MF by Christmas 2024 - let's do this!

Coxy11

Jeez over two months since my last update. Just not getting the time right now to get onto this part of the forum, but I am trying to update on other threads where I’m taking part in challenges or such like.

We’ve had a week’s holiday in Majorca (just DH and I) and it was lovely. Great hotel, resort very cute and unspoilt and fabulous food. DDad is also over from Cyprus for a month and has been staying with DSis as we don’t have a spare room. However I have been doing my fair share of Daddy Day Care on my non-working days. It’s a lot as he’s 86 and partly deaf, however he continues to amaze us with his ability to get out and about despite several health challenges. I am taking him home on Sunday and will stay with him and Stepmum for a week.

Other updates as follows:

House:

• DS2’s bedroom –Still need some shelving and a narrow bedside table. Embarrassed that this one is still to do – OAT.
• Front door/porch – DH finished sanding down the window frame and porch ceiling, then stained it to match front door. Job done.
• En-suite – all done apart from a loo roll holder. TBF we haven’t looked for one as have been busy elsewhere (see below) - OAT. Total costs ended up being £12k but it looks fabulous and it’s so nice to use. BIL needs to come back to sort the shower waste as it’s draining really slowly, but apparently he can do that on a morning when he’s free. Great news also that the original basin and loo sold on Ebay for £250!
• Our bedroom – have chosen some wardrobe doors from Howdens and popped in with our measurements this week. Their planners will give us a couple of design ideas. BIL will fit probably early August. Have contacted the plasterer and he is free end of August to do the ceiling. We will need to move out of our bedroom into the study/dining room at some point once I’m back from Cyprus. This is to allow us to rip out the hideous fitted wardrobes as that’s where our bed will be going. The carpet (lilac with Chinese symbols….) also needs removing so DH can sort the squeaky flooring, and we need to sand down the window and frames for varnishing. It’s going to be awful sleeping in the dining room so we need to plan carefully when we do this. We also need to beg/borrow a clothes rail so I’m going to ask on Olio if anyone has one we can borrow for a few weeks.
• Landing – will ask plasterer to do this one at the same time, so at least two days work for him
• Garden – greenhouse due to come early August – we need BIL to do the base brickwork and have contacted 3 companies to quote for the actual glass house installation. Only one has come back so far. Looks like we may have the base done and defer delivery/installation to September.
• Have made a list of OATs to tackle as and when we get a moment. Most are garden related tbf but some house ones – see above

Finances:

• Premium Bonds – I received £25 in May so cashed mine in and have put into our S&S ISA.
• Original car has been listed on Autotrader. Only one enquiry so far, so will reduce it each week until it goes.
• Current mortgage balance stands at £21,514.09.
• Present buying – nothing this month. FIL birthday in August – thinking theatre tickets.
• Part-time role – all going well. Did some longer days this week as colleague was off. Averaging about £500/month.
• Food budget – keeping to budget by making the most of YS and bulk buying with Second Purse.
• Side hustle of Vinted/Ebay going well - making about £25 per month.
• Prolific surveys – got around £30 in May but nothing for June as wasn’t around/busy with DDad.

Lifestyle:

• Haven’t been to yoga for the last month as been away and busy with DDad.
• Have installed fourth Post box topper – a bride for June. Going to make a beehive and bees for July so will take yarn and hooks to Cyprus!
• Still journalling!

Right think that’s me all caught up!

Coxy

Coxy11

Hello again,

I had a good week in Cyprus with DDad and Stepmum (and their 8, yes 8 cats). Only worked one morning in July as business has fallen off a cliff and I'm not needed. This is a bit discombobulating for me, not that I'm desperate for the money, but I do like to have a purpose and see people. Have been told I'm not needed in August at all. Hoping to get back into a more regular pattern in September. Have enquired about volunteering and offered a Friday PM but they are already fully staffed. Trying to keep busy at home and run errands, which given we are in the middle of a wave of house alterations atm, it's not a bad thing to be off.

