Tightening the belts for unpaid leave

[Deleted User]

@enthusiasticsaver - am not in uk and we don't have those shops!  If we had them I'd be there like a flash (I'm not one of those people who "have" to shop at the expensive shops)!!  So I guess that's why I buy when stuff we always use is on offer as it's cheaper in the long run.

DH got 2 formula in the end yesterday so was another £28.  It's fine because I do usually make sure I've got one spare tub in the cupboard anyway in case of shortages.  

Today should be NSD - dropped DC1 at MIL and she watched DC2 whilst I did a run.  So feeling good for having done that.  Just had protein shake so back on WW until Friday.  Movers coming to give quote Fri arvo so glad they are now booked in.  Site visit to property hopefully tomorrow and have diarised to chase bank re mortgage on Weds.

So tonight is probably goodlife burgers (vegan) or kievs (also vegan) from freezer plus waffles.  Quiet day for me today - will pick DC1 up at 1, then head back here so he can have his afternoon nap.  Not planning on leaving house (flat) otherwise.

Been looking at lots of stuff online for the new house (not that we will be able to afford to buy much for a while) - good thing is, we don't actually "need" anything to get us going as we have super king for our room, double for spare and the 2 x cot beds for the kids, still have our sofa, large armchair and a rocking chair so that will do lounge and playroom.  And we have our dining table and loads of chairs/a bench for the kitchen diner, plus all our kettle, toaster, crockery, cutlery etc.  We do want a new sofa for the lounge as ours is knackered (and filthy) but we will just make do for the moment until we can (a) decide what type/colour to get and (b) afford one!

New budget starts 2 weeks tomorrow and we have spent less than half our monthly budget so far.  So I am hopeful we can claw a little back this month, barring any disasters. 

[Deleted User]

Site visit can't go ahead until next week now as another person at the house is isolating.  DH chased bank and they are saying end of week.  Building inspector booked in for monday to sign works they did to house off.  So it's not really moving much at the moment.

Just moved cheque dad sent me across to savings and checked the cc'd statement - couple of things I'd forgotten we'd had as DH sorted and never gets receipts (or doesn't give them to me if he does), but they were minimal.  Need milk today so won't be a NSD but weather is pretty pants so not sure whether will walk out to get with DC2 (DC1 at nursery today) or go to garage in car when pick DC1 up later.

DC2 down for a nap now so might watch a film (after I've washed and sterilised all bottles!).

Finding life is rather dull at the moment.  I think we just feel in limbo and unable to control this house buying process!!

Blackcats

I can understand that feeling of being in limbo.  Hopefully before you know it you will be plunged into a frenzy of packing, paperwork and moving to your new home.
The weather isn't helping much either.  Torrential rain here has made me abandon any plans for an after work walk.  

[Deleted User]

oh no @Blackcats - sorry you had to abandon walking plans, but at least it wasn't whilst on your holiday.

DH picked up milk x2, wine (I know) and some chocolate on way home, but no receipt so not sure how much will be - don't think it will be horrendous though.  Received inventory of stuff being included for new house, have gone back on 1 thing but they are leaving a fair amount including some free standing bedside tables we won't need (as our bed too big) so we might flog those....So at least it seems like things are happening, albeit not much major.

Going to take DC to park today hopefully as have both on my own.  Barely slept as neither went down until 930 - we went to bed, DC2 woke at midnight and had a bottle then woke again at 5 and I got up.  So not in best of moods!!!

We shouldn't need anything from shops today so should be a NSD hopefully.

[Deleted User]

Mortgage has been agreed - woo hoo!!!!!!!!  So once the works have been signed off we will book in surveyor.  Not expecting there to be any issues with the house (or at least nothing major) as it was only built 10 years ago.  

Gah, feel like we need to celebrate but also remain cautious as still quite a few hoops to jump through and no idea what's going on with their onward purchase (though they are buying a new build and I don't think they need a mortgage...)

Buffythedebtslayer

Great news on the mortgage! 

I am excited for you XXXX

[Deleted User]

Thanks @Buffythedebtslayer!!!!

So, the receipt from garage was £13.93!  I saw 2 x crisp packets in the bin so DH had got himself some crisps, none of which I was offered, but then I do drink all the wine so I suppose that's fair.

