I want my life back

gallygirl

I believe when you take a payment holiday it goes on your credit file so best to check that out 1st before making a decision.

freebyfifty

MsDaisy, I can't offer you any advice because I know nothing about mortgage payment holidays - I'm sorry.

Will it cost to take a holiday? Do they continue to add interest? Do they add the 3 months onto your term?

See??? - I know nothing

I always have and always will make my mortgage (and council tax) my number one priority. It has to be paid before anything else. I could cope with missed payments on my cc's before but was always terrfied of missing my mortgage so. you see, I am not clued up on what a payment holiday involves.

I think there is a mortgage and rent board. You would probably get some great advice if you went on there.

MsDaisy

Thanks Gallygirl, I didn't know about the credit file bit. That puts a different spin on it and makes it a slightly less attractive option.

Freebyfifty, good idea to post on the mortgage board. It would be interesting to hear if others have done this with the same mortgage lender and find out what their experience of it was.

As for spending:

Friday - Christmas lunch with friends - £6.80
Saturday - NSD :j

But, I will have to spend today I must do a food shopping for the two DSs who are due home this week. Otherwise they might just starve :eek: and that would not be good. However, I will shop with my MSE glasses on and will report back.

Going to check my Experian credit report today. I have no idea whether it will be good, bad or indifferent.

As for Christmas, I have all the gifts I'm going to buy so I only need to get some of the food in now. I already have the turkey crown in the freezer and as the boys don't like traditional Christmas pudding/cake I think icecream will suffice (along with their selection box goodies!). I'm going to bake a biscuit Christmas tree using star shaped cutters. I saw a picture in a magazine - it looked great and would do for the centre piece for the table. So that's my job when we break up for Christmas. Just as well I like baking

Enjoy your day x

mummytogirls

Hello Msdaisy, just catching up with your diary. Well done on your LBM and the changes you have made so far.

Re the mortgage payment holiday, we took one in 2007 to pay off the rest of our wedding expenditure. I wasnt aware it went on our credit file either, but never had a problem obtaining credit after this point.
Re the interest you make the interest payment each month but ours was something like £50 a month.

Hope this helps a bit xx

MsDaisy

Thanks mummytogirls. The payment holiday is still being considered! I'm just waiting for all the info about it but it's looking like a good way to go

I've been very, very busy this week. Last week at work, finishing today :jand a new job in the new year :j:j. Slightly more money and travel expenses so that will go towards being DF. On the other hand I'm thinking I'm going to need a second mortgage to feed my two DSs Man, they can eat :eek: I'd forgotten just how many 'snacks' they get through!! I feel like I've been in the supermarket every day this week. I still have to add up my total outgoings although in my defence they need to eat and I have tried to be an MSE shopper

I'm going to do my big Christmas food shop tomorrow as that's the first day of my holidays then I don't intend going near the shops until the middle of next week - bliss

Hope you're enjoying the festive season. Take care x

MsDaisy

Wow, I feel like I've been away for ages! I hope everyone had a good Christmas and wish you all the best for 2012. The festive season was very busy here with lots of visiting and visitors. Food/drink shopping totalled £139.32. Petrol for December came to £50.07.

I've decided to follow Mr Bloater's 2 stone/2 grand challenge (although I see I'm too late to be listed on his sheet). No worries, I'll post my progress in my signature. I'll start tomorrow (2nd January). I'm ready and prepared, I've looked out the exercise 'walker' thing and I've bought some veg/fruit/salad. The food I've bought, along with what is in the freezer, should keep me going for about 3 weeks. The only thing I'll have to buy is milk, bread, yogurts and fresh fruit/veg Oops, that sounds quite a lot! Anyway, I spent £36.29 so I'm going to make it last as long as I can.

I'm not sure how I'll raise £2k but I'm looking at various options eg reclaiming PPI, taking on extra work and selling some unwanted items on ebay. Also, I start a new job in about 6 weeks. I'll get slightly more pay and also have less travelling so I'll save on petrol costs. I'm going to count that towards my £2k.

I'm feeling positive about this year and I'm really looking forward to reducing my debt mountain and getting fitter too.

Until next time, take care x

MsDaisy

Well, the diet started today and I've pretty much stuck to it. I did meet a friend for lunch but I was very good and chose a baked potato with tuna. No latte and no cake Total cost £6.50. It was so good to catch up with her.

I completely over estimated my time on the treadmill. There is no way I could manage a whole hour but I did manage half an hour so I'll do that daily and try to work up to an hour although I think that may be several weeks/months away! Anyway, it all helps.

Moneywise, I'm still pouring over paperwork and trying to identify savings and any thing I might be able to recoup money on. I'm also thinking of doing some tutoring/coaching. I just need to think of ultra low cost ways of getting the word out and having a web presence. This could bring in some much needed cash so I'm going to spend some time on it.

Itsadogslife_2

Hi Daisy,

Good to see you are back in the zone after the Christmas period.

Do you run or walk on your treadmill. I go walking with my dogs every day and look back to the kiddies going back to school so I can get out on my own again. I like the routine of going out for an hour in the afternoon with my pooches and I am definitely missing out on the exercise Fitness is definitely on the list of jobs for this year

MsDaisy

Hi Itsadogslife, a couple of years ago I could run on the treadmill but not now! In fact, yesterday I could only manage half an hour in 5 minute intervals with breaks in between Not good. However today I managed 3 slots of 10 minutes and only got my breath back in between sessions so that was better. I don't really enjoy it but I do need to exercise. I'm hoping my new job will mean a move and then I might be able to walk to work, I'd like that especially the double whammy of fitness and no petrol costs!! Very MSE :j Walking with your dogs sounds like bliss, enjoy

Today I took my mum out for a cup of tea so I spent £3.20. You get a lovely piece of homemade shortbread with each hot drink so we didn't buy a cake/scone. Mum had hot chocolate with marshmallows on the side (along with her shortbread!!). Coz I'm doing the 2 stone diet challenge I didn't have a latte, only a cup of tea (plus the shortbread ).

I also bought a diet magazine for £2.75. Money well spent I think as it's full of recipes and ideas. That should go some way to keeping me motivated.

I got some money for Christmas and wasn't going to count it towards my £2k challenge as my garden fence has blown down and I thought I'd have to get it replaced. I went to speak to my neighbour today and she said the fence is 50/50 responsibility but she wants to put a concrete base in and so she's prepared to pay for it herself! Wow :j She said she'd settle for some of my home baking How lovely is that? She has no idea how tight things are for me so it's not as if she feels sorry for me! What a gem she is :A

Take care x

MsDaisy

Ooh, it's been quite a day! After many weeks I can report the deliberations are finally over :think:. I've taken the plunge and organised a 3 month payment holiday on my mortgage (3 months is the maximum I can take). I know the interest will be added to my mortgage and I know the new repayments when I start again in May. The repayments will be less than I am paying now as my fixed rate finishes in April and the SVR is lower than the fixed rate so I'm pleased about that. I'm going to use the the extra £1001.51 each month to pay off my highest interest cc. I owe £3061 at a massive 30% interest :eek:. I know it's not really ideal to extend my mortgage but I'll be so relieved to be shot of this cc.

Now I've found this site and started to get my finances under control I know I will clear my debts and start to make over payments on the mortgage. That may be a couple of years away yet but I soooo want to do it.

I've also spotted some overpayments on my council tax so I've contacted them today and asked them to sort it out. Hopefully they will refund the money although they may put it towards next years payments. Either way, I don't mind.

I'm pleased with todays efforts at money saving and sorting out my finances. At long last I'm beginning to see a way forward.

:wave: