Tightening the belts for unpaid leave

[Deleted User]

Thanks @Blackcats - and you're right for sure.  I know we will be glad we've sold when we find one to buy - it's just being in this limbo which sucks.

So estate agent was messing us about re times and was saying couldn't get us in until monday.  So I rang and spoke to someone else and we are seeing it tomorrow morning.  

Not been a NSD today as needed some supplies from b**ts so was £15.29 (my share half).  Needed ladies products(!), got a bunch of toothbrushes as they were on offer and some handwashes also on offer.  Walked with DC2 in pram to and from town and it was so glorious and sunny (DC1 in nursery today).  Felt really good to be out.  Came home and had a coffee and a piece of blueberry tart DH had made on Sunday with blueberries which we had grown in our last place and which were in the freezer.  He also used up some out of date flour, almonds, sugar and butter to make it.  Great use of stuff in stores.

Tonight is burgers and chips from stores as we are using up all unhealthy stuff so we can start eating better next week.  And he found my trainers!!!  So that has saved me about £100!

Sounds as if my friend's washing machine is about to pack up here.  Is it bad that I am hoping it lasts for us and then gives up so she has to buy a new one??!!  The more DH and I are packing up and living surrounded by boxes, the more angry we get about the whole thing.  It is SO disruptive to us and the DC's.  Plus the expense.  Movers are costing us £640.  Plus there are £90 in re-connection fees.  Plus an extra £300 a month rent.  So so so so cross.  

[Deleted User]

Saw the house.  Needs some inside reconfiguration (quite a lot).  We loved the garden but we made the mistake with our last house of falling in love with the garden/view and not realising the house was pretty impractical (which is why 2 lots of people had moved from there within a short space of time previously).  We made an offer based on the cost we thought reconfiguration would be and it was rejected.  Someone made an offer (apparently) significantly in excess of ours just today.  So anyway, the search continues.

Nothing re flat sale.  Might chase the lawyers later.  Just want it gone now.

Today won't be NSD as petrol needed.  My share likely £25-30.  DH will fill up when he goes to pick DC1 up from MIL shortly.  Have both of the DC's on my own tomorrow(!).  Also going to sign up to WW today and download the App.  It really worked for me last time and DH has been told that he will be on it also as we are not cooking 2 meals twice a day.  Quite looking forward to trying to get back into shape tbh.  I have loads of really lovely clothes that I just want to get back into.  So tonight is veggie ball things with a tomato sauce and pasta then burgers tomorrow as we are still using up stuff from the freezer.  Healthy eating will start monday as it's mother's day on sunday so we are going to have a picnic on the floor with the 2 DC.

[Deleted User]

Starting to worry about the flat sale and have chased the lawyers.  Basically, it NEEDS to sell.  Even if we don't use the money from the sale to buy, tenant has given notice and is gone from end April so that will impact on what we can borrow.  Also, we HAVE to buy pre-September because then we have nursery fees of approx £1700 a month (only for a year, it decreases significantly after that) which again, impacts.  Just feel like I can't cope with all the stress.  The flat HAS TO GO.

Today should be NSD and I have both DC on my own whilst DH WFH upstairs.  Still have well over half budget left for this month which is good.

Joined WW and they have offers on at the moment so got 6 months for price of 4 with nothing to pay for 2 months - £14.95 a month after that - money well spent and will diarise when I need to cancel to stop it auto-renewing.  So that will start Monday (wanted to join now so get access to the recipes in advance of doing the weekly shop).  Tonight is burgers and chips from stores (as we are using up all the cr*p in the freezer!) and we had no booze last night so I had a great night's sleep.  We are now down to 2 bottles wine left so we will have those this weekend to get rid of them.  We do have quite a lot of champagne (around 10 bottles which were all bought as gifts for us over the years) but DH isn't too keen on it so that shouldn't tempt us.  We will, however, crack a bottle if this darn flat ever sells!

Blackcats

So stressful for you.  The process for buying/selling property is so lengthy and so much of it is out of our control.  A few years ago I bought a small flat as an investment - it was relatively inexpensive, a new build and I was a cash buyer but it still took weeks to go through.  I remember thinking that I could buy a very fancy, very expensive car for the same money with no hassle whatsoever.  Not that I like fancy cars but you know what I mean.  

Nursery fees are eye watering.  Is it worth you taking more unpaid leave instead of going back in September?  

Your Mother's Day picnic sounds like a lovely idea.  On Jamie Oliver's 30 minute meals the other evening he made a really lovely picnic - you might get some ideas from that.

[Deleted User]

@Blackcats thanks for that re JO!  Will check it out!

Sadly, I am not able to take any further leave from work so the nursery fees will have to be paid - it's only a year of pain and then it reduces significantly.  So we just have to get on with it.  As long as flat sells (or is re-rented) it's not an issue (well, as long as we find somewhere pre-september just because of the mortgage checks).

Yes, I don't remember buying a property taking so long last time around - seems to be endless rounds of enquiries and my solicitors keep holding things back when I'm saying just tackle it head on!  I also sometimes think it would just be better to buy a fancy car (or motor home!) as much less hassle!!

So my solicitors say they have heard nothing from buyers solicitors.  Asked estate agent to chase buyer and apparently EA left a message last night but has not heard anything.  I really feel like they are going to pull out.  Unless they are just waiting on hearing from their bank before they respond.  But just so stressful.

