MF by Christmas 2024 - let's do this!

Coxy11

Hi all,

Mid-month update time:

House:

• DS2’s bedroom – 3 guitar hooks up and guitars now on show. Also put up two framed music-themed prints (The Smiths/The Beatles). Still need some shelving and a narrow bedside table.
• Garage doors – being fitted this Thursday aaargh!
• Front door – was fitted on 29 January, looks fab and brings so much more light into the hallway. Adjacent window and wooden pillar have been stripped and sanded. There is also a gross pine panelled ceiling in the porch to be sanded down. All will be stained to match front door. We have all the equipment and stain, just waiting for a dry day – has not stopped raining for weeks here.
• En-suite – have reviewed plans and are going ahead, have also found floor and wall tiles from a different provider. Need to check with BIL as to when he can fit us in as expect it’ll be at least a week, maybe 10 days work. We will remove all current fittings. The gross peach basin and loo will be listed on Ebay as apparently people buy that sort of thing – who knew? Once we know BIL’s time frame we will place the order as only takes a week and we have limited storage space.
• Our bedroom – we are planning fitted wardrobes that BIL will fit. Ceiling needs plastering and window needs sanding down and varnishing. Timescale is after en suite fitting.
• Landing - we have a big (10' x 10') 6 paned window on the landing that needs dressing. Currently has moosey floral curtains. Have had a blind company round to measure up and quote for electric pleated blinds. Can't have the usual clip in ones as window too large. Waiting on quote.
• Garden – DH did a few hours tidying last weekend and we plan to be out there tomorrow afternoon when we’re both off. Bulbs are coming up and have tete a tete and crocus, plus some tulips that I planted in egg boxes. It's great to see some colour. DH has added a rechargeable hedge trimmer to our Amazon basket along with the barrel which didn’t get ordered last month. Had Green Thumb round to quote for treatment of lawns. Front lawn too far gone and will need replacing - it's 400m squared so cost is eye-watering. Back lawn more manageable. GT didn't enamour themselves as we asked for a PM appt and he turned up at 7.45am when DH was still in bed! No communication to confirm the appt either.

Finances:

• Premium Bonds for February netted us £250.
• Car clock spring went wrong and cost £800 to fix. MOT today – then we will look to replace it.
• Sprive cashback app towards our mortgage now standing at £41.35 to pay off but can’t do so until April.
• Present buying – have only bought for our two DS’s birthdays and one 10 yo nephew so far this year. Have found a gift for MIL for MD in a CS – BNWT. My Mum will get flowers. You're right @beanielou it is liberating!
• Part-time role with a friend of my sister’s – following the chat with the lady I was supporting, January went well, but when I presented her with my invoice she dropped my hours back to 5 per week. Not only that, she didn’t communicate this at all, so I was left wondering on Mondays and Fridays if I had any work and couldn’t make any plans. Really annoying, unprofessional and disrespectful. So last week I made plans and when I didn’t log on she got cross. She decided to gaslight me regarding what we discussed, so I put her straight. Have parted ways with her but another broker in the partnership has asked if I can do two mornings a week – 6 hours. I’ve said yes for now as I’ve bought a laptop and paid for a DBS to be able to work for them, but will keep an eye out for something else. I start on Wednesday due to MOT happening today.
• Food budget - I've started a Second Purse for bulk purchases that I buy back each month. This is helping us to a) not run out of essentials and b) keep my food budget down. Win win.
• Mortgage balance standing at £22,150.

Lifestyle:

• Yoga classes are going well and I’m aiming to go twice weekly if possible.
• Community allotment visits have been thin on the ground these past two weeks due to other commitments and atrocious weather on the days I’m free. Hoping to go tomorrow for a couple of hours.
• Have finished my first post box yarn bomb topper and aim to install it next week. It’s Spring theme. Have already started on an Easter themed one for end of March/April. This is enjoyable for me and using up my stash.
• Have been journaling since the start of the year. Just keeping a log of exercise, events, mood, books I've read, step count, Project Pan (beauty products), jewellery I've worn (have so many nice pieces that just sit in the drawer) etc. It's a nice end to the day to make a note and keeps me accountable.

