The Cottage Dream

JennyP · 2 May 2018 at 8:49AM

I bought a sofa years ago that was £2500 marked down to £800 in the john Lewis sale. I think it must have been in 2000 or 2001. It's still the best sofa ever. Very comfortable.

So that's under £50 per year for that sofa.

When I lived on the boat, it wouldn't fit on so I bought an Ikea sofa for £500. It was never comfortable and I left it on the boat. 3 years on a £500 sofa is £133 a year.

Could you wait for the sales? We need another sofa - maybe two even - for our new house. Next had some bargains in January - big expensive and very comfy sofas for £300 - £400. Am going to find one in the summer sales.

What make is the one you like?

Runders · 2 June 2018 at 7:42PM

Hey all,

Sorry for going AWOL, I have been unwell and backwards and forwards to doctors for weeks now. I am finally getting somewhere and being referred to a specialist.

Unicorns and JennyP, thanks for the thoughts on the sofa. It had been put on hold with everything that is going on, but I think you both make some great points. Once I am sorted again I think I am going to go for the one I like. It is JL, so I can have it on 0% finance over 2 years

I decided to spruce up my bathroom. Really, I would like to rip it all out, have new tiles and a nice new suite. But, I don't have that kind of money at the moment, and actually it's a very functional bathroom that is only 9 years old. So, I have decided that a lick of paint and some new easy fittings like towel rails etc will hopefully make a difference. I've already spent a lot renovating this house, so I don't want to spend too much more really.

I hope you've all been well. I'm off to catch up on diaries now.

Toodles

JennyP · 4 June 2018 at 8:19AM

Sorry to hear you are unwell and hope you feel better soon.

It isn't that long till August - won't there be a JL sale? Your sofa might be there!

We have to do two bathrooms in our house. They are grotty. Really old suites that I don't think have been cleaned properly over the years. Have thoroughly scrubbed when we moved in but they still feel unhygienic. Quotes coming in at £6000 for fitting without the suite included though. Seems extortionate!

Runders · 23 June 2018 at 9:48AM

Hello all,

Big absence from me again. All the Docs appointments etc have led me down the road for surgery. It's considered a 'routine operation', but after all the time in hospitals with my Mum and the mistakes they made during her surgery, I am now absolutely terrified of anything remotely surgical and hospitals in general. I need to find some 'big girl pants' about it all, but the one person I would normally turn too when I feel like this (Mum) isn't here. I have wonderful supportive friends, but the one thing I want is a 'Mummy Runders hug' right now!!!

I am in a bit of a funk anyway, I started to have a look at a few houses in the shire in the hopes of making this year the year I move. But, in the light of a disappointing house valuation, me thinking mortgage multiples were 5.5 x and not the actual 4.5 x salary, and the high house prices of the shire, I am starting to think it's all a bit of a pipe dream.

I utterly adore my home. It's a Vic terrace and I've really taken it back to it's roots with my refurb. Beautiful wooden floors, gorgeous wood burner in an original fireplace. It's utterly perfect for me. I am just starting to hate the location. If only we could just take our homes with us! haha.

Anywho, that is enough of melancholy Runders, I need to find my Mojo again and get on the frugal bandwagon. I just spent during my Mum's illness and after. I don't regret it, it needed to be done and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. But really 7 months on, I now need to have a word with myself and start cooking, using free days out etc. again. Oh deliveroo how I will miss you!

My pay at work is changing, so I will hopefully be able to save a bit more each month. I should be able to do a new SOA come August once I have seen what impact it has.

Right I am off to do some work on the garden. I promise to be a bit cheerier next time!

IAAM · 1 July 2018 at 11:03AM

Hi Runders

I've just caught up with your diary. I am so sorry to hear about your Mum.

On the subject of your sofa, did you end up buying it?

We had a similar dilemma. We've bought a new build and we had to get a new sofa. All the comfortable ones were around £1500 and we needed a new chair too (to accommodate family/friends when they visit). We ended up taking the plunge as, in the scheme of things, it seemed silly to be uncomfortable. Especially as the sofa is used quite a bit and I convinced myself that the cheaper ones might not last as long (although I know there's no guarantee of this).

IMHO, sometimes money saving can't always be the main focus - especially when it comes to a standard of living (i.e. a comfy sofa) or a special occasion (maybe buying a new outfit for a special celebration)

Runders · 6 July 2018 at 3:39PM

Hey IAAM,

I haven't bought it yet. I was unwell and now I'm back on the blue wobbly stuff, so it's on my to do list once I am back and recovered from my op.

You and the other commentators are right though, you need to be comfortable or what is the point?

Runders · 6 July 2018 at 3:47PM

Hi all,

I've been playing around with excel and budgets whilst I've been out at work and have come up with My Spreadsheet of Doom :rotfl: It was meant to be an improved simple affair, and now it runs to 4 different tabs with all sorts on each one..ahem. I very much got carried away, but I'm super pleased with it. I track the % of my home I own; I've based this on the price I paid for it and not it's current value. I also have a savings box so I can see instantly how any decisions I make affect the amount in my offset. I'm really hoping that it will help me resist temptations better once I am back on the dry stuff!

Not much else MS for me. I don't really spend money when at work, but I was in a deficit from last month so this will cover that.

julicorn · 6 July 2018 at 9:05PM

Hi Runders, the spreadsheet of doom sounds incredible! I've got a really over the top one for my mortgage overpayments, which calculates things like interest saved and how many months ahead we are compared to had we not overpaid. Gotta love a good spreadsheet!
Aside from that, are you feeling a bit better? :heart2:

Runders · 10 July 2018 at 10:01AM

Hey Julicorn,

I do love the spreadsheet, I may have to add some of the tabs you mentioned above: interest saved etc. Gives me something to do whilst I am listening out for whales and dolphins on my shift.

I am feeling a bit better yes, I can all too easily get myself into a funk. Still really don't want surgery, but I am being pragmatic about it - get it done and over with and get back on the road to being fighting fit and money savvy.

Runders · 31 July 2018 at 7:06PM

Hello everyone!

I am back from the blue wobbly stuff at last and I may need you all to talk me down. I viewed a house this morning, well a cottage in the shire. It was beautiful, it would be a downsize to a 1 bedroom and a substantial increase in my mortgage - but I think I want to go for it. The location is spot on, the age and style of the cottage is spot on, it would just mean that guests would have to sleep on a sofa bed in the lounge - although this would be next to a toasty woodburner. ARGH!!!! I need to get the estate agents on the line tomorrow to talk about getting mine sold - I can't decide if I am being mental or not.

Hope you are all well, I'm off to catch up on diaries.

The Cottage Dream

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