutes to drop her off at her current school and then doubling back to drive 20 mins back to go to work if we were sharing custody as husband doesn't drive so in that case her school would need to remain the same. 

((This is obviously not a massive deal- I know plenty of people who do lots of driving and my car is reliable and good for fuel economy- and either my husband comes to an arrangement where we share childcare and she stays with him and he can drop her off at school at least twice a week, my dad could continue to get her 1 day a week to take her to dance class - which would leave me only having to do the run around bit 2/3 days a week or he bails and doesn't do anything with her in which case I'd just move her to the local village school removing all the problems)  

But feeling very positive in that I actually potentially have a choice between 3 houses rather than absolutely nothing. 

CRANKY40

I'd take one of your friend's houses if it means he couldn't get to where you're living easily.

WinterWarrior

What good news 😁

ladyholly

Fantastic news. Good luck and I hope at least on of the houses is suitable.

Humdinger1

Utterly wonderful news @Kakiste.  I agree, one of your friend's houses would be ideal.  Xx

GeorgianaCavendish

Brilliant news about the new house leads! It sounds like you've got lots of possibilities just around the corner  

bellevie

Such good news to have more than one to choose from too!!

CL21

Have just read your entire diary - let out an audible ‘yay’ when I got to your debt free post - and just wanted to wish you and your daughter all the best. You’ve done an incredible job in very difficult circumstances and your positivity is so lovely to see. You are a great role model to your daughter and when you do finally leave that eejit of a husband, that’ll be another great example to her. Have subscribed to your diary and looking forward to the day you’re free x 

Savingtomove

Very exciting about the houses! I’d definitely look at the ones your friend is renting as it sounds more secure. Xx

Kakiste

Thanks everyone. I'm going to ask work friend if I can go and see them both on Wendesday (my friend who I lift share with isn't in then so if I leave straight after assembly, it gives me an extra hour and 20 minutes of time to view them both and then get home at the same time as normal)

I've spent a decent amount of time looking at the village on google maps and the town's website. I'm started to get really excited and hoping that it comes off.

The village is gorgeous;  just into a national park, 900 people and centred around a village pub, village hall, shop, doctors and post office. It seems very community minded and they have 4 fb pages dedicated to regular plant swopping, quiz nights at the pub, village dances, walking groups and random community summer picnics/river swimming so very me. 

Husband is huffing as I am going to my uncle's funeral this week without him. It's a 5 hour drive so even if I wanted to spend 10 hours in a car with him (which I truly don't) it's far easier for me to go on my own so that daughter can be picked up from school by him as normal (for that day) and I don't need to worry about a friend sitting in with her waiting for us to get home. But as usual it's all about him. (Had a ridiculous argument the other day over me not buying him really expensive protein cheese- his demands on the shopping budget at the moment are ridiculous- he is expecting me to buy an insane amount of stuff each week that's specifically for him which then leaves me and daughter either eating out of the freezer/tin cupboard or me spending an extra £20 a week in order to buy fresh food for our meals.) He doesn't see an issue with this and me not spending £23 to order him cheese just shows "how little regard I pay his feelings and the necessities of his diet" (!) 

Cannot wait to be out. Also work lift share friend commented the other day that he's going to get a proper shock when he has to buy his own food shopping and he also commented "bet he doesn't think £23 for cheese is a necessity then"