The Road to Financial Security

Pushkin

Am in better mood this morning, it's a slog getting me put on the mortgage & getting on line access but the important thing is we have increased the over payments as of 1 Sept. I haven't been on the mortgage for 15 years so in the great scheme of things whats another month but I'm the kind of person that once I decide I want something I want it immediately! Am driving DH mad I think!

I can get cracking on some numbers and targets - like many on here I love a spreadsheet

Also the payment for the cds I sold is in my bank account! Immediately transferred it to a savings account I have set up for the things I sell (to try and encourage me) which now has a grand total of £106 in it :j

Still waiting for about £18 of funds to be released on PP as well and some money due on £co which is due next week.

It's sad that I am just as excited about these small amounts as I am about the £500 per month mortgage over payment.

I also sorted out the duplicate accounts on the supermarket savings site - unfortunately they deleted the one which has the £0.82 due so I've emailed them to see if they can transfer that to the remaining account - nothing ventured nothing gained.

egoode

Pushkin wrote: »

Thanks egoode - fixing leaks not 'sexy spending huh' got to be done though huh. Enjoy your new flat - I am mega impressed with all the youngsters (I'm in my 40s!) who are so financially aware and have the MSE attitude - wish I had got it years ago.

I'm not that young, I'm 35 just took me awhile before I manage to buy a place!

gallygirl

Pushkin wrote: »

It's sad that I am just as excited about these small amounts as I am about the £500 per month mortgage over payment.

Not sad at all - very helpful as it's the small ones that keep our interest up (or should I say down ).

Congratulations on taking steps to owning 1/2 a big debt .

Pushkin

Gally Girl - thank you so much - you are much more appreciative of my efforts than my OH who just kept offering to give me £20 to stop me moaning on about the overdue cd money!

Pushkin

Well another day, but hey its Friday and a long weekend although it does seem like summer is over - heating kicked in yet again this morning!

My head is whirring with numbers at the moment and I'm going to find some time over the weekend to try and work them through a little, although I love a spreadsheet and get quite into all this I'm not really a natural at budgeting or maths. When DH and I first got together neither of us bothered hence a lot of mistakes were made and money wasted!

Yesterday in the spirit of MSE I did my weekly food shop at L1dl which is a first for me. OH goes in there more than I do as he likes the German sausages they sell but having read both in here and the media about how good it is and how cheap I thought I should give it a go.

End result is to be decided, I did a medium sized shop which unfortunately was quite random, did have a list but they didn't have everything I wanted. I also should have gone at the weekend rather than after work when I just don't have the same energy or enthusiasm. It was however about £20 cheaper than I was expecting it to be which can't be bad! Will see how we get on this week.

It made me think about how I like familiarity and going somewhere new (anywhere new) kind of throws me as the brands are different and I don't know where the products are. I normally do internet shop with S@insburys 3 weeks of the month and go in the other week. Might try and do some mixing up and do L1dl 1 week per month & S@insburys the other 3. Or am I thinking about this way too much - I feel another spreadsheet coming on to track our food spend and work out the most cost effective option!

My DH should be very relieved I've started this diary as otherwise all this venting and outflow of thoughts would be going in his direction

FacelessNumber

Hi pushkin, thought I'd pop along and follow your diary! We are also trying to improve the house and OP at the same time!

We bought a fixer upper to get the size house we wanted and currently have three rooms on the go! 3 DIY disasters so far including two leaks from removing a radiator and a wallpaper steamer (over 10 years old) catching fire!! No damage done luckily and we have learnt from it all!

Good luck with getting yourself on the mortgage and getting that all sorted!

Pushkin

Hi Faceless Number - thank you for the welcome -such great support on this forum I'm quite addicted to it at the moment!

Wow 3 rooms at once - that is hard core!
And yes can totally relate to DIY disasters - ouch !!

We are trying to manage our projects quite carefully, we have quite a chunk of money sat in a savings account which we were going to use to move house but will now invest in our current house. Having money is totally new to us (we have had a few hard times money wise in the past) and while its lovely I find it quite stressful too - prioritising what to do first, thinking through the impact decisions have for example no point doing something if doing something else later means ripping half of it out!

So I'm taking the slow but steady approach although in my mind once I decide I want something I want it NOW!

Good luck with your endevours 'speak' soon !

Pushkin

So much easier to get up early on no work days!

Busy weekend but I think things are progressing:

Windows/new front door
ordered, surveyor due Tuesday to do report

Plumbing
Re-install radiator in kitchen (so we're not relying on expensive underfloor heating)
New toilet and install sink in downstairs loo
2 plumbers came to quote- one quote received from the one we liked best (other one was grumpy & sexist) and its £200 less than we thought so will probably go with him.

Tree Surgeon
Booked to cut back oak tree mid Sept- hope this will help with light in the living room

Son's bedroom furniture - he currently had the furniture we bought for when he was born - part his sentimentality, part our apathy & part lack of finances. So will look for new wardrobe, chest of drawers & bedside table at 1kea.

American style fridge freezer - check them out in store this weekend, find one we like then research on internet to find cheapest price and order.

Sofas

2 new sofas wanted - will have a look in M@rks & Next over the weekend. Want a corner one and a normal one but I think our budget might not be enough. Am struggling with quality v price. Brand wise we like M@rks and JL but they ain't cheap. I saw a lovely on in C@rgo but OH thinks might not be best quality - something else I'm mulling over....

Mortgage
C&G now due to ring Sat 30 Aug re adding me to mort. Having done some research I think we do have to engage a solicitor so it will cost £600 or so. (ouch). Part of me thinks its been like this for 15 years does it really matter?

OH is still trying to get on line access (nothing seems speedy with C&G) and if he achieves that I can get visibility anyway and make ad hoc over payments etc. Decisions decisions..

Finances
Am going to work this out over the weekend & put some targets in place regarding Over payments etc which I think will reduce the guilt with all the spending.

Well better get take the dog out before we go off to the shops...

gallygirl

2 plumbers came to quote- one quote received from the one we liked best (other one was grumpy & sexist)

Don't tell me - 'let me talk to your husband love' :mad:.

Mortgage
C&G now due to ring Sat 30 Aug re adding me to mort. Having done some research I think we do have to engage a solicitor so it will cost £600 or so. (ouch). Part of me thinks its been like this for 15 years does it really matter?

Yes it does. Put it in joint names for inheritance tax reasons (even if you're well under the threshold now). Also, if DH runs away with plumber no. 1 at least you've protected your share .

Pushkin

Gally Girl - thank you so much for your words - I know in my heart you are right about the mortgage just didn't expect it to cost so much and be so much hassle - 2 weeks after initial query and we have made NO progress.

Good day I think, am pretty tired and using that as an excuse not to tidy the house although it needs it !

Had a browse round 1kea and did pick up a few knicks and knacks but total spend of £60 not too bad. DS saw a wardrobe he liked so we'll measure up the space in his room properly. Will probably order on line for home delivery as I don't think it will fit in the car - not sure I could face another visit for a few months anyway.

We have also bitten the bullet stopped the endless web research and ordered an American Fridge Freezer - budget we had in mind was £1,000 - I know this is a lot but current one is 15 years old so long overdue. We managed to get one we like for £829 with £75 cash back so I'm rather chuffed. Best bit is it is due to be delivered this Tuesday! Now we just need to work out how to get the old one out and this one in - suspect doors will need to come off their hinges.