Renovations and Repayments.

AlexLK

Financial news (with added car news which could be financial ...):

* We have (well Mrs K has, really, as she's the one that earns a decent wage) just started to make a regular overpayment of £200 to the mortgage. First payment has been made. Doesn't sound a lot but this is a big step in the right direction for us and a step we wouldn't have made without using MSEs calculator.

* We've sold two cars and bought another one! It's an old Jaguar ... Therefore, I await the "scumlord" comments ... Before admitting it's actually a Daimlerised Jaguar and therefore automatically elevates my social status to that of the titled gentry.

* Mrs K is also getting quite wound up about having a company car which makes sense but she finds the choice on offer soul destroying. Basically, if she makes the leap she'll go from an 02 BMW 530i which was incredibly well specced when new and has such a sweet engine to something like a 318d which I don't even think gets a leather interior.

* No more savings than the usual £30 made as I've been too busy car shopping.

edinburgher

to something like a 318d which I don't even think gets a leather interior.

Sometimes I think you're deliberately winding us all up with comments such as this :rotfl:

Still, not as good as the 'Homer' one

AlexLK

edinburgher wrote: »

Sometimes I think you're deliberately winding us all up with comments such as this :rotfl:

Still, not as good as the 'Homer' one

I admit I was posting under the influence yesterday night. However, the car situation is not a wind up and whilst the interior isn't the be all and end all, her current car is a much nicer vehicle. The only benefit of the company car is the fact it works out financially better, hence mentioning it on here - is she better going for the company car and being financially better off or driving a car she likes more everyday?

The Homer thing really did happen a few years back (father in law likes watching various TV quiz shows, that's how the conversation started) but I'll admit I knew it would wind up some people on MSE and amuse others. Nothing wrong with trying to add a bit of humour, is there?

gallygirl

Personally I don't like cars with leather seats (except for the lovely smell) - way too sticky in the heat.

FlacosFloozie

Hi Alex,


I've been catching up and you have had a bit of a hard time lately. You might judge people at times but I know you judge yourself more harshly than anyone else. I also know the last few years have made you challenge a lot of assumptions and be far more open minded. You are a decent bloke but I know you struggle to see it sometimes.


Anyway, MSE stuff. Re the car, I think this comes down to values. How much more financially advantageous is the company car to your wife and is the difference worth her loss of enjoyment driving the current car? Only the pair of you can answer that.


I have utmost respect for the super frugal folk on this site but I know from experience that that doesn't work for me and Mr F. We have found a balance that allows us to be responsible and still have fun. For us its the odd day trip, meal out and holiday and having those means we're happy to cut back in other areas. For Mrs K it might be driving a car she loves means she is happy to cut back on lunches out or buying new clothes or it might be the saving allows you to do other things you value more.


Re the house, I think its great you're working on the windows. I know achieving something solid helps Mr F's mood a lot. I have wondered at times, what your mood was like when you bought the house. Mr F will often attach negative moods to objects. For example, if something 'bad' happens the first time he wears a new shirt he will always associate those negative feelings with it. You don't need to answer me on this one but I wondered if it might explain why you don't really feel attached to the house. Just food for thought.


Hope you, Mrs K and little K are having a lovely weekend.

AlexLK

gallygirl wrote: »

Personally I don't like cars with leather seats (except for the lovely smell) - way too sticky in the heat.

Well, we're not all fortunate enough to live in Spain, gallygirl.

The worst seats are the vinyl or "leatherette" type, never mind being sticky, they get hot enough to make any skin that touches them feel like it's on fire in a convertible. :rotfl:

newgirly

But the fun cars of our childhood often had vinyl seats Alex, ford capri's, escorts, morris minors , and lovely minis

AlexLK

FlacosFloozie wrote: »

Hi Alex,

I've been catching up and you have had a bit of a hard time lately. You might judge people at times but I know you judge yourself more harshly than anyone else. I also know the last few years have made you challenge a lot of assumptions and be far more open minded. You are a decent bloke but I know you struggle to see it sometimes.

Anyway, MSE stuff. Re the car, I think this comes down to values. How much more financially advantageous is the company car to your wife and is the difference worth her loss of enjoyment driving the current car? Only the pair of you can answer that.

I have utmost respect for the super frugal folk on this site but I know from experience that that doesn't work for me and Mr F. We have found a balance that allows us to be responsible and still have fun. For us its the odd day trip, meal out and holiday and having those means we're happy to cut back in other areas. For Mrs K it might be driving a car she loves means she is happy to cut back on lunches out or buying new clothes or it might be the saving allows you to do other things you value more.

Re the house, I think its great you're working on the windows. I know achieving something solid helps Mr F's mood a lot. I have wondered at times, what your mood was like when you bought the house. Mr F will often attach negative moods to objects. For example, if something 'bad' happens the first time he wears a new shirt he will always associate those negative feelings with it. You don't need to answer me on this one but I wondered if it might explain why you don't really feel attached to the house. Just food for thought.

Hope you, Mrs K and little K are having a lovely weekend.

Hi FlacosFloozie,

It's good to hear from you, I hope you're well and had a nice weekend.

We've had a lovely weekend had for a change. Saturday was spent on the cars and visiting my cousin. Today we went swimming, for a drive and a long walk. Tomorrow morning is back to reality, though.

I suppose you're right about me judging myself more than I judge others. I doubt I will ever think much of myself and to be honest, it doesn't really bother me if someone wishes to tell me what a loser I am as it's only what I'm already thinking. However, I do take objection to being baited about the choices my parents made when I was a child, which was something completely out of my control. The choice to help my parents with their business and their house has meant I have less time to put into activities that make money for me in the present, so does affect our financial situation. Sorry for the rant, it was really intended for someone else, who was telling me to stop posting about anything that is unrelated to my mortgage.

Thank you for the car advice. I suppose the dilemma is exactly what you say about which choice will be the best for her and not just for the finances, well that combined with the fact that the 5 Series really needs to be taken off the road for a fair bit of maintenance work in a couple of months time. Also, it's getting no younger and the miles have been quickly accumulating since Mrs K started this current job. Mrs K will always have the classics to drive at the weekend but the question is whether or not that is enough for her. At times I wish for neither of us to be interested in cars, it'd make life much simpler. :rotfl:

As for the house, the work to it has come to a stop for the moment as it's beautiful weather and that can only mean one thing ... I stop everything for the cars. Yes, here we go again ... . However, Mrs K has set a house target for jobs to be done by the end of the year, so I suppose I'll have to start again at some point. Your point about attaching negative moods to objects is an interesting one and something I will think about.

AlexLK

newgirly wrote: »

But the fun cars of our childhood often had vinyl seats Alex, ford capri's, escorts, morris minors , and lovely minis

Never mind fun cars of our childhood, newgirly, a fair few of my own fun cars have had vinyl seats. :rotfl:

When I was a boy, there was a purple 3.0 Mk.1 Capri that I used to often see. It was getting on a little at the time but I loved it, my father wasn't impressed that I regularly told him he ought to swap his Daimler Sovereign (Jaguar 420 shape) for it.

On the subject of Minis, how is yours coming along?

newgirly

Eric has not been driven in the last two weeks , partly due to the heat (vinyl seats, no cold fan) but mainly because I got in and a spider was on the headlining above me I am awaiting delivery of a chemical spider killing car bomb as this is the second serious spider fright :rotfl: seriously though , I am very scared of spiders and minis are quite small! Other than that he is fine thanks