Build a new life in 3 yrs.

ab_saver

Congratulations- how exciting. Fingers crossed!

beanielou

Positive vibes your way.

SmithfieldPartDeux

Not been on as much. Acupuncture and rattling with drugs for the bells palsy lol. I'm about 80% fixed but nerve pain is grim and tablets leave me a bit groggy, but getting there!

Also mortgage company took the payment for the valuation survey. So I think within the next few weeks I'll know if im getting a mortgage or not. If not its another 18 odd months and all the defaults drop off at least! Fingers crossed.

Plan this month is to get the emergency fund back to 500, as i paid the valuation fee out of it last month.

beanielou

Keep plodding:)

SmithfieldPartDeux

Had to send in more payslips, bank statements and declaration for mortgage.

Terrified that this will all fall apart. Should know in the next week or so, mortgage broker has been great.

ani*fan

Hi there SmithfieldPartDeux :hello:

I just read your diary from beginning to end and thought it would be rude to read and run so I'm ducking in to say hello.

At the start of this diary you were working daily miracles to keep your head above the water, but you did it. SO impressive! Well done!

How hard were all those driving tests?? I've had a few friends in similar positions who then passed first time when they switched to automatic. I think it just suits some people better. I know it was already mentioned but if you're still after a driver's license, go automatic. It will help, I'm sure.

I can't believe how small your debt is given everything you have had to deal with. Really, it's amazing, and now doing your masters too. Keep going, it's all great learning and development.

This new house could be just the break you're needing. I have my fingers crossed for you that your offer is accepted.

I'd suggest you post up a SOA so we can all help you think about where your money goes and how it's spent. You are so close to being debt free it would be a real shame if it increased as a result of your (potential) new house. I wish my debt was so small! :rotfl: Maybe one day.

Best of luck with it all. I've subscribed.

SmithfieldPartDeux

@ani*fan There was no magic to the start of this diary, I was broke and doing everything I could just to survive and try and make things better and not have a relationship fall apart. At least before that I was broke and a Law student, after that I was just broke, signing on. It was bloody hard and looking back I have no idea how I managed and truth be told I think I was quite depressed. The reality is that we all are much stronger than we imagine. I read diaries on here of people going through tough times with kids and a mortgage and surviving on love and fresh air. That compared to me just looking after me....well I have no idea where they find the strength.

So what do I do now for budgeting, I do a written budget online every month online using budgeting software. I break down all the bills coming in, tesco online shop and then set a weekly budget for lunches and general things and then spend cash. At the minute a third of my income probably is saved. I also try to ebay to pay for little things I want. I monitor noddle every month too, to make sure its all correct. I earn approx £1300 after tax, so its not like I'm rich.

I have paid for the valuation survey and have cash put aside for the second valuation survey. The legal fees, stamp duty, application fees and brokers fees go onto the mortgage. That still leaves a mortgage of around £320 a month, its just a little 2 bedroom house, nothing fancy.

As far as upgrades to the house it'll need paint, bathroom re tiled, woodburner, new kitchen worktops etc, but all that can be cash flowed over time, structurally its fine.

I still owe £2300, but for now I am focusing on cashflowing the bits that come up with the house, I'll deal with whats next, next. One thing at a time.

As you probably read I ended up with Bells Palsy this month after a cold, I'm pretty sure it was down to me trying to do far too many things at once and making myself unwell. I was doing a masters, full time job, looking at another house that was a listed georgian building restoration project and was one step away from getting a new job. I think it just hammered me. They told me that the fastest way to get rid of the BP was to cut out stress and rest. So other than buying a house life has been slow. I feel like the BP recovery has somehow changed me, I'm not sure how yet, but I can feel it. I have recovered 90% of face so far and despite nerve pain, I'm getting there. So counting my blessings.

BTW Am I reading correctly you have paid off nearly 10K in debt? If you can do that you can pay off 9k. Just a matter of when, not if

SmithfieldPartDeux

Hi folks, quick update. Mortgage for house has taken a while to sort but got my mortgage offer last week and its now with solicitors for completion date etc. I keep having this nagging thought it will all fall apart for some reason. Mortgage is £300 a month and rates are around £60. (still approx 25% of income).

Debt left is £470 hsbc and £1000 overdraft, so that costs me £23 a month to service. Still no missed payments.

Start masters again in september so plan is to get the kitchen sorted and the exterior of house painted etc before then. Bells palsy is now basically fine, I have some residual stiffness in face but nothing droopy etc, so consider myself very lucky.

I went slack for a few months and it was crazy that suddenly the £300 a month savings, suddenly vanished. I can't tell you how important it is to do a written budget.