Rennovations and the price to pay..

Lemon_Tree · 30 October 2019 at 2:01PM

Hi I'm just coming back to the dfw boards and what you say rings true as we bought a doer-upper in dec17, we're just about to start the last stahe which is an extension but our spending has gotten out of control across everything as we have had to spend on the house and the carefree attitude rubbed off. Now off to write it all down, confess, list lots of things for sale and tackle everything.

Pengwern · 1 November 2019 at 9:58AM

HI

SusieT, I have been there before splitting pallets and removing nails for fire wood, it broke me so I am seeing if others can make use of them first. In happy news someone took 6 yesterday only another 6 to go. No money exchanged hands as I offered them for free but to be honest they have save me money disposing of them.

Lemon Tree I feel your pain, good luck and I hope the figure is not too high.

Its the beginning of a new month so where are the cc:

cc3 £5100 now £4950
cc4 £2600 now £2450
cc1 £2700 now £2650
cc2 was £8200 now £7720
cc5 £9000 now £8800
Total £26,570

in better news I reduced my childcare vouchers to £10/month so gained £150 extra in my pay this month. that has gone into my regular saver for now. I need to boost my xmas fund just in case. Sorry I mentioned it but you need to plan for most of the year in my mind and I have been lax this yr due to the renovations. I have reduced the presents to the minimum, I am still trying with my in laws to stop the madness that is buying stuff for the sake of it.

I still had £100 in my account at the end of Oct too which was brill. I have decided to add that to the xmas fund too. I am hoping that once the big day is over I will have some left. If I do then I will use the idea of remote_control and add it to the cc with the next shortest 0% period. That one will have £500 still on the balance so if I can make small in roads into that then it will be paid off and no need to go for another transfer deal.

I still have no gas, so I am hoping the lack of gas consumption will counter act the increase in electricity from all the portable heaters we are using. it has really change temp this last week and it is not nice in an unheated house.

Looking forward to my 3 day weekend as I have Monday as AL. need to do some cleaning and planning of what to eat for the next few weeks. I still only have a microwave and camping stove to cook on. I am so hopeful that it will be over in 2 weeks, so if I can plan some different meals for 2 weeks that should get us through.

Pengwern · 1 November 2019 at 10:24AM

on another note a big success is that despite all the increased promotion I spent £0 on Halloween. Congrats to anyone else who managed to do the same or just limit their spending. I think the pressure around this event seems to grow year on year.

Lemon_Tree · 1 November 2019 at 1:27PM

Hope your electric heating costs significantly less than the winter after we moved into our house, OK I snowed but it was £600 for 6 weeks &#55357;&#56877; thankfully one of the big jobs we've had done was to install central heating. Enjoy you're extended weekend

Pengwern · 8 November 2019 at 1:36PM

Hello

We finally have heating. I cannot tell you how much of a weight has lifted from me. I’ve been really ill this week and I think I have come to the end physically. Need a break to recharge but no hope of that in the current climate.

£5 up after another sale yesterday

My porta loo has also gone from the garden which I am pleased about. Also a lot cheaper bill than I was expecting.

Payments for this month are starting to hit the cc

Still need to list the car seat.

Lemon_Tree · 8 November 2019 at 1:38PM

Wahoo to Central heating, I know the joy you're feeling &#55357;&#56842;

Pengwern · 9 November 2019 at 4:45PM

After doing some money admin last night I discovered another debt. £45/month for 18 months interest free and it will be paid off at the end. However I feel it represents how disorganised I feel at the moment. There was a time when I would never forget about anything. Feeling quite sad about it all at the moment. I want my house back from the builders and no more bills for renovations. I can then nuckle down and sort it all out.

I’ve started Xmas shopping and nearly done or at least have decided what to get. Each yr I am to spend no more than the previous so that’s my challenge. It’s the food that always tips my budget. Need to get better on that

Lemon_Tree · 10 November 2019 at 10:18PM

Shame about finding the new debt but at least you found it before not paying became a serious issue

Pengwern · 17 November 2019 at 10:21AM

Hi

A quick note to mention my success with Sainsbury’s double up. Got £100 worth of clothes for Xmas birthday presents for nieces and nephews can’t believe it’s the first year I’ve done it. That’s such a big chunk of presents purchased I will be on track to reduce my spending again.

More cc payments have gone and will do a round up at the end of the month. Have a massive cc bill to pay next month so hoping my annual pay rise will cover it. The rise is never much but gets implemented from June so it’s the back pay that helps. I realise now every yr I do the same so need to sort that. It’s the day to day cc I always pay of in full but seems to get out of hand this time of yr.

Skip on drive and it’s half full from yesterday’s attempt at filling it. Another few hrs today should hopefully see it done

Pengwern · 20 November 2019 at 9:29AM

Hello

Well good news on the water bill front, the annual bill came through the other day and monthly payments have gone from £32/month to £30/month. a small saving but I will take all I can get. the lack of washing machine and only having showers (no baths as no hot water for months) has helped mitigate the amount of water the builders have used mixing concrete and mortar.

Supposed to be having someone pick up some breeze blocks this week I am selling them so hopefully it will be another £20 to add to the microwave pot. Need to rename that really or just get an actual pot but the top of the microwave is where the money is stored for things you need cash for.

I am starting to think I need to actually stop using my day to day CC. it has cash back so I think I will benefit from that, which I do. However I still seem to overspend and maybe the reality of the money going straight out of my acc on every purchase will give me a reality check.

Rennovations and the price to pay..

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