Quit everything , and start again over 50?

enthusiasticsaver

Congratulations on having exchanged AC and I would agree with harz that you should not ask for more than you need and stress your solicitor can confirm you have now exchanged and come 22nd November you will be flush with cash.

Re renting, you will need to go through checks which you can start the process now and ask if you can pay deposit on day you pick up keys preferably from 22nd onwards or 18th if NW play ball and allow you to borrow on strength of exchanged contracts. Do this now rather than waiting until after completion so maybe line up some properties to look at from 14th after you have had your week at work solo so as not to aggravate your company - you may need a reference.

Furniture removals and storage - get three quotes and ask if you can pay after completion or at the very least just pay a deposit to hold the date.

Utilities - just do a blank letter for water, gas, electric and record meter readings when you leave. When you have new address speak to new providers and also speak to BT or whoever your internet, phone provider is. Also sky if you have it. Council tax you can do that after you move and tell them you no longer liable from 21st.

Also, please ignore your Geordie friend as I don't think he knows how expensive property in the south is compared to his area. Also you have little pension provision as I recall so your money will disappear very quickly and then how will you pay your rent? You will be back up debt alley very quickly. Please consider a small house rather than a flat and compare or at least a flat with low service charges as paying those on a pension may be difficult.

I hope all goes well for the next two weeks and you will soon be at home in Poole.

lessonlearned

Good morning AC.

Some excellent advice here so I won't repeat except to say do not even consider renting long term.

Use your capital to secure your future. Buy a property outright and try to keep a lump sum back for a sabbatical, then for emergencies and investment.

Hopefully you have a long life ahead of you....you need to protect your financial future, especially as you have little pension provision.

Not yet.......but once the dust has settled - I suggest you obtain a state pension forecast. If you are out of work you can still get your NI credits.

Re the "gas balloon". Hopefully as you get less stressed your levels of cortisol (stress hormone) will drop. Cortisol causes weight gain, especially round the waist and belly. Poor sleep also increases cortisol production.

As your personal circumstances improve you should sleep better and your cortisol levels will naturally decrease. Weight loss should be much easier.

In the meantime try to adopt better eating habits - no more Mars bar breakfasts!!!!!, no sports energy drinks - they are just as bad as Coca-Cola;) and Harz is right - try walking. 20 mins a day. I would also suggest a few simple stretches to release tension in tight muscles. Yes cortisol also affects muscles, causing inflammation, pain and stiffness.

another_casualty

I am angry. Posted something .Hit wrong button .post disappeared !
Try again :
Nationwide: saw manager. Helpful at short notice .Takes me to room.
Gives me phone ( she called head office).waited 18 mins.
Scottish woman listened-on hold twice.No they cannot go beyond £1500 limit. Angry , put phone down halfway through the 'Im sorry but rubbish'
Told them that they are stuck in the stone age / Fred flintstone and accounts will close in2-3 weeks

Will pack as much as I can ,so removal co.will have an idea what to charge.
Thanks harz& co. Will look at your advice more thoroughly ASAP
Payday loan for 2 weeks?only asked n w for extra £2k
Maybe I won't need as much if I'm storing stuff and going to hotel etc??

MuffinTops

Fantastic news AC. Well done for keeping your wits about you and getting to this much awaited time. I'm so pleased for you.

I hope all goes well at NW too.

Yay!!!!

MT

harz99

another_casualty wrote: »

I am angry. Posted something .Hit wrong button .post disappeared !
Try again :
Nationwide: saw manager. Helpful at short notice .Takes me to room.
Gives me phone ( she called head office).waited 18 mins.
Scottish woman listened-on hold twice.No they cannot go beyond £1500 limit. Angry , put phone down halfway through the 'Im sorry but rubbish'
Told them that they are stuck in the stone age / Fred flintstone and accounts will close in2-3 weeks

Will pack as much as I can ,so removal co.will have an idea what to charge.
Thanks harz& co. Will look at your advice more thoroughly ASAP
Payday loan for 2 weeks?only asked n w for extra £2k
Maybe I won't need as much if I'm storing stuff and going to hotel etc??

Disappointing AC, I'm afraid its a touch of the computer says no at NW. Don't close the NW account before you've sorted out all the financial stuff after completion though.