House:

• DS2’s bedroom –Still need some shelving and a narrow bedside table. Have found a possible bedside cabinet - he is mulling it over!
• En-suite – Still need a loo roll holder and for BIL to sort the shower draining issue. He is with us from Monday for 3 weeks, so will add this to his list! Also found out that the taps we were sold need a minimum 1 bar(?) to work properly and we only have 0.5bar so we've contacted the bathroom shop to ask what to do. The trickle from them is pitiful.
• Our bedroom – Have removed built in wardrobes, curtains, blinds and hideous carpet - tip trips x 3, plus £7.50 cost for disposing of plasterboard remnants. Have been in to see Howdens planner and ordered fitted wardrobes and two bedside cabinets, which are being delivered on Tuesday next week. We plan to start stripping/sanding the window this weekend. We are currently sleeping in the dining room with a clothes rail as our wardrobe. It's not ideal but also not as hideous as we feared, and at least we can shut the door! Woodwork (skirting/architrave) was delivered earlier today in readiness for BIL. We'd like a new bed - ottoman with storage - as have had our bedframe for 27 years. It's handmade by a friends cousin so we will keep it for when we eventually get a spare room again.
• Landing – Plasterer on board to do this for us at some point in August.
• Garden – Greenhouse delivery booked for w/c 7 September. BIL will do the base next week. We ordered bricks and paving slabs from Jewson which are arriving on Monday - should be interesting with our trees and the grab lorry….. We are on a hosepipe ban so are watering with cans most evenings.

Finances:

• Original car has sold - yippee.
• Current mortgage balance stands at £21,364.43.
• S&S ISA's are the highest they've ever been which is lucky as we will need to start drawing from them at some point. DH has sent off a share certificate to sell his shares in his last employer - think it's about £10k's worth - not sure how long it will take to come through.
• Present buying – bought FIL/MIL theatre tickets for Abigail's Party in London. Niece is 18 next week, lives in Ireland so will gift Euro50. BIL just getting a card.
• Part-time role – see above.
• Food budget – going well. Second Purse stock now in garage as used to be housed in our bedroom. Need to think where to put it going forward.
• Side hustle of Vinted/Ebay - listed DH's sailing jacket, salopettes and boots that he'd worn for a total of 5 days on a single sailing trip around 12 years ago. Have sold the salopettes so far for £45!
• Prolific surveys – £12 in July - will need to push on this in August due to no wages.

Lifestyle:

• Yoga on Sundays and occasional Thursdays. Also did an outside HIIT class with DSis' PT and had to sit out some of the session due to severe sudden headache/BP related. Was awful. Don't think it's for me!!
• Have installed fifth Post box topper – a beehive and bees. Need to think of the next theme.
• Still journalling!
• and saving the best(?) till last. Whilst I was in Cyprus a feral cat and her 3 kittens moved into our garden. DH and adult children kept an eye on them and one kitten got left behind so they've adopted her. She's a black tabby and is called Lucky. DD has bought everything for her and the plan is for her to take her when she moves out (not sure when but couple of years maybe?) Anyway, Lucky is very cute, inquisitive and adorable atm because she's only 8 weeks old.

beanielou

Mortgage nearly into the £20’s. Enjoy the kitten. 🐈‍⬛

Suffolk_lass

I am still reading along. Your wisdom with food budget goes back a long way - I think you used to look after the recipes on the grocery challenge many years ago! I do them at the moment - in a google sheets!

I was just going to say you should check with your water company re your low water pressure. When we spoke about ours they mentioned 1 bar was the minimum they are supposed to deliver (because some heating systems need that pressure to work) and they came and replaced our 1st generation water meter that had furred up, and then the pipe from the main to the meter (all their responsibility and free to us). You might avoid a big faff

Coxy11

Thank you @Suffolk_lass and yes that was me on the GC challenge before RL got in the way!

We are with SE water which has hit the headlines in recent months for not being able to supply ‘000’s households and having emergency water stations set up. It was our turn yesterday with no water for 24 hours although they did drop off 12 x 2 litre bottles to our door (from Southampton!)

I will look into the bar supply so thank you for that pointer x

Coxy11

Gosh, 2 months since my last update!

