Gien gets it together.

gien

Matt, cars are expensive aren't they, and you can't even import one without paying taxes and duties. that said, I think the public transport is excellent and cheap - there's practically nowhere you can't get to by the post bus! I'm in the city so use the trams and buses a lot - the monthly pass is only 67 CHF for unlimited travel so I think that's a good deal.

We've got a date to sign now - 29th at 11.00. and at that point the purchase becomes legally binding. then I start running around like a headless chicken panicking slightly! this is the 4th house move since 2003 for us so I'm a bit fed up with it all. At least now we should be able to stay put for a while...

gien

Nothing too much has been happening here on the house front. Just waiting on the solicitor.

I've been reading a few of the diaries on these boards and they are very inspiring - how people are so inventive with their food planning and buying and arts and crafts. ANd the amount of stuff people get done - makes me realise that I've become a bit of a slacker really.

mmm, plenty for me to think about.

gien

It's done, we've signed the sale contract and in three weeks time I take the keys to our new house!!
I'm very pleased to have our own place at last after a number of years as tenants - I just want to feel settled and be able to do exactly as I please.
I now have a huge long list of things to do - I haven't really started before now as I don't start stuff before signing on the bottom line. Now it's legally binding I can get on with organising the move, packing, cleaning etc.

The new house will need some work doing to it and we'll be meeting up with the architect soon to plan out what's what, finer details, permissions and most of all costs!

I have no idea what's going on in our bank accounts because we've had money going in and out all over the place, but I haven't been spending a lot of money so we're fine. Must spend some time though just bringing my filing up to date.

Mortgage wise we've gone for a split fixed rate/variable rate set up. You can pay down the variable rate element with no problems. The fixed rate is fixed for however long you want- we've gone for one third fixed for 5 years, one third fixed for 8 years and the rest standard variable.The fixed is at a rate of about 2.8%, variable, 0.86%. We reckon that if we have the chance to pay of more earlier then by then the rates will have risen and the bank will be happy for us to break the deal.

Better go and get on with the day.

gien

Haven't posted for a while, although I have been reading a lot of other people's diaries from the MFW and the DFW. there's so many inspiring stories but I think I will ultimately be a middle of the road MFW - not a real hardcore. This is mainly because here there's a wealth tax on any capital you own, including you savings and the capital in your house! And mortgage interest payments are deducted from tax. I have to get the exact figures for what percentages are payable on what amounts.


I've got three quotes in for moving house - it will be in the region of 3-4k chf, not as bad as I had thought to be honest, but that doesn't include packing the boxes (I had this done last time we moved as it was long distance and we needed the insurance).

With that in mind I have been decluttering like crazy, took a couple of bags of crockery to the local charity shop and some old rubbish to the tip. You have to pay to dump stuff but it's not very much. I will be much more reluctant to acquire stuff knowing that it costs me to get rid of it.
I have a big bag full of 'sell-able' stuff which I will advertise at some point.

otherwise it's just too hot here and we have had to go to the pool a lot just to keep cool - temperatures of 33/34 degrees some days and it just knocks you for 6 when you're not used to it!

Have just given kids and ice lolly (homemade from apple juice) so I may have to join them.

gien

I've decided to drag this old thread back to life again rather than start a new one.

Three years on and we've done a whole lot of renovations so our mortgage is even bigger than before, heaven help us. On the plus side we have paid off some capital and fixed some of the deals for long periods of time for very low interest rates.

Our situation remains much the same, although I know that my DH might like to change jobs at some point in the future so we need to have half an eye on that possibility.

Sometimes I look at the figures and I feel a bit sick. We have a large income but also large expenses, so I must say that we never feel particularly rich. It is possible for us to overpay on our mortgages although I have to find out from our banker exactly how, what account to pay into. I did mention it to him before at one meeting we had, but I'm not sure that it's very usual here so I need to double check. Alternatively I can save in a separate account and then make an annual transfer.

My MFW steps taken today were to go shopping at Al*i (91€ aiming to make it last the week), get a half price present for my niece and claim the VAT back for both, saving about 10€.
I will try and be more disciplined this time as we really have to focus for the next few years to really make some headway.

gien

Not a cheap day today as the family visited the dentist (all private) and had some work done. Will see when the bill comes in how much the damage is.
A few bills came in the post too so that's always a bit of a downer. Worst of all is that I got a letter from the planning department demanding our adjusted plans be submitted - a talk with the architect later and it turns out the he wants to bill us more money for making the adjustment so they agree with the work done (This is usual practise here apparently). I'm cross because I really thought it would have been done and was included in the price. I'm now waiting to see what estimate he comes up with.
Anyway, best to get it done and everything tied up neatly.

gien

Picked up the last bits of food for the weekend today - some reduced stuff too. I also had to get a few bits for the house (lightbulbs etc).

DH did September's books - not so good really, we spent more than the budget but we have at least identified where we are going wrong. I've started a spending diary...

gien

So, a spendy weekend, but probably worth it.
We got clothes for the kids as they have grown so quickly - my middle one's shoes were two sizes too small!!! The eldest has his own clothig budget which is given quarterly.
We also ate out a couple of times and went to a museum (my PIL are here).
Today I'm having an unschdule day at home with sick child so I am detuhhering things for ebay.

gien

Decluttering went well - a bit of stuff for ebay/facebook so I need to list those at some point.
Today I have to do a bit of computer/banking work so I will get together all the details of our 7(!) mortgages and try and see which one is best to start paying towards.