Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Have been browsing mortgage rates the last couple of evenings and I'm looking forward to being able to secure a new, more competitive rate. We are coming to the end of a 5 year fix at 2.99% (one year to go). I did use the 'ditch the fix' tool on here but we are better off letting it run its course. It's frustrating me that we are not making big overpayments at the moment but we are also trying to live a little and make memories with the children. No point being mortgage free early 40's and having missed out on so much with them. Spreadsheet currently shows that main mortgage will be repaid just after my 47th birthday.

So with that in mind the small but consistent efforts are continuing. 50p tilly tidy and 50 points on y0ugov today. No food spends today and we should survive tomorrow without any spends too. I have eaten cheaply today and had porridge for dinner as didn't really fancy much at all and everyone else had eaten.

Gas and electric spends are back down to about £3 a day and I am ignoring the latest weather warning! The blinds have been fitted in ds's bedroom and they look great. He has moved back into his bedroom tonight and loves it. We have spent quite a lot of money on the house lately with re-decoration but it has definitely been worth it. Items we want at ike@ are still out of stock so getting a bit impatient to have those to finish the house (if houses can ever be finished, I already want the lounge and our bedroom decorated!)

shangaijimmy

I am the same as you, we have 1 year left on our current fix (a very good rate of 1.64%) and i'm scanning rates!! Hoping the Brexit doesn't cause a surge in interest rates before we can secure a rate. frustrating thing is we have to wait till December. At the minute i'm hoping a 5yr fix (if we can get about 1.99%) will finish us off... 46 for me and 43 for Mrs SJ!

CathT

That is a brilliant target, we!!!8217;d have at least another 3 year fix I think if we fix for 5 years again this time. We are with fd and I am sure you can fix 6 months in advance. Rates are only going to go one way so I will be on the ball in September to get our fixed deal sorted out.

We had a bit more snow this morning but thankfully gone now. Fingers crossed that is the last and we will have a lovely Spring to look forward to.

Dh has come home with an early Mothers Day present for me. A second hand Fitbit (my favourite way of acquiring presents) which was only £20. What a bargain. Mine is falling apart so it is very much needed.

Going to watch bake off with the children now as we have an acitivity free evening.
Energy use will be reasonable today as I accidentally switched the smart meter off this morning!!

michelle09

That's a good rate, how easy are FD for switching to? Do they allow OPs easily enough?

That is a good fitbit price! I got a new one for free by going back to fitbit. If it's less than two years old they will replace it although you need to push a bit.

shangaijimmy

FD are great from my experience. I can't see us moving away from them to be honest.

CathT

FD are brilliant. Cannot fault their customer service and they always seem to come out on top for that. I imagine we will stay with too Jimmy. We cannot view mortgage balance online but can on the app. I think that was the only negative before but that is resolved. They make switches effortless and often have deals for current account switches too.

21p Tilly tidy this morning and after checking current account we have more money than last time I checked?? Credit card has taken a battering lately though so that needs to be prioritised. Dh has a 5 week pay month so that will help.

Units back in stock at Ike@ so dh has gone to go and get them. As long as he is back for the 12:30 match he will be happy.

I want something from denenh@ms which I have a voucher for so may wander into town later for that. It is to help me be organised at work so getting it before Monday would be beneficial.

No other major plans so I imagine we will be assembling furniture at some point today.

CathT

Fairly productive day but I really do need to schedule a nap into my Saturday. By the evening I am shattered! Dh managed to get the 3 units we needed (£105 spent) and has already assembled two. He will do the last one after his overtime shift tomorrow. Item not available in debs so I have ordered online for click and collect, it is a £2 charge but I went through tcb for 54p cash back.

Also used £6 t3sco vouchers to buy dd another school skirt as she has lost one somehow.

Quiet day planned tomorrow, dd has a football match and a friend is kindly helping out as ds is not well. Had a cough which seemed to improve but now back (gp had said chest was clear). His temp went up to 39.1 this afternoon and he has slept today too so definitely not right. Will keep a close eye on him.

Early night for me, can hardly keep my eyes open.

shangaijimmy

Talking about naps, one of my New Years resolutions (in fact me only one) was to snooze more. I'm currently failing in this regard as at best i think i've had one snooze in 2018.

CathT

They definitely need to be prioritised Jimmy.

Few spends today including £28 food shop and £30 fuel. Have also spent £15 on a ticket for dh to attend a local event next month. We all went last time but I think he will enjoy it more with a friend so he gets more time there and can relax and enjoy it. It's our anniversary this week so I will pop the ticket in his card as a surprise.

50 points on y0ugov so could do with a steady stream of invitations to hit payout. Last cashed out last June and would prefer that it didn't take a year to earn each £50!

Considering it's mother's day I haven't stopped! DH worked this morning and the children didn't seem to give me the morning off. I've done a bit of tidying as new units are assembled and they look great now that they are accessorised. Changed two beds with the intention of line drying the bedding but the weather wasn't playing ball. Am really hoping that Spring actually arrives soon. Gave my mum her present which she loved and said was the best mother's day present she has ever had. It will take some beating next year! Popped into town to pick up debs order and have organised some work stuff. AM hoping it makes my working day a little easier so worth spending a little time on it today.

All in all it's been a productive weekend which hasn't flown by too quickly. That said I am on countdown to easter holidays in two weeks!

michelle09

Thanks. Might be something to consider - they were £4k short of the amount we needed when we first took out a mortgage but we might qualify on our next remortgage. Not that HSBC have been a problem, but FD are a bit cheaper.

Naps are highly underrated.

Is DS feeling better today?