My journey to health, wealth (well, saving for works to house, so not really!) and hobbies

[Deleted User]

Gosh, has it really been 3 months?! Not quite sure where the time has gone! Hello all! Hope everyone is doing well.

Building works have been underway since start of Sept. Currently living squished with no kitchen (we are washing up in the bath) and the back of the house off. Needless to say it’s freezing.

Luckily so far we haven’t had too many nasty surprises taking us over the original quote. Original quote included both plumber and electrician quoting for underfloor heating in the back. But obvs we only need one. So we think that quote will come down by around 15.

Bifolds and the extension windows came in 3k under original quote.  So was down by 18.

However, they needed to do some extra work to the foundations so that’s around 2. Then when they took out a wall upstairs they’ve found the joists are sagging and floors need re-enforcing (we did think this might be the case as it was pretty obvious!), so another 2.5 there. We weren’t yet going to replace the 5 windows in front of house but some are broken and some will need replacing soon, so we’ve gone for it now whilst we are getting those rooms done. So that was another 6.

So we’ve got about 7.5 we think to play with without dipping into extra borrowing but are now doing bathrooms so think that will be eaten up (esp as we need another new window in one).

Basically the whole house is being renovated which we swore we wouldn’t do at once, but I think we’ve just decided that it’s better to do it all at once and never again!!!

DC1 going okay-ish at school. The concentration is a challenge. We’ve also signed him up for music school for an hour on the weekends and swimming on Tuesday nights. DC2 is loving nursery.

I’ve joined a choir(!). Absolutely loving it and having something for myself. It really gives 

Blackcats

How nice to hear from you and how exciting to be underway with your renovations/refurbs.  Sounds like costs are more or less balancing out.  Not like some of the Grand Designs programmes where the house owners sit smugly at the end of the programme in their ginormous house saying that they only went about £500,000 over budget 🙀
DC1 will hopefully continue to settle and get used to the requirements of concentrating at school - it can't be easy for them.  Glad DC1 is happy at nursery and good for you for joining the choir.
look forward to more updates when you aren't washing up in the bath.  I assume you aren't in the bath with the washing up?

Humdinger1

Exciting times @[Deleted User]! Makes absolute sense to do it all in one fell swoop.   When will it be finished? Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

[Deleted User]

@Blackcats so lovely to hear from you too! I did catch up on your diary the other day - will pop in and leave a comment but you’re doing great and I’m so envious of your retirement!  I am thankfully not in the bath whilst washing up! 

@Humdinger1 lovely to hear from you also! At the moment contract says May though that was before “extras”.  Unfortunately, we have now had about 85k of extras, quite a large portion of which we were not told about - I can't bring myself to talk about it but needless to say, the extra borrowing we secured at 5.44% back in Dec will almost pretty much be spent.  We have now been renting since 1 Jan and we were supposed to be back in on 28 March but now builder asking for more time.  So about 7k in rent and storage has been incurred so far.  hoping to be back in 6 April but who knows.

I am trying my best to be philosophical about it and keep telling myself that once it's done, it's done and we can re-build our savings but it is scary numbers and I would never ever do a project again (not that we had much choice - you will recall we looked at around 60 houses).  Feel like we have had so much bad luck with property!

Anyway, tiling in the open plan kitchen/diner/living room is being done today/tomorrow and kitchen being fitted Weds onwards (bar worktops which there is a delay on, mainly due to our procrastination!).  We have decided not to do our en-suite for the moment (or the part of the roof we had been quoted for) to give ourselves a buffer.  En-suite has been ripped out as I didn't want the hallway done and then dirty old shower/bath being carried down and DH has said he will tile it once we are ready.  Plumber wanted to charge us 4k for the en-suite for god knows what as the pipework was already there!  So we have decided that we will get a different plumber we know to quote once the builders have gone as we think that will be much cheaper.  Our room needs doing as well (just decorating really and new carpet) but DH is good at that so that will be his winter project, along with tiling the en-suite.