A thought occurred and I hope you don't mind me asking this, do you have a useable credit card to book hotel rooms etc. if needs be, as you will almost certainly need to use one if you go down that route.

lessonlearned

another_casualty wrote: »

I am angry. Posted something .Hit wrong button .post disappeared !
Try again :
Nationwide: saw manager. Helpful at short notice .Takes me to room.
Gives me phone ( she called head office).waited 18 mins.
Scottish woman listened-on hold twice.No they cannot go beyond £1500 limit. Angry , put phone down halfway through the 'Im sorry but rubbish'
Told them that they are stuck in the stone age / Fred flintstone and accounts will close in2-3 weeks

Will pack as much as I can ,so removal co.will have an idea what to charge.
Thanks harz& co. Will look at your advice more thoroughly ASAP
Payday loan for 2 weeks?only asked n w for extra £2k
Maybe I won't need as much if I'm storing stuff and going to hotel etc??

Forget them, their loss.

Put your stuff into storage, book into a hotel. Job done. £1500 overdraft will be plenty.

Then as soon as funds are cleared, pay off your debts and transfer funds to another bank, making sure to stay within bank guarantee limits.

Keep it simple and stress free.

Find a hotel with a gym and pool and de-stress whilst you view rentals.

Treat it is a little holiday.....you have earned it.

Ps. Just edited to add. HArz is right do not shut down NW account yet. You will need to pass credit checks for rentals so best to show continuity for your banking arrangements.

another_casualty

Great advice LL & Harz .
Regarding th overdraft. I'm not far off the limit.
I have a Vanquis credit card , taken out in July. Have about £200'left.
So basically up s creek without a paddle.

So, plan: get financial help/ put stuff in storage ( Poole area I assume)/
Find hotel in Poole area and book for a week /10days?
Phone estate agent in Poole on Monday about finding somewhere, asking the procedure etc.
Pack as mentioned.
Find a new bank ,a new bldg society and hopefully a credit union to split cash from sale. Must avoid anything connected to r b s / Santander& Barclays . The rest I should know

triple_choc_chip

another_casualty wrote: »

Great advice LL & Harz .
Regarding th overdraft. I'm not far off the limit.
I have a Vanquis credit card , taken out in July. Have about £200'left.
So basically up s creek without a paddle. not necessarily; if your brothers mate is helping you move, he may accept payment when you've got your money on completion day

So, plan: get financial help/ put stuff in storage ( Poole area I assume)

No, if using brothers mate, find the nearest storage to where you are now to save transport costs. You move it further when you have your new place and the funds.

You may be able to spend some of the deposit money for move related expenses now that you have exchanged. This was mentioned some time ago, did you ask your solicitor?

another_casualty

Regarding the weight..straight to the gym..and plenty o walking !:)
Also, (gradually), I will reduce food portions etc.
I've done it before . It will be harder now, but 6 months solid should get me to a stone and a half reduction leading to 4stone by a years time.

Regarding my Geordie friend ( he's over active mind is obviously too much )
I will not listen to him on this occasion .
I will have to consider what I can realistically afford, within my chosen area.
One thought occurred : if I could get a 2 bed hse( or flat if I'm unlucky),
Then when I get to almost retirement age, sell and get a 1 bed. Cash in the bank
Or: get 1 bed hse( if possible ) and have everything done with.
Or a 1 bed flat wih minimum surcharges .( probably worst case scenario)
So many nice modern flats, but service charges are off putting

gallygirl

AC I just looked on bookings.com, they have an option to select accommodation that doesn't need paid upfront (though you may need to input your credit card details, it doesn't put a block on it). Only a few available for the dates I put in, but the Penn Hill Apartments in Branksome look very nice and around £675 for 10 days.

Alternatively if you do go for a pay-day loan (not to be recommended but needs must I suppose) - Sandbanks Hotel, bit of luxury for around £550.

As others have said, this is the start of the rest of your life. No more excuses, no more putting off to tomorrow. Set yourself the goal that from the day you move to Poole that's it - no more Mars Bars, fattening coffees etc. even if you're staying in a hotel, healthy eating us possible. Start as you mean to go on, you owe it to yourself.