Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

Watty1 said:

just wandered in to see how you were doing.    It took you a while to close the joint account.  Good job though. We closed ours earlier this year and one remains £600 overdrawn (gasp).   The bank frustratingly locked me out of banking so I couldnt pay anyone until I reduced it.  They seemingly were not bothering Mr Watty.  am sure you managed yours better than that

Our two had a total of £13 so not too much.  There had been more money in it for a while in case we had forgotten about any annual bills etc and then I guess covid hit and I didn't really see a rush.  He asked last week if I was getting my affairs in order as I broached the subject of divorce, it is not like he couldn't hve seen it coming but I do wonder if my delaying (not intentionally) hasn't helped.

I am ok, I have been busy so a little tired but I am taking back control for the rest of the week, I have things to do but no imminent deadlines and I am more important than those right now!  Off to make a doctors appointment as that is THE most important thing.

ajmoney

I come on the forum every day and read other people's posts but don't really feel I have much to add to my own.  All my monthly outgoings etc are carrying on as always, once Novemebr/December arrives I will start to look at my plans for next year as I assume they will need to be tweaked.  The only thing I would like to do is track my food and fuel spending a little more as I am unsure if the current budget is realistic.

Everything else is ticking along nicely...to a point.  I still haven't started any decorating because I am STILL waiting for various workmen to do their bits, I guess with the colder weather on the way it might have to wait a bit longer now.  I had hoped to decorate my living and dining room so it would be to my taste for winter but I am trying not to let it bother me.

Watty1

ajmoney said:

  He asked last week if I was getting my affairs in order as I broached the subject of divorce, it is not like he couldn't hve seen it coming but I do wonder if my delaying (not intentionally) hasn't helped.

You left it a while before raising that subject.  I do sometimes wonder if me pushing my separation of assets didn't help and if it had all drifted then maybe it would have been amicable.   You do seem to have managed your situation very well. I know at times it has been hard for you but high five.   You are doing well 

ajmoney

Watty1 said:

ajmoney said:

  He asked last week if I was getting my affairs in order as I broached the subject of divorce, it is not like he couldn't hve seen it coming but I do wonder if my delaying (not intentionally) hasn't helped.

You left it a while before raising that subject.  I do sometimes wonder if me pushing my separation of assets didn't help and if it had all drifted then maybe it would have been amicable.   You do seem to have managed your situation very well. I know at times it has been hard for you but high five.   You are doing well 

We were both in different situations so it is not worth comparing.  I think if lockdown hadn't happened I might have mentioned it earlier, if I am honest, it hadn't crossed my mind.  I have a habit of seeing things through though.  I haven't raised it again but do need to resolve it, for me to move forward if nothing else. 

I don't always feel like I am doing well, just muddling on through, so thank you for saying x

ajmoney

I have been struggling quite a bit recently, I am getting overwhelmed by quite a lot of things and not always what I expect.  I had lunch with a friend and she has encoraged me to tackle some of those things.  This morning I made a list of everything that is overwhelming me and am going to slowly work my way through the list, breaking it down into the things I can easily do to try and change things. 

The first thing I did was buy a new laptop today as I am fairly sure mine is going to give up soon.  It certainly doesn't like group video calls and I have a couple of courses that I need some of those apps for so decided to bite the bullet.  It is a laborious task moving across some fo the websites/apps etc but I am doing my best to only move over what is essential rather than just because it was on my old system.  Next on my list is to get in touch with some builders to see if they can come and help me find the source of a smell that has been in my house on and off for over a year.  I think I probably wrote about it in here and never really got to the bottom of it.  I went away at the weekend and when I came back after the house had been shut up for three days it was all I could smell.  It is really getting me down but I have never known who to get in touch with to try and sort it out.  My friend suggested a builder and hopefully if they can't help they will recommend someone who can.  I have had a phrase going round and round in my head today, if you do what you've always done, you will get what you've always got.  By doing nothing I am not helping things, it might take a long time to ease some of the overwhelm but I feel a little happier that I am at least trying to do something.

