Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Yes - I found exactly the same as what MT says. I think a lot comes down to how hardcore you want to be - we were determined throughout to live life as well as getting the mortgage cleared, so being tutted at for daring to spend on something OTHER than mortgage OP's REALLY didn't sit well with me. I've barely been in debt in the traditional DFW sense since I've been here though - and nobody's booted me out yet! :rotfl:

Kerri is spot on about the surveys. The one the mortgage company insist on is often fine for flats within a block, for example, but essentially all they are interested in is that the place is worth the amount the loan is for. For a house though, you do need something a bit more, that will tell you if there are any obvious issues that you need to be aware of.

Thanks EH :A

I totally agree about living life as well as overpaying - there has to be a balance between life today and the life tomorrow that we can hope for but can't control!


Rosa xx

MuffinTops

I'd still be really interested to hear about your new life stage Rosa. You don't need to focus on money when you update, just have us here as support for your journey.

I guess you'll find what works for you and I'm really being selfish as I get excited to read certain diary updates. Looking at my user panel will often feel like walking into a warm and friendly room where people are here to cheer us on. Kind of like the Cheers bar, but where no one knows our name!

MTxx

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt wrote: »

I managed to get a pack of cards free via O2 from WH Smith...for next year as I already had some for this year I'm only feeling a tad smug as most of my cards are written and stamped ready for posting and normally I'm still malingering around the last post days for writing them (start off ok then lost the motivation after the 90 billionth time of writing 'best wishes for XXX year')

We had an independent surveyor do our home buyers survey. Basically (from what I learned) there are 3 levels of survey - the mortgage one - which pretty much just checks the house is actually standing so you can borrow against it, the home buyers - which is more in detail and generally enough unless you're buying a specialist or older property and the full structural which is the greatest detail (and cost).

Now oddly our MB advised us to get an independent surveyor to do our HB survey, not tag it on with the mortgage company one as the surveyor would be working for us then direct, not the mortgage company. Speaking to a few people after the event, they seemed to think this was unusual advise. Overall - since the service from the MB was good (not that I have anything to judge it against in comparison) I am still happy we followed his advise - when you're spending out that much on a house, £150 to be on the safe side isn't something i'm going to lost sleep over.

Perhaps you could be the DF board as 'diary inspiration' for other readers? Don't go anywhere without telling us that's for sure xx

Thanks Kerri

My cards may be bought but aren't going to get written til the middle of the month at this rate!

The national MB I spoke to also advised getting an independent survey, following the basic compulsory one by the mortgage company. They suggested that because the surveyor hired by the mortgage company is bound to report any issues, the mortgage company might refuse to lend on something that I felt was fixable - whereas if I got an independent surveyor they would be answering to me and would not have to disclose their report to the mortgage company. I didn't feel quite comfortable with that, but I am new to this whole thing.

I'm not clear on why this was suggested, because it is cheaper to get the same surveyor to do both and surely hiding any issues from the mortgage company has potential problems in itself. I've also just received the paperwork for the homebuyers report and it states 'we understand you would also like a private homebuyer's report' and that the fee is separate, so they are working for me anyway. It did occur to me that for the brokers, perhaps removing the extra costs from the upfront fees can make their options look different, but we're only talking about £200-odd quid so it wouldn't make or break a decision for me. I actually went for a slightly higher rate with the local broker as I was more confident she was right about me being accepted and also because she was able to tell me that she's found the company are reasonable with people who do run into any problems. I felt I'd like to support that even though obviously I hope not to need it.

Anyhoo I'm not going anywhere soon am I :rotfl:


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

MuffinTops wrote: »

Looking at my user panel will often feel like walking into a warm and friendly room where people are here to cheer us on. Kind of like the Cheers bar, but where no one knows our name!

MTxx

That's so true :T


Rosa xx

RosaBernicia

ZTD wrote: »

They may very well have to change their name to that if they lose their court case - http://news.sky.com/story/iceland-v-iceland-retailer-seeks-thaw-over-name-dispute-10676997

I can't tell the difference between a country and a supermarket - I'm all confused... /sarc

But do you wander if you don't have urgency?

Isn't that just money as well?

I read about the name thing today, it's a bit odd as apparently they got on fine til recently so somebody has perhaps had a tantrum!

The ERE thing is meant to be about lifestyle and reducing the money you need to do what you want. I will eventually get to it...


Rosa xx

Tinkerbelle2000

Hi Rosa. I think it sounds like you have to stay or a lot of us will hunt you down lol. Either that or leave lots of chocolates here and there is an abundance of chocolates always left over after Christmas in our house lol.

I too am starting to think about my future regarding the lifestyle I want and I'm going to start looking at pensions I have too.

Do you have any dates yet that you think you will be moving?

Take care.

Tink xx

doingitanyway

And because I want you to stay too, I won't even eat any of the chocolates ...

Tinkerbelle2000

doingitanyway wrote: »

And because I want you to stay too, I won't even eat any of the chocolates ...

:rotfl::rotfl: I will if they are strawberry creams.

doingitanyway

Tinkerbelle2000 wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl: I will if they are strawberry creams.

Tink, Rosa doesn't eat strawberry creams so I imagine you are welcome to them. The strawberry creams are a trap for you to save the decent chocolate for the decent chocolate eaters

RosaBernicia

:rotfl:I suspect I'm going to be here for a while! And yes Tink please do eat the strawberry creams - and the orange ones - they will only get left til last and if I have a real chocolate craving I will nibble a corner but it generally only makes me decide I want pralines!

No dates yet on the house, survey is booked in soon though.

Just scooting through diaries, will be back with a Sunday shuffle later, though I don't think there's any real news there.


Rosa xx