Hurdler's Race to be Mortgage-Free

Hurdler

Imelda wrote: »

Hurdler, I am interested about what you say about your IFA. Do you mind if I ask how you found him?

I think we could do with speaking to someone outside of just DH and myself for ideas- especially once our mortgage has gone and we have "spare" cash. I also have a pension situation that may need unravelling :eek:

My DH is an accountant, we really should be more organised!

I think I used https://www.unbiased.co.uk to look for one in the local area ...

Hurdler

Monday was a NSD for once.
I had to go into Watford to meet one of the developers who has flown in from India for 3 weeks, and then left at lunchtime to get back to Richmond, and had leftovers that my mum sent me home with.
I used to take the train and then have to get a cab home at night after journo school, but really struck lucky when last week in class, the tutors said that if we let them know in advance, they will put the barrier up in the staff car park and we can park there on a Monday night - so I didn't even have to pay £1 for parking on a side street!

However - in the city today so have already had a coffee from the Costa concession in the client offices.
And I NEED to do some shorthand, but I think I am going to have to escape the office and go to Pret for an hour to be able to get some peace and be away from the desk for a good solid hour.

I worked really hard over the last couple of weekend getting all caught up with both work and school notes so now I really have to be strict and keep on top of things.

Whilst I had a fab time at my mum's and it was great to chill out and watch the tennis, not getting back until late has thrown all my chores into a tailspin... so tonight I have to really whirr about the house with a sense of purpose!

Hurdler

I suppose things happen for a reason... I wandered up to the canteen about 11:45 to see what they had on offer - and they had Tomato and Basil soup but their wrap and baguette section was also boasting Fish Finger baguettes.

So I came to get my money and scampered back up there - for a fish finger baguette. The guy in front of me got the last of them and they were saying it would be a 5-10 minute wait... and I have shorthand to do... so I had to make do with soup (which is probably healthier!)... but still - I kinda had my heart set on a fish finger sarnie!

gallygirl

Hurdler wrote: »

I kinda had my heart set on a fish finger sarnie!

Things do happen for a reason hurdler - fish fingers should be in a white bread sandwich with tomato sauce, not a poncy baguette

dark^knight

gallygirl wrote: »

Things do happen for a reason hurdler - fish fingers should be in a white bread sandwich with tomato sauce, not a poncy baguette

lol :rotfl:

Hurdler

gallygirl wrote: »

Things do happen for a reason hurdler - fish fingers should be in a white bread sandwich with tomato sauce, not a poncy baguette

Oh I agree - If it helps I was going to have it in a white baguette and it was going to be with tartar sauce and no salad or any other spare vegetation.

And I totally agree (I even checked my freezer for Friday's treat of a proper fish finger sarnie).

But then again it is a mahusive insurance company in the midst of the city so for them, that probably is their version of food to appeal to the fish finger connoisseur.... :D:D

Hurdler

I haven't done my piggy-bank-shifting to related savings accounts for a while - so this evening's finances took a while.

I am going to wait to see if the disaster-zone that is Woolwich Mortgages have ACTUALLY sorted out the adjusted figure ... but for now - this is where Vernon is sitting based on the savings sweep yesterday:



As it stands I should be able to put 2 additional months on top of the monthly repayment, which SHOULD trigger another lowering of the amount...

Will check around the middle of the month to see what they take out and then will overpay and update my money-house...

Good session with the IFA - finally restarting a more updated external pension pot.

In the mean time, I need to find a decent, instant access savings account NOT in my main bank where I can start liquidating shares.

Off to the MSE Savings section!

Hurdler

With the exception of just ONE gift that I have to order from play.com - I think I have done all my shopping in 4 hours (including an hour an a half of breakfast and mooching until the shops started to open)...
From an MSE pov - everything was paid for on the MBNA Play.com Visa card which means points towards a play.com voucher!

My rule of Xmas shopping is:
For every round you do in the shops, you have to get yourself something, otherwise the whole thing becomes an almighty FAFF!

Round 1: Maccy D Breakfast and a Starbucks Gingerbread latte while waiting for everything to open.
I treated myself to the Bodyshop offer of Candied Ginger Body Butter for 79p after buying gift tokens
I bought myself Wii Active 2 and Zumba - both reduced as they are probably quite a bit older products these days.

Round 2: Jurassic Park Trilogy on BluRay

Round 3: Gap jumper that seemed to be reduced when I went to pay.

Became SUPER-Aware of the crowds in the main shopping centre as I was leaving but got away cleanly with paintwork and nerves intact!

Now need a good snooze!

Hurdler

So - today I finally start the long and slightly sad task of gradually liquidating all my shares from public issues.
Some of my portfolio is mine, but I would say 2/3rds is from my late father.

When I was chatting with the IFA - and give how incredibly risk averse I am - he was astounded I'd held onto them for so long.

I chatted to mum to ask if she was ok with my liquidating them and maybe really reducing the mortgage right down, and initially she was fine, as it was mine anyway. And we both agreed that if dad was alive and I was asking his advice, it is extremely unlikely that he'd advise against paying off the mortgage asap.
Then she thought about it and was a little reticent - saying it had been their hard earned money, but ultimately it was my decision.

I have watched shares that I had (and inherited additional ones) in companies like BP and BSkyB plummet this year reducing the overall value by almost £20K - so I can totally see the IFA's point of view.

SO with a bit of a heavy heart, I am liquidating the first set, which should be able to cover the cost of the replacement double glazing and the extra is going to top up my Cash Allowance savings - I almost have 1 complete year of £70-per-week stashed away.
With that and my emergency fund - I could probably cover myself for maybe a good year of not working, if I had to.

I need to go into a bank and get some naffy-faffy Securities Medallion stamp to be able to change my name on my previous job's share scheme to match my bank account, and then get ANOTHER stamp (so that's £150 in costs) to be able to sell all those and will throw all that at the mortgage - as that I paid into that fund with MY hard-earned...!

IFA and I decided that bit by bit I would sell off the shares as and when the companies send out their regular comms, I use the pre-paid envelopes to send the certificates back and sell them off then rather than dumping everything on the market in one go.

The plan is to put these funds in a savings account for the time being while I am still trying to secure an internship in journalism/keep it as a fund to help tide me over those early years.

Still makes me feel a little sad though... I guess I really have to hold on to the fact that I cannot possibly believe that he wouldn't have supported this move. He did, after all, invest in a PEP in my name when I was at Uni (remember those/showing my age* -delete as applicable), and when I came to buy my flat - he basically revealed that it had been his plan all along to use that as a means to help get me a deposit.

Anyway - that turned into a bit more of a ramble than I thought.

Another set of expenses in (Almost £100) and £271 pending so that should cover the play.com Visa for most of the Xmas purchases, and I have savings to cover my netbook purchase... so hopefully will still be on track to make 2 month's additional payments in January...

Hurdler

New windows are in and the front of the house looks lovely ... and new front door too!

Hopefully (once the house has warmed up a bit after gaping holes in the cold cold wind!) I should notice a real difference in the need to crank the heating up!

I managed to get the tree up but foolishly opted to watch another one of my Harry Potter Blurays.. however -this meant my butt was then sealed to the sofa ... and eyes glued to the screen instead of pretty Xmas tree lights... so cards and pressies will have to wait until next week!!!

Journo school tomorrow and then boozyness all day Sunday.