Work has ceased - was working with a mortgage broker on a part time self-employed basis, but she didn't need me in July or August and said let's speak in September. I waited until 30 September and then said shall I wipe my personal laptop of all things XX company to which she said yes. The market has gone rogue and I've heard on the grapevine that her and her business partner are going their separate ways. Means I can stop being paranoid that it's me! To use my time more productively I've started volunteering in a charity shop on Monday afternoons which is both rewarding and very engaging. The team are lovely. I do have an interview this coming week for another part time 15 hours/week admin role though, so were I to get it I would need to leave as important for DH and I to be semi-retired together.

DDad is back in the UK - came back mid-September with DSis and is here until I take him home in early November. He currently has a chest infection though so is on AB's. DSis not coping well with hosting him (I don't have a spare bedroom) and is grumpy with him all the time, which is not great. Her job is the cause but everyone else gets the brunt of it! I have been with him most days of the week when she works. Yes he's slow, and repeats himself, but he's 86 FGS! He's staying at ours this weekend as DS2 is in Lisbon running a half-marathon. DSis had planned to take him away but given the damp weather I said to leave him with me.

House:

• DS2’s bedroom – Complete! Shelving and beside table bought and installed/made.
• En-suite – Loo roll holder purchased. May need to get a pump for the two basin taps as our system is gravity fed. Nothing to do with our water pressure apparently. New interior door fitted.
• Our bedroom – have been sleeping in the dining room since 2nd August. We are almost there with decorating, just two walls to paint. One wall is wardrobes and the alcove will have panelling. Shutters being fitted next Wednesday and carpet being laid on 24th. We are planning a new bedframe but won't order until we are ready to move back in. New interior door fitted. BIL needs to fit the panelling and wardrobe doors but he's very busy and has suggested DH has a go…! Would be cheaper but…..
• Landing – ceiling has been plastered. Needs painting white. DH needs to strip the tall windows ready for shutters which are in but we aren't ready. Carpet will use bedroom offcuts plus a bit more but carpet company will store it for us. Need to strip the bannisters and are having glass infill as currently gross 1980's style. New interior doors for DD, DS2 bedrooms, airing cupboard and main bathroom to be fitted.
• Garden – Greenhouse installation has taken a lot of BIL and DH's time but it's up and water-tight. DH has cleaned up and grouted the paving inside and plans to do the outside tomorrow. It looks fab. Next up are some raised beds for veggies.
• Cloakroom - currently gross whisper grey suite with awful tiles. Found some stick on tiles in a CS for £1 and gave the splashback a makeover. It'll do until we decide what we actually want in there.

Finances:

• Current mortgage balance stands at £21,068.77 but payment going out tomorrow which will reduce the capital by £150.
• S&S ISA's - we've cashed in the interest we've earned since we've lived here (£14k each) to provide income for the foreseeable.
• Present buying – DD and DIL share a birthday (last week) so gifts bought and dinner for 7 of us paid for last Friday. Niece's birthday tomorrow and Aunt on Sunday, both just getting a card.
• Part-time role – see above.
• Food budget – Okayish - DDad eating with us a few nights a week plus we are off out and about at various cafes during the day. We take it in turns to buy.
• Side hustle of Vinted/Ebay - have had a few sales this week which is good. Still trying to source items to list but getting harder with CS's pricing things higher these days.
• Prolific surveys – £20 in September, nothing so far in October although I haven't really been around to do them

Lifestyle:

• Still continuing with yoga on Sundays
• Have installed latest Post box topper – Harvest theme.
• Still journalling!
• Have joined a Book Club.
• Have tried out a WI - plan to join in December as will miss November meeting due to taking DDad home.
• Have attended a glass workshop - my project is currently on the MSE weekly highlights!!
• Kitten has now had both jabs and is itching to go outside. In fact she climbed out of a downstairs window yesterday. We enticed her back with treats. She needs to be spayed first as other cats are around. She is very cute.
• I am going to be a Great Aunt in the Spring as niece is expecting. The first of that generation and I'm thrilled.

Think that's it. Some progress!!

Coxy

beanielou

Lots of progress. Well done 👏

Suffolk_lass

Ooh well done! Lots of progress. We bought some 3mm thick "shower board" to redo the bathroom in the motorhome and it has that moulded brick pattern like your vanity tiles - it is so effective (and just sticks to the wall, that we are going to use it round the downstairs loo at ours (as and when!) - it is from the big orange DIY shed online