Lulabelle's MFW Diary

Muser1

Ha ha. I will give it a go. x

lulabelle1

Had a very busy and spendy week....

Dh's car wen for it's service on Monday, we knew it had some "issues" and were expecting a big bill - it's a VW Touran Diesel and has done 110k miles... anyway, it's still at the garage! Hoping to collect it tomorrow - cost will be approx £,1700!

We had the dilemma about whether it's worth spending that much or putting it towards a new car, but it's been a great car and then things that needed to be repaired are simply because it's done so many miles rather than that it's falling apart. It's the perfect car for hubby so we'd only replace it with a newer version of exactly the same anyway and that would cost a lot more!

I've started Christmas shopping. The money had been saved, but still feels spendy!

Boys bedrooms - had some major changes this week. DH had a lightbulb moment on Saturday as to how we could accommodate family when they come to visit (they all lives miles away).... in the last we've thought about extensions, loft conversions and even moving in order to have a guest bedroom. Anyway, DH's idea was much cheaper - a double bed for DS1 and bunk beds for DS2 - DS1 shares with DS2 when guests come and the guests get DS1's double bed. Needless to say we didn't hang around - new beds are all in situ and our first lot of relatives arrive tomorrow lunch time.

It cost a pretty penny to get the new beds, mattress for the double, bedding etc etc but we were good and bought sensibly rather than going for more expensive stuff.

So much for starting to fill the ISA - I received some bonus in this months pay and obviously it's been spent on the car and bedrooms.

Oh, and we've made a cheeky offer on a property for the B2L too - not expecting it to be accepted but it's a starting point, so we'll see how it works out over the forthcoming days and weeks.

Hope everyone is well, Lula xx

lulabelle1

Cheeky offer was rejected, but next offer has been accepted.... Eeeeks.
Need to get on the case now and appoint solicitors and sort the mortgage...

DH hadn't actually sorted the mortgage, so I need to get on the case on Monday. No easy task as I can only go to certain lenders as I need a contractors mortgage.... Anyway, spent some time this afternoon doing my homework and I have a couple of lenders in mind that should be fine - think I'll try going direct first but will most likely need to go through a contractor mortgage company as they will have inroads straight through to the right team of people. The regular people on the phones just get totally confused when I try to explain my set up......

A little bit nervous but also excited - it seems like the right time to be cracking on with it. Hopefully if all goes to plan we will be in a position to do another one in the next 6-12 months.

Of course, all of our MFW ideas for our present home will be totally out of the window, but that just means I get to hang around in here for a bit (actually a lot) longer, so it's not all bad.

Muser1

Eeek how exiting! Hope the mortgage gets sorted easily for you. x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Lula, that's fab news - good luck with the mortgage discussions

Tilly x

nattypants

I came on to see if you'd purchased a bag lula, or perhaps a purse ..... however I see you have gone one better and purchased an entire house!!

This of course makes me very happy not to be losing you do those darned MOPs so many folk on here insist on doing. Give me the 'Crazy Financial Decisions' board any day ......

nattypants

nattypants wrote: »

This of course makes me very happy not to be losing you do those darned MOPs so many folk on here insist on doing. Give me the 'Crazy Financial Decisions' board any day ......

I just want to affirm that I do not think your BTL is a crazy financial decision Lula - looking back I think it may read that way. I flippantly meant that I make crazy financial decisions (this remark came on the back of me opening my latest credit card statement!!!)

NP:o

abouttimetoo

Hi Lula, woooh, exciting times :j

Congrats on the offer being accepted and good luck sorting the contractor mortgage out, even though I've got a BTL mortgage I'm far from an expert but good to know that there are different sorts to meet the various work scenarios

Regards
ATT

lulabelle1

nattypants wrote: »

I just want to affirm that I do not think your BTL is a crazy financial decision Lula - looking back I think it may read that way. I flippantly meant that I make crazy financial decisions (this remark came on the back of me opening my latest credit card statement!!!)

NP:o

Oh dear, hope the CC statement wasn't too crazy..... My CC is with Nationwide, so I see the balance every time I go on to online banking - no nasty surprises that way!

lulabelle1

abouttimetoo wrote: »

Hi Lula, woooh, exciting times :j

Congrats on the offer being accepted and good luck sorting the contractor mortgage out, even though I've got a BTL mortgage I'm far from an expert but good to know that there are different sorts to meet the various work scenarios

Regards
ATT

Thanks ATT - I've made the call re the mortgage, so just need to go off and get together various bits of information that they need to go and persuade a lender to give me a mortgage now!

PAYE is so much easier!