Tightening the belts for unpaid leave

rugbymadfamily

Great news on the exchange! Really pleased for you!

[Deleted User]

@rugbymadfamily thank you!

Weekend spending was ridiculous.  Did a big shop which was £92, but £27 of that was formula for DC2.  We bet on the National and won £53.  But that (and a bit more) got spent on sunday lunch out.  Also needed stuff from B**ts and a few other things.  Depending on what DH spends on his night out Fri, we might end up slightly over budget for the month and dipping ever so slightly into savings.

Flat completes tomorrow!  Have had completion statement and checked it - redemption and early repayment fee sightly less than I thought which is good.  Not 100% sure what tax will be yet.  Need to sit down and work it all out.  Getting quotes from 2 accountants for them to do it for me as then a) if it's wrong, they are liable and b) their cost would be taken off what I owe as a cost of selling anyway.  So just waiting to hear as neither have come back.  Pretty sure I can do it myself but there's a couple of things I'm not 100% sure on so would rather have a professional look at it.

Have just bought myself a movie off Prime (I had a gift voucher) - it's from my childhood - Teen Witch and I used to love it.  So currently watching that whilst DC1 sleeps and DC2 playing on floor with his toys - he is practising rolling over!  It is so cringe (as it's 80's) but fantastic!  

Going to see a house tomorrow but we did a drive by Friday and don't think it's for us.  But going to see it to build relationship with agent.  Very little else coming on.

astrocytic_kitten

Yay for completion (in advance for tomorrow 😂). That’s two big things soon out the way - you’ve moved, and flat is selling...all you need to do now (“all” - hah, I know it’s not that easy) is wait on the perfect house coming onto the market. 

Teen Witch sounds like a great self care activity too, well done you. Don’t underestimate how hard the past wee while has been for you, especially as you’re so often sole carer for the two littlies too.

[Deleted User]

@astrocytic_kitten thank you!  Managed to watch the whole thing but will have to wake DC1 up in a minute.  DC2 ha just thrown up cheesy puke all over me.  Nice.

So exhausted too as neither DC is sleeping well at night at the moment and we are getting maybe 3-4 hours sleep a night.  It's pretty intense and all I want to do is sleep.  For like a week.

Blackcats

I hope you get a better night's sleep tonight - you must be exhausted.
I agree with Astrocystic kitten - you have dealt with 2 huge issues recently and it will really be a weight lifted now the flat has sold.  You are now in such a strong position when the right house comes on the market.  

enthusiasticsaver

Good that your flat has completed. I hope you find a new house soon. 

[Deleted User]

We completed - woo hoo!!!  Cash in my bank account and no more flat!!!  There's still a few loose ends I need to tie up today but that's it now!!  Really annoyed I got the electric check done as I paid monday and he's not yet sent the report, which is now no longer my responsibility!  £150 down.  But I was a bit worried that if the tenants ever did (they may still do) raise the issue re their deposit not having been protected from the start (not my fault but in the eyes of the law it is apparently) then it would give them more ammo if I'd not had that done as well - so got it done!

Went to see a house yesterday.  So depressing what they want for it and what it was.  Just ridiculous.  My friend was telling me about a house they went to see a couple of years ago (and I know the owners of - they are actually buying the house that we thought we wanted which went to sealed bids) which was on at a certain price.  They have just put it back on the market for 300k more - WTAF?!

On my own with 2 kids today - we need milk and to order nappies so won't be a NSD.  I do think we will be slightly over this month, which is fine but annoying.

Also, I have slightly more than I thought in terms of pay - giving DH £500 a month towards expenses - do I give more if I have it or stick it in savings?  I mean it all ends up going into the same pot at the end of the day.

enthusiasticsaver

Good that the completion money is through.  if you don't have joint finances and are still having to cover bills while on maternity leave I would keep the £500 in savings as you don't know how the rest of your leave will pan out.  As you say it is all the same pot at the end of the day but while on maternity leave I would err on the side of caution.  The extra money  is probably something to do with tax as your tax up until you left on maternity or unpaid leave was worked out on the basis you received full salary until this month.

rugbymadfamily

Congratulations on completion 🍾 🥂 

astrocytic_kitten

Yay for completion!!

I’d put the extra into savings too, you don’t want the whole lot to go on nachos.

House prices going a bit crazy in my neck of the woods too - it’s always been a hot market here, but anecdotally there now seems to be a lot of Londoners moving here for the lifestyle now WFH is more of an option. It’s stressful when you see it happening, but try not to lose hope. I have every confidence you’ll end up in a place you’re happy with!