We popped a bottle of champers last night - we had had it for AGES and I mean AGES and it had been sat in the fridge (well, various fridges given how often we've moved) well over a year!  We've not had much to celebrate recently so thought it was only fitting.  Feeling a tad rough today as I had most of it (DH isn't a champagne fan).

Once the works have been signed off on Monday am going to ask the agent what is going on with their onward purchase, just to make sure that we are all on track.  We don't want to have to pay an extra month's rent here because it's another 2k and we have currently budgeted that we will have no rent or mortgage to pay from august's pay as the first mortgage repayment would come out end September.

Today won't be a NSD as need a lot from b**ts (formula, sanitary towels, wipes, soap, handwash, antiseptic wipes for the first aid kit etc etc) and also going to do the food/household shop as we are out tomorrow night and busy tomorrow arvo.  Thought we didn't need THAT much but we do as things like olive oil, dishwasher tabs, washing powder etc have run out and I have seen this morning that DH's and DC1's cereal is finished.  So am expecting a fairly hefty bill.  However, we have done well so far this month and are well well below our budget so I am hopeful that we can claw some back into savings.

We are going to run the figures again on the weekend as we will also know exactly how much surveyor's fees will be as we will get the details today.  That was a figure we had estimated so hopefully will be lower.  

I also wondered (because it is more of a cash flow thing at the moment ahead of the completion date - we're due deposit back from here plus a refund of agent's fees as we bought and sold through them but those obvs won't hit until AFTER we complete so we need to make sure there is enough in the pot to complete), about "borrowing" the money we use to pay the credit card if needed.  Because I basically run the credit card a month behind to ensure that we always have money to pay it (i.e. the money in the allocated savings account now will pay the credit card bill due 2 August but, I am recording what we are spending now since 20 June up to 19 July then DH will give me the cash on 25 July, but that will effectively pay the bill due start September) and then, because we will have surplus when paid end august (as I am getting a few days pay and we have no rent or mortgage to pay (hopefully!)) then we just pay ourselves back so as to be able to pay the card back.

I am hopeful it won't come to that because of the savings we are making now and will try to make from DH's July pay but we have the option.  I also have 2800 put away for my CGT for sale of the flat (I haven't been able to pay it within the 30 days because of me being offshore they can't set up the electronic account online so I had to do a paper form and send - HMRC said that was fine and I sent it recorded delivery so have the signature details that they have it) and so have to wait for HMRC to contact me - they said on the phone it could be months.  So again, we could borrow that very short term if needed for completion.

Guess I'm trying to comfort myself that we have options!!!

[Deleted User]

So surveyor is going to be £1380 so £120 less than budgeted but that's only for a valuation.  If we want a home buyers it's another £1650 on top.  Am not sure we are going to bother - they only bought it a few years ago so likely had a homebuyers then, they've done some works which are getting signed off monday and it was only built in 2011.

[Deleted User]

So, we have discussed, and we think that getting a homebuyers on top is a good idea.  We are spending an absolute fortune on this house and it would be silly not to get one.  So, I have been in contact with a friend of mine who has been a surveyor for years (RICS certified) to see how much he would charge as he's just started up by himself and also another (much older) surveyor I've worked with professionally before (and who did the HB survey on the last house we bought).  So, if either of those are cheaper than the one doing the valuation, we are going to book them in to do the HB separately.  Even if it means "borrowing" a bit more from ourselves and having less post-completion, it would be silly not to get one given this is the biggest investment we will ever make.

[Deleted User]

In other news, spent £49.55 in b**ts - but that was 2xformula, loads of pouches for DC2, sanitary towels x2 and antiseptic handwash (2 big bottles of the b**ts stuff were £1 each).  We needed soap but hunted around and found a pack of 3 nice ones my mum had bought me for xmas - will never get used otherwise so cracked those open.  Forgot to take my list so forgot the antiseptic wipes so will need to get those.

The shop wasn't too bad - £79.08 and only things didn't manage to get were potato waffles and cat litter.  So will need to get those at some point on the weekend.  It was only that large as needed olive oil, 2 x white vinegar to clean the bottle machine, kitchen roll, dishwasher tabs, washing powder and also DH told me DC1 had run out of chicken goujons and fish so had to get those too plus coffee as we were almost out.  The coffee, kitchen roll and washing powder were on offer at least!