Five Year Fix, Five Year Plan

Merlin's_Beard

killerpeaty said:

Cat thing will be okay, cats are little crazy little things that take up a huge amount of space in our lives. It's been a very short time, it'll settle in before you know it. I know you're the vet here but sometimes you need to hear it from someone else!

I love when handymen just turn up 

Being the vet just makes me paranoid - I know everything that might go wrong! Always appreciate a voice of reason.

Merlin's_Beard

So next drama - there's oil on my drive. Can't see anything coming out the car. Is there a leak I just can't see? Are contractors parking on my drive when I'm not looking?

Will ring the garage in the morning and hope it's not too expensive, or even better, nothing.

On a brighter note, have discovered why I can't see my mortgage - the bank has created an entirely separate account for me with exactly the same details. Hopefully will get resolved soon so the OPs can begin.

Merlin's_Beard

So good news - I currently have floors throughout. They left all their rubbish behind though, so will need a trip to the tip at some point.

Bad news - the car is leaking oil. The car is also leaking coolant. The car needs a new exhaust. And three new tyres. And some other things as well. Discussion with mechanic - £1500 to get it done properly and through MOT and serviced. Could have considered a partial job to get it through its MOT, but I'm not in a position to buy a new secondhand car now, and won't be in a few months either. So that seemed like a pointless exercise when I'd be back in the same position soon enough. So we'll do it properly and I'm hoping that secondhand cars get cheaper in the next few years.

So the emergency fund is going to go down by the end of the month (but I'm so happy I have the emergency fund - or at least, once I'd stopped having a cry in the toilet about the whole thing I was so happy I had an emergency fund)

savingholmes

So pleased you had an EF. That would have scuppered most people straight after a house move. Well done you - even if it's painful parting with the money. 

Next important point - can you get rid of any staining on your lovely new drive?

Merlin's_Beard

savingholmes said:

So pleased you had an EF. That would have scuppered most people straight after a house move. Well done you - even if it's painful parting with the money. 

Next important point - can you get rid of any staining on your lovely new drive?

The important question! I've got cat litter over it - it's meant to soak up the oil. Will see whether it works over the next few days.

The benefit of having family near is very clear right now as well - have my mum's car to get me to work for the next few days, so I'm not having to rely on the garage having a courtesy one at short notice, or hire one.

killerpeaty

Oh no! That's such bad timing. I'm glad you can use your family resources in a pinch.

I think if you go over to oldstyle, they might be able to help with the stain

Merlin's_Beard

I think the cat litter idea was originally from there @killerpeaty ! 

Car is back! Much sooner than I expected as well, so that's a bonus. Bill is paid, EF looks sad, but this is what it's for. Hopefully landlady will be okay with the house at the weekend and my deposit will come back to replenish it a bit. I thought originally I would be able to use that to OP, but it's not to be.

savingholmes

Great news that your car is fixed already. Good luck on the deposit.

Merlin's_Beard

Mad Saturday morning running to meet with landlady - all okay! - and then to bank to withdraw the final flooring payment. Reassured the lass on the desk that I hadn't fallen for a Nigerian Prince - whizzed back to the flooring shop and paid my dues.

Deposit protection scheme is processing my deposit so hopefully it will be with me soon, but I am officially not a renter and not beholden to anyone except the bank!

And then I slumped and I have literally done very little all weekend. Tesc0 delivery booked and arrived. Clothes washed (still in the dryer waiting to be rescued). Books unpacked and squished back into bookcases (more bookcases definitely on the list)

I was offered my mum's washing line for the washing but a) it's looked a bit like rain all day and b) I'm a bit leery of over staying my welcome there. They've done a lot for me the last few weeks.

I do feel better now that the house and all the money bits are sorted. I just need my deposit to come back through - probably after the bank holiday - and my mortgage to show up on my account. But then everything should be more settled money wise.

The bank holiday of course is not a bank holiday for me! Given the way my contract is worded it isn't a day in lieu either, which is absolutely rubbish. In fact my easy branch day has been switched to a hectic main surgery day so it's just made my week worse!

savingholmes

Sorry you're not getting the benefit of the BH. That is so irritating!

Glad you are getting your deposit back - that's fab news. 

You could look on FB for shelving they tend to have loads and I've generally found the stuff I've bought great quality and effectively someone else just assembled it for me.