Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma

Queen_of_the_Hive

LadyWithAPlan said:

Very wise comments @Sistergold

yes kids grow up and at least you can have them properly over the holidays,  long weekends - ultimately putting them first is a gift of love and they also have an amazing opportunity to see what adult real life looks like, how to make sacrifices and win, how balanced humans handle break ups and most of all that they are loved and you are always a call or a whats app video away 

my cheap rent has been going up and up - another 10% this month for some in my building -for some neighbours it’s been £200 more after £200 more last April.. 
I am also about to buy cos I need to get on the right side of this equation 

Hi @LadyWithAPlan , We were really expecting our rent to go up another £200 per month and its just more and more squeezing and making us more and more vulnerable.

Its soo exciting to read your about to buy too, good luck. It will be a huge relief to have that bit of stability.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Friday,

Its been a dry weather day here and the washing has gone outside for the first time in 2024... Spring is on its way!

This week has been quite a regular week at work, yesterday was one of those frustrating days where our accountant had asked for some information regarding our little business and its turned into a much larger task which i'm not enjoying...

For the new house its a bit of an exciting week, we are having a new carpet fitted to the main bedroom in preparation for moving day. The carpet is quite a lovely luxury one which was an off cut at a discount price. Its a very light colour so a bit concerned about the removal guys and their shoes going into the bedroom. Think I may buy some of those overshoes to protect the carpet. We also have the broadband being installed this week too!

I've also started doing a bit of match betting. Its still very new and i'm very green but keen to try some different ways to bring in a bit extra cash and learn some new things. Current outlay is much more than the returns but 'Rome wasn't built in a day..'

World book day tied in nicely with doing a bit of a clear out in the kids bedroom and managed to get rid of some of the thin early reader books to school for one of their fundraising book sales. The books were the kind that are not really worth any money and are no longer being used. The next item on my little hit list is kids welly boots. We have a few pairs of different sizes hanging around which are now too small for the little one. Its a bit less to take with us.

This week I want to look into setting up a savings pot dedicated to 'Refurbishment and Maintenance' as we currently have £0 put aside as this will be greatly needed in the coming months in the new home.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Today has been a fairly relaxed Saturday. Made a bit more progress on getting ready for house move by defrosting and cleaning out the small chest freezer we have. We are now left with quite a mish mash of stuff left in the freezer compartment of the fridge freezer. So more eating up this coming week!

Today was also a bit of a hard lesson on learning the match betting. I'd put a bet on a football game which I believed was utilising one of the free bets I had, but no i'd not set it up correctly and duly lost money on it. Note to self is to pay a bit more attention next time!

Made the most of a dry day and went for a walk with OH in what we fondly know as a 2hr local loop which was nice to get out. OH treated me to an early mothers day cuppa in a tea shop. He had a chocolate brownie but I treated myself to a large slice of toffee cheesecake at home... mmmm!

Queen_of_the_Hive

Good Morning Mothering Sunday!

I was awake wayyyy to early this morning (4am!) and was feeling a bit guilty for slacking on some life admin for the accountant, so made the most of the opportunity and made some more progress on the task and now feeling a bit better for having done so. I'd also snook in reading a couple of MFW diaries! They were nothing short of inspiring and it would be a real shame to not put into practice some of the good wisdom and ideas I'd read. 

A big worry on my mind on top of the obvious task of packing up and making the move and the kids is how to cope with the major increase in commuting costs which will primarily be train travel and staying in hotels. Because the kids are going to be staying with us (some nights) in hotels we'll be making use of budget chain hotels. I've had a few ideas about trying to keep these costs as low as possible but also keen to hear of any other ideas i'd not considered:

* Booking suitable budget hotel rooms in advance. (Trying for 2 months).

* Making as much use of railcards as possible, so friends and family and two together and OH is a bit older so he has the Senior railcard.

* Researched different options for home to Lon routes on train and coach. TBH on this one we are pretty restricted. We bought in a much cheaper but quaint area that has its own charms but travel options are not so great. We gained in buying something that is a suitable size for our titchy budget. Most places we couldn'

* Joined YHA and made a small number of bookings when its just me visiting the kids. They won't be staying with me but its a bed, access to a shared kitchen and central location.

* For the first year at least will be aiming to book travel based on best cost for the time. 

* Set up a costs spreadsheet to capture how much its costing.

Today I must go out and get some fresh air, its too easy to sit at the laptop and then find I get the fed up feeling! Going to check in the cupboards but think we have enough left over baking products to make another batch of buns for the kids.

 

The kids are with their dad this weekend so no mothers day plans as such sadly but they are here next weekend so we'll do something then instead.

