Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

savingholmes

Thanks TG, Orangetoes and Sandy

It's easy to regret past sales and even purchases even if they make sense at the time. It felt a bit warmer today.

BIL came over with three littlies (rather than one) so it was a bit more full on that I planned and they stayed here half the day - but they were cute and sweet and enjoyed playing with my art supplies even if they did like to overuse my name!! He helped me sort through some of the shed and garage and took some things back with him that he treasured. Some he classed as 'birthday wish list' value so he was very happy. I was happy they were going to someone who knew how to use them and valued them. He mended a soldering iron for me so I may play with that at the new house... I also binned quite a few things. It was easier with someone else there.

BIL put the mattress in my car for me and moved the other one on to the bed frame that is staying. I managed to get the old FB mattress to the tip just before it closed so that was a result. He also took everything down from the 'mezzanine' type storage area in the garage. I now need to decide what to keep / sell / donate / trash. He took the books for my parents so that was a result too.

My plan is to gradually move any upstairs stuff that I am keeping into DD's room so it is easier for me to see how much room they are likely to take up (excluding my bed). I think it is 3 cube units, a few mirrors, some pictures, a few ornaments. 3 boxes of heirloom books. Clothes (will fit in spare cubes). Suitcases. Some Xmas stuff. A big arts and crafts box. A box of photo albums. Possibly some bedding and pillows if I bought them for home staging. A handmade toy box. A narrow glass table, 2 smaller glass tables. Lamps.... 

Can you tell I'm still struggling with paying for movers!?! I'm trying to say to myself like a little mantra - if I pay movers - my house could be pretty much set up and ready to go as quickly as EH did hers... I don't have an army of helpers to call on like I did in the past so paying makes sense and reduces the burden on others... Other than art supplies - I'm also aiming to have closer to a holiday cottage level of belongings rather than over-burden the new place with stuff I've not used in the last two years and that I've already given DD, DS and BIL the opportunity to take... Ideally I also need to start bubble wrapping things but have to confess in any spaces I'm in regularly - I'm likely to leave pictures until last or at least until after 'exchange' just in case things fall at the last hurdle. 

KajiKita

Awesome progress on the garage, shed and mattress. Your BIL sounds like something of a treasure 😊

I find pictures are easy to whip off the walls at the last minute (and there is no risk of tripping over them if they are still on the walls). You just need a good strong box of the right width (height is less critical) and lots of bubble wrap. When you are ready to get them down off the wall you can flow around with bubble wrap roll and scissors, lift them down, cut required length, loosely wrap and drop them one by one into the box 😊

Have you started planning your ‘survival box’ yet? By which I mean:
kettle
tea, coffee, sugar, pint of milk
mugs x number of movers / helpers
loo rolls and hand towels x number of toilets in new house
tea towel
kitchen tissue for spills
bin bags (keeps mess at new house under control from get-go)
2 x plates
2 x bowls 
2 x knife, fork, spoon, teaspoon
washing up liquid, gloves and scrubby thing (whatever you use), cloth for wiping down
salt, vinegar and other critical condiments 
Spare lightbulbs - bayonet and screw thread x 2 of each type 

The survival box means you can function immediately without having to unpack much. This goes in your car along with the box of pictures. The other classic is to put all the bedding into the centre of the bed and then tie the corners of the sheet to the centre - get to where you are going and open it out on your bed, pull everything straight and tuck in and immediately your bed is made, ready to fall into 😊 That’s always been my first priority when actually getting into a new house. 

I know you know all this btw, just reminding you 😊

KK

savingholmes

Thanks KK - all great suggestions - will take a photo of this post to remind me.

I read my survey report last night and got scared - so much so I didn't go to bed until 1.30am - which was unfortunate as the new sofa arrived at 8.45am and I was completely unprepared. With BIL getting things down for me yesterday in the garage, he'd blocked where I'd planned to put the sofa and I was half asleep so ended up telling the delivery people to put it the sofa in the lounge!! I made a decaf coffee but ended up going back to bed and staying there until after midday. I'm not going to take my adhd meds today in the hope of sleeping at better times.

