Preparing for the biggest move of our life

bellevie

The start of what I hope to be regular updates to keep me motivated in progress!
We were married in February, it was almost cancelled firstly due to a second ectopic pregnancy that saw me hospitalised, I wasn't sure I'd recover in time. I did start to feel able to carry on a couple of days before the wedding then we learnt Storm Dennis was on its way and a lot of our guests were worried about the long journey they had to make. In the end all decided to come up the night before and all had safe journeys - such a relief! We didn't get all the photos we'd have liked because of the weather but it still was an absolutely amazing day & night.

Few weeks later we are in shut down and weddings being cancelled left right and centre. I just kept thanking my lucky stars we didn't pick the week before or the weeks later, the timing was such a blessing for us.

Before I had known I was pregnant, I had applied for another role in the organisation I work for. Its a slight step back for now but has the chance of a degree apprenticeship which my current role although not very different wouldn't be possible and when qualified its a big step up from where I am now. Its a role I've worked alongside a lot over the past few years, and I looked into going back to university to retrain but it just wasn't financially viable...I couldn't believe my eyes when this came up. I was offered the role not long after my operation, I couldn't help but feel it was a new door opening as one had closed. 
Anyway I was due to start a couple of weeks ago, the move was delayed at the last minute as current role is very busy. So hopefully will be starting mid may. I will have now missed this years application for the course but I figured it wont be a bad thing to get into the role for a while to be sure its how I've imagined it will be. 

We had a slight panic for a moment where it looked like DP was going to lose his job, until furlough was announced - for now its buying us time, but I am slightly anxious if this goes on too long he may lose his job anyway, his boss has already indicated if they do return he is going to review salaries to reduce business outgoings. I guess worst case DP can go back self employed pretty quickly he has all the tools he needs but we'd need to use house savings to top us up until work picks up.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed but under no illusion. At best we may be looking at buying in 12 months with the income drop, this will depend on deposit requirements. If he has to start again self employed I have no idea how long it will take.

Right now, we just very very thankful we are healthy, that's all that really matters in the grand scheme of things.

bellevie

have reviewed my savings plan, I should be able to wrap up my car finance in June instead of letting it run to October without dipping into house / emergency funds. I cant wait to have that gone, it will definitely help being able to save that - well timed for DH pay cut.
DD is due to be starting secondary school in Sept, so have another little pot growing for her new uniforms and anything else she might need.

We are expecting our honey moon to be cancelled, were due to leave mid may but wont be counting the refund until its back just yet.
Keeping an eye on house prices both rental and to buy really to be prepared if our tenancy does end, have decided though if given the option we will sign for another year.

No other money news. 
I started a little veg patch in our garden initially with scraps ie potatoes, green onion, leek - I've been fascinated watching it all grow its been a nice distraction during my work day going out to see progress. Spending time reading up, really feels quite nice sometimes not to think too much into the future and just be happy with today.

RosaBernicia

Lovely to hear from you Bellevie, congratulations! 

Sounds like you are making great progress and have options to hand. 

Rosa xx

bellevie

Thank you Rosa

xx

bellevie

Pay day has been and gone, savings allocated budget set for the month ahead.
Things looking relatively ok for now, which is just as well with DP's reduced wage.

DP made me a planter from some left over decking boards we picked up last summer, and we agreed I can use the corner of the garden for my veggies! I've always grown strawberries and tomato but this year I had planned to try a few extra things.... when lock up was announced I was gutted, DP grabbed a few seeds when he saw some my local shop - Ironically no tomato or strawberry! I ended up planting seeds from tomatoes we had at home, to my surprise they have started quite strong, I hope they continue. We tried the same with strawberries that we had, that hasn't worked as well so I jumped for joy when our local garden centre advertised packages for delivery. The plants arrived yesterday they were huge, a few strawberries growing already! I set up the planter with these it looks so lovely, can't wait to see the fruit develop. My carrot seedlings are doing well, still waiting on parsnips, lettuce and swede. Coriander has started. I also planted potato ends when eyes sprouted - they shot up so fast I am amazed! My confidence has grown since they all started so well so I'm going to start some more seeds off, so we have a few crops one after the other. We won't be going anywhere so I have all summer to watch them grow!!

