Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Cashback tracked quickly for bodyshop purchase so that takes the total for 3 good presents to £16 - I'm pleased with that! :j

No sleep again, pregnancy insomnia is just awful.

Mortgage balance has updated from small OP sent so signature updated. Prompted by gratefulforhelp I had a look at mortgage deals. Our tracker ends in April and I think we will owe around £108,500 giving us a LTV of about 67% but I couldn't get any fixed rate deals with the Halifax???? It's so confusing to know what to do when rates aren't estimated to rise until 2014 anyway.

DH has his interview this morning so fingers crossed we learn the outcome quickly. In his trade they tend to do so.

CathT

DH said interview went okay, we will find out tomorrow or Monday. I'm not a fan of weekends as they get in the way (can you tell we're both shift workers!)

Posted 2 parcels this morning so just waiting for paypal and amazon money to credit.

I have been doing some thinking and we really need to be proactive re: saving for home improvements. I am borderline obsessed with paying everything off the mortgage as our income isn't great but our mortgage is a fair size (to us). I got out the plans we have for the extension and we don't need to utilise all of the space. There is a single storey side extension which makes up large hallway, shower room and utility I am not fussed about which leaves a 2 storey extension on the back. This will give us a large kitchen diner, sun room, extra bedroom and makes existing bedroom bigger and a much bigger bathroom. Savings wise I think we need a 5 year plan, I couldn't cope with the work being done with two very small children and we don't NEED the space before then. I have estimated that we will need around £30k so this is my target for savings. If we change our minds and do smaller scale improvements then it's a bonus.

I think if i mentionned these plans in RL the advice I would get would be "borrow the money on your mortgage, extend the term to keep repayments the same so you can have it done now and benefit for longer". I have to say it's tempting but not at all sensible! I am still going to OP but might set some new goals.

As if trying to be MF isn't a challenge in itself I have set myself another and all of this whilst 7 months pregnant!

sarahevie

I think we are back on the extend rather than move idea, since we cut everything back in the garden our plot really is large (always knew this but you know how trees, hedges, bushes get in the way making it appear smaller.)

I would like another through reception room 24x14ft. Above that a large master suite with en suite bathroom same size.

As we are a semi it makes sense to just stick it on the side.

CathT

We will definitely do it, it just depends when we can raise the funds!

I have just booked a 4D scan for Sunday! Saw a friend's pics of hers and decided I really wanted one. I'm not usually so impulsive. It is expensive - £85 for a 20 minute scan and 4 pictures but we deserve it! DH jokingly said 'won't that add a day onto the mortgage!' :rotfl:
I am so excited about it though! I am 32 weeks on Monday and they like to do them between 26 and 32 weeks so it was now or never! I would rather spend the money and have it than not have it and regret not doing it.

Few surveys done this morning and have a few waiting on Onepoll I can get done now DD is asleep.

I am about to have a big falling out with Royal Mail! Postman didn't bother to knock the door this morning to post a parcel and instead posted through a collection note and then I was reminded through an email that my cashback hasn't tracked for Post Office credit card! I have sent an email to Royal Mail and TCB said my claim will take 2-3 months to go through. :mad: I don't think it's a good idea to annoy a hormonal pregnant woman!

wynnvegas

Hiya Cath,

I've had that before with RM. I caught the postman once at it and damned his eyes considerably. Then phoned to complain and mysteriously haven't seen him since. Our new girl is much better although I'm in present buying overdrive at the moment so we'll test that theory good and proper over the next fortnight.

Glad everything is going well.

Cheers,

Billy

CathT

I was in a foul mood when I wrote the email, I hope it doesn't read too badly!!

Sorted out my tax code today to reflect professional subscriptions so hopefully will have a little extra in my wages each month (and possibly a little back pay).

Prompted by Lois I am going to be more aware of gas and elec usage and try and log into my BG account tomorrow! Not much else happening, looking forward to 4d scan on Sunday. I really think baby is breech (after being head down) as I can feel feet where I shouldn't!!

Have put £8 on the lottery (thunderball). I think this gives me fantastic odds of winning a big prize - wish me luck!!

Lois_E

Ooh - somebody's been helped by something I put in my diary. Thanks for the affirmation, Cath.

ETA Mind you, my own attempts to deal with my leccy usage have had some unintended consequences. I shan't take up space here, though, because I've already written about it in my own diary. Suffice to say I've been literally losing sleep over it. :rotfl:

museumworker

Hope you enjoy the scan, and look forward to hearing your revised savings plan for the fantastic sounding extension! Makes my loft extension seem positively tame in comparison :rotfl:!

CathT

Will take a look Lois.

MW, the plans are amazing, we would have to get the updated as we were given them by the previous owners of this house and we have been here 6.5 years. We don't want to use all of the plan ideas though. It's odd to think I won't be sending as much money to the mortgage but will still OP and save at the same time. Problem is we only have £2300 coming in a month and our basic mortgage is £700. I wish we earned more money!

I am trying to decide if I need a crib or not? Didn't use one for DD as she would only go down asleep and we couldn't manage to do it in the crib. (may I add that she has slept in her own bed for a week now - we have cracked it!!) I don't want to spend money we don't have and be left with more stuff to sell on after we have used it. If we don't get one I know this baby will outgrow his moses basket fairly quickly and I want him in our room for around 6 months as I'll probably be feeding 2 hourly through the night as I did with DD! We do have space in our room for the cot but it will mean him going in the cot at an early age. I guess this will be ok as I expect him to be a decent size (probably the size of a 3 month old at birth :eek:)

Meant to be off to a BBQ later but we have just had a monsoon shower so we will play it by ear. DH is still in work anyway so we can decide when he comes home.

Moneymaking wise have done a few surveys. I should get myself an early morning job since I wake each morning between 2 and 3am and can't get back to sleep!

yukkibear

Hope the rain hold off for you and enjoy the scan tomorrow x