A house came on here today and I booked a viewing tomorrow but DH seen it and doesn't like it so we've cancelled and waiting for more to hit.  There are a lot coming on right now but not what we're after.  However, that might assist with the first refusal house as they are looking to downsize.  I'm not entirely sure what they are looking for but seems to be plenty coming on under the price of their house. 

[Deleted User]

Petrol has come through on card was £56.60 so my share £28.30.  We haven't used much petrol recently (obvs) so that's ok and in budget.  Got to drop DC1 at MIL for the morning shortly then come back via the pet store to collect the cat's food (already paid for).  DH going to shop later just to get some bits to get us through the weekend and I am going to do big shop monday as never got round to looking up recipes/making list yesterday.  Still quite a bit to use from freezer/stores to get rid of the rubbish so tonight is beef in peppercorn sauce in ciabattas.

Heard from EA.  Apparently reason for delay is because they are still waiting on the structural report from last friday.  So I guess in a way that might be good - presumably if there were further enquiries they'd have come back on those by now and also, presumably the surveyor gave them the "ok" over the phone but they need the report for the bank?  Unless of course it's bad news and they are going to try to negotiate off the price, i don't know.

Tried on my new sports bra yesterday and it's way too small!  So need to try to swap that tomorrow so I can get exercising.  I am so fat.  And I need to work out how to re-set the bathroom scales as they are telling me I am 7 stone which is clearly not true - I'm sure it's more like 13 or 14!  

Blackcats

Rebecca Rebecca!!! No negative self talk.  You are not fat, you have recently had a baby and have had a stressful lockdown time - be kind to yourself.  You are starting the healthy living changes now.  I'd keep the magic 7 stone scales!!! 😂
fingers crossed for progress next week on your flat sale.  

[Deleted User]

@Blackcats - thank you.  I do negative self talk a lot!!  Those scales are def Potter-esque!

So, not the best of weekends.  Spending on food was ridiculous, and basically just covered the weekend.  Going to do a "healthy" shop tomorrow as not got round to looking up recipes yet.  Had my covid jab sat so was basically poorly all of mother's day but am ok now after a marathon 10 hours sleep last night and 3 yesterday afternoon.

Still no news on flat.  Still nothing on the market to buy here.  This is a new week however and I have emailed all the estate agents again, to get us on the radar.

DH going to our new accommodation today to scope out where we can store all our stuff.  I am SO grateful to my friend's mum.  As much as it is not ideal, it gives us somewhere to live.  And she has knocked off £500 a month for us (though it is still more expensive than where were are now).  Plus only wants 1 month's deposit rather than 2 and will not hold us to 6 months.  I am going to make sure however, that we can stay longer if we want to this time.  I am sure with her it will be fine, especially if DH does the odd jobs for her that her son in law doesn't (as he doesn't have time and isn't the best at DIY!).

DC1 with MIL this morning then will be here this afternoon (but will sleep for 2-3 hours).  DC2 with me and is being demanding.  I think he now just wants to be involved in everything going on - he's got proper FOMO!

Had virtual baby shower for friend - she didn't seem that impressed by my gifts - which is annoying as I picked out what I thought was really nice.  She seemed most impressed by the most expensive gifts.

Other than that, nothing to report.  

[Deleted User]

Oh but I've signed my letter to change my working hours when I go back to work.  Can't remember if I said but they are letting me do my 28 hours over 3 days.  So effectively have 4 days a week with the DC and 3 at work.  Even though it's the same number of hours, it is much better because if I'm going to work anyway I'd rather do a long day and have less "days" in work.  DH has got his work to agree he can have friday afternoons off so he will get that with the DC as well as weekends.  Means DC only in nursery 2 x full days and 1 x half day.  Still costing us £19k a year (where we are childcare is v expensive) but am glad it's sorted now.

[Deleted User]

Not doing shop today as still feeling a bit poorly post jab.  So having pasta with chopped up sausages, a lloyd grossman tomato and chilli sauce and parmesan from stores for tea.  We really do have very little in the freezer now which is good as we move next friday.  It's absolutely horrid living amongst boxes and we do still have a fair few to pack, but most of it is stuff we can't do until the night before/on the day as we need it.  Carpet cleaner arrived so DH going to give it a test run today to see if it's ok as if not, we will have to hire one/get someone in.  We have to hide it from MIL when she comes around as she will want to borrow it and every time we lend her anything electrical, she breaks it (and doesn't replace it!).

Have both DC today by self whilst DH WFH upstairs.  Not great as feel poorly and already been on the toilet 3 times this morning (sorry for TMI!).  Weather is rubbish so can't get out of the house with them.  Thankfully DC1 in nursery tomorrow and thursday which is just such a relief.

Re flat, apparently they've now had structural survey back and "will be in touch as soon as they can".  I've asked agent to clarify what that means as if this is not going to go through, I need to get it back on market to rent or sell asap.  I'm hoping it just means they have to send it to the bank and get their final letter and then good to go.  Whilst we can afford to pay the mortgage with no tenant, it will eat into our savings for the house so we'd really rather not.  I just hope, if they do pull out, with the SD holiday having been extended, we would be able to get it sold to another purchaser relatively quickly.  It really is giving me sleepless nights.