Erieversible

I requested, via the USPS website, for our mail redirection to start at the end of the week.  I was surprised to discover that the redirection service is free.  Of course, if you’ve used the service you know that, but in the UK it isn’t free.  Redirection there starts at £7.35 a month (around $11 at today’s rates).  We paid a significant amount for international redirection, but that $11 a month is for simple domestic redirection, the equivalent of the free service in the US.

Amazing.  I’m sure the public would understand that redirection costs money and would not object (too strongly) to paying a fee for the service?  It isn’t often you see an untapped revenue stream nowadays.

And speaking of exchange rates, what happened?  I hadn’t looked in a while (no need) and now the pound is worth 1.466 dollars.  Where did the pound value go?  

Today the kids saw the new house for the first time.  Judging by their reaction I think we chose a good house!

Before heading back to Erie we dropped in at a large furniture store.  We ended up buying beds for everybody, various other bedroom furniture for the children, a couple of couches for the new family room and….and….and something else but my brain has gone numb.  We were a lot later than planned leaving to head back to Erie, as it all took quite some time, but if all the furniture is delivered as scheduled I should have it all in place before the rest of the family arrive next Saturday.  That will be great, everyone starting life in their new home in new, real beds!

And with couches in the family room we can all relax, in comfort, together.  We currently don’t have enough furniture to do that!  All the other furniture we need can wait until after we’ve moved, but the basics are now arranged.  Though that doesn’t mean I won’t be trying to get a few other pieces in place before next weekend.

We ran about 14% over budget for all the stuff we bought today.  Okay, the budget was fairly loosely constructed, a real ‘finger in the air’ piece of work.  (Former work colleagues should refrain from making comments about my professional budgeting methods!!!)  However, what I continually forget about is NY tax - 8.5% on top of the final prices of the furniture (after in-store discounts and a final period of haggling given the amount we bought).  That 8.5% came to a very unhelpful number today.  I’ll get used to it, eventually, but meanwhile I decided that figure shouldn’t be included in my budget overspend….

Hands up anyone who had a really great year in 2008?  Thought so.  I’m sure everyone had at least one great time during 2008 but in general, especially with the economic chaos, I don’t think 2008 will go down as a great year.

So, what does 2009 bring?  In general, I don’t know.  (And if anyone claims to know, run away very fast.)  Personally it will bring a new home, a new family life, a whole new future.  I am looking forward to 2009.  I am sure there’s more economic chaos to come, but by now we have all learned a few basic truths and should be more prepared for the challenges ahead.  I suspect 2009 won’t eventually go down as a great year, but with a bit of effort from us all it can be the year things turned around.

Happy New Year to everyone.  As we start 2009 by approaching the end of a transatlantic migration let us hope some of the good luck we have had in 2008 can now wander off and help someone else.  Maybe it will be you.