museumworker's quest to consign mortgage to history!

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Oh man that sounds rough (sends sympathy your way :grinheart). I agree that being a working parent means you sometimes feel you aren't doing either 'job' properly. I'm not a parent but I've heard so many others complain about it.

Take a deep breath, realise that you can't be everywhere at once and that if she was really ill then you would have gone back to get her. You're doing a fantastic job!

museumworker

Thanks for the kind words seriously, much appreciated . DD was in much better form when I got home, so all ok. Had a lovely dinner at friend's house and good old chinwag. Feeling a bit tired today though, and is 14 degrees in the museum store :eek: the coat is not coming off!

Realise I haven't updated on the remortgage situation - after a 1 hour telephone conversation on Sunday, FD have said they would be willing to offer us the remortage :j. However, I am slightly concerned about the valuation, if it goes for less than £300K then we would not get that rate and would start to look like a less attractive proposition. We have to pay the £99 product fee to secure the funds by next Monday, we then have 6 months to draw down on them. Given the news the last few days about rising inflation, I think we will pay the fee, and try to push ahead with the remortgage. The worst that would happen is we would lose the £99. Need to speak to C&G re: exit fee to confirm that, and start getting together paperwork for remortgage. Lord knows where my bank statements are, the house is still in upheaval due to loft!

On a more fun note, does anyone here know how easy or otherwise it is to get tickets for the Green Man Festival?

museumworker

Not sure if you people have seen Martin's news encouraging people to fix their mortgage now. Due to rising inflation many lenders are pulling their deals and putting their rates up.

The bad news is FD have withdrawn the 5 year fixed rate
The good news is that I have that 3.89% rate and funds reserved in my name after the telephone call on Sunday :j! This must have been the last, or last but day they offered this to people so feel very lucky at the minute. Having looked at the best buy tables there is nothing to compare - they start at 4.29%, so wouldn't be worth me paying the get out fee to go for it. I have until tomorrow to pay the £99 fee, and then another week to get all the paperwork back to them to qualify for the free valuation. Wish me luck, I feel like its touch and go whether this will all work out, but want to go for it.

Had a great night out yesterday, Wellcome Collection had a Kuchen and Kaffeine night, with opera, music, goulash, coffee tasting and cake! About 5 of us went, and really enjoyed it - definitely counts as one of my cultural activities for the month! I'd paid for it from pocket money in November, and then bought a glass of wine for myself and friend who is about to have op -£9 spent. Also got 2 free packs of Peyton and Byrne coffee for OH. It did mean I had coffee - and coffee cake - did feel like I might get a headache but luckily nothing happened. Have doctor's appointment this morning, and then work - time to get my skates on!

museumworker

Also, potential change of plan if remortgage happens - I had hoped to pay £19K off the mortgage this year, ready for remortgaging in 2012. However, if we remortgage now the pressure to do this slackens slightly. OH is concerned about the state of our savings (i.e. what savings?), so we would instead pay 50% to savings until get them up to about £6K, and 50% to mortgage. Plus we need to put about £1k of our own money towards a car. New target would then be £12K op, £6K saving, £1k car... sound like a plan?

CathT

I saw the headline but wasn't brave enough to read the article as I am tied into a tracker till April 2012! I am glad you can still get it and am sure you'll find everything you need in time!
You re-evaluated savings plan still sounds good and 12k is an amazing OP.
I noticed one bank were offering to pay 'get out' fees if you went onto another mortgage with them but had to be with them already, grrr. Might still see what they have to offer though as I have a current account with them.
Hope valuation goes well too.

SmlSave

That's great news that you managed to get the mortgage deal just before they changed it phew!

museumworker

Let's not speak too soon - I won't have it until all paperwork seen and crucially the valuation comes back. But at least I am still in with a chance of getting that rate, so thank you for your good wishes . From the sounds of what the lady on the phone was saying, she'd had to tell quite a few people that they couldn't get that rate any more, so I do feel very lucky.

It is FREEZING at the museum store - 15 degrees, and not heating up. As it is below the legal working minimum, and I've been here 4 hours, I'm going to finish up early. Means I can pick DD up from school,so can spend an extra few hours with her this evening , and saving £7.50 on tea time club :money:. Suddenly, I like the cold!

Tonight I plan to do some exercise. DD's eyes were still bad yesterday so didn't want to take her to the pool incase the chlorine aggravated them - end result no swimming for me! I will also call C&G and confirm get out fee from mortgage as at March 1 this year.

museumworker

Well, no formal exercise as such, but did get off bus early and walk 25 mins to DDs school today, and 25 mins yesterday (I NEVER do that!), so will count both walks as one 30 min workout. Both quite brisk walks as was worried about being late :rotfl:. Decided to seize the early finish and take DD and I for haircuts. Hers was last done August, and mine in September . It is half price for kids Mon-Thurs, and went for cheap wet cut, so for both of us including tip was £32. Just got back in, looking tidier but feeling ready for bed!

Also, bought 80s black jumper with black lace and bead see through panels - Jacques Vert. Is a beautiful soft lambswool and very vintage looking - £3. Something like this from Topshop would be about £50 - and not last 30 years, like this one has!

Popped into local boots, got 2 little toiletries sets for teachers end of year presents, and a box of Gu chocs that will form part of friend's birthday present, £4.50 for all 3. Will put them into the gifts box. Tried shopping online yesterday but site kept crashing so gave up - had a look now and everything gone. TBH it was so stressful I don't think whatever I bought would have been worth the effort!

FD documentation here :j - just need OH to look at it and then will pay £99 fee.

rlc22

museumworker wrote: »

FD documentation here :j - just need OH to look at it and then will pay £99 fee.

Good luck with the valuation.

We've got our FD valuation tomorrow and I've got my fingers firmly crossed that it comes in ok. I've even printed off details from a house the same as ours that sold in the summer and made notes on it about what ours has that the other one doesn't.

museumworker

Good luck for yours too . Are you having the free standard valuation? I was told that was a kerbside valuation only. Part of the problem is that we will have broken the ceiling price for houses on the street. Ours is now the only 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom place here. Last sale a few doors down was for £280k in November, 3 bedrooms. I need to get a valuation of £300K to make this happen. Let me know if it goes ok!