Excited to try and be mortgage free

greent

We were talking this weekend about children and uni and houses - we also have 4, but younger - eldest is 18, so off to Uni this year, next is in Y11, DS2 in Y5 and DS3 Y2 - so a long way to go until they've all flown - and I don't want to wish things away. DD and DS1 have large bedrooms and DD also has an ensuite (as the only girl) with the 3 boys sharing the family bathroom. DS2 and DS3 have smaller bedrooms. Plan is DD keeps her room as is whilst away, on the basis she is looking to do PGCE locally/ within commutable distance (think she's considering costs of another year out of home!) and then it will depend upon where she ends up working. DS1's plans involve medicine and the army, so it is quite likely that there will be a room change involved when he leaves - he is quite agreeable to moving to the smallest room. If his plans work out he is likely to have considerably less debt than DD. We have plans to part-fund her and will do the same for DS1. DS2 and DS3 are too young to consider what they will be doing yet


We've thought about downsizing ultimately (a long way off at the mo!) but I don't think it would release any money - we like smaller properties but slightly more rural - and they tend to be a similar price to this one. Plus I'd hope that they would occasionally come and visit, so I wouldn't want to go that much smaller..... Decisions, decisions!

chumpy45

You are right - so many decisions and certainly don't want the 4 DSs to feel they have no home to come back to! I keep getting excited by properties but DH is more level headed (or fussy) and not too sure about the whole idea. On top of which DH is now temporarily out of work as the massive contract he has been working on has settled out of court leaving him with nothing :eek: He is fairly confident that work will turn up very soon, so let's hope he is right. Always something to thwart out plans

greent

Eeek! Hope he gets something soon x My OH is between contracts at the mo - has had several interview but keeps being told he is 'too big' for the roles and that he 'would get bored'. Some of these are very short term (3-6months) and have a good daily rate - he's not going to get chance to get bored with such a short term contract - and even if he did he'd stick it out short term for the money!


x

chumpy45

Better news today on DHs job front. A promising interview this morning with a follow up call from the recruitment agent singing his praises. Certainly a relief to know we won't be reduced to bread and water quite yet! Have set up Junior ISA for DS4 and sorting out a transfer of his CTF so feel more in control of that, although haven't actually had application confirmed yet. Have finally found my old passbook, it had a balance of £1.54 from about 10 years ago, so I hope that will count as a valid account :rotfl: Hopefully making OP tomorrow - was holding off due to DH circumstances, but I think we will go ahead after all. Will confirm exact figures tomorrow. Updated spreadsheets for March and ready to go

hiddenshadow

Fingers crossed for the job!

chumpy45

Yippee, DH has deffo secured a new contract which meant we could go ahead with the OP :j £1500 paid making new balance of £45,797.32. Such a lovely feeling - hopefully below the £45K very soon. Packed DS4 off to school dressed as Captain America ready for world book day theme of "super heroes". DH is making the most of the remainder of this week of unexpected "holiday" and is doing great work in the garden - a real bonus. Sun is shining (temporarily at the moment) so all in all a good day so far :T

hiddenshadow

Congrats DH!

chumpy45

Thanks Hiddenshadow - yes relief all round

greent

Fab news re DH!


x

chumpy45

Well, it seems we were a little premature celebrating the new contract thanks to a rather over keen recruitment consultant. Yes, the firm are very interested in OH and plan to use him, but at some undetermined point in the future when they have a specific contract. That could be next week, next month or next year so it's back to the drawing board. Whilst this is inevitable when you are self employed, it's still never easy, however, we have a buffer in the business account so should be ok at the moment. On the plus side thanks to the efforts of DH the garden is looking great and is all tidied up. All the leaves (and we back on to a country park so there were many many leaves) have been raked up, and everything is tidied. I have been decluttering "Greent" style. I sorted out a whole bookcase of academic text books I used for my degree and raised £50 from "webuybooks" (or something similar). Am waiting for payment to arrive then will transfer to OP pot. Have also been through my wardrobe and filled one bag for CS, two bags for the bin (I can't believe the weird things I keep at times, thinking they might be useful "one day" :rotfl: ), This has meant I can move a tall thin shelving unit from next to my bed to DS2's bedroom. I never liked having all my text books in the bedroom because it made me think of work all the time, so am really pleased have finally achieved this. However, do now have to find somewhere to keep the household filing, so have still got to sort that one out. Will get sorted one day!!

Have sorted DS4s JISA, and redirecting child benefit to that account from next month to raise some funds for Uni for him (he is 12 at moment, so should be a nice lump sum for whatever he decides to do). This will also take the pressure off us a little as come September we will part funding 3 DSs through Uni :eek: (Not enough forward planning with those 3 unfortunately).

Right, off to finish some marking, and attack the growing mountain of ironing currently lurking under the stairs. Will catch up on some recorded TV to relieve the boredom - will hopefully be quite therapeutic (or may be I am just kidding myself - it's ironing after all :rotfl: Happy Thursday.