Drawingaline

All sounds like good planning. I will say, maybe look at Airbnb for some of the off season stays where the kids will be with you. My son paid something ridiculously cheap for a Tuesday Night in Jan in a central London Airbnb! It may not work, especially if you need more popular nights, but it would be worth a look if you can book in advance. Just a little bit more space than a hotel room. 

Sistergold

It is painful initially but the withdrawal symptoms will lessen with time. I know most people are not used to it BUT, I did go to boarding school(from primary age) and so while in school did not see my parents most of the time except holidays. So eventually you can look at having them come over every time they have half term break, school holidays etc. if for example they can come alone by coach then? This will mean they come to your house? Depending on age ofcause. So being with their father is like being away for school and you see them during holidays. In your home you will all have the space. If funds are okay then ofcause you do the hotels, make sure you don’t go into debt by going up and down too much. 

If you don’t mind me asking how old are your children? 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Morning @Sistergold, what an interesting life experience for you going to boarding school. Hope this was a positive experience for you. University life was probably the nearest experience I had of this. Thanks for sharing . 

The kids are 8 and 12 yrs old and growing up to be nice, balanced young people, so hoping this change won't be a as big a change to deal with as they are happy and settled with their dad anyway. For myself I need the regular trips but going with a suck it and see approach and see how we get on and like you say, as they get older they will start to travel a bit more independently but not for a while yet esp with the younger one.

@Drawingaline - I'll take another look at AirBnb. Some of the places local to me were a bit more than I had budgeted for but we will see. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello St Paddy's day!

Its been another pretty productive week towards moving house. On the back of last week's update, I was keen to set up a simple savings account for 'Renovation & Refurbishment' as to date there is no little pot as such for any maintenance or house upgrades. We are starting on £0.00 and as our outgoings are still haywire it may take a couple of months to make a proper start with funding it.

Yesterday while the weather was dry, we were able to sort out the garden shed, get rid of some broken bits etc and this morning was the not so fun task of letting utilitites, council tax etc where we could that we were moving. It was equally thrilling though to cancel the direct debit to the landlord and bills for this place as I do not want to unnecessary payments to come out at the end of the month. It looks like we are due to get £43 back for the water but will owe some extra for electric. Gas is on a gas card, so need to see how we get the remainder back.

Having a daily to do list and trying to push all wobbles about the move aside...!

Right better get back to a bit of packing...! Have a good Sunday everyone.

Humdinger1

Queen_of_the_Hive said:

Morning @Sistergold, what an interesting life experience for you going to boarding school. Hope this was a positive experience for you. University life was probably the nearest experience I had of this. Thanks for sharing . 

The kids are 8 and 12 yrs old and growing up to be nice, balanced young people, so hoping this change won't be a as big a change to deal with as they are happy and settled with their dad anyway. For myself I need the regular trips but going with a suck it and see approach and see how we get on and like you say, as they get older they will start to travel a bit more independently but not for a while yet esp with the younger one.

@Drawingaline - I'll take another look at AirBnb. Some of the places local to me were a bit more than I had budgeted for but we will see. 

Yup, agree with @Sistergold here though I didn't go to boarding school.  My daughter has swung from alt weekends to alt weeks with her father and back again.   Now 20, she is living mostly with us on a deferred year from uni.  It took some getting used to but we did and now have a good relationship with her and her father (now absent SM not); you'll find  a way @Queen_of_the_Hive.  My advice, for what it's worth, is to focus on them when they are there.  But you know what will work for you all.  Please keep us posted love Humdinger xx 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hey @Humdinger1, thanks for the kind words of wisdom and it was lovely to hear you, your daughter and her dad managed to navigate through. So far, the kids are taking it all in their stride and are getting a bit fed up with me asking 'are you ok?'!

Well tonight is the night before the removals arrive and I think I am a bit suprised myself that I thought by now i'd be flapping, but so far managing to contain it and feeling quite calm. Maybe because there has been so much thought has been put into this its seeming a bit less daunting. The place is an absolutely mess with boxes and stuff everywhere. We are paying for the team to box everything up so at least taking some pressure off. I'm a self confessed 'plant mum' and hoping most of the plants (outdoor ones in pots & indoor ones) make it in one piece. Will be keeping everything crossed..!

Finances are looking a bit of a car crash at the moment with all the costs associated with moving and some activities we have booked. #1 credit card is on fire! Luckily an MBNA credit card I meant to have cancelled but didn't will prove handy for a balance transfer alongside pumping a bit of savings to bring it back down.

I don't know if anyone has been following in the news the saga of the 'Harry Potter' steam train? I'd booked as part of our family summer holiday in Scotland and its looking more and more likely it will be cancelled Will be keeping everything crossed it gets it necessary licence. Might need to look into some alternative things to do.

Right I better get back to a bit more packing up kids clothes.... ergh! x