Tightening the belts for unpaid leave

[Deleted User]

@HampshireH - it was SO ridiculous.  It was NOT worth anything NEAR what they were asking - it wasn't even "immaculate" as it was described.  We were there 10 minutes and said no and said what we thought of the price it was on at!!!

Still nothing coming on.  It's so depressing.  I just wonder whether we'd be better off getting a "proper" rental for a year or so rather than this flat (though s*ds law, once we committed to a rental a house we like will come up and we'll be unable to take it!!).  We have decided that if we are still here by xmas, then we will look at other options including, perhaps, moving back to UK.  

I suppose the advantage is that once I'm back at work, we will start saving again (we have now changed nurseries for sept to the nice one which means DC2 at MIL Fri mornings saving us £2550 a year so we will be able to save more than we thought.  And if we are in this rental still then that is potentially another 800 a month saved as opposed to if we took our top mortgage out.  I don't think we need to save more to get what we want - I think we have the budget for what we want largely, it's just that those houses are not coming to market at present.  But at least if we are saving more then that's something.

Off to a playgroup this morning with the DC as have them both on own today though DH will come home at lunchtime to "help".  Stuck to WW so far this week but have horrid heavy period and pains so not done any running yet as it's just really unpleasant. 

Yesterday was NSD but today won't be as we need milk, but other than that.....

Blackcats

Hi Rebecca - your local housing market sounds very challenging. I had a nosey on Rightmove at some new builds that I often walk past.  They front onto a fairly busy road - right by a mini roundabout and back onto the railway line.  They are so close to the railway that you could almost touch the trains.  There is no front garden and no back garden and you wouldn't even want to open the windows because of traffic or trains.  I was flabbergasted at the price.

I think it's good for you to have some contingency plans in place for your housing situation with some indicative timescales so that you have some markers to keep in mind.  

[Deleted User]

@Blackcats - thanks - yes, it is very challenging here, but I do think it appears to be the same in most places at present.  What we absolutely must not do is settle.  There is compromise (which we are likely to need to do, as do most people), but settling is different.  And I refuse to do it.  As all this will have been for nothing.

DH has just come home to make lunch for us and put DC1 down.  I am hoping to get DC2 down so I can catch up on a bit of TV!!!!

rdone

It's taken me a few days but I've read all your diary - I felt like I was reading a really good book and was so relieved when your flat sale went through!

I was looking through zoopla last year and found an amazing house, so we put ours up for sale.  Got a buyer straight away who said she wanted to be in for Christmas and so offered on the new one.  She ended up dragging it on for so long we told her to get lost.  It's now April and we're on our third buyer!  Luckily our dream house is still there but we're now paying an extra £35,000 for it.  And hoping it all goes through this time.  I really feel your pain, the house buying/selling process in England and Wales is horrendous.

I've been trying to work out where you live out of pure interest - this is not a question!  But I have a few guess and I've enjoyed putting some clues together.  In reality I have no idea!

Really hoping something comes on the market for you soon.  Where we live properties are going before they're even up for sale - one agent told us they market on the book of face before uploading anywhere else (this was when we thought we'd lost our new house).

Will be carrying on reading and sending you positive vibes for finding a house.  You know it'll all work out right in the end but I find it's not any comfort whilst you're in the middle of the stress!

[Deleted User]

@rdone - oh, thank you.  I am not sure my diary is very interesting but thank you for reading and for saying that!  Oh no re having to pay more for your dream house and being onto third buyer but I have everything crossed for you (and it will be worth it in the end).

Thank you also for your well wishes!

Not much has happened today.  Been a NSD.  Took DC2 out for a nice walk.  DH gone to his mothers to plant his asparagus (even though we have no house so no garden(!)) and taken DC2.  I am trying to get DC1 to go the !!!!!! to sleep so I can watch a bit of tv or read a book!

We are viewing a house tomorrow but we know it's not for us - not right location - but is to build relationship with agent and also, because the market has moved somewhat as there was literally NOTHING for ages. we kinda want to gauge where it's at now by viewing some of the few which come on.  So that's at 2 tomorrow.

Tomorrow am I need to take DC2 to shops with me and pick up a t-shirt I ordered for him (paid for already) and some more painkillers as we are out and this period is horrendous.  Also need to get some junior piriton as ours goes out of date next month.  But should be relatively cheap.

