Tales from the city

ani*fan · 4 April 2017 at 5:49PM

...still waiting...

hiddenshadow · 4 April 2017 at 8:50PM

Fingers crossed! Flat sounds interesting and moderately MSE to boot. :cool:

ani*fan · 5 April 2017 at 6:27AM

If we get it for our first offer price then it will be extremely mse, but we hope they might meet us half way. Still mse for this area. :money:

I've discovered a thread on here called 'is this quote fair?' that I intend to make full use of when we start getting work done. How great is this site, for every stage of your life?

ani*fan · 5 April 2017 at 7:52AM

Minimum payments have gone through on the cards and the total debt now stands at £8,540

:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j:j

Looking better all the time.

I've decided to take my totals out of my signature, mostly because I'm going to need a whole new strategy for managing the finances if we buy this flat. Overpaying the debt massively won't be the main priority, saving every single penny everywhere we can will, but I want it recorded in a motivating way. That signature wasn't motivating me any more.

I need to have a think. Happy debt busting everyone.

kittykatneedscash · 6 April 2017 at 10:15AM

Hi Ani I've been reading your diary and wow you are doing great!! Everything is happening for you wedding, offer on the flat exciting times. I bought my first house nearly 4 years ago, it was my nana's and I bought it when she died. I didn't have anything saved so my parents lent me the money interest free and I haven't looked back. I wanted my nana's house to stay in the family but it needed a lot of work she'd lived in it for 65 years so needed a full renovation, electrics, central heating back to brick in every room. I'm still on with it years later but it's a labour of love and loads of period features with fireplaces in all the bedrooms, high celling's, celling roses etc I didn't bother getting a survey but I knew the house and was going to buy it what ever.
I do hope you get the offer accepted I feel so settled knowing it's mine and I'm not wasting money on rent and having to move every couple of years. I've found your diary really helpful and motivating and I'll be subscribing and keeping my fingers crossed for you:)

ani*fan · 8 April 2017 at 4:29AM

Thanks kittycatneedscash. I've replied on your diary which looks very interesting so I've subscribed. I'd love to hear more about the renovation of your nana's place. A labour of love makes all the difference eh?

Our offer was rejected (thought it was a bit cheeky) so we offered the full fixed price and that was accepted. So we appear to almost have a flat! We applied for the mortgage and are now just waiting to hear about that before organising moving dates and things. The mortgage was the one with the big arrangement fee, it was the second best deal overall with £250 cashback. We took life insurance and declined critical illness. £150 per month?? Seriously?? We're going to put that amount away every month and build an emergency fund so if we don't use it, it's still ours. Every penny is accounted for including our deposit return from the current flat.

There is so much needs sorting in terms of the cash flow and the budget. We now have actual figures for the mortgage and the life insurance so that's good. Both added together are the same as the rent on the flat we're in now so overall cost is similar. I've been busy constructing the new monthly spends. Instead of saving all our extra cash up for a new flat, we will put it towards an emergency fund and repairs.

The htb isa will need to be closed by our conveyancor so one less account to check (bonus!). The conveyancor and all other legal fees need to be paid still. The survey is happening at the start of next week and will need to be paid. All the repairs need to be prioritised. It's a massive job but we're delighted to take it on; the new flat is a proper home and we can't wait to be in it.

I'm going to start a new diary once we're in and record all the expenses of renovating. My CCs will be ticking over in the background with minimum payments and overpaymetns where possible. My 0% rates run out in October 2018 so that needs to be kept in mind. The renovations will require some borrowing but after a quick look online, there are loads of 0% deals so these will need to be used and help us decide where and when to buy from. I am determined we don't pay a penny of interest. That is what got me in trouble before and it's not neccessary.

So, onwards. There is lots to do but I'm well up for it. :-)