Gallygirl's 95 month challenge - now 'only' 92 months

StuartGMC

gallygirl wrote: »

I wish it had been 2 to 3 bottles last night - it might have stopped me going on Right Move & finding my dream house :eek:. ........ It's all OH's fault for leaving me on my own.

Well I guess it could be worse for OH, at least it was only an available house you found to distract you!

Remember, fools rush in... as always with houses, let the mind rule the heart if you do visit it (with OH?)

gallygirl

StuartGMC wrote: »

Well I guess it could be worse for OH, at least it was only an available house you found to distract you!

:rotfl::eek::rotfl:

Yikes, where have I been

House was sold but now reavailable. But won't be going for it. OH is v stressed at work, I am v busy and we have enough on......

It is beautiful though..... here is the view


I will shut my mind to it and stick to paying off my mortgages instead :T.

Tenant fell through so back in paper this week. Mum's house should be ready in a few weeks also, so that will get things improved on money front. Looks like a different house which is probably a good thing .

Have been stir crazy the last few weeks with the snow - thank goodness it has gone (must be grown up now to say things like that :eek:).

Car is averaging 50mpg - a bit disappointing, but it is improving, and I get 60mpg when I go to the office - the round trip costs £9.50 net of the small profit I get on mileage from work. So, that will be £38 this week :eek:.

Off to do wiifit then read up on NY - 9 days till I go!

Hope all are well gg

StuartGMC

Sounds like you and OH have reached a good resolution in consideration of the balance of pressures. Enjoy the Big Apple break and above all, ignore exchange rates and just relax and take full benefit of the holiday, I'm sure you'll both benefit from this and come back reinvigorated.

evab_2

Hope you have a lovely time in NY x

gallygirl

StuartGMC wrote: »

Enjoy the Big Apple break and above all, ignore exchange rates and just relax and take full benefit of the holiday, I'm sure you'll both benefit from this and come back reinvigorated.

:rotfl:How true Stuart, I'm sure we will :rotfl:

:rotfl:PS OH is not going :rotfl:but he reckons he will be reinvigorated by a weekend at home without me

On the good news front::
- did 2 mystery shops yesterday
- picked up 5 for March (including 4 bookies so 4 free bets and PO so free stamps ). With monies outsnding & jobs booked there is over £100 for kitty.
- a Quidco query for £33 from 2006 :eek: has been added
- got a tenant for empty house, moving in 2 weeks
- emptied Peefer the mortgage pig, £38 to pay in
- OH has given me cheque for 1k lump sum :T
- Outstanding work on mum's house will cost less than I thought. May be able to squeeze a few hundred out of bank account for a small OP in a month or so, although mindful of the need to keep a reserve.

On the bad news front:
- bought some clothes and 2 pairs of shoes (1 going back)

Interesting article in Times Money today, things may be on the up for savings rates & Saffron & First Direct are both offering 7% fixed rate regular saver cash ISA's. First Direct is no good as you need to have current account there but no such restriction on Saffron. However, I have used my ISA this year so can't open till April. I have emailed them to ask if I can open for then. Ideally I would prefer one where you can put in a one-off lump sum to minimise hassle & maximise interest, however I suspect I won't find one of those - I assume they are offering such a good rate on the hope you will forget to cancel & transfer at end of period & they can pay 1%.

Up until now I have never bothered with opening savings accounts rather than offsetting - over the last 3 years with buying a property in Spain (and latterly my car ) our savings have been depleted. Additionally, there was not a great deal of difference between savings rate and mortgage rate after tax taken into account. However, with a tenant in the empty house & one to come for mums, my £280 additional payment to repay car 'loan' and OH's commitment to match my other OP's we could save 1k a month. our average mortgage rate is 1.98% :j so the era of multiple savings accounts may be nigh :eek:. Still, will be a good opportunity for an additional spreadsheet and lines on the graph :rotfl:

Off to regrout some tiles at mums, not my favourite of jobs (hence ramblings on here ), but need to get cracking before floor tiles laid.

gg

StuartGMC

gallygirl wrote: »

Interesting article in Times Money today, things may be on the up for savings rates & Saffron & First Direct are both offering 7% fixed rate regular saver cash ISA's. First Direct is no good as you need to have current account there but no such restriction on Saffron. However, I have used my ISA this year so can't open till April. I have emailed them to ask if I can open for then. Ideally I would prefer one where you can put in a one-off lump sum to minimise hassle & maximise interest, however I suspect I won't find one of those - I assume they are offering such a good rate on the hope you will forget to cancel & transfer at end of period & they can pay 1%.

Up until now I have never bothered with opening savings accounts rather than offsetting - over the last 3 years with buying a property in Spain (and latterly my car ) our savings have been depleted. Additionally, there was not a great deal of difference between savings rate and mortgage rate after tax taken into account. However, with a tenant in the empty house & one to come for mums, my £280 additional payment to repay car 'loan' and OH's commitment to match my other OP's we could save 1k a month. our average mortgage rate is 1.98% :j so the era of multiple savings accounts may be nigh :eek:. Still, will be a good opportunity for an additional spreadsheet and lines on the graph :rotfl:

GG
Interesting comments; we too haven't used Cash ISAs simply due to the savings both offsetting and being required for purchases. We have however been putting some into S&S ISA (funds) with the idea being that these need to be long term so need to be in early enough to get growth (and hoping now the cheap markets will compensate for the big losses we're holding on the investments 2006-2008!). Cash ISAs should hit full annual allowance though from March 2010 onwards with the mortgage out of the way.

I've looked at the regular saving headline rates and of course you only get a bit over half the interest rate on the total invested over the 12 months. For this reason just dropped £1500 of daughter's savings into Post office growth bond issue 8 which is paying 3.40% (and for her this is tax-free, but only locked in for 12months as I think interest rates will lift in 2010). Rumour is these bonds are going quickly, despite only being released earlier this month.....

Like you, we're now moving to all the considerations for greater saving and investments which will be the focus of our financial activities post-October.

gallygirl

StuartGMC wrote: »

GG
we're now moving to all the considerations for greater saving and investments which will be the focus of our financial activities post-October.

:rolleyes: show off :rotfl:

shopgirl2512

Hi there! Thought I would pop in...

Hope you have a fabulous time in NY! x

setmefree2

well done on your progress:D

gallygirl

Bag of Maybelline cosmetics arrived in post so obviously must have won a comp - no covering letter though .

Only a couple of days till NY - weather is not playing ball. Forecast Thurs 4 & light snow :eek:, Fri 11 and sunny spells - how many pairs of shoes/boots .

Saffron have replied already :T and I can open now for next tax year :jso have asked for application form. Will get OH hopefully also to open one so we can both benefit .

Now :think: if we both open should I have one additional spreadsheet or two? One additional entry on graph or two . Decisions decisions :rolleyes:.

Wanted to renew library books so looked to see if I could do on line. Registration & renewal took 90 secs, including change of passnumber. Why can't all public service sites be so user friendly . I have 3 NY guides out so can now read at leisure & take in suitcase. Only a few days till I go :j.

NSD today - too busy to have proper lunch break but need to go out tomorrow to pay Peefer Pig money in. Still aiming for NSD unless jeans I have put aside fit. NSD on Weds also as away day in the middle of the country so nowhere to spend.

Then off to NY....... did I mention I was going there .