[Deleted User]

Viewed house Friday.  Was a lot nicer than we were expecting but still too many compromises so we have not made an offer.  That said, we have, in the last 10 days or so, seen three houses which at least get somewhere close to what we are after, whereas before there was literally nothing.  More and more is hitting market so that is promising.  We spoke with the agent who showed us around Friday and she said this week is valuation central for them so we are hoping things are starting to move more.

So much for b**ts not being cheap - £58!!!!  We had a "staycation" on Saturday night - first night off the kids in almost 2 years.  Was almost £400 including dinner and drinks but had been my xmas/valentines present from DH so was just a delayed spend.  It was nice but we did actually miss the kids and picked them up earlier than planned on sunday!

Around £100 spent on food shopping this week.  

This week likely to be very quiet (hopefully) and am hoping to go for a run today at some point.  WW was not stuck to over the long weekend, because of our night away but also because I stuck to it religiously mon-fri last week and didn't lose anything so just thought s*d it!  Am back on it now though!

Blackcats

That's good that there is cause for optimism on the houses front.  The agents will know what a great position you are in when the right thing comes up.
staycation sounds lovely - it's good to recharge and refresh. 

[Deleted User]

Didn't do anything yesterday really as DC2 was quite unsettled so just stayed home and watched tv.  Picked DC1 up from nursery then did a drive by on 2 houses - not for us.  Got some petrol and milk (didn't fill car as was one of the more expensive garages for convenience so will fill at cheaper garage friday) - so that was £16.29.

Have both DC by self today so going to go to the park a bit later now that have new double buggy (which is excellent btw).  Might also walk to town with the DC as need some more protein shake powder but might just wait until tomorrow when only have DC1.

Tenant has now moved out of flat but got a message from her on weekend (morning after our staycation just as we were nice and relaxed at the hotel - thanks) - new owner wanted my phone number to tell me to clear out the loft.  I had clearly ticked "no" on the relevant forms I had to fill in as to whether property would be cleared and had further written alongside that box that it would not be as I had no idea what was there.  I said no to giving out my phone number and tenant forwarded me the messages that the new owner had asked her to forward - threatening me with legal action if I didn't do it or alternatively asking me to pay £100 into her bank account!  Cheeky cow!!!!  She'd have to go to small claims court, apply to serve me out of jurisdiction or for sub service, and it would cost her more than that to get her £100 (plus how has she arrived at that arbitrary figure?!) and she wouldn't get her legal costs back as it's small claims.  Also, she took it subject to the tenancy so for all I know, the tenant has shoved a load of stuff in the loft and a load of it is hers anyway.  If I hadn't been clear on the forms then fair enough but I have been, plus she got an absolute bargain and she knows it.  It is the gift which keeps on giving!!!!

Anyway, I am waiting (not very patiently) today, hoping some more houses come on for us to see!

[Deleted User]

Have heard nothing else from new owner thank goodness.
Took the DC's to park wednesday and then we ended up getting a curry and beers (£45) in evening as had had a horrid day where a house came on which would (we think) have been close to what we were looking for but we weren't informed of it and its gone.  So I was in tears as am just bl**dy fed up of it all now!!

Anyway, yesterday was a better day though was stuck inside with DC2 due to rain.  Been informed of another house coming on (inheritance job) so going to see that at 1130 but don't think it's for us.  Need to do a big shop today and car needs to be filled with petrol so an expensive day really!

Had to pay deposit for DC2's nursery place yesterday (£250 incl £50 admin charge) but the nursery we don't want them to go to refunded our deposit of £200, so we only had to pay £50 which was good.  And we will get the £200 back when DC2 leaves.  Not had request for money re DC1 place yet but hoping they won't ask because we have already paid a £200 deposit when he started so guessing maybe that can be carried over.  If not, we do have it, but we'd rather not pay it again as then that will be £2,600 tied up in deposits all over the place!

WW and running have not happened this week.  I am starting again on Monday!!!  Also need to get protein powder as not been for that yet - might take DC2 down to town tomorrow to get it.  Might just get 2 tubs as then won't need to go for a while and have it every day for brekkie.

[Deleted User]

House was ridiculous.  I mean ridiculous.  Agent was billy bull sh1tter.  The search continues.

Spending is out of control.  I mean, really.  Mainly food.  But DH keeps buying garden stuff when we don't have a bl**dy garden!!!!!

Diet/fitness have gone to !!!!!! but I am starting again tomorrow - all weight I lost (3lbs) is now back on.  But I will start again tomorrow.