Macgirl's "I Can Do Anything....If I Put My Mind to it" Diary

macgirl

DH made dinner for us and their little friend from next door, while I had a bath with some Jo Malone birthday bath oil - yum. I got the old parmesan grater on my feet and slapped on some foot cream as Spring is just around the corner

Anyway, in money news. This morning we were talking family finances and next month DH will have paid off his (secondhand) car, so said he will divert £150 to overpay on the mortgage. I'm happy to do this, as he had to move out of the family home when his Dad's business failed, so is all too aware of how easy it is to lose a house....

That being said, while I *do* want to overpay, I'm mindful that his car will need replacing and once it's overpaid - there's no getting it back.
So when the kids are in bed and the ironing is done, I'm going to do another spreadsheet. I've pledged on the MFiT thread to reduce our current mortgage by £50k by the end of the challenge and would like to think we could exceed that. Our current deal is a 5 year one and is not cheap, therefore the target is to be in a better LTV place within 4.5 years.

We do need to update the bathroom and living room. The kitchen is modern and fine, but the space hasn't been utilised properly, but that can wait a few years. So today I managed to drag DH out for half an hour to look at showers and sofas while the January sales are still on. I have been price matching on the internet and have made a proper budget (get me!) but still want to sleep on it some more.

Right, bathtime beckons, then homework. I MUST try and get them into the habit of doing it on a Friday, will put that on my To Do list :cool:

Karmacat

Macgirl, this sounds an absolutely wonderful weekend! I'm just sorry I wasn't around to read each post as you wrote it, in a way, but there again reading it all now, its kind of cumulative - I'm really, really pleased for you, that things are the way they are.

As to the money note, maybe after a while it can be two thirds to the overpayment, one third to the updating fund? Having lived in this house for a while now, I'm really shocked at what a house is like to live in, rather than visit, when the facilities are more or less completely up to date (apart from the double glazing, that is, it blows a gale in the hallway. I can live with that for now )

taxi73

I agree with kc..sounds like a wonderful weekend and it's obvious how much you and dh love each other.

hypno06

Well done on the run and hurrah for a running partner too! will make it so much easier for you to get out there!

The overpayment sounds good to me too - if it helps OH feel secure in some way, that is priceless, IMHO....and it will all help towards getting that better rate when your fixed comes to an end.

I am very mindful that my fix is now down to its last 2.5 years (having been a 10 year rate when we took it out, which was actually at a very attractive fix when compared to the current ones). 10 years seemed to be forever at the time, but now I really need to start considering how much equity I can get in the next couple of years to give me the best options when it runs out!

Have a good week x

gilligansyle

Sounds like you've had a wonderful weekend, just shows you don't need to do big expensive stuff and make huge extravagant gestures. Your DH sounds wonderful, and you are all so happy.

macgirl

Hello everyone and thanks for the kind words

I've been on the mortgage calculator today, psyching myself up for this next challenge. If we can meet the MFiT target, we'll be doing well. Of course, we don't know what is going to happen to interest rates during the next 4 years, but basing it on today's rates, we could defo be mortgage free in 15 years :eek: But that's not too bad as we're on 25 at the moment

Before then however, we need to update the bathroom and make the living room more "us". So I've been comparing prices and making budgets for all the jobs we need to do. We'd like to get some plantation shutters - which look fab but are expensive. Last night I found a website where they supply shutters to fit yourself and DH is quite handy so reckons he could do it - result, as they are about half the price!!! :money:

Just watched One Born Every Minute, which always reduces me to tears - wincing at the memory of giving birth

Hope everyone reading has had a good Monday - considering it's was meant to be the most depressing day of the year (I'm sure they've said that every week this year :cool:) x

hypno06

Well, my Monday certainly wasn't the most depressing.....so hurrah for that :j

I am planning a run this evening after work - will report in when I have actually done it!

Have a good day x

Karmacat

Morning macgirl! I'd like to ask something about the plantation shutters - I was wondering, there's the upgrade you want to do to the bathroom, just as a for instance - but it sounds like you want to go for the shutters first. Why is that? What do they add to your life? I'm just figuring out/thinking about the difference that *appearance* makes to my life, and you really sound like you know what you want, and you'd maybe rather have the shutters than a bathroom that functions better for you.

Sorry if it doesnt feel appropriate ... its an issue I'm thinking about myself. Hope your day is going wel, at any rate.

macgirl

Thanks KC. Therein lies my debt problems! (and perhaps many more people besides me).

Well of course you are right. I do want my home to look a certain way, but that's not because I'm out to impress, more that I'm creative by nature and appreciate aesthetics. I realise that makes me sound shallow but I'm just being honest.

Anyway, I do like to daydream, but these days I do come to my senses once I have to part with the cash. I often shop online, putting things in my "basket" then shut down the browser, so I'm pretending to buy - then don't. I know that sounds totally weird , but I am a bit of a magpie and perhaps I just like to "consume" (best stop before this turns into a therapy session!)

So the shutters *will* wait - they're a want not a need, the living room is to be done first and perhaps the shower. We have savings put aside for these - the rest can wait.

Thanks again :A

Hope you enjoyed your run Hypno! No running for me sadly. I'm going to Berlin tomorrow for 2 days so I didn't want to leave the girls tonight when I won't see them until Friday
I did plan to do Pilates, but I've only just sat down after packing my bag and laying out uniforms, recorder, PE kits etc for the next couple of days, so it will have to wait.

Off to watch Big Fat Gypsy Weddings

hypno06

I did enjoy my run - we did intervals.....it was tough!!!

I want to watch big fat gypsy weddings, but am watching the programme on the banks,.....because I know that it will be talked about at work tomorrow......*sigh*

Have a good trip to Berlin!