I need to measure the existing sofa and then list it on FB for free and see if there are any takers. It's a bit battered so may not have any takers but I'm hoping the words 'free' will help. Otherwise I'll need to get it collected as bulky waste. Definitely regretting my impulsive decision to buy the new one - although it looks smart and was comfortable - but it's done now.

Yesterday I went looking at a king size bed - and found one I liked - but she tried the hard sell on me and put a deadline of today to get a special extra discount. Unluckily for her I can get it £60 cheaper online and then get another £40 ish discount so about £100 better overall. The deadline for the latter is Tuesday evening. I will try and make myself learn from the sofa story and wait but who knows... She did say they could delay delivery - and that anyway delivery slots were likely to be mid Feb currently. 

I'm going to give the survey issue a post of its own as I'm panicking...

jwil

Sorry about the survey, hope there's nothing major.

I personally would pay movers.  They are professionals, and will do the job much quicker and more securely.  They will also have contingency in place in case of vehicle breakdown, sickness etc.  The last thing you need on moving day or in the days before is someone not being able to turn up and then having to deal with the stress and hassle of finding someone else.  

dawnybabes

The best thing we ever did was paying for movers, we paid for the packing service as well.  If I ever move again (and after last time ive no intentions! ) I’d save up for the service.  Made a stressful day that little bit easier !

FlacosFloozie

Another vote for paying for movers. Speeds things up so much and reduces stress levels

savingholmes

Thanks Flaco, Jwil and Dawn

I've posted about the survey on the house sale board as didn't want it mingled in my diary and then it coming up on random searches. The first reply was 'walk away' which wasn't exactly reassuring. The second asks more logical questions. It is really difficult to know what to do for the best. I'm also trying to retain perspective as I'm buying at £250K and selling at £298K and there are bound to be differences in quality, maintenance etc and the house is at least 20 years older than this one. As quite a law abiding person though I am shocked at lack of compliance with BR.

I'd earmarked spending about £10K on it - I just want to ensure that the bill isn't set to be a lot more as that would undermine some of the benefits of moving. That said - the surveyor said to rebuild the equivalent would be about £330K which fits with the amount of space it offers versus what I can see available in newer properties. It's a trade off - initial work and some spend to get more space and a great view and reduced feeling of being overlooked versus a new build with less obvious maintenance issues but where in practice you still spend a lot putting everything in for the first time.

I've emailed the survey to my sister and BIL but they've not had chance to look at it yet. So I'm stuck in that debate of:

If I move
Cons - risk of lots of unquantified amount of work needed - above the £10K I'd mentally earmarked. Further from work and family. Moving costs. No ensuite.
Pros - I haven't found any other houses that offer that amount of space for that value of house - with such a nice view and relatively not overlooked - and in a cul de sac. I downsize a whole 11m2 plus reduced garden maintenance - and have £48Kish coming back to me to use towards fixing the house and a 12 month EF and family commitments - and can then prioritise my pension big style - and gain a gorgeous view and a fresh start. A new challenge would be good for me as I'm so bored where I am. Apparent new kitchen, bathroom (wet room) and downstairs loo. House will feel more mine. Potential to extend or put in a balcony. Could add sky lights if have to replace flat roof. Opportunity to put in bifold doors to replace failing patio doors. 12 month EF and commensurate increase in pension investments increases likelihood of being able to retire or go part time by Summer 2030.

Versus if I stay
Cons - I will have spent/lost the original home styling costs plus about £1.8K. (A lot less than I could lose if I buy a house that needs too much work). Boredom. Not a fresh start. Kids have 'named rooms'. Overlooked. This house also needs work (stairs, floorboards, occasional gutter issues, possibly reglaze some windows, at some point new bathroom, kitchen etc).
Pros - I keep my current EF, I can still throw more money at pension but not as much as quickly as I will have less of an EF (but it will still be sat there in home equity) so it will be more of a balancing act between savings and AVCs. Closer to family and work. Keep handyman and cleaner and ability to see counsellor in person. Know tradies I can use for boiler etc.

savingholmes

A review of my Jan 1st diary entries.

