£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

Busy_Mee1 wrote: »

Hi TOPM
A few observations from me

Building - I am slightly puzzled by the need for Quantity Surveyor on a fairly modest domestic build. We didn't use one on either of our builds - just got quotes from three builders who calculated quantities and costs (they may have used one but that was wrapped up in their price).

Likewise the structural engineer. We didn't use one for our extension but had one for our house build (complicated loading for a cantilevered roof).
Is there some complication with your design ? A good builder will know what is what for most straightforward builds.

Work- looking at your SOA there isn't loads of wriggle room there, unless you stop the DC's activities which I know you would rather not do. I think you are right the only way you will fund this, is if you make more profit from your work. You can do this in two ways, working more and also minimising your costs.

Yep I am talking about reducing your clothing allowance here....could this be the year that you demonstrate how to dress cleverly from Zara or any other high street chain, with your existing investment/vintage pieces ?

Can you try and get yourself organised so that you can work a bit more through the school holidays this year ?

This is only for a year and remember your work is likely to take a hit when you actually do the building work.

Other stuff I would announce to your family that you are having a frugal year to pay for the extension. This means that you are not buying gifts at Christmas and won't be able to join in with expensive celebrations.

This will hopefully mean that you won't get ambushed by expensive bottles of champagne or promises of treats in London for the DC that you end up covering.

I know you don't like the idea but you could have a cheaper Christmas this year...it is just one year and if it enables you to have the home you want then it will be well worth it. I would start looking for the standard Christmas gifts that you buy every year in sales...new pyjamas, the big Lego set for the Christmas Eve hamper or thinking of cheaper alternatives ( DVD instead of Lego ? )

Hope that helps x

Ooh, good observations.

Quantity surveyor - I had no idea it wasn't usual, but the architect has repeatedly said it will help us keep a handle on costs as we can be sure we (or the builders) aren't over-ordering at any stage, so I'm not entirely averse to the concept. I will talk to the architect again about it and the cost:benefit ratio.

Structural engineer - Definitely needed. We are removing most of the back wall of the house, and a wall that runs perpendicular to it, so a whole T shape of walls which are, presumably, holding up the floor above in some way, and are set to be replaced with steel beams (I think). I wouldn't feel comfortable proceeding without one, and the architect has said it's essential for buildings control on our type of build.

Clothing budget - this is a really tricky one for me, and it's something I haven't discussed on here a lot because I can just imagine the hand-throwing-up-in-horror and endless backing and forthing over a reasonable budget.

I allocate it as a fairly low percentage of turnover (percentage varies from different types of work I do, depending on the 'importance' of looking the part, but is around 8% of turnover on the whole) and averages around £100 per month. This is already seriously low for my industry, and I feel that I would struggle hugely if it was less. If I had more time, to endlessly browse charity shops and get alterations done, maybe, but I really don't think I can reduce this more than maybe a few quid here or there. One of the problems I have is that I had to throw out more or less my entire wardrobe two years ago when I finally lost my pregnancy weight, and everything I had from before then was trashed from being old or worn during pregnancy/BFing, so I had virtually nothing. The first 12 months were spent building up a cheap wardrobe of clothes, and now I am saving again to replace some of those clothes with more investment pieces when I finally lose the weight I have gained again over the past year. I don't know though. What would other people suggest is a reasonable clothing budget these days for someone working in a fashion/creative/visually judged role (think personal shopper/stylist type role)?

School holidays work - now that is a thought. Not sure how, but maybe I could go with the DC to MIL or my mum's and gain an extra 2-3 hours a day while there for a few days at a time. It wouldn't be much, but every little helps. Will definitely talk to DH about that, as for a one off for this year that might actually be a really good idea. And I have two friends who might potentially swap another 3 hours of childcare here and there. Thank you.

Christmas - Also a good idea to pre-warn about celebrations etc. We have already turned down two 'free' holidays (sob) because they were each going to be £500-1000 in flights/car hire etc even though the place was free when we got there, but I will definitely reiterate that to relevant parties. I am going to look back at last year's Christmas budget and see what we spent on, so I can decide what we might cut back on. I didn't save in Jan or Feb though, so am already down to a maximum of £1k on Christmas, which is £400 less than I spent in 2017, and miles less than in previous years .

I think it helps that, rather than the looooooong journey of debt-paying-off, saving for the extension feels like one year of pain for a whole lot of gain, with a real defined end point, so I'm more able to envisage some short term challenges to manage it. The debt just seems like a huge impossible number that's never going to go, TBH.

ramblehan wrote: »

What about Secret Santa for the adults with a set limit for spends- we do this in with my family - if you use an online secret santa generator, you can also set an online wishlist so you get exactly what you want?

If you go down the frugal route suggested and tell them all that you are doing a big house save, you could actually set this as a challenge - and set a low limit (£10 secret santa challenge) and save some £££....

I like this idea! Especially if we are not with my mum - easy to suggest no presents if we're with her, but much harder with other relatives as they are all spenders, and 3/4 of our parents - all divorced and remarried - are terrible with money, with two of them in and out of debt, so it would never occur to them that we might be frugal before building the extension unless we spell it out in words of one syllable. Will definitely pull this one out in August when the inevitable Christmas planning begins :eek: .