Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 February 2005 19:43:21
I'm one of those people who, when I'm on holiday somewhere warm, the mozzies flock to, leading me to conclude that I have a big sign above my head saying "I'm right here - bite me!" Today I have also concluded that I have another big sign above my head saying "Incompetent people - I'm over here! Come and ruin my life, and even better, charge me lots of money!" After the fiascos with the window and the reference, today I received the valuation for my house (the surveyor came round last week), and not only am I disappointed that it's been valued at £20,000 less than smaller properties in the same street, but in his description of the house he missed out an entire room! And now I have to pay £150 quid for that. Gah. Sadly I have no choice but to market the house at the valuation price as the housing association with whom I co-own the house have accepted it, and it's being offered to people on their list first. Hopefully the lower price will mean I'm more likely to get a buyer reasonably quickly without having to resort to going through an estate agent, but it also means I have about £10,000 less to play with than I thought I would when it comes to buying a flat Up North which means that I'll either have to get a much smaller place or get a much bigger mortgage than I'd wanted. I'm trying to remain philosophical about it - at least I have a foot in the housing market, I'm better off than when I bought it a few years back, and perhaps I should take my eyes off the amount of money and remember with thanks how much I do have. Will have to be a bit more frugal this year though and try and get saving a bit more conscientiously.
In other news - the PhD application is posted! It looks like I'll be getting the reference soon, so hopefully that will all be done and dusted and out of the way before too much longer. I did get quite a lift when I handed it over at the Post Office - there goes my future. I'll give myself a few days' break, and then get on with the funding application. No rest for the wicked, so they say.