Mortgage repayment saga

Guna

Dear diary,

I am putting this into DFD rather than MFD because even to me the amount left on my mortgage seems ridiculous to be calling it a such. So why oh why it's been so hard to repay?

It's been almost 4 years since I bought my beautiful flat in Tenerife and, as you remember by now we should've cleared the mortgage and left London for serene life of yoga teaching on the beach. What the hell has happened? Frankly the flat turned out to be a massive pain in the butt with all the squatting, break ins and disappearing tenants. But I also haven't really been holding my promise to match any rent income out of my salary to clear the mortgage early.
A lot has happened in the last 4 years and a lot has been spent first on a trip to India to train to be a yoga teacher, then on more training in London. Then I had fantastic idea of buying a scooter to save money on public transport which left me with a nasty loan on credit card.
Painful breakup didn't help of course, first I had to immediately go to Italy to mend my broken heart "eat pray love" style - holiday I clearly haven't budgeted for. Then I had to enrol to all sort of activities from art course to dance classes just to not be alone in a house.
But enough with excuses! This time it will be different.
Oh yeah Diary, I am taking control of my spending.

So let's assess the damage:
Credit card (0% till October) £1085
Mortgage €16661.42
Overdraft £200 (Italy was fun)
Spanish utilities arrears €952

Monthly incoming £1347
Outgoing £1200 (with allowances for holidays and education)

Yeah, there isn't really room to swing a cat. So the first thing we need to figure out is how to make more money.

Guna

Dear Diary

Today I managed to achieve remarkable progress by thinking ahead and packing my lunchbox for tomorrow's day in college. So far I have been treating Fridays as a sort of cheat day when I am allowed a street market meal and a can of ginger beer. Maybe even occasional rocky road.
Not tomorrow.
I have packed freshly made fruit salad with a dressing of lemon juice and few mint leaves from my garden. Carrot sticks and pepper sticks and some smoked fish. I even went as far as putting together nice herbal tea in a thermal flask, just needs hot water added tomorrow morning.

I also signed up for tesco card and finally ordered replacement sainsbury's card so I can offset my grossery shopping points against petrol. I am sure my energy provider gives out nectar points as well - another thing to check out.

Feeling accomplished. What a great feeling!

Guna

Dear Diary,
It's amazing how just committing (I mean, seriously committing) to repaying the debts as quickly as possible just instantly gets you thinking about every penny you spend.
In a last week I hardly spent anything. My main expense is still a personal trainer, whom I can totally afford ( he only charges me £20, he listens to my moans, he motivates me to get out of bed early and I feel great and hardly ever need to spend money on meds - he is worth his weight in gold). Aside from that I only spent a fiver on petrol and about four pounds on food. I packed all my lunches, I didn't shop online and generally it looks like I will have a great deal of money to put towards my debt at the end of the month. We are still almost three weeks away from payday, but I am feeling positive already!

Guna

Had a massive argument with my mother last night about the flat. I still have a semi squatter there (she owes me ver £1500 euros in rent, she changed the locks, but every now and again she transfers me some money) and my mother thinks I should get onto lawyers to try and kick her out. Which means more debts and years of struggle. I think that I don't really want to think about it. And if I loose, I loose it. My mother blames me for having an easy life and reminds me how difficult it was for her to sell my fathers flat after his death and transfer money across two boarders in order for me to put deposit on this property. I am suddenly being selfish and irresponsible. And my mother suddenly knows exactly what would have been a better way to invest the money.
In fact I am just tired and think that if I can't change the situation, then what is the point of worrying about it. Besides I am somehow convinced that either way everything is going to turn out fine. Call me irresponsible.

Mortgage payment went out - £199.45 lighter.

Mara_uk7

Gee youre a soft touch ! Get rid of the squatter, or take her to court for the back rent. 1500 Euros could clear your credit cardand half your utilities ! Why should you struggle while this person lives at your expense ?

Guna

Thank you Mara. I am travelling to Tenerife this autumn to deal with some flat related issues anyway, so am planning to contact the solicitor to see what my options are.
Unfortunately according to Spanish squatting laws, she has more rights than I do. If I attempt to access the property without her permission, she has a right to report me to the police and I will be arrested AND convicted of break and entry. Besides she has an underaged daughter which complicates the situation.
She has lost her job at the end of last year and instead of consulting with me to see if we can work something out, she changed the locks and stopped answering the phone. She has since found the job and made some repayments, but they are erratic and don't even cover her present rent, let alone her debt.
Maybe I can recommend her to this forum. Lol

Guna

Haven't been updating the thread because there wasn't much to say. Got tenant to sign eviction letter. She should be out of the flat by the end of July. Unfortunately that doesn't solve my financial problems but at least I can move on and rent it out to someone. And hopefully be able to chase her for money without acquiring tons of legal fees. Oh dear...