The 'scenic route' to mortgage freedom...

themadvix

Exciting stuff about the extension plans!

I don't blame you for wanting to avoid horse riding lessons if they're not actually getting any riding in if the weather is bad! That's some expensive (for you) free labour (for the stables!). I don't remember not riding if the weather was bad when I was a child - I think the instructors just got on with it (we may have gone for a hack instead) or it was cancelled. That would be a big saving - maybe you could let them have 1 lesson in that period as a bargaining chip? Or could they go and hang around and do the free labour for free (this may not be allowed under healthy and safety - times have changed, even at the stables I imagine!) just to get some horse time in and the smell of stables on them? (Can you tell I was a horse-mad pre-teen?!)

PiggyBankShaker

Thanks @themadvix - DD already helps out there every all day every Saturday, so far we've resisted the requests for her own horse but we are down on the waiting list for a livery place at the stable there so I thinks it's just a matter of time really. The amount we are paying for lessons at the moment, the extra cost to livery won't seem like such a big jump but it's still a daunting commitment, especially as 'non-riding' parents.

Pay day tomorrow! And somehow we still have £448 in the bank! Okay, so horse riding lessons on Saturday and two pairs of new trainers will eat into that, but we've done really well this month. Eating out and toiletries are the two areas we managed to save, so I'm pleased about that.

In November we'll have to pay the architects fee so I don't know how much we'll be able to add (if anything!) to the savings balance. The windows are also due but that could be anytime, Nov, Dec or Jan... whenever they get the much delayed glass. Once they go in they will basically wipe us out savings wise, unless DH has had a end-of-year bonus from work.

I guess what I'm saying is we need another two good months of controlled spending if we stand a chance of going into the new year debt free. 

PiggyBankShaker

We've both been paid and we've done the money hokey-cokey. Based on spending projections have been able to put £2249 into savings, but it's just sitting there for the time being as we will also need to pay the architect £2600 this month.

I emailed the window fitter and he has said the manufacturers have given him a provisional delivery date of the 14th December for the new windows. And that they will 'try to install' them asap after that. I'm rather sceptical that it will be before Christmas, but we'll see. At least we now know that we don't also have to pay the windows in November.

I've received the new starter pack for my new job and after tax and pension contributions I'll get £419 per month, excluding overtime. It'll definitely help the savings going forward and in time I might even be able to divert that entirely into overpaying the mortgage, if I still have it after the extension debt is cleared.

DH and I rowed about money again this morning, it seems like a regular pay day occurrence lately. He asked if I thought he should reduced his pension contributions whilst we are saving for the extension and I said no, but I thought instead he should reduce his charitable donations, and then we had a row.

That's all for now. I'm off to try and make some Caramel Apple Cider, hope it turns out okay as I'll have wasted nine perfectly good apples otherwise!

PiggyBankShaker

We've had the first 'pre-estimate' back from a builder, and I must say it is a bit of a shock. The figure he's given us is £80,000+VAT for labour and trade materials. I've gone back and asked what is included in 'trade materials' exactly, but unless it is everything excluding the kitchen then it's too much and more than we can comfortably afford. Even if it does include everything then we still have a decision to make because I doubt we'll recoup that much on a house value increase. Hoping to get some more estimates over the next week but there's lots to think about. 

peb

Gosh.  Although it's not only the resale value but making it better for your time in the house.    

Some materials are scarce which is adding to costs and time frames of course, also is it 20 per cent extra recommended to add to quotes?

savingholmes

Definitely add a big chunk for contingency. I think with covid prices have gone up but ouch ... Don't know what would be reasonable though

PiggyBankShaker

Just a quick pop in to say there's no update. Well, not on the money/house front. I took DD & DS to get their eyes tested tonight and DD needs new glasses. I also took her for her covid jab. There's been a steady spate of PCR tests in the house, all negative thankfully. I've got my one day off this week tomorrow and I intend to chill. Hopefully we'll get the figures back from the project estimator we paid to impartially price up the extension. Depending on what they say we might be going back to the architect and asking for a re-design. What this space!

PiggyBankShaker

The project estimator came back with a cost of £104,000 plus VAT and there were several items they could not price with including windows. It also doesn't include the kitchen which we always planned to budget for separately. Shocked is an understatement. I emailed the architect and let him know and asked him about the possibility of a redesign, which he pushed back on. He wants to see the estimators workings. I'm so demoralised by it all that I'm fantasising about just 'making good' the house as is and selling up and moving again, which is wholly unrealistic in itself. Lets see what next week brings.

In other news I LOVE my new, second job. Obviously its early days and the shine will probably wear off, but so far its been great.

Oh, and we've booked a sneaky mini-break at the end of the month! I have loads of annual leave to take from my main job so we booked 4 days in Ukraine. Flights cost £148 return for 4 of us and we paid for the accommodation (£175) with vouchers. DH found airport parking with 45% cash back and cheap PCR tests. Its super cheap out there (we've been before) so all in all it should be a nice getaway - if Covid doesn't ruin it of course. 

savingholmes

Ouch to extension costs. 

Mini break sounds great

PiggyBankShaker

First pay from my 2nd job hit the bank account today - £363. I was expecting £419, so I'll have to wait until I see a pay slip to work out what's happened.

I moved some money into savings so as it stands today we have exactly £13,000 across all the pots. The architect has chased us so he'll need paying (still not happy with the designs but not sure what we can do about it?) so that total is only fleeting. Had a good chat with DH about the house last night, neither of us are really sure what to do for the best. Will keep mulling and see what the architect comes back with now he has seen the estimators breakdown. He too was quite shocked by the cost.