Getting a mortgage and then becoming mortgage-free!

Kittenkirst

Hi all, so cheeky Oscar came scampering home at 230am on Saturday morning. I don’t think we’ve ever been so pleased to be woken by a cat at that time.

He’s been pretty down all week and isn’t venturing out for long. We’re making sure we try to give him lots of affection and be positive around him, we just think it will take some time to deal with it.

Hugos ashes came home on Tuesday and so we did a little ceremony to pop his ashes in the pot and plant the tree. Girlfriends mum said a Hindu prayer for him and we scattered some rose petals and leaves into the pot with him.

All super sad and I must admit I’m really struggling with the loss of him. He was only a small cat at 3 years and 5 months, but so full of love and he knew how loved he was. 

Ive had my bonus paid this month so have managed to put £1k into savings, and pay for the patio to be done. I’ve also just received a cheque from HMRC for a rebate for costs for working from home. They’ve backdated it for the years I’ve been working from home so I’ve put the £124 into savings as well. The new job fund is looking good now.

I had also applied for a job just before Hugo passed away. It’s a significant promotion for me and would include at least a 10k pay rise. I didn’t think I’d be interviewed but thought maybe I should give it a go. Anyway, they called last Wednesday for an interview Friday. I really struggled with the prep for it as I was so upset about Hugo’s death & Oscar being missing. But, I did it anyways so am just waiting to hear back. I honestly don’t think I’ve got the job but it’s my first interview outside of my company in 14 years so I’m pleased I’ve done it 

themadvix

So glad to hear Oscar has returned! I didn’t like to ask... but that’s wonderful news. I hope all together you can help each other get through the grief. 😔

Fingers crossed for the job!

Jessy103

Glad to hear Oscar is back! 😀
Finger crossed for the job! 

Moneyfordreams

best wishes KK , keeping fingers crossed

Staffordia

Sorry to hear about your cat.  Pets are a huge part of our lives.  We had to have our beloved dog put to sleep in April, at the height of the lockdown, so had to hand her over in the car park, I'm still in tears thinking about that.

Good luck with the job, you never know, and it is good experience for you.

Kittenkirst

Staffordia said:

Sorry to hear about your cat.  Pets are a huge part of our lives.  We had to have our beloved dog put to sleep in April, at the height of the lockdown, so had to hand her over in the car park, I'm still in tears thinking about that.

Good luck with the job, you never know, and it is good experience for you.

Oh I’m so sorry for your loss too, it’s so hard when they are an integral part of the family isn’t it. 

We had to do the car park thing too due to covid procedures, which was pretty awful- we didn’t really twig when they took him away to examine him that he wouldn’t come back out. Our vets were so understanding and brought him back out for us to say our farewells to him in our boot and for gf to do a prayer. So hard x 

Yes the interview was one of those things- I almost cancelled it given the emotional state we were in at home but thought it would give me something to focus a bit on and give me some practice. I honestly don’t think they were impressed but at least I gave it a shot. Ive not heard back and it’s been a week so hopefully will hear this week- im hoping they will provide constructive feedback so I can prep for any future ones I apply for. I’m Still waiting to hear about my current role and whether it’s impacted by redundancies- should know this time next month. I think I’m just exploring all avenues for the minute as if my role is safe, I don’t really want this job long term (they are forcing through some huge contract changes by the end of the year which will make me £1300 a year worse off in straight cash in pocket, before looking at the other things they are changing). I could be potentially earning much more elsewhere- even if it’s only for 6-9 months which would mean I could save a lot more funds for the travel job when the time is right (meaning less of a business loan is needed for the franchise fee etc)!

We had an early morning wake up call as the paperboy didn’t show at the shop so we did the paper rounds (at 36 & 42 years old  )  and have then used the new pressure washer to clean up the pathways round the house and do our wheelie bins! The timing couldn’t have been better as we finished up, put it all away in the shed and the heavens have opened. Hopefully that will wash any bits off the patio that we were going to sweep away and it’s a good house task done (& kept us busy!).

The pressure washer was bought with vouchers from work which is great- we’ve borrowed friends or our neighbours ones for the past few years of being in the house so thought it time to invest in one ourselves, and using the vouchers means it didn’t hurt our pockets. 

We’ve been a bit spending the past few weeks as we’ve ordered some paint for our shed now that the new patio is done and the shed is moved, we’ve ordered some lawn feed and seed to reseed where the patio edges are and also had to pay for the babycats cremation. But due to covid and less general spending (fuel, yoga, gym etc) we’ve been able to cash flow all of it and both have nothing on the credit cards. That’s a good feeling! 

Hazelnutty

Hey KittenKirst so glad to see you check in after such a difficult time and that Oscar's back with you. Sounds like the interview will be useful experience regardless of the outcome if you're planning a move. They should care as employers to leave a good impression with applicants as well as vice versa so with any luck they'll be willing to offer some helpful feedback if you aren't offered the post. My OH is hankering after a pressure washer! 

Kittenkirst

Hazlenutty- the pressure washer is pretty awesome, I am very much converted!
i got a little bit hooked with it earlier- we ended up doing the patio, the house brickwork, the bins, the windows and doors and all around the front door and porch! Now I’m trying to work out what we can pressure wash next 

Hazelnutty

That's *exactly* how she'd be - I'd have to keep the cats indoors 

Kittenkirst

Afternoon mortgage free wannabes.
This week Oscar decided to go walkabouts again for two nights- so relieved when he came home. We think he’s looking for his brother, as each day he runs round the house from room to room looking and crying. So hard to see, we’re trying to comfort him but it’s so hard.

We’ve been researching GPS tracking collars and ordered one this week- should arrive Tuesday- fingers crossed that he will wear it and we can start getting an idea of where he wanders to. That way if he goes for a long time again we can go to his frequently visited spots first to check he’s okay.

As the end of the month was drawing to a close We sent over £12.45 to the mortgage as a small overpayment to round the monthly amount up to £700.

weve now managed £734 so far this year which given we were going to try for £10 a week (due to career change plans) and then Covid meaning we want to retain cash in the bank, I’m pretty pleased with.

I also did a small ‘Tilly tidy’ to my savings after the tax rebate money went in- £39.79 which rounded the savings pot to a nice £6500. 

This weekend I’ve been trying to stay busy so have been cleaning the house and managed two coats on the shed so it’s starting to look grey. Still finding it super hard with Hugo gone, I always appreciated our cats and little family, so it’s still hard that he’s not with us anymore. I feel that we should have had many more years of his lovely ways, nightime padding of my arm, silly little run when playing and head boops. 

Im halfway through deep cleaning the kitchen then it’s time for a third coat Of paint on the shed. I think it will need four in total so it’s giving me a good workout