Money wise, I have been sticking to all my plans and working towards my financial goals for the year, but often to the detriment of me and what I need.  I want to get my mortgage under £80k by the end of year which I am track for, I am considering taking the pressure off the other goals and spending on money for me, it is kind of needed.  I am not going to go crazy, but it is a marathon not a sprint after all and it is only worth me working towards these goals if everything else is ok.  So what if I don't have 6 months easily accessible cash, I have 4 and have a pretty secure job.  I have decided I am the most important thing, what is the use of having money sitting there if it is to the detriment of my mental health?  This is a ground breaking way of looking at things for me and not one I am used to so I am on unchartered territory at the moment...bear with me!

ajmoney

As usual with a lot of these things, how much gets done is kind of in the lap of others.  I have emailed a builder to ask if they would be able to come and give me their opinion and have asked for quotes from 2 window companies so far to replace my double glazing, or at least find out how much it will cost.  To balance out the lack of control with tradespeople, I have been tidying up the leaves and fallen twigs and branches in the back garden today.

ajmoney

Quote number 1 for windows £12267, I have no idea if that is good or not.  I have another company quoting on Sunday so time will tell.  Apparently to get today's quote I have to commit by Sunday night...talk about a no obligation quote

ajmoney

Quote number 2 £8416 with the possibility of it being closer to £8k by me spending £4.99.  My ballpark figure with no reasoning whatsoever was £7.5k so I am very tempted.  I have until Tuesday to make my decision and am expecting an email quote before that to make another comparison.

ajmoney

I paid the deposit for my windows on Tuesday, they are costing slightly under £8k.  I was happy to go with the company I have signed with, but I have been very honest on the feedback form to say the guy who called me on Tuesday was extremely pushy and that it doesn't go very well with their no obligtion strap line on their website!!!

This morning a building surveyor has been round to give me some advice on the smells in my house.  He has suggested 4 things:

1. The moisture in the joists under my house is close to the level that can create rot.  He suggested extra ventilation but after looking at the air vent around my house thinks there are enough.  I am going to ensure they are all clear and see how things go.

2. Check the extractor fans are working efficiently in the kitchen and bathroom.  We did a quick test of the one in the bathroom and it didn't do anything so I have been in touch with my electrician to ask him to come and check them.

3. Lifting and replacing the carpets may help to get rid of the smells in my house.  I know this, but don't want to lift them all, especially going into the winter and have a cold house until I am ready to decorate each of the rooms.  I guess I need to do this at some point but I am unsure when.

4. Make sure the house is warm, especially the bedroom that has the worst musty smell.  I don't want to keep my heating on all the time as I feel I can't justify the cost although all of this does get me down so maybe I should justify it for the sake of my mental health.  This is, afterall, why I am trying to get these issues rectified, so it doesn't keep getting me down.

I did ask the guy what happens if I do all these things and the smells don't disappear and he couldn't give me an answer

I fear this is still going to be a long process that may or may not cost me more money.  I live in hope of a time when I feel really happy in my house and look around at what I have created...

ajmoney

I am trying to do a bit of research for someone who is trying to rebuild their credit score.  They have got one of the rebuild credit cards, which says it can take up to six months to see an improvement in the score.  If anyone is reading this, do you know if it makes a difference if they pay the balance on the date the direct debit is set up or if they pay it when they have the money?  They are using it for the work expenses and each time it is paid into the current account they are transferring it across and I was wanting to check on their behalf if this is a good thing or not.

In my own money world, I need to review my finances and see where I am spending my money as I seem to be short each month.  I don't know if this is just because prices seem to be going up and so I need to rebudget or if I am spending more in some areas.  I think I need to look at what my focus is going to be next year, I still want to OP and get rid of the mortgage as soon as I can but I want to get the balance right.  For so long that has been the focus for my money but I want to make sure I am enjoying the journey and doing things along the way.