Work is ok though I've been signed off with stress (not work stress, house and child stress!) so have another 2 weeks off.  Been trying to make the most of it by getting out and about including cliff walks with friends which really is the best medicine (and free!).

DH finds out about pay rise and bonus today so fingers are crossed as we need it.  I think I am now most worried about retirement - I'm 45, DH is 40 and we both have rubbish pensions (mine started late, DH been going a while but wasn't earning great money for years).  I want to go at 60 if possible because I have seen my parents' health deteriorate so much and DH and I want to spend a lot of time travelling once the kids leave home (or are old enough to be left here working whilst we go off) and I suspect we won't get a government pension (different rules over here) as we think there will be nothing left in the pot.  Once house done that should enable us to save but obviously we've also 23 years left on the mortgage(!).  Gah.  Why did we have to have ideas above our station?  Why did we not just stay in the old house (we would be mortgage free now).

Anyway, not a lot of planning we can properly do until we have finished the house and can finally breathe.

Blackcats

Lovely to read your update @[Deleted User] - sounds like a very busy, frustrating and stressy time.  It's easy for me to say, but it will be worth it to have your home how you want it for you and your family.  The money will work itself out eventually.
When I had a kitchen renovation and a few bits of building work I foolishly thought it would be a couple of weeks of disruption and quite fun to cook in the microwave in the dining room and go out for meals.  Well I lasted about a week before booking a last minute holiday in Spain for myself and the children so I can't imagine how tough it's been for you and the family,

hope both your DC's are doing well.
sounds like you are making the best of your time away from work.

[Deleted User]

@Blackcats thank you as always for your kind words - you totally had it right booking a trip away!  I did suggest this to DH to go away over easter giving we'd be paying rent anyway but it fell on deaf ears!

DH not had pay review yet - he thinks it will be today - silly thing is, obviously it's not like it's going to make a HUGE difference as he simply won't get a big pay rise.  At best it might be another £200 or so a month but every little counts at this point!

Monday I did a long (5 mile) walk along the coast from where we are staying - have to say it was glorious and really helped.  Monday's spend was £1.84 on milk and £3.22 on bananas and apples for the DC.  Yesterday was a bit glum so didn't really fancy walking - had to go and choose grout of all things (who knew there were so many colours!) so did that then I have been coveting a coffee from somewhere we went in January for the last 2 weeks I've been off, so popped there to get it - £3.20 wasted.  Picked DC up who were a complete nightmare from start to finish and we were very grateful to get them to bed(!).  Watched The Gentlemen (only 1 episode to go now) with DH and an early night after a couple of chapters of the book I'm reading.

Woke up absolutely wiped this morning.  I'm also on industrial duty folic acid tablets as I have been experiencing pins and needles/pain in my hands and legs (I am convinced it is MS as I have neurological issues) and they did blood tests and said my folate levels were very low.  Anyway, need to get my prescription for a new month of those today.  Also need to go into town and take pack a pac a mac I bought for DC1 so will be a £19 refund.  Need to drop in my sickness forms to make sure I get sick pay and sort our phone package (DH worked out we can save here if we combine and change provider as we have been with different ones) but all has to be done in person(!) and then need to go and finalise carpet order for the DC room.  We also need milk, potatoes and bananas.  So not much rest today.

DH picking kids up today so I am tempted to be out as otherwise the duties will fall to me.

Trying to limp through to next Weds (pay day) without spending too much to hopefully bring us in under budget this month though DH out thursday (not paid for) and I am out friday (paid for and am going to drive so I won't spend on drinks) and then there is the "big shop" at the weekend and we need loo roll!

[Deleted User]

DH's payrise and bonus were total gash - not even cost of living!  I have told him I think he ought to challenge it (my work gave me 4.5% even after I had raised issues with my level of pay in the summer - don't think they even bothered to read the long and detailed email I set it all out in - but got them up to 6.5% with hope also of promotion mid year (though I think realistically it will now be next year with me having been off sick for a month), especially as they had a presentation saying they had had a really good year(!).

I do find in this life work want more and more from you yet effectively you're getting a paycut for more work.

