Where to focus - mortgage, renovations etc?

northwalesd

I'm cross as it feels like a really awful move to pull out so late in the day when we've twice waited for them to find buyers when they lost them. I realise they are within their rights to do this, and that is just how it goes sometimes, but it is how I feel.

Completely understandable to be cross. Hope things work out the way you want them.

beanielou

They may be within their rights but I personally don’t think it’s on.

shellstar

There was a viewing on Saturday but they've said the layout doesn't work for them. There is another one booked in for this Saturday. it's a course weekend so we will all be out anyway. My mum kindly has my dog for me and DS will be with his keyworker from 8am. The house went live on Rightmove again yesterday and they have only just removed the 'sold' sign this morning. I feel it took them ages, I am so cross with the EA right now. They give the impression they are doing all they can but they also seem very inefficient and uncommunicative. I've used them multiple times before and they were great but it feels like something has changed. Maybe they've got too big. I used to deal with 1-2 people and this time it's a different person depending on exactly what I'm talking about (e.g. sale, purchase, changing the board, rightmove listing, chain further down). I've spoken to another agent and I think I'll give them a couple of weeks to get it together and if we aren't getting viewings I might move. We're well out of the exclusivity period. I am not sure how much changing agent can help given it's all just on Rightmove anyway, but I am tempted to move nontheless.

My poor dog is also not very well. He keeps being sick and having bad tummies. They did some tests and a scan and he's on some medication. He's stopped being sick but the bum is bad every few days. They found a nodule on his spleen and he's due another scan next week. If anything has changed, he'll need it removed urgently. I'm trying charcoal etc. on his food to help but it does mean broken sleep every few nights as he needs letting out. It's cost me £700 in vets bills so far this year. For some reason, last time the pets insurance was up for renewal I agreed Ex could take it on. I think at the time I was just grateful he was willing to do something to ease the mental load. Well, that's now biting me in the backside. I sent him the receipts and he's messed up the claim somehow so it's been rejected. I've asked him to send me half of the vets bills but he hasn't. Sigh.

First assignment is in though! Hurrah! A step closer. I was planning to start assignment 2 this week but will have to see where we are in viewings. Balancing work, child, studies and house viewings is not something I'm looking forward to. Deep breath and (in the words of my son) GOOOOOOOOO…

shellstar

Going into the first weekend since the house was relisted we have 3 viewings, and another one in the diary for next weekend, so that is a reasonable start I think.

I got £123.72 in interest on my ISA, so I've put that towards my moving fund in case I lose the pre-fab and need to incur costs on a new house. Good to be prepared.

Course weekend this weekend, but Granny is coming to visit so I won't have childcare costs this weekend. It will be nice to have the help to get the house viewing ready.

I have an eye appointment for tomorrow afternoon as I need new glasses. My prescription has changed (it had already changed a little last time, but my glasses are so expensive I decide to leave it. My glasses are really scratched up now (must be all the toddler wrestling) so I've saved up. I need thinned lenses and varifocals (thank you close computer work my entire adult life). I am thinking of asking them to do all the pupil measurements and then ordering online to save money. Is that a scam? Is it cheeky to ask them for that? Anyone got any recommendations for buying online glasses, or is it just better to pay out and get it done properly in a store? I'm not sure if it's a false economy or not.

becksport

Hi shellstar - you are doing so well with all that you have going on. Praying your house sells soon. I have bought glasses online previously and they were ok but have recently had mine done instore. Vision Express wanted over £800 for 2 pairs of varifocals with thinning and one with transition lenses (darkens with sunlight). I had picked one pair of Ralph Lauren frames which were £130 so not mega expensive however Asda opticians include varifocals and thinning in the cost of the frames. So I paid £130 for the RL frames including varifocals and thinning and then £69 for the transition lenses. They then did a second pair for £40 so I got a pair with office lenses (slightly different for the computer) and then they had a £25 off code on the rewards app. I paid in total £214 at Asda for what would have cost about £834 at VE. They also have a money back guarantee if you are not happy with them. I won't go anywhere else but Asda now as they were even cheaper than online. Hope this helps.

shellstar

Thanks Becksport, that is really helpful. I've had a look and my nearest Asda Opticians is 20 miles away, but with that kind of saving it might be worth the trip. My appointment is with Specsavers. I'll see how it goes.

How did you find the transition lenses? I usually get the sunglasses if there is a free pair, but I have wondered if transition lenses would work well or if it would be annoying and never quite clear enough, never quite dark enough?

beanielou

My mum had transition lenses and they drove her mad!

becksport

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81891876#Comment_81891876

I have found them great especially when driving - no need to have a second pair of glasses with you or try to swap from glasses to sunglasses when driving, or out for lunch on a sunny day etc. You can get different tints - I went for the dark grey so they look like sunglasses when it is bright. If you have chosen a frame at specsavers see if Asda do it and price it up online before you drive over there. You just take the prescription from specsavers to Asda and they will use that.

shellstar

Thanks all, Asda didn't have the glasses I chose and I had saved up a lot for my glasses so this time I went with specsavers. I'll keep in mind Asda for next time though.

We had a second viewing on Monday (EA asked me to make an exception because the wife was very keen but the husband was about to leave the country for two weeks, hence the urgency). Granny was still here, so house was pretty much spotless and we said yes. Apparently they love it, but turns out they aren't proceedable. I'm told they have second viewings on their house this week so fingers crossed. There are currently two viewings in the diary for Saturday.

My dog has his abdominal scan at the vets today and all is well. So that was £164 vs £1500 and surgery avoided. It's a good day, and woofer is back home and sleeping in his spot beside my desk as he should be. Ex-DP has also managed to navigate the insurance claim process finally and tells me I will be getting back some of the money I have paid in the next few days. That will be very helpful.

Apparently I get my marks back from my first assignment on Friday. Eek!

Also, I saw on Instagram someone using a hot brush. I have fine hair, and have to wash it in the evenings before bed as my son gets upset if I'm in the shower when he's around (plus he's a liability and I wouldn't trust him not to kill himself or the dog whilst I'm in there). This means I either sleep on it wet, or freshly blow dried and it rarely looks nice the next morning. I end up wearing it up a lot. I bought this hot brush on Vinted for 2/3 of the price new (BNWT too) and have to say, it's a game changer. My hair actually looked nice - no fuzz, no weird kinks. I'm very, very happy with my purchase, should anyone else reading be in a similar position regarding hair washing schedules.

northwalesd

Apparently they love it, but turns out they aren't proceedable. I'm told they have second viewings on their house this week so fingers crossed. There are currently two viewings in the diary for Saturday.

Keeping everything crossed for you.