Right think that’s me all caught up for another month!

Coxy

beanielou

I so wish I had your BIL!
Hope new wok goes well.

Suffolk_lass

Great update @Coxy11 - I love reading about the progress and plans. Have you considered harrowing the front lawn and either seeding it, or sprinkling wildflower seeds and not cutting until September for a bit of rewilding (or a bit of both. Personally, as a beekeeper, I am not keen on the GT chemical approach - lots of other ways to achieve a good look

Coxy11

Hi all,

Mid-month update time:

House:

• DS2’s bedroom –Still need some shelving and a narrow bedside table.
• Garage doors – fitted but several issues ☹ including being left with one un-operational and the other only working via several extension leads. Also, one has a dent and a scratch on the front (from the fitters). Just really shoddy given the cost (c. £10k). I sent an email that same day citing our consumer rights and they sent someone two days later to take a look. Both doors now operational but new door on order for the damaged one – they did suggest they filled the dent and polished out the scratch but I said no, I want a new one. Best thing was that we had to clear the garage for the fitting day and have taken lots of things to the tip, so it looks very good out there.
• Front door/porch – DH has made good progress on sanding/stripping the woodwork but it’s slow and also has to choose his moment due to the awful weather. Hoping to get more of this done over the coming weeks.
• En-suite – have booked BIL to fit starting w/c 20 April. We think it’ll take two weeks. We will rip out what’s currently in there. Need to place the order with the bathroom company so that we don’t take delivery too early and have it hanging around.
• Our bedroom – we are planning fitted wardrobes that BIL will fit. Ceiling needs plastering and window needs sanding down and varnishing. Timescale is after en suite fitting.
• Landing – blind company cannot fit blinds due to size and orientation of our big window so will revert to Plan A of shutters. We had these priced up last year. Hoping price hasn’t shot up exponentially…..
• Garden – not sure we can harrow the lawn ourselves as it’s very big and we don’t have the equipment. May try lawn feed/moss killer ourselves (in sections) We did order and plant up a new whisky barrel to replace the one that fell apart, plus have rescued some plants from the garden centre to brighten up the beds. We also removed a dead tree and have replaced several batteries in the solar lights. We found our bird feeding station (in the garage) and bought new feeders/feed and are enjoying the morning birdy buffet activities. DH plans to cut the grass on Thursday all being well.

Finances:

• Premium Bonds for February netted us £50 – for DH with his £40k stake, I got nothing for my £10k.
• Have bought a new to us car and pick it up tomorrow. Paying cash instead of PCP. Was offered a low amount for our current car so plan is to sell it privately. DSis and BIL may need to borrow it first though as there’s has gone very wrong!
• Sprive cashback app towards our mortgage now standing at £43.31 to pay off but can’t do so until April.
• Present buying – had to get additional MD gift for MIL as DH didn’t like the gift I’d bought her. Got mum a hydrangea for her garden. Next birthday is 7 yo nephew in April. DH will be tasked with this.
• Part-time role – going well. Did a lot of extra hours last week due to a family bereavement but back on plan for 10 this week.
• Food budget – going really well – Second Purse very much helping.
• Side hustle of Vinted/Ebay going well - making about £25 per month.
• Have sorted my Prolific account which unbeknown to me had been put on hold last year. Finally got it unblocked and have made £20ish so far this month.
• Mortgage balance standing at £21,997.

Lifestyle:

• Enjoying Yoga classes and I’m also looking at a personal trainer possibly.
• Recent community allotment visits have netted us some lovely fresh leeks (that I planted out last year!) and a real sense of community.
• Post box topper was installed on 27 Feb but succumbed to gales last week. Have done some running repairs and it’s back up.
• Still journaling - keeping a log of exercise, events, mood, books I've read, step count, Project Pan (beauty products), jewellery I've worn (have so many nice pieces that just sit in the drawer) etc. It's a nice end to the day to make a note and keeps me accountable.

Right think that’s me all caught up!

Coxy

beanielou

All very good then & hopefully the garage doors will be resolved soon.