misscousinitt's MF Diary

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Hi MCI,

Just finished a 10 day meal plan with MrMRN... was a steep learning curve for him but I'm glad he's getting involved with it and other aspects of MSE/MFWness. Anyway, for the first time ever I'm not leaving him HM frozen ready meals when I'm away for the weekend and in another astonishing first he's offered to batch cook spag bol and even turn half into a lasagne (me think's this might be a New Year's Resolution of his!).

Hope you are well and never, ever admit that savings are retirement funds (even if that's what they might become!).

MRN xxx

misscousinitt

Lois_E wrote: »

Hugs for the sad circumstances. Hope you are doing OK and have RL people who can be there for you.

What do you have in mind for the next place? Bigger? Nicer area? Both? How much extra do you think you'll need to borrow? And what sort of timescale are you thinking of?

Hey Lois

Thanks for the hugs. 2012 was a difficult year and I was really thankful for my DH during this time - he's my rock (even though he needs taking care of from time to time too - we support one another).

We are thinking of going for a bigger house in a nicer area, but not too far away from where we are now...however, we are in no rush - we want the right one to come along before making the commitment.

We are going to rent the house we are in out to help contribute towards the mortgage (its a prime rental being a two bed terrace) and so we are saving what we need to get a mortgage - we need 15% of the purchase price.

We are both putting some of our own savings in the pot and the £15k on my signature is for the rest of the minimum deposit needed for the sort of price we are looking for, plus some money to start doing it up. (£26k in all - but a min of £21k for the deposit).

As I say, we arn't in a rush, but we will just have to see what happens - I would say it will be within the next two years.

Now most for the dust has settled - its great to have something to focus on - exciting times...

MCI
xxx

misscousinitt

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice wrote: »

Hi MCI,

Just finished a 10 day meal plan with MrMRN... was a steep learning curve for him but I'm glad he's getting involved with it and other aspects of MSE/MFWness. Anyway, for the first time ever I'm not leaving him HM frozen ready meals when I'm away for the weekend and in another astonishing first he's offered to batch cook spag bol and even turn half into a lasagne (me think's this might be a New Year's Resolution of his!).

Hope you are well and never, ever admit that savings are retirement funds (even if that's what they might become!).

MRN xxx

Good going with the meal plan - I just do one and then occassionally ask DH what he wants and he'll say, "what choices do we have?" and I'll rattle a couple of things off and he chooses - makes him feel involved...

Be great if DH would batch cook for me, its not that he can't, its just I have to leave a step by step instructions, which by the time I've written them down I might have well done the prep myself! To be fair, he does cook sometimes (or pay for meals out!:T)

I'm doing ok thanks - I will take your advice that the money in the fixed rate isa is a super emergency fund - no mention of retirement here :rotfl:- Hope you are ok too.

MCI
xxx

Lois_E

misscousinitt wrote: »

Hey Lois

Thanks for the hugs. 2012 was a difficult year and I was really thankful for my DH during this time - he's my rock (even though he needs taking care of from time to time too - we support one another).

We are thinking of going for a bigger house in a nicer area, but not too far away from where we are now...however, we are in no rush - we want the right one to come along before making the commitment.

We are going to rent the house we are in out to help contribute towards the mortgage (its a prime rental being a two bed terrace) and so we are saving what we need to get a mortgage - we need 15% of the purchase price.

We are both putting some of our own savings in the pot and the £15k on my signature is for the rest of the minimum deposit needed for the sort of price we are looking for, plus some money to start doing it up. (£26k in all - but a min of £21k for the deposit).

As I say, we arn't in a rush, but we will just have to see what happens - I would say it will be within the next two years.

Now most for the dust has settled - its great to have something to focus on - exciting times...

MCI
xxx

Sounds like a great marriage and a sensible plan.

Have you got rightmove addiction yet, or are you holding off on that?

misscousinitt

Lois_E wrote: »

Sounds like a great marriage and a sensible plan.

Have you got rightmove addiction yet, or are you holding off on that?

Thank you.

Have looked a few times. But haven't looked since end of Nov. Lets see if I can at least hold off till spring :rotfl:.

MCI

misscousinitt

Updated signature as I didn't transfer enough money when I got paid before Christmas - I'd missed the £50 from spending less on groceries during December!

Need to review our entire budget now we are MF and see if there is anything else that can be trimmed (without scrimping too much of course).

£15 at Herr A last night and only a few things from Mr T tonight.

Really looking forward to our meal tonight - booked for 8.30pm and we are getting a taxi too!!!!!

