Preparing for the biggest move of our life

bellevie · 23 August 2015 at 9:38PM

I'm a single parent to 1 child.

I work for a public sector charitable organisation, whom are making major changes. There are a few jobs remaining, though we have all been guaranteed the same job & pay if we transfer to the northern office...200 miles away.

So after a few weeks of thinking it over, I am becoming more and more certain its the way to go.

As a single parent, where I am, I will never be able to afford a home of our own. Its quite an important goal to me, it doesn't need to be big, a small 2 bed terrace or flat will suffice. I would just like some security for DD's future, for my old age, and some space within the monthly budget to save for uni costs, or help her with her own deposit so that she isn't struggling into her 30's as I have done.

So, I have decided I will either:
1) Take the offer and move up early part of 2016, renting initially with a view to having a deposit sorted within 3 years.

2) Get a better paid role in the southern office save some more, find a different job and move in 2 years, perhaps slightly more choice in where I move to? Though DD will be 2 years older so I am conscious that this may impact her more later than me.

Either way, I am moving. Our current life in this lovely, beautiful town is just not financially sustainable.

I'm starting my moving fund at £210.64, no set target yet just as much as I can so that I rely on the relocation package as little as possible.

Here goes........:j

bellevie · 24 August 2015 at 8:49PM

I seem to be changing my mind from day to day.

I love my current office, DD loves her holiday club which is right round the corner to my work. Her school is amazing. My road is quite possibly the nicest I have ever lived on, so quiet lovely neighbours. Plus having googled possibly for the hundredth time this month I am still paying less than similar homes within 5 miles.

Is it really worth uprooting for a home? Will I want to stay up north alone when DD moves out and travels the world?

I just don't know.

Still, savings must continue. If we stay, shared ownership may be an option whilst a more expensive option, its a roof over our heads.

£5.92 transferred to emergency savings today. I used my emergency savings this time last year to replace my dying car. Kept meaning to restart but keeps coming back out not long after being transferred. So I've decided to transfer just 'round up £s' so that I hopefully don't notice it as much.

I have £4 per week transfer into an esavings for Christmas, I only started it a few weeks ago so I know I will need to add to it but I'm planning to do it all year round last year.

MOT booked for Saturday, hoping for a clean pass!

On not so good news, my elect & gas tariff is up for renewal, and their cheapest plan this year will increase my DD by £5 per month. I searched on USWITCH, there were a couple of smaller providers but the savings were not much, and I'd probably pay that much on the 'standard' tariff whilst waiting for the accounts to be taken over. So instead I thought I could try and save that £5 per month from my actual bill through my usage.

School uniform all done, mainly through doubled up clubcard vouchers. Still need to get some tights.

I used my shop & scan amazon voucher to order DD Cinderella, we saw it recently at the cinema (kids AM) and both loved it. It was released today so excitedly waiting for that.

The remaining voucher's will go towards a present for my brother & niece - both their birthdays coming up in October!

beanielou · 24 August 2015 at 10:19PM

Happy shiny new diary.
Keep posting!

roxy7699 · 24 August 2015 at 10:46PM

How exciting, you will probably go back and forward for a while with your choices, don't rush.

satchmo1 · 25 August 2015 at 10:25AM

Good luck with your plans. I lived in East Anglia for 11 years, and since moving back North last year I've spoken to more people and socialised with new friends than I did in the whole 11 years (apart from work colleagues). If you know where you'll be relocating to, you can set up an alert on Rightmove for properties within a geographical area.

MuffinTops · 25 August 2015 at 12:15PM

Hello lovely, I'm so pleased you've got a diary I can come to and have a long overdue catchup!

I'm completely with you on the changing your mind back and forth. On paper things look like they're quite solid, but when you look at what options you genuinely have, it can put a whole new spin on things. It's a shame it's put a bit of a negative spin, but I know that whatever you decide you'll make it the right decision.

Your emergency savings plan sounds like a great idea. I still have my Intelligent Finance jars for that, but keep dipping in to the emergency jar as a buffer! When did a buffer need become an emergency??? Although, you've seen my diary so know I need to get a grip!!

Just a little reminder about getting cashback if you change your tariff.

So lovely to be able to talk to you again.

