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Austere August come join us!!

314 replies

takeaway2 · 31/07/2013 18:42

New thread. Smile

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AdoraBell · 31/07/2013 18:58

Thanks for the new thread takeaway Smile

I'll update after I've tidied up my July loose ends.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 31/07/2013 19:08

.

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confusedofengland · 31/07/2013 19:12

Thanks takeaway

Can't believe it's August already. Went to docs today for my booking in appointment, I am 9 weeks pg already apparently, due on 6th March (but will more likely be end of Feb as will be elective c-section after 2 EMCS).

This is the month that DH & I must buy our house or else not get a mortgage for a couple of years Sad. Latest on that is that our vendor has booked the bailiffs, who can definitely come on 23rd August or maybe on 19th August. Tenant is ready & willing to go once bailiffs come, but she needs to be kicked out so that council will class her as unintentionally homeless & give her top priority. All a bit close for my comfort!

So potential (hopefully!) big spending there, plus we go camping for a weekend on bank hol weekend - although I am wondering if we'll be ready as all our camping gear is in storage!

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BeingMoreDog · 31/07/2013 19:16

Can I join?
And confused - wow, sounds like busy times ahead!!

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macuser · 31/07/2013 19:31

I am new to Mumsnet and would like to join in please :) Just downloaded and am now using YNAB to try to keep a better track on my spending as need to make cutbacks. Hello everyone x

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AdoraBell · 31/07/2013 19:33

Everyone's welcome BeingMoreDog

confused good luck, fx for you.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 31/07/2013 20:44

When do you exchange confused? What a horrible thing for you to go though to get your house.

It can't be nice for the tennant either, it sounds like she has few options left to her.

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confusedofengland · 31/07/2013 20:52

We exchanged ages ago Fluffy, a couple of months I think. We just now need the property to be vacant & we are all ready to complete. I do feel sorry for the tenant, too, it is obviously a bad situation all round. She has has about 3 months notice & knew before then that we'd made an offer, so surely the council could have done something by now Sad

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AdoraBell · 31/07/2013 20:54

Confused I think the council can't /won't do anything if she makes herself intentionally homeless, ie, leaves without being forced to by bailiffs. That'll be why she's said she'll leave when they turn up to evict her.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 31/07/2013 20:55

So she's on your insurance then isn't she? The wheels of justice turn very slowly for civil cases.

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confusedofengland · 31/07/2013 20:56

I don't know how it works with insurance tbh. I do know that she's had notice from the court to leave & that is why vendor is being allowed to call in the bailiffs. They have had a great LL-tenant relationship for 9 years so I think he feels bad about it, too Sad

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AdoraBell · 31/07/2013 21:04

Double check the insurance, find out if you have any liability.

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AdoraBell · 01/08/2013 02:59

NSD after all, I got the date of the school meeting mixed upBlush t'is next week.

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Helenagrace · 01/08/2013 07:16

Hope you get your house sorted confused.

Just waiting to hear if our tenants want another 6 months in the house in the north. I hope they do as I'd rather try to sell it next year rather than now.

Hoping for an NSD on Sunday. Still trying for 2 a week - might be tough with the holidays!

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jaabaar · 01/08/2013 07:19

Good morning all and August! Happy national day switzerland! (Sorry just a bit patriotic today..)

Does anyone know how to get a smart meter? British gas planning to give free electricity on saturdays to customers with smart meter.
Thank you.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 01/08/2013 07:51

Every Saturday?

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takeaway2 · 01/08/2013 07:54

Hello all and good morning!

Taken the day off and going to a spa with couple of girlfriends. Can't wait. Paid through groupon so hopefully it's a nice place.

Got one of two credit card bills yesterday and it was £750. But that included £250 of spend on insurance (house) so really £500 on regular spend which was £150 less than last month's. so I'm happy. Smile

Happy Thursday everyone.

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ExasperatedSigh · 01/08/2013 08:57

Welcome macuser :)

confused that all sounds like more stress than necessary, even for house buying. Why hasn't the tenant sorted herself out with a place? She's had loads of notice.

