Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

Well, I've just spoken to my BS and my os balance was only £3 out from what I estimated which is not too bad, current balance is £149,674.

I've also looked on their website and their current deals are not good, all the new fixed rates have fees of £2K! I also went on the first direct site, which seems a good rate and will also lend us in theory £169K. I quite like the idea of an offset account, as I still get to op and its sort of saving at the same time if we do decide to move or do the loft in the future. Anyone else on an offset?

We have had a virgin one account in the past which we just paid the interest on , but that was in the bad old days when we were also running up big debts. I think i am sensible enough to be trusted again with one.:o
Saving is a good option as michelle suggested, but for some reason feels like it will take a bit more self control to not spend savings, whereas an offset you can still see the balance go down.Oh, plus there were no fees.


Today I'm shattered again the dog is barking during the night, only the odd bark , not constant , but its keeping me awake. Last night i was wide awake from 1 until nearly 3, I have all my family round tonight and then again on sunday for a BBQ, I feel so bad I've just tried to have an hours sleep, but I just cannot sleep like that in the day.

CathT

I think the saving idea is really good especially as you are getting fluctuating mortgage offers.

Great fruit and veg buy at the car boot aswell! I wanted to go strawberry picking this afternoon but it's raining - again.

What part of Devon are you going to? We've just come back from Woolacombe.

newgirly

Hi cath, we are going to salcombe, right at the bottom. Saw in your diary yours was a bit of a wash out, its a shame. We often have carp weather for a few days in devon and we go in august every year.

I've just spoken with first direct about switching to them next year, and you can apply 6 months in advance of your deal ending and they will honour the rate still (assuming its lower )
A rough guide is that we can borrow £164 with them if we state what the extra is for (loft for example), obviously we would not borrow it unless needed for that. So would carry on as we are basically, but maybe request thet at the start just incase so we don't have to go through the further advance process.

I have found out , although most of you probably knew already, that you can only port the mortgage deal you are on and not carry over the outstanding balance to the new property (plus adding to it if needs be), its always done as a new application.

Who knows what we will end up doing!, but I guess the more we pay off the more options we have. I shall definatly start saving instead of oping at least until next may when our deal ends.

I'm going to check on surveys now and then pack for my boys' first sleepover with friends tonight, which is in a tent in the garden :eek:

CathT

newgirly wrote: »

Hi cath, we are going to salcombe, right at the bottom. Saw in your diary yours was a bit of a wash out, its a shame. We often have carp weather for a few days in devon and we go in august every year.

We will probably go to the South next time, possibly next May while I am still on Maternity leave.

I've just spoken with first direct about switching to them next year, and you can apply 6 months in advance of your deal ending and they will honour the rate still (assuming its lower )

That's handy to know as our deal comes to an end April 2012 and I think Halifax let you secure a new deal 3 months before it ends. If we can get a good fixed rate I think we will shorten our mortgage term.

Who knows what we will end up doing!, but I guess the more we pay off the more options we have. I shall definatly start saving instead of oping at least until next may when our deal ends.

Having savings will definitely give you more options.

How is DH getting on with the jobs list for getting the house ready to go on the market? Can the log cabin be moved with you?

newgirly

Argh! another missing post!

Dh has not done anything on the list (as predicted by me!), howver he has helped to sort the garden out which now looks great. the log cabin and hot tub would have to stay as its too much of a pain to move. I don't think they add much value though as its not to everyones taste.

To be fair, when I do look on right move at houses the same sort of value as ours they don't look as appealing. We do get more for our money as we are on a busy road, so need to spend lots more to get a bigger house in a nicer road. Possibly its not all worth the bother!

If you do go back to devon, I would highly recommend the south hams, we have been loads of times and love it, the scenery is fantastic and you could be abroad (apart from the temperature). We normally go to salcome but have also stayed at hope cove, which is just a few houses and a georgeous beach and pub.

AuntieMabel

We used to go to Devon & Cornwall a lot when I was a child but we lived in the Midlands then so it was a lot nearer! I would love to take the DH and the boys there as they've never been, but it's such a long way from the North East

We tend to have holidays in North Yorkshire, the Lakes or Scotland, all of which are beautiful but I have a hankering to go back to Devon or Cornwall

One year we'll just bite the bullet and go for it

newgirly

I would go if you can auntiemabel !

Today, I took dh to mr t to get food for our family bqq tomorrow. What a nightmare, he must have put an extra £20 worth of stuff in the trolley. It came to £75 and my budget was £20. I clearly have not budgeted for the kids birthdays properly, the presents etc are fine, its the family stuff that adds up that I've not planned for.

He's not all bad though, as he has stained and oiled all the garden furniture so it looks new again

I'm going to look at how much I have spent in the last month as its way too much, and work out what I'm going to do about it.

newgirly

:mad: I'm really really annoyed.

After hunting for ages outside I have finally found my siamese cat - in a neighbours house.
They already have a cat that belongs to us which started living there when she took a dislike to the dog. I have been round a few times before asking her to stop feeding my cats, to which she said our white siamese looked half starved.:mad: (she is goergeous and exactly the size she should be).

The husband opened the door as I was outside and both my cats shot out of the front door.
I rang the bell and asked why my cat was in his house, and he said it likes playing with my cat, i said actually they are both my cats and are microchipped, i said I don't mind if the older one stays as she has been gone a few years and is happy , but there is no way you are having my other one.

I said the kids are upset and want to know where she keeps going,and i want you to stop feeding her and letting her in the house.He agreed, but so did his wife last time this happened.

I really can't keep her inside all the time as she has always spent her days outside and would go mad indoors, plus with the kids and dog in and out it would be very hard for her to not escape.

Aargh! Sorry everyone, I'm still shaking a bit, she is my baby, why do people think this sort of thing is acceptable, they would'nt dream of keeping someone else's dog, she does not look like a stray, she cost £350 for goodness sake.

Apologies everyone, serious ranting tonight.

Ayeshalush

(((newgirly)))

...and no need to apologise, I would be feeling exactly the same as you.

A
xx

newgirly

Thanks, I am trying to calm down!