5 day week next week! Boo! - But at least its the start of the weekend this evening.

Hope everyone has a great one.

MCI
xxx

misscousinitt

Yikes...DH saw a house on the internet yesterday - I think we might go to see it. Only 10% of our target achived and he's looking already! I have a contingency plan if we do look to move quicker...but we shall see.

Found the forms for the reward saver when I was tidying up on Saturday - need to get DH to sign those and then we can lock the money up that we have got together already.

Went out for our meal on Friday, it was delish and worth every saved penny.

Worked out what we had spent on Christmas and I really need to get DH to stop spending this year (especially as we are saving for the house).

After having over 2 weeks off from Charity Stuff, it all starts again today! Annual Return filed on the Companies house web-site (10 minute job) is the first thing to get ticked off the list. Going to try and do just one thing at a time so I don't get bogged down again - 3 more things to do this week:

- Minutes from our last meeting before Christmas and an agenda ready for next weeks meeting.
- Society Lottery Return for our Christmas Raffle proceeds.
- Tweak a bid and print out ready for next weeks' meeting.

All of them fairly quick things to do, so allocating lunch times to do them this week.

DH wants to go to the sales tonight - I know that most stuff will be gone by now, but he still wants to go. I have some money put by for treating myself out of my bonus received before Christmas - so might have a spend - but have got certain things in mind that I want - lets hope I can stick to it.

Other things on the hitlist this week are: TV shopping and Mattress shopping.

Have persuaded DH that we should eat when we get back from shopping tonight (instead of eating out) - so got HM Spag Bol out of the freezer - so quick and easy for us to sort after shopping.

Hope everyone well for a Monday.

MCI

Lois_E

Ooh MCI. What's the house like? Is it a realistic possibility? And do tell us more about your contingency plan? (Or not if you'd rather not on a public forum, natch.)

misscousinitt

Lois_E wrote: »

Ooh MCI. What's the house like? Is it a realistic possibility? And do tell us more about your contingency plan? (Or not if you'd rather not on a public forum, natch.)

The house is a 3 bed semi - not too far from where we live now, but in a nicer area. Needs totally updating.

The plus points are:

1. Its below our initial budget and could possibly get for cheaper.
2. Has the potential to completely put our stamp on it.
3. Off road parking! (have to park in the street at the mo)
4. Quiet side road.
5. Out building for DH's tools, bicycle (which lives in the dining room at the mo) etc...

Minus points:

1. Alot of the rooms don't seem very wide? But are long (eg 17ft kitchen (x 6' 3" min out to 7'ft 9" in the extension part). Longe is 21ft long but only 11ft wide.

mmmm....thats not many minus points.

Main thing is that we would have to dig deep into our savings to get the minimum deposit together and then have enough to do some work to it - I really don't want to be left with no money and no means to build it back up again as our outgoings would be going up.

Thats's the contingency plan: digging deep into our savings - I still have some inheritance left and we both have other savings we could use - but it would leave me with less of a safety net than I would feel comfortable with. But, I suppose if we fall in love with it I can do the sums properly before worrying myself stupid about it!

We have also, got to assume that we would not rent our current house out for 6 months while we do some work on the other one and organise tennants - so in effect will be running two houses for a while.

We haven't really spoken about it since we looked on Sunday, but tomorrow is our night in together, so I'm sure it will come up in conversation then.

It is exciting, but I thnk I am comfortable where I am and a change this quick would worry me.

MCI

misscousinitt

Went shopping last night and although I felt like a small child being dragged round the shops (I didn't really want to go, but DH wanted to and I didn't want to stay at home alone) - I picked up a couple of tops in GAP and some brown suede boots that I have been after for ages - all in the sales and all WELL within budget.

Tonight we are going to look at TVs - boo! Really just want to go home and curl up in bed as don't feel very well today - but the sooner we go, the sooner it will be sorted and I did promise DH we could have a new TV (ours is out of the ark!).

We might even kill two birds with one stone as IKEA is round the corner from the TV shop and we could go and order our new mattress too (this is long overdue too).

We have a suspicion that DH may have developed and intolerance to cheese as he isn't very well everytime he has some - which is not good news for him as he is a complete MOUSE! I think we are going to take cheese out of his diet for a month and then introduce it back in and see what happens.

Charity Minutes are done and e-mailed round - another task off that list.

Tonights tea will be fish with creme fraiche, cherry toms and pesto. Got some savoy cabbage to use up too, so that will go with it.

Hope everyone is surviving the week so far.

MCI
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