DS insistent that he wants to go to soft play today, despite the blazing sunshine outside Hmm and after the hideous child abuse case that was all over the news yesterday I feel like dishing out as much happiness to my children as I can :( So we're off to the cheapy leisure centre soft play this morning, then I need to get a few bits in the afternoon. DH has asked me to make sure there is lots of easy food in the house as I'm off to Belgium for the weekend tomorrow Grin

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Tommetipsy · 01/08/2013 09:54

August already! LSD today I hope as already paid for kids swim lesson then friends are coming round to play here as we are all skint.

Bought lovely Turkish bread and biscuits in the turkish bakers for £3 then peaches 5 for £1. I do love my local shops.

Hope you get things sorted Confused. Sounds like a right mare you are having with your move.

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jonbonjovismissus · 01/08/2013 14:03

Have been watching previous months for ideas and am determined to be more thrifty from now on! Am starting with the cash-only from today, and have managed to get our food shop for 5 for just over £50 today and even managed a couple of treats.......so v pleased. Hope I can keep it up Smile

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AdoraBell · 01/08/2013 14:48

Well done on the food bill Jonbonjovismissus

Should be NSD here although Dd2 plans to buy wool after school. Tomorro I need to go into town on errands.

Exhasperated I know exactly what you mean Sad

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Thatsinteresting · 01/08/2013 15:22

Fluffy British Gas are going to offer free electricity on Saturday's but it'll be dearer the rest of the week in an attempt to stop people using it when demand is already high. They have claimed it'll help the poor which is a joke. I loathe British Gas.

I can't believe is already August. I spent nearly £20 on bus passes yesterday but they give us access to lots more free activities for the week. I have £60 for food and entertainment for 7days. I only need some milk and fruit so I'm hoping I might even be able to buy a pair of school shoes this month. I've realised we have car insurance and Christmas on the horizon so I've put aside £200 and need to do that on the 1st of every month. Car insurance will use a lot of that. We're not extravagant at Christmas.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 01/08/2013 16:12

I thought there would be a catch with the British gas thing. I'm about to order loads of LED light bulbs, they cost a lot but running costs are very low and they last over 20 years.

Dh only leaves the expensive eg high wattage lights on all night if he forgets to switch them off so I'm going to make them all cheap.

£2.50 on lunch, I need to start freezing sandwiches again.

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confusedofengland · 01/08/2013 16:33

Not done too badly today, although almost all the spends have been on junk food Blush £4.97 on Happy Meals for me & DS1, then £3.60 for my DSes plus DS2's friend to have an ice-cream at the park, it was just too hot not to! On the plus side, I arrived home to a bag of clothes for DS1 (& then DS2, naturally) from my Dsis & she has loads of money & her 'cheap' stuff is from John Lewis, so am pleased with that Grin Also got some PE shorts for DS1 from a mum at the school, 2 pairs for £2. They have a slight pull at the back, but you can barely see, plus I don't know how long he'll be at that school, as he is down on the waiting list for the village school, if we ever move!

The move is a bit nightmarish, I think we started looking in around October last year, so It's been dragging on! The tenant has apparently been looking for other accommodation, but been turned down. So, she needs to be kicked out by bailiffs in order to be unintentionally homeless, or they won't rehouse her as a priority. It's tough all round, but it does strike me that something needs to be done about renting in this country - in so many other countries it's the norm & really easy to do, yet we seem to make a big hash of it! And don't get me started on the schools' admission system, which pretty much means that should a child move between putting in a primary school application in January & starting school in September, that child is not in any way guaranteed a school place where he will be living...

Welcome to all the newbies!

That British Gas thing sounds like a bit of a con, tbh. Unless you save all your baking, washing, tumble-drying, hoovering, ironing till a Saturday. But then often that's the day when people want to be out doing things Confused

Thatsinteresting don't talk about Christmas! It feels like ages still

Exasperated lucky you going to Belgium! Whereabouts are you going? I lived in Brussels for a year & loved it!

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Tommetipsy · 01/08/2013 18:02

Please don't mention the C word Thatsinteresting!!

Freezer dinner tonight of spaghetti and meatballs. I could climb into the freezer though. It's hit 30 degrees here today.

Wow Confused, John Lewis being the cheap stuff...

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