Hurdler's Race to be Mortgage-Free

Hurdler

OK - I have said this MANY times, but having spent all morning trying to sort out the rental income on the flat for the accountants to do my self-assessment - I really need to kick myself up the behind.

I honestly don't know what is the matter with me - when I worked full time I had SO MUCH discipline when it came to my expenses. Now I work for myself all that has gone out the window... and I am struggling to sort out in my mnd why!

I am now trying to stay on top of everything as it comes in instead of leaving it to my days off (Tues, Sun) where I normaly organise so much else to do, that I can't be bothered to do it then.

This will not do, especially in light of rates potentially going up sooner rather than later, and I suspect that I owe extra for my final year's accounts than was shown at the start of this month (assume the accountants have been doing that since then) so that's less money next month (well only because I want to make a point of ALWAYS having what my current Corp and VAT obligations are put to one side in good time.

I dunno... I know I need to be disciplined... but how to keep it up... sigh!

Hurdler

Another "shelf" sorted... Just tided all the remnants of the company I joined after taking Voluntary redundancy and a load of the IT writing stuff I did.

on the plus side I seem to have an inordinate amount of folders, plastic A4 sleeves, pockets etc.

I could open my own stationery shop!

Hurdler

Well I suppose this is why we have Emergency Funds. My pet plumber advised I talk directly to the boiler manufacturers for service of the constant pressure drop - £315.

Decorators starting after the US Open... at least £1000.

Le sigh!

Hurdler

Oh dear - I got the dates completely wrong... and the decorators started today, so as I shuffled down the stairs at 7:30... I was surprised to see a pot of paint propping open my gate, so I twitched the curtains... and there they were!


The good thing though is that they will be done by next week, and I have my cousin and her new hustband staying for a night (they're flying in especially for my mum's 80th birthday party) so it will look nice and fresh.

Of course the boiler repair guy may have to be encouraged to use the "tradesman's entrance" and have to come through the back gate rather than traipsing through the front room!

Hurdler

End of an era... the buffer I had from the last lucrative bit of IT writing has now dwindled away... not bad though - lasted a good few months so good pay off for all the hassle I had working for that particular site.

The BAD news is that I need to have a lot of repointing done... the guy wanted to do the whole house which would have been a couple of thousand but I might just get the lowest point that tends to soak in the damp first and then save to do the rest of the house later next year when we might have longer spells of better weather.

So if I can take a positive, I reduced my mortgage from £412 to £361 for all that pain and torment!!!

So now my dilemma is... do I just overpay or wait until I have the 3x + interest and bring the amount down. Here's my thinking (but keen to know what folks thing)

With the rates probably going up next year, I think it's better to pay the trigger amount which will lower the monthly payment - psychologically I feel like I am "beating" the system!

My "Old-retired-hack" fund has gained some pennies, but obviously the emergency fund has come down ... and after being lazy over the US Open and reverting to takeaways, not to mention a lot of over-eating for Old Mother Hurdler's 80th birthday party - time to use food I have and eat healthily and NO takeaways unless it's unwinding with a mate who's feeling a little stressed with freelancing. I know how she feels!

Houses



Vernon poor hungry piggy!

Hurdler

Need advice - had a torrid day when the person who took over from the residents association got snippy with my suggesting that instead of constantly asking us stuff (with veiled insults abot how much better her homeland Canada is than Britain) perhaps talk to the fire brigade about an issue we have with gas meters

She now has people emailing me calling me rude, ungrateful and downright ignorant - after I did ALL the work to get us the freehold in the first place with no help from anyone.

She now has someone else messaging me on facebook as well with this vendetta.

I am so upset I have asked the flat managing agents to value the flat and have investigated the break clause to get shot of the flat and evict the tenants.

At its previous value when I first moved to the house it was valued at £280K which would clear the mortgage on the flat and the house. I don't deny it would be good to be mortgage free but part of me feels it's wrong to ditch bricks and mortar. But if there is a vendetta of hate coming at me then I don't see I have a choice.

Hurdler

Corp Tax paid, VAT paid, expenses up to date and dividend paid, personal finances done, diary up to date so I can sort out next month's rota, self-assessment paid for ...

Phew all sorted.

HelenDaveKids

Have you sorted the flat issue?

Hurdler

HelenDaveKids wrote: »

Have you sorted the flat issue?

No although for now the nasty name calling seems to have stopped which is a relief ... It has been a dire week!!! LOTS of Wii boxing tomorrow to start the week and shake off the stress !!!

Hurdler

Hurdler wrote: »

New notifiction from the w00lieheads!

Mortgage: £74,027
New payment will be £361.28 next month so next step is getting that under £360 a month
Monthly interest is under £60 now

September's w00liehead adjustment
Mortgage: £72,223.27
New payment £355.65 So next step - Under £350!
Monthly Interest: £59.39

Next overpayment (if I can't manage it month now that my IT scribbling nestegg has dwindled) £1127

Vernon has a little over £661 now with some musical bank accounting... so maybe I can manage it... one more month, that's my mantra!