The 'scenic route' to mortgage freedom...

PiggyBankShaker

Thanks @savingholmes @pennywisepoundstupid @South_coast @merlinsbeard - definitely seems swagbucks is not the beast it once was.

The window is in! It was a right faff and made a mess, but it looks fab and I'm really chuffed with it. DH has started dismantling the old kitchen and the house feels like a building site but progress is progress so no complaints here.

I'm away for two days with work now, I'm sort of relieved that I'll be out of the mess and can have a proper dinner tomorrow night, and I'm sort of gutted I won't be here to help. I'll have to give DH moral support from afar.

Someone may or may not collect the old kitchen for £320 tomorrow, if they don't turn up I'll offer it to my friend who says she could make use of it. We'll see.

I feel I'm inching forwards to some good news on my book, but still playing the waiting game. Patience is not my friend at all, but I'm finding the whole experience less stressful than I imagined and there's a lot going on to keep me busy.

Right, I think that's all. 

PiggyBankShaker

The gas fitter / plumber is here! Sort of a bit in shock that a tradesperson has turned up!

Merlin's_Beard

PiggyBankShaker said:

The gas fitter / plumber is here! Sort of a bit in shock that a tradesperson has turned up!

Keep their number for future use!

PiggyBankShaker

Merlin's_Beard said:

PiggyBankShaker said:

The gas fitter / plumber is here! Sort of a bit in shock that a tradesperson has turned up!

Keep their number for future use!

Absolutely! 

PiggyBankShaker

The FB marketplace buyer turned up and bought the old kitchen for £400, which is amazing! We have the old window and a radiator to sell as well, which DH is going to list tomorrow for £50 each.

The kitchen fitter also started today, but the electrician now can't come until Wednesday. Still, there's definite visible progress according to the photos DH has sent me. It sort of feels surreal after so long. 

savingholmes

Great news on the £400 sale. Hopefully the tradespeople all turn up and you will soon have a beautiful kitchen.

Sounds like you timed going away perfectly.

PiggyBankShaker

After the excitement of selling the old kitchen its been very quiet on the money front. No takers yet on any of the other items that DH listed (although someone did try to scam him!) We also realised we can sell our old fridge when we finish using it.

The kitchen fitter has been cracking on really well. Progress is visible. I'm cautiously optimistic it's going to be good. Final decisions needed about stainless steel sink (which we have) vs copper sink (expensive) The kitchen has copper trim and we have a copper tap, but the worktops are a pale grey so either would work. Sticking with the stainless steel would be MSE, but the copper sink *might* elevate and look v. classy. I need to mull but I also need to decide today!

We also need to a new radiator asap and decide on ceiling lighting scheme. Oh, and there are a couple of issues with our existing flooring, which we can tackle further down the line, but which are annoying nonetheless.

I incurred some expenses and mileage for work which I need to claim back, I'll do the forms today.

DH and I have marriage counselling later. We're both feeling a bit fragile, so I hope it brings us together rather than pushes us apart.

Weather is rubbish here today, very wet and cold, which always affects my moods. Thanks goodness for the woodburner.

Right that's all I think. Must crack on.

PiggyBankShaker

So BIG scary news at PBS Towers today, DH might be being made redundant in November. Obviously this is very worrying as he is the main earner, but its not necessarily a disaster.

POSITIVES
We have savings
We have areas we can cut back on in our outgoings
I can pick up extra hours at 2nd job
We have things we can sell
We are healthy

NEGATIVES
This is a scary time to be facing redundancy and potential no/lower income
This will majorly disrupt our savings / mortgage OP plans
The small risk that DH will not find work and our savings run out

I have been making a mental list of everything we can sell to bring in some extra money and am going to write in the diary to keep a track of it:

Path edging
Railings
Fridge
Window
Small tiles
Paving blocks
Door
Rat cage
Guitar
Chair
Copper piping
Washing machine
Bike
Books
Clothes/shoes

If the SHTF, we can sell the car.

I have submitted my expenses (£165) I have volunteered to work 2 extra days next week. We're not buying the copper sink. I am determined to cash out the £30 on Swagbucks. Oh, and marriage counselling was cancelled which saved £80 straight away.

I think that's all for now. Wish us luck!

South_coast

Phew! Good luck 🤞 and don't forget to breathe. Remembering the positives is an excellent step, so well done x

savingholmes

You are coping with a lot. Well done on making contingency plans so quickly. I've been surprised at what random carp from the garage or shed sells like old bike wheels etc. FB is fab for that - and you get cash too which is lovely.