about my 8 millionth thread but things changed again.

Jo_R_2

Re: the house - am guessing you must live in a two-bed and want at least a three-bed yes?

Also your note about the moving and applying for schools got me thinking - on a practical level, not sure how it works where you are but here, applications are accepted up to the start of December preceding the school year in which your LO would start. Eg DD2 is starting reception this September and I had to apply by the start of December based on our address at that time and are informed of the result at the end of March. I know if you move after the closing date, you have to start the process again based on your new address - not strictly financially-related but wondered if this might change anything timewise.

Also you don't mention the cars you own but we've been looking into people carriers recently as we have #4 due in a few months:) We actually have a Vectra estate at the mo which fits two of the Graco seats with backs plus a smaller seat for the youngest (ours are aged 6, 3 and 1.)

Also on the groceries - could be poss to reduce this down further, we spend around £240-£260 per month for five of us, this includes eco nappies, cleaning stuff and packed lunches for OH and DD1 at school.

LilacPixie

We live in a 2 bed flat in a place called monifeith just outside Dundee. Family childcare is in dundee and thats where we hope to move too. I work just outside Errol but OH works in Dundee. Added issue of nerve damage means the flat was mainly put on market because stairs becoming an issue and i ideally need a bungalow, mobility wise i doubt i have 3 years TBH. Scottish system of home reports so its £600 just to put your home on the market (up front) and if you pull it you lose it so to speak. Market is also slow here and i really do not want to pull the sale.

We have a renault and a vauxhall signum. we tried a combo of creatis infant carrier and 2 britax evolvas and all 3 won't fit in either car. we then tried a combo of 2 car seats in rear plus adult and one car seat in front and its a no fit unless you push evolva right over which then causes 'buckle crunching' Think it will need to be a 10 ish year old peope carrier or larger estate car.

mortgage at moment is £417. the £700 thing is based on us moving and increasing mortgage to 75k but keeping the term the same. Halifax calculator suggests £689.

At the moment we have a £700+ surplus that is all going to paying off debt. Next was closer 5k as was OH overdraft.

If I stay on maternity leave after my contractual maternity pay finishes I will lose around £1100 a month income, with current mortgage/commitments that means I will have a shortfall of £206 when on statutory maternity pay. This could be as much as £478 if we have moved but not cleared any debt.

Up here you apply for schools in the december too but if you have an offer accepted on a property they allow you to use that address. Moving from Monifeith to Dundee means changing local authorities which in itself is a nightmare.

Realistically next will be gone, so will cap 1. That is £150 'saving' If we can cut maybe £100 off groceries but if we have moved there is still a shortfall. Either I need to save enough to meet this shortfall for 5 months which could prove difficult aong with clearing debt and saving for another car all be it an ancient one.

I fear I will need to cut short my maternity leave

LilacPixie

I have slept on things. I think moving plus 9 months maternity leave could be possible. If we take mortgage over 20 or 25 years then the monthly payment will be lower, OH can do overtime if it is offered. We could have a few months where we do not save for the emergency fund or put money away for car tax/repairs which wold free up another £90 a month. It is doable but will take commitment and alot of planning.

Triggles

Realistically, a lot of that is going to depend on when/if your house sells and for what. A lot of that information you just posted last would have been helpful to be begin with, as it gives people a clearer view of the situation so they can offer relevant advice.

Couple suggestions then...
- if anyone you know has other carseats that are suitable that might fit better in the car, see if you can borrow them for an hour to see if you can find a combination that will fit in the car. It might be a hassle, but if you have to buy a new carseat for even up to £100 or so, it's still a LOT cheaper than buying a new car! And if your old cars are mechanically sound, this would be the better option. It may stretch it for a few more years before you have to take on the expense of a newer car.

- when you say you are looking at a mortgage and keeping the term the same, do you mean if you have 15 years left on your current mortgage, you'd want to have the next mortgage also be 15 years? So you still pay off the house at the same time? (yup, renter here, so need clarification lol) While it might be nice, is it necessary - can you compromise on that at all?

- during your maternity leave (if you don't move due to house not selling yet), you have a £206 shortfall, unless you cut back £150 per month on groceries, and take into account that while you're on maternity leave, you won't be commuting for your work, which should most likely save you that extra £50 per month. Effectively covering that £200 shortfall.

- if your house sells and you DO move - a lot will depend on what kind of equity you have in your house. Enough that you may make a profit on the sale? If so, enough of a profit to help out with that £450 per month shortage then? (which will still then be just a £250 shortage with less grocery and petrol expenses)If you plan on staying off for a whole year, that will be roughly £3000 you would need saved. Unless, as earlier stated, you used even half of that £768 over the next 6 months to pay off a few of your debts, it would clear a good £180 per month for you to put towards that £250 shortage while on maternity leave.

- you've just mentioned mobility issues - is this something that is going to affect your income or job at some point in the near future? or your ability to drive? that's also something to consider.

I guess it all comes down to what you're willing to compromise on, and how much you're willing to cut back to get there. There will always be "what ifs" and things you feel you can't give up, and that's obviously your choice. But you seem pretty set in what you want and specific things that you don't want to change, (and that's not a dig, just a statement) so it does limit what you can do to cut back. I don't think I can really offer much more in the way of suggestions, maybe someone else can. I will admit it is difficult to offer suggestions when the information is drip-fed though. *sigh*