"Thanks to everyone for their support over the last year. It means a lot.

So this year.... After the last few years it is clearer than ever that we have no clue what will happen next - and maybe that's a good thing. All we can do is plan and then move the rudder or the sail a little or a lot along the way and hope we're heading in the right direction or even that our true direction will reveal itself as we travel further.

Some of my favourite sayings:

• "Ships in harbour are safe - but that's not what boats are meant for."
• "The unreasonable person changes the world"
• "We are all mad here!"
• "From the moment I fell down that rabbit hole I've been told where I must go and who I must be. I've been shrunk, stretched, scratched, and stuffed into a teapot. I've been accused of being Alice and of not being Alice but this is *my* dream. *I'll* decide where it goes from here."
• "I make my path"
• "Change is a decision you allow yourself to make"
• "Lost my muchness have I? How's *this* for muchness?"

All still matches!!

mark55man

Sounds ominous - you'll get good advice from that board but also some extreme opinions whereas reality is more nuanced

Happy NYE

savingholmes

I also gave myself a "Loose direction for coming year" against the headings of health, wealth, happiness, creativity, home and garden and social

Health

• Lost a stone compared to my worst weight this year
• Best sugar blood test in years. Well out of danger zone.
• I had final dental bridge and then a crown fitted - and was able to reclaim some of the costs. 
  
• Made myself go to regular hospital appointment to minimise likelihood of needing future operations 
• Continued counselling.
  
• Started ADHD meds.
• For 2024 I hope to continue losing weight and to increase my exercise.

Wealth

• £ is going well.
• 2023 AVC goal of £5.4K input achieved. AVC pot started Oct 22 and now worth £6.7K including growth
  
• 2023 moved a poorly performing DC pension to Vgd and it is now £3.7K of which I could take 25% as a tax free lump sum. 
• This means between AVCs and my DC pension equivalent to around 10 monthly capital payments (out of the 239 left). 
• 2023 Savings goal missed. Started at £3.5K Goal: £10K EF/Savings but I invested £1.6K in DD's first car and spent £1.8K+ on moving related costs etc and around £600 this month on new furniture as well as money earlier in the marketing process on restyling this house. Finishing at savings of £6.9K - up £3.4K on previous year. Moved £3K to ISA. Savings interest rates between 5-8% cf mortgage 1.84%
  
• Achieved £20 a month OP or approx £650+ off the mortgage capital per month - £7912 this year - an improvement of £500 cf with previous year.
  
• I hoped smart meters would help me - they did a little but gas one mostly doesn't work.
• Meal plan, batch cook and use grocery deliveries to minimise spends. Need to do more of this.
• Grow more of own food. Missed. Distracted by moving goals
• For 2024: Minimum AVC goal would be £5.4K. If I move - I may achieve up to £20K (mortgage neutral pot as can take the whole amount tax free). If I don't move - I may achieve something between the two. 
• If I move I hope to have between £32-36K EF after renovations - but jury still out on survey feedback. 

Happiness

Creativity

• 2023 I did some fiction and memoir writing, some acrylic pouring and for the first time representational drawing and painting thanks to a local art class. 
• Have grouped art supplies to help minimise spends - but still have too much. Need to donate some.
• Met up with friend more regularly to discuss writing tried but she lacked availability due to caring responsibilities. Need to find alternatives.
  
• 2024: Need to finish book 2 and get it edited. Continue making art.

Home & Garden

• Handyman and cleaner helped get home and garden ready for sale but I lost impetus on the garden due to distraction of house selling and poor weather lost impetus from summer onwards.
• Declutter: Step change as a result of marketing home. Feel purged 50% or more of 'loose' belongings outside of main furniture. Even got rid of some furniture and mirrors. Continuing to declutter - getting a lot easier. Donated some stuff to handyman, cleaner, relatives as well as to CS.
• Look for other things to sell and start listing again on FB etc. Sold a fridge freezer and a few other items. Still need to list more.

Social Connection

• Look into clubs, events and holidays around my interests and see if that leads to new friends. Started art class.
• Make time for close and wider family. Improved. 
  
• Go to work more often for social connection. Missed.