MTx

bellevie · 25 August 2015 at 6:21PM

Thanks for the lovely messages.

I discovered the rightmove 'draw' option a couple of days ago Satchmo1..a handy function I've been checking my selected area's up north & south so many times in the past 48 hours :rotfl:

I have been told so many times that Northerners are generally friendlier. Actually our Yorkshire / Burnley offices have my favourite colleagues in to speak to by phone they are mostly so welcoming when I call.

I was so happy to find you MT, brought a smile to my face just finding you then reading I just felt so amazed at how much you have done :T:j I need to find out where you get your emoticons / smilies from I have no where near as many as you have used on my shortlist - are they from another site?

Good day at work today, tonight I'm preparing for the first of hopefully not too many interviews. This one stays in the same department, same office slightly different duties so a little higher pay.

We hopefully should find out same day or Thursday. They are trying to give answers out ASAP so we can decide to proceed or not with out other applications.

I spent £2.18 on lunch as I forgot to buy bread to make lunch yesterday! Then I meant to buy bread on my lunch but completely forgot, I do have some of those part baked petit pain's so I will prepare those for tomorrow to make it hopefully a NSD.

Got to make tea, then I'm going to parade my interview outfits infront of my 6 year old, if I can pull her away from Cinderella hopefully her choice will bring me luck 🍀

MuffinTops · 26 August 2015 at 8:39AM

I was so happy to see your name on my diary too.

I've missed keeping up to date with you, so it's lovely that you're back.

My emoticons come from an external site. It's a website called pic4ever that I choose most of mine. My Wednesday dancers are definitely on there. There are some other great sites too, but that's my go to site.

I also remember those days when a certain friend would choose the most expensive places, and snatch things out of my hand telling me I can't afford what I'm looking at! I can't say being here makes it all worth it, but I like knowing that their perceived view of what I could and couldn't afford was way off real life.

It does seem that Northerners are more open and welcoming. There's something about London which just makes people shut down towards each other. It's so sad, but the way I see things where I live.

How did you get on tearing your daughter away from Cinderella long enough to admire your outfits? There's something about the innocence in a 6 year old that you know you'll get the right and honest opinion.

MTx

bellevie · 26 August 2015 at 9:15PM

Well.....I had my interview first thing, and I was called up minutes before leaving.

I got the job!!! I just can not believe it!

My heart was pounding, then my director's voice dropped a little and I swear I almost lip read 'unfortunately' but wasn't! I almost cried, then I almost danced

Just brilliant!

Its a pay rise, not huge but definitely noticeable meaning I could just find a way to make it work where we currently live!!!

Driving home I kept thinking, whilst I was prepared to accept the relocation option and was initially quite excited at the prospect, the feeling of relief that washed over me told me it can't be right for me. Well certainly not yet anyway.

I still do think I may have to move out eventually, but right now its enough for us to cope, without housing benefit top ups :j

They had told us they would try and tell us before we went home but they took so long going through their notes afterwards we all presumed it would happen tomorrow.

The Yorkshire roles will stay open to us until the changes take place, its the same wage I am on now, minus a small uplift, but as I got the higher paid role whilst renting it would almost balance itself out.

We do get other roles coming up in various regions a few times a year so I could review the situation say next year if I felt I needed to.

I am now off to delete all my different scenario spreadsheets

Budget wise, I opted to do a top up shop managed to get out between the ridiculously heavy downpours to avoid having a shop delivered as the freezer is still full. So £10.10 spent in Sainsburys.

Also transferred £5 to relocation fund (well now deposit fund?), £5 to emergency savings and £4 to Christmas savings.

So all around a fantastic day

Thank you for the website MT - I do love a smilie!!! I didn't get much help from DD, quite unusual as she is normally quite vocal about my choice of clothes, but she did compliment me this morning which was nice

MuffinTops · 27 August 2015 at 8:37AM

YAY to that! That's fantastic news and so well deserved too! You must have blown them away as they offered you the job so quickly.

I'm so pleased for you! Extra money too! Can it get any better?

When does the new job start?

MTx

Tink2010 · 27 August 2015 at 8:59AM

Congratulations! I too am saving for my own house so will be subscribing for inspiration :T

Preparing for the biggest move of our life

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