Updated SOA - advice please!

antonia1

Hiya - congratulations on making the changes, and keep up the good work.

Totally agree about sandwiches for lunch - useless at keeping me full up. I would recommend taking left over dinner from the night before. Try the old style board for more ideas.

Good luck with the cars. Switching to older models when you're used to new ones must be a challenge, but I love my 15 year old fiesta and wouldn't give it up! It also only cost me £650 to insure at the age of 25 with 0 NCB. And it is 1.8l. There is a motoring section on the forum, which may be of some help.

lobsta100

miggy wrote: »

Sunday-girl: I noticed the OP was previously overpaying the mortgage by £150 a month, though how long for, I don't know. Just saying there may be less capital owed than we might expect.

Hi

The mortgage is on Nationwide's SVR which it reverted to after our Fix ended. This is base rate +2% so I cannot imagine for the near future this will change drastically given the economic climate in this country.

I had only been overpaying for around 1 year so the capital o/s is still around £210,000

I totally agree that if, for example, the rate were to increase by a few %, I would at present be in a mess - but for now.....

JulieGeorgiana

lobsta100 wrote: »

So you pay the same as me then.

What do those on meters tend to pay?

I am about to go on a meter (has taken years because of a joint water supply) and they are telling me for a 2 bed maisionette with 4 people it will cost me the same. BUT I wouldn't believe them because when I lived in a 2 bed flat with 3 people I was paying between £18 a month on average, and even got it down further! It's like gas and electric, it depends on how sensible you are, depends on how much you save

JulieGeorgiana

lobsta100 wrote: »

Does this look a good deal? Is it a good car in people's opinions?:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201201439079393/sort/priceasc/usedcars/price-to/4000/price-from/3000/fuel-type/diesel/quantity-of-doors/5/maximum-age/up_to_7_years_old/transmission/automatic/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/body-type/hatchback/radius/1501/page/1/postcode/nw41ls?logcode=p

I don't know much about makes and models. But it's a good price for the age, good mileage. As it's a 1.6 Diesel it'll be economical, maybe a little lacking in power compared to a 2ltr deisel. And it has a full service history.

My Husband drives a citroen which is an 02 plate now... just had it's first major problem... so i like them personally! Also our 2ltr diesel get's great MPG, even compared to my 1ltr petrol.

I forgot... Diesels also normally get 200,000 miles before becomming unreliables (compared to 100,000 in a petrol) or so I am told!

Marco_Panettone

Re: food at work - do you ACTUALLY need to take money with you on a daily basis? I've stopped taking my wallet to work (in the West End) as I physically have no way of buying things just because I'm bored/a bit peckish. Take enough food with you, but no money to snack with. You'll save loads and it'll be better for the waistline too!

JulieGeorgiana

I forgot... if you do get a water meter installed you can revert back within the first year if it doesn't save you money! When you sell your house/flat you new people have no choice but to pay by meter... but then that's not an issue.

Getting the meter fitted just requires some paperwork to be completed and they should do it for free. I know southern water are doing mine for free.

lobsta100

Marco_Panettone wrote: »

Re: food at work - do you ACTUALLY need to take money with you on a daily basis? I've stopped taking my wallet to work (in the West End) as I physically have no way of buying things just because I'm bored/a bit peckish. Take enough food with you, but no money to snack with. You'll save loads and it'll be better for the waistline too!

I like that idea. Maybe on days I dont need petrol or whatever I wont take it in!

lobsta100

JulieGeorgiana wrote: »

I don't know much about makes and models. But it's a good price for the age, good mileage. As it's a 1.6 Diesel it'll be economical, maybe a little lacking in power compared to a 2ltr deisel. And it has a full service history.

My Husband drives a citroen which is an 02 plate now... just had it's first major problem... so i like them personally! Also our 2ltr diesel get's great MPG, even compared to my 1ltr petrol.

I forgot... Diesels also normally get 200,000 miles before becomming unreliables (compared to 100,000 in a petrol) or so I am told!

Thanks thats helpful! Does seem to be a good deal but it is a private and not a trader sale so would need to be more cautious

chunkytfg

Credit-Crunched wrote: »

Personallayh I would not touch a french car with a barge pole!

The hydrauilics in the citroen fail all the time and the parts are through the roof.

Look for Japense or German or some fords mondeo, focus

Agreed I'd avoid french at all costs.

Personally i'd be looking for something like a toyota corrolla, or a VW golf.

JulieGeorgiana

Lobsta I would be cautious, but at the same time private normally are cheaper.

Chunky VW are horrific on the MPG whenever I looked I just couldn't justify buying one. Although they are a very reliable car. However i agree Toyota are very good value for money... which is why i have one