Work is busy, I'm still working from home trying to potter around, exercise around the house I can feel clothes getting tighter so I really need to take the exercise up a gear. I've started to follow some youtube aerobics class, quite enjoying that - I've never considered aerobics before now.

2 weeks left in my current role, I'm looking forward to moving into the new team.....hoping the move isn't delayed again....we will see.

bellevie

Interesting conversation took place this week between a relative left a property in our road and DH, he is looking to sell it rather than rent it but it needs a lot of work, no heating, no kitchen, dated bathroom, single glazed windows. It needs quite a bit of work, but that means it might just bring it down to a price we can afford. DH said we'd definitely be interested if its being sold later on this year, and the man said he'd keep us updated as its likely to take time anyway.

It hit me during this lockout just how sad I would be at the prospect of leaving this road. Its a quiet friendly road, we back onto a forest and have a walkway 2 minutes from our door to a beautiful park with a small lake. We walk around it daily, its beautiful in all weathers. Is not isolated as we have shops minutes away, its just a very nice road, no problem neighbours (not since I've been here anyway).
I've been keeping an eye on properties that come up in the road and none have been in reach - our income is good but we wouldn't get the deposit needed for most. So after DH's conversation with the man, I was gobsmacked, we could find a way to stay here!

The ball park figure the man is thinking - we could reach a deposit by October I've calculated if we throw everything in. I've calculated savings on the side of caution, if DP's income stays slightly reduced etc. Only niggle is a lot of banks now asking for 15-20% - we will only make 10%, possibly 12, but not 15, not until next year anyway.

So....we are cautiously optimistic we may have found our way to stay here, no guarantees but it has to be worth aiming for.

So today adding up all our pots, it surprised me we have 60% of our house buying deposit saved. Another 8% will be achieved through the life time isa bonus when we put our savings into our ISA's - we are holding off on this until we have enough left to cover rent and removals if our landlord decides to let again sooner we should be able to move them over in a couple of months. We have 6 months to get together another 32%....it'll be a challenge but I'm confident we can do it.

I know there are no guarantees, we might not find a mortgage that will allow 10% deposit this year, the relative may change his mind and list it for sale openly - but if we keep it as a goal that it could be our house it'll be so motivating -and if doesn't work with the house but we manage our deposit it will be such an achievement!

RosaBernicia

oh that does sound exciting - fingers crossed for you! 

One thing I would suggest, do look at the costs for the work and see how long it will take you to be able to do it.  Also consider what you can and can't live with and when - eg if you buy in November, presumably you would still need to rent til you get the heating sorted?  Not meaning for this to sound negative but it's a mistake I made with my last house, I just didn't know how much the work I wanted done would cost and that was a bit difficult later on. 

Thanks for the mortgages pointer, I had better go check what my situation would be as I will starting looking again once the market starts up. 

Rosa xx

bellevie

Hi Rosa thank you for the advice. I woke up thinking about how we'd prioritise the work based on laying for one thing at a time.

My brother is a plumber, he gave me a good idea of what we should aim to save for, and he'd be willing to do it for a bit of a discount - it's still expensive but doable.  There is a blower style heating downstairs, nothing upstairs although there is an economy 7 tank. So although bills will be high, that would see us through winter with some electric radiators on top.

We are thinking prioritise the heating first, if we can save enough to cover that by moving date, we could time our notice for an overlap, but otherwise we'd muddle through winter and save for that first. 

Re mortgages I'm really really hoping we find a way around it. I hope it doesn't affect you negatively. 

Xx

RosaBernicia

Well I went through the L&C online thing and it still found me a 10% deal, 0.5% more expensive than a few weeks ago but still there.  I guess it will depend on precise circumstances, but worth you playing with the calculators? 

Fantastic if you have contacts who will help with some of the work and finding good people for the rest.  None of my lot are any help with that kind of thing so I was having to learn all about everything from scratch and make my own mistakes!  (Though also successes in things I didn't know I could do - I was making public Facebook announcements when I managed to put up a shelf, skim a wall or finally get an answer on what kind of widgets are needed to hold up a bathroom cupboard!)  

Rosa xx

bellevie

Thanks Rosa, that's really helpful. We were thinking of going via a mortgage broker when we reach out target hopefully give us the best chance of finding the right mortgage.

Sounds like you know much more than me.... My limit is flat pack.... As long as it doesn't need to be attached to a wall... That goodness for DH, definitely couldn't do that house without him.

Xx