DH spent £40 last night on his work night out which isn't too bad.  I've just spent £30 in marks and sparks and still have the rest of the big shop to do.  Living is not cheap!

Tiling now almost done in the open plan part and kitchen fitting starts Monday - hoping the colours I've chosen are right as it was one of those kitchens you get spray painted in little greene or F&B so you can't actually physically see them before ordering.  It is (thankfully) looking as if we will be back in on 6 April even though it won't be finished.

Just bill after bill after bill at the moment - silly things even like taps for the bathrooms - it all adds up.  I am just trying to justify with myself that this is going to be our home for the next 25-30 years and we will benefit from enjoying living in it, even if it has cost us a kings ransom.  And of course, we can downsize in retirement freeing up cash to live on.  That's what I'm telling myself anyway!!!

Out with friends tonight but its already paid for and I am driving so nothing will be spent apart from maybe a water (it's a theatre thing) but I have an awful sore throat so really feel like cancelling!

[Deleted User]

Cancelled in the end on Fri as just felt totally wiped.  Both DC have colds and one had diarrhea last night so possible we all have some sort of virus.  Spending has not been great this weekend but we should end up within budget this month and possibly save around £100 so not too bad all things considered.

We have now sorted taps for the bath and basins.  As we were walking into a well known DIY store yesterday someone handed us a voucher for £12 off which was lovely of them.  DH has been really concerned about cashflow but had forgotten that we withhold 5% of the contract price for 6 months for snagging which will help.

Humdinger1

Get well soon @[Deleted User]! It's utterly exhausting having to carry on to any degree when you feel rough.   Early nights all round? Love Humdinger xx 

[Deleted User]

@Humdinger1 thank you - yes, I was very conscious to get an early night last night - still felt wiped when I first woke but doing better now.  Feel like I should go out and do something today but weather is gloomy.  Pay day Weds (thank god) but think am going to have to fill car with petrol tomorrow.  We are in a holiday let whilst our works are done which is further out so petrol costs have been massively increasing.  

Had a nice weekend - kids had their different classes Sat morning, then MIL had them a couple of hours in the afternoon so we could run round sorting things for the house. Yesterday we saw DH's younger sister who has moved into her own rented place after splitting with her psychotic boyfriend after 5 years - she has managed to find such a lovely place and it is so nice to see her happy.  I think she was relieved when we left though as the kids were bouncing off the walls in her place!  Then we met FIL and step MIL at garden centre - they have recently moved back and it's great to have them around - kids loving it.  Luckily it was their turn to buy the (very weak and rubbish) coffee and the kids got free indoor and outdoor play so that was good.  Then we took them to the park to try to exhaust them as their behaviour was less than exemplary yesterday!!  Bumped into DH's aunt and uncle who were on their way to visit my MIL so then headed there and DH's older sister, husband and kids were there so it was a real weekend of DH's family!!!

MIL been making snide comments about the house and "all those boxes" for the kitchen.  But it's not just us she's like that with.  She's apparently been the same with DH's younger sister.  Not sure why but I don't think I'll ever figure her out!!!

Week is rather boring - got to meet a couple of cleaners today and weds as we have to have this place professionally cleaned on exit - we were quoted £350 by the last one - that didn't even include cleaning oven, extractor, windows etc - it's a tiny place so can't imagine it would take more than 3 hours hence why we are seeking other quotes.  Also need to order blinds for the kids' bedroom.  We have got the decorator to put a dino wallpaper mural thing on their wall and are going to surprise them with it when we move back in.  However, DC1 said yesterday "I don't like dinos anymore"- I asked him why and he said "because I'm 5, I liked them when I was 4 but now I'm 5 so I don't".  Helpful!!!!!!

Have also got to make an appointment to sort out phones/broadband, opticians and speak to the electricity company about whether we can change tariff now that we will have quite a bit of electric underfloor.  All very dull.  The most exciting part of my day is that DH made fajitas last night and I have a leftover wrap for lunch(!).

I think I might be ready to return to work.

However, I am just looking forward to getting the house finished, back in and draw a line under so that MSE efforts can begin again.