Getting a mortgage and then becoming mortgage-free!

Kittenkirst

April Fools day and we are still in lockdown restrictions! Hopefully not for too much longer now though as restrictions start to ease off and more people get their vaccine💉

Yesterday finished with another payout from Prolific of £6.40 so sent that straight over to the mortgage too. This meant that for March we ended on a lovely £436.35 which is loads more than I anticipated/ budgeted thanks to all those sales of bits and bobs, surveys, that SIP scheme closing & cashback. 

We heard back from Redrow and unfortunately we can’t visit the already built version of the house; so we got the tape measures out and tried to work out the space using the floor plans. We have then decided to definitely get the island (with the seating area for 3) that matches in with the kitchen and the silestone countertop; so it was ordered and paid for last night. I now just need to shuffle some pennies over from my savings to cover my half- girlfriend sent her half last night already. So that’s another £2315 spent on the house eeek  

Bank holiday weekend is incoming and I cannot wait; we have kayaking booked for Sunday which I am so excited for. We are doing a 2-person kayak which should be entertaining. Will be lovely to do something outdoors and active; Ive really missed activities like kayaking/climbing/hiking nature spots/hot yoga in lockdowns!

Kittenkirst

Oh nooooo!
Our local food waste hero has messaged to say she is stopping for the moment; she is struggling with her health a little with migraines so is giving up her slots Such a shame as it was working out very well for us as she was literally five minutes around the corner, so the late night listings we could get fairly easily (even when it was snowing!). We’ll still be using Olio but it means we probably won’t get as many items in the evening as don’t really want to be driving out to get items where possible (as that does defeat the object of helping the environment/ reducing our spends).

I have listed up some clothes and shoes onto Olio so hopefully a few bits will be leaving the house; and last night I collected some tinned fruit salad and chickpeas that we will make use of (I love homemade hummus!). We do really need to get cracking with the packing this weekend so hopefully can list some more free items and maybe some bits for sale too!

themadvix

I appreciate you may not want to take it on at the moment, but could you become a food waste hero? You get to keep 10 % of what you collect. 

Kittenkirst

I have chatted with the girlfriend about doing it as I want to get more involved.

My only concern is that at the moment I don’t have much fridge/chilled space and didn’t know if that would be an issue. We’ve said we’ll definitely do it at least once a week when we’re at the new house; but not sure whether we can now with limited space at ours (then moving to the in-laws; although they do have two fridges so that may work )

Kittenkirst

After thinking about it some more, I’ve signed up. Completed the induction quizzes at lunchtime, however there aren’t any collection slots available at the moment. Will keep on checking in the volunteer section and see if anything comes up. May as well start somewhere

37p Tilly tidied to the mortgage after the council tax came out this morning; work has been very taxing today. First time Ive felt out of my depth but then after speaking with someone it became clear it wasn’t me at all and I was doing the right thing

Glad its the weekend now!

themadvix

😁 good point about the fridge space - especially as you seem to benefit from evening collections - I was thinking more of morning ones which are more bread focused.  Think we’d have issues with an evening collection too. If a one-off collection comes up (covering for someone) it might be a good way to test it - I just missed out on one of those the other day and was a bit gutted as I thought it would be a great way to see how it all works without too much pressure!

 Glad you were reassured about work after speaking to someone - it sounds like a really good company!

Kittenkirst

Madvix- youll have to keep me updated with when you get your collection and how it goes: I’m all signed up and will just keep a look out for collections- i guess its great that all the slots are taken at the mo- means more is being shared out

And yes, the company does seem fab; a little disorganised in my area but they know this and that’s one of the reasons for my role to start making it consistent and more documented/ organised (which I love!) I’m getting stuck in and actually finishing each day feeling good; which is very different to the old job thankfully

Kittenkirst

Happy Easter Sunday to anyone celebrating.
Today we have been adventurous and been out on the River Soar kayaking; the place we have previously had kayaking lessons/ sessions are doing kayak hire so we booked in for a dual one and spent a lovely early morning paddling up the river and back again. 
I had made a list of things Ive missed whilst we were shielding (pre vaccine) during the pandemic and kayaking was top of the list so the girlfriend booked us in- best £15 each we’ve spent in a while. 

The lady who asked to buy the ring (offered £400 when Ive listed it as £600 - new is valued at 1269) and was meant to come last week, said she’d come this weekend but didn’t say when, messaged this morning at 7am saying she would come today. Mildly frustrating as we had plans (and we don’t often have them given the pandemic!), anyways I said we’d be home after such a time but to let me know in advance to make sure I’m in, but again I got no response again.
Ive just messaged her now to see if she’s still coming and she’s said she came and no one was in!!! We went for an hour walk at tea time tonight as we hadn’t heard anything and wanted to get out into the good weather. Odd that she didn’t message a time, or message to check we’d be in. Argh!

Anyways she wants to come tomorrow after 5pm; I have another lady coming at 10am to try it on. Girlfriend reckons I should let her know, but I think if it goes tomorrow morning then that’s all good and I’ll let her know then. Maybe a little harsh but I honestly don’t think she would show at 5pm anyways.

Counted up our loose change this morning -£15- and paid it in at the post office and overpaid it to the mortgage. Also sent the £5 from our first Vinted sale to the mortgage. Alongside the Tilly tidies for a few days we have now sent £20.55 so far to the mortgage this month.  

Checking survey apps I have 
* £17.10 on OnePoll (need £25 for payout)
*£4.20 on Prolific (need £5 for payout)
*£7.23 on OnePoll (need £50 for payout....!)

And then we have £138 in Quidco cashback tracked that should clear over the next 12 months (fingers crossed!)
Whilst packing more of the wardrobe; Ive pulled out 20 items that I think can go on Vinted/ EBay so that’s my job for tomorrow; photographing and getting it all listed asap, alongside some more box packing!

South_coast

Definitely agree the ring should be first come, first served - why should you show courtesy by pre-warning her when she's shown none to you?!

SandyShores

Hope you sold the ring Kittenkirst.  I agree with South_coast about not forewarning them.  If it sells you can let them know.  I think about a third is good for secondhand.  I've got a diamond necklace to sell - purchased it for £750 about 10 years ago, so if I can get £250 I'll be happy.  Did you use FB selling?