Mortgage Free ASAP

gallygirl

Great service QB. I wouldn't have expected all to fail so if any more go worth getting someone to check installation &/or light fitting itself

Queen-Bee_2

Thanks GG! Actually, since yesterday, another one's blown, making five out of eight in total... I don't think it's the wiring, just that the bulbs they sold it with in the first place were substandard. We'll see!!
QB

Queen-Bee_2

Zipperty-Zoopla
I read about Zoopla on AJMoney's diary earlier today, and thought I'd see what they came up with iro a value so that I too could work out how much of my house I own so far...

Given everything was done on line, it was actually very detailed and amazingly, the price I'd paid for it when I bought it four years ago was already programmed into the database.

Anyway, according to Zoopla, my property is now worth around £620k, which, given that it's a small early Victorian terrace, seems ludicrous. One of the reasons I chose it was because the location was quiet, pretty and not terribly fashionable (and therefore a bit undervalued). After I bought it, the prices went mad.

So, as my mortgage is now in the region of £60k, this means I own 90% of the house. Again, that seems amazing. I have absolutely no plans to move - ever - so it's all a paper exercise really, but it has put a smile on my face!
QB

LilacPixie

620K QB you should sell up and move to scotland. You could buy a castle and live mortgage free.

I have a little scottish gas energy monitor thing and is ineresing and a bit scary the impact of a few thing. Washing machine is a biggie. We are £87 combined for our energy bills.

Queen-Bee_2

Thanks LP - I hadn't realised that washing machines take so much energy. Just as well that I only do two loads a week these days - one for whites and one for everything else. Things that need washing separately, get done by hand!!

The price of my house is misleading, because it's pretty modest in size and apart from the crucial fact it's my home, there's nothing particularly special about it. I was born and brought up in the area, and my parents still live locally, which is why I'm keen to stay. Unfortunately, it's also become fashionable, which means fewer 'real' people and a lot more with four-wheel drives who are too busy say hello to their neighbours!!

I've just got in this evening - there are snow flurries outside and it's absolutely freezing. The cat, who just ventured outside via her cat-flap, shot back in at once, shaking her paws in disgust. A hot water bottle and the duvet beckon!
QB

ajmoney

Queen-Bee wrote: »

Zipperty-Zoopla
I read about Zoopla on AJMoney's diary earlier today, and thought I'd see what they came up with iro a value so that I too could work out how much of my house I own so far...

Given everything was done on line, it was actually very detailed and amazingly, the price I'd paid for it when I bought it four years ago was already programmed into the database.

Anyway, according to Zoopla, my property is now worth around £620k, which, given that it's a small early Victorian terrace, seems ludicrous. One of the reasons I chose it was because the location was quiet, pretty and not terribly fashionable (and therefore a bit undervalued). After I bought it, the prices went mad.

So, as my mortgage is now in the region of £60k, this means I own 90% of the house. Again, that seems amazing. I have absolutely no plans to move - ever - so it's all a paper exercise really, but it has put a smile on my face!
QB

That is great. I am a bit sceptical about the current valuation on my house but I know it is not far from the truth. BTW I calculated mine wrongly and own 40% not 25%

LilacPixie

I hadn't realised the washing machine was such a biggie either bu we went from 0.20kw an hour average to 2.4kw average when the machine was on. A cycle is 1hr 24mins on a 30 degree wash with a 1600 spin to minimilise need for tumble dryer. It's only 3 months old and is rated A.

Queen-Bee_2

AJMoney The 40% is great, a much nicer figure than 25%
LP an A rating and over 2kw/hour? :eek::eek::eek:
QB

Queen-Bee_2

Action List
Once again, I seem to be falling behind... Previously, I have found making a list hugely helpful, so here's the stuff I need to action over the next week:

• Finish literature review for university - I am finding the return to education quite challenging after 20 years, so I suspect I am just making a meal out of this, but at present I'm struggling!!!
• Investigate alternative home insurance provision, as mine's coming up for renewal
• Buy Christmas present for OH - this is hard, cos funds are very limited this year. It is difficult to find something appropriate that he'll actually use - when I asked him, he requested some long sleeve mens' vests from M&S. I ask you... Men!!
• Buy OH's Christmas present for my parents - I do this on his behalf every year, don't mind really, but I do insist he looks at what I've bought before I wrap it up so he doesn't express surprise when they unwrap it!
• Move £500 to A&L to feed the regular saver and maximise the interst in the current account
• Start to think about opting back into Serps (not quite sure what the advantages of being opted out are exactly)
• Find out the time of midnight mass at church this Sunday

I am sure there are other things I have missed off, but that's a starter for six.

Last week I had the expense of buying a new mobile broadband stick, as mine had vanished into thin air. A £29 expenditure I could have done without. However, at least I bought it through Topcashback which has a £10 cashback, so in net terms it was only £19.

Talking of Topcashback, I also opened a HSBC account with them a few weeks ago, and it failed to track, potentially loosing £30 :mad: I have reported this, but don't hold out much hope - just keeping my fingers crossed!!!
QB

LilacPixie

Queen-Bee wrote: »

AJMoney The 40% is great, a much nicer figure than 25%
LP an A rating and over 2kw/hour? :eek::eek::eek:
QB

Exactly. there was nothing else on to account for such a jump. I think it may be because as with most modern machines its a cold fill. used 10.06kw yesterday. in total we have used just under 30kw in 3 days with each kw being 9.6p so appear to be using around £1 a day electricity.