Tightening the belts for unpaid leave

Sarahwithlove · 26 June 2021 at 12:36PM

Just try and be as strict elsewhere if you can and I would also be honest with them and explain that you can't afford to do it every day as your moving houses.

[Deleted User] · 1 July 2021 at 9:11AM

Mortgage application signed and in. Waiting to hear. Possibly end of next week. Lawyers were going to do site visit yesterday but vendors are isolating so will now be next week. Their inventory has been done and sent to them but think they are waiting on the inventory for their onward purchase to decide what is being left. Taking the CDD down to estate agents today (lawyers one already done). So things are moving. Fingers crossed that 8 weeks today we are in. I am a bit concerned the bank won't lend what we need. Lady dealing didn't think it would be an issue but I am still nervous. If we lose this house we will be inconsolable.

We have really tightened up the spending. Hardly any transactions on credit card when normally loads. I am doing big shop tonight but should be relatively cheap. Top ups of milk/fruit etc during the week. DH out tomorrow but hopefully all paid for. He's said he's just going to rock up for meal and then leave after so no having to buy rounds. I am home with the DC. Having to take MIL out Sat morning for breakfast for her birthday so that is spending but we can't avoid that one. Then we are not out until 9th. But that is drinks only, not food.

Feel now like won't be able to enjoy these last few weeks of mat leave (only 10.5 weeks until back at work now) as 8 of them will be spent being stressed trying to get this purchase over the line!!! Movers coming next friday to quote. Got to chase them monday to ensure pencilled in and appointment confirmed for next friday. Have diarised when need to sort all utilities etc out.

Blackcats · 1 July 2021 at 9:32AM

Fingers crossed it will go smoothly. It's natural to be anxious but for as long as we've "known" you through your diary things have turned out ok in the end.
a positive is that you aren't working currently so you can give your attention to doing what's needed for the purchase and still enjoy some time with your children while the professionals are getting on with their part of the transaction.

[Deleted User] · 1 July 2021 at 4:49PM

thanks @Blackcats - I do hope you're right!

Spen £11.97 in b**ts - needed shampoo and conditioner. I mean, we have some, but I always make sure we have a spare bottle of each for when it runs out. But was on offer so a good time to buy and may actually buy another 2 at weekend as is at the cheapest it ever is. Got some pouches and melty sticks for DC2. So all necessary spending.

DH doing head in. I rocked up to his work to get the CDD he'd had certified and coffee man was there - he was asking me if he could have a croissant saying he was hungry and had a fiver in his pocket. I said no, we have to curb spending and if he used his fiver then that wasn't really saving as the fiver could've been used for other things - it's not not spending just because it doesn't appear on the card! I'm getting cross with him because I am really trying to curb the spending and he appears not to be taking it as seriously. Yesterday he spent £4.60 on chocolate at M&S. I am putting in over 2.5 times what he is putting in - it's every penny I have. My dad has just sent me a cheque as a gift and that is going in. I know he's also putting every penny of his in too, but mine is significantly more and so I just wish that he would take it more seriously. I walked before and was hungry but decided against buying anything for this reason - he is quite greedy though (his family are quite like this) when it comes to food and sometimes "can't help" himself.

[Deleted User] · 2 July 2021 at 9:34AM

£72.19 in WR but forward bought a few things as they were things we buy/use all the time which were on offer so made sense (i.e. chicken sausages we eat for lunch most days due to my WW were 25% off so got 4 packs as that will do 8 lunches for both of us). Also got our veggie frozen stuff as was on offer so that will do 6 meals. Means next week's shop should barely exist as we have so much in the freezer now. Got to get a chicken, coleslaw and fruit for DC1 later plus milk but should be under a tenner and won't buy anything extra. DC1 going to MIL shortly so just have DC2 this morning. Might go for a walk - not decided yet. DH off this arvo so we will pick up DC1 from MIL and poss go to park or for a walk (nice and free apart from petrol)

DH said to me this morning that if he can't buy coffee I can't buy wine other than for weekend. I think that's a fair compromise as if I have wine in the week, he doesn't participate as he's working whereas I'm on mat leave. Checked accounts this morning and got more in interest than I thought this month - £25 more - so that will help towards our purchase costs.

Just a nervous few days now waiting for mortgage application to come back. Wish it could be quicker as then at least we'd know.

HampshireH · 2 July 2021 at 3:38PM

The wait must be agonising.🤞 You get news next week

Blackcats · 2 July 2021 at 7:35PM

The coffee/wine compromise sounds fair. Short term "pain" for long term gain 😻

[Deleted User] · 2 July 2021 at 8:27PM

DH out tonight so I am watching "The Tomorrow War" on Prime - it's quite good (and Chris Pratt I mean, yum!) with wine - am allowed as it's the weekend and DH out. Not doing my WW any good so will have to start that again Monday!! My issue is I just love food and drink SO much. But I want to be thin for when we are in the new house - I know that sounds totally daft but I can just see myself swanning around the kitchen island in beautiful soft loungewear with a glass of cold white wine in hand. But if I don't lose weight, I'm going to look more like Waynetta Slob in a velour tracksuit with a can of special brew!!!!

[Deleted User] · 4 July 2021 at 10:45AM

Weekend spending hasn't been tooooooo bad, around 50 including wine and nappies and a mascara which I needed as mine has dried out. Not sure how much the breakfast for DH's mum was - total bill was 120 (they took mine off as it wasn't cooked so it wasn't a particularly nice experience!) but that was the whole family so waiting for DH to tell me what our share was (we paid and they are paying us back). 2 weeks Tuesday is our new budget and we ought not to do too much of a big shop next weekend as got lots this week (though we do need olive oil, washing powder, dishwasher tabs and swim nappies!). DH has taken DC1 swimming with his cousins this morning so think that's usually just over a fiver. Hopefully they won't go to cafe after!

Tonight's dinner is fajitas - mince from freezer, bought tortillas and spice mix but they were on offer, a pepper and an onion, already have strong cheddar in fridge and soured cream from our piri piri chicken we had last night. So cheap meal.

Update on house: told Friday that the works they had done to property hadn't yet been signed off so they are sorting that asap. Not expecting it to be an issue as looks like were done to very high standard. Hoping to hear from the bank re mortgage and have diarised to chase them wednesday. Also diarised to chase movers for them coming round to quote for us.

DH having to get formula as another expense today as DC2 doesn't like the new (cheaper) one we got him and refused to drink it! So that will be 14!