Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

ajmoney

It has certainly been a day of 2 halves. I decided to walk into town this morning as the rain wasn't too heavy...bad mistake. My waterproof coat is no longer waterproof and I got soaked to the skin so spent the afternoon under a blanket warming up while trying not to fall asleep. I jumped everytime the rain got really bad, glad I hadn't been out in that but checking my leaky gutters and seeing where the water flows in my garden.
Tonight was swim training and I had the best time. It was hard work but I was in a lane with well matched people and we really made each other swim hard. I am absolutely buzzing.


Tomorrow morning off before a long 2 weeks at work without a day off. Hoping the weather will be kind so I can get out on my bike.


In money news, I won a battle of wills with the energy company today who now admit they owe us money rather than the other way around so finally we will may be able to get our money back and close another thing from the other house. Last battle to fight is with the mortgage company, I will buil myself up for that tomorrow.

ajmoney

The energy money finally got refunded yesterday. I am currently on the phone to the bank to deal with a mortgage payment on the last house that is yet to be refunded and then we will be all sorted money wise I think.

My tree came down yesterday and has created so much light in the garden :j everything should be removed from the garden by the end of next week so I can start putting some plants in.

I have decided not to do any internal decorating until Easter next year at the earliest. I want to make sure there are no issues with weatherproofing/heating/damp etc before I spend money on the house. There are still smells in the house I am not happy with, especially in my main spare bedroom so I will wash the curtains to see if that helps. All the walls have that vinyl wallpaper on so I think I may use a weak cleaning solution and wipe down all the rooms to see if that helps at all. I am hopeful the guttering issues will be done over the summer so that should be one less thing to worry about.

ajmoney

The money shuffle has been done, it didn't seem to take very long at all this morning. I am switching I$As later today as my current one is about to drop dramatically in interest rate. The next two months are likely to be a bit money heavy but then I am hoping to put more money to savings regularly.

ajmoney

How much different is your energy usage in the winter compared to the summer? When I moved house the energy company kepy my mnthly payments the same even though I have moved to a smaller house. After a meter reading this week they have reduced them from £76 pm to £57 however this does not reflect the rise in costs when I put the heating on in the winter. I have been in touch with them to ask and they have suggested sumitting another reading in 3 months to see how this are but that still is too early. I doubt it will be the amount it was before but I am keen to try and make a sensible assessment of it.

Watty1

My energy doesn't seem to go down at all on eleccy but our gas bill would normally fall completely only ... I forgot to order the gas so it didn't this summer ..but theory sound on that one.

ajmoney

Not really sure what "it" is but today I am just feeling "it". I spent the weekend across where I used to work seeing different people so it may just be being myself again. It is also my wedding anniversary tomorrow so I think I just need to be kind to myself over the next few days, another of the firsts and 2 years ago I certainly didn't think we would be where we are.


Off to cook dinner, I can't really be bothered but I have swimming later so need the energy.

ajmoney

I have 3 days off and haven't got a clue what to do with them. My back is still weak from raking a few weeks ago so I can't do anything heavy in the garden but I might try and potter about and do some tidying out there.

Question about strawberries, how do I know when they are ready? I have some in my garden and am unsure when they will be ready to pick, they are not the same size as the ones in the supermarket so are probably not ready for a little while yet.

Work on the house, if all the workmen become available when they say they will the initial work should all be done by the time I go on holiday mid-August. The roofer hopes to start in about 3 weeks weather dependant and once I receive the final quotes from the garage companies it seems they will be around the same time. I am also getting some black out blinds fitted in my bedroom so I don't have to sleep with an eye mask and he is hoping to have those ready in about 10 days. By then my house will hopefully be watertight and secure.

ajmoney

Back a lot better today, I have still been careful but hopefully I am out of the worst of it. Will stick with the swimming as it is the only thing that stops my back hurting and will be strengthening at the same time. I have a guy from the triathlon club coming round shortly to help set up a turbo trainer that I have bought from him so I can start doing some more time on my bike. Glad I will be able to do some short stints to see if my back can cope. It will also mean that even if the weather is rubbish I can do this in the house, I am quite excited by this as there are a few events I would like to try in the autumn and next year but I need to spend more time on the bike first.
I have also joined an outdoor swimming group on fb after doing my first open water swim on Wednesday. I may be going along to join in with a swim tomorrow, scary as it is in the sea rather than in a loch but it should be good fun and I will get to meet more people.

While I intend to decorate my house next year I am thinking of doing my porch over the summer. It is very small and won't take much effort but will be a nice welcome to my house and should finish off the rest of the external works that are being done as you can see into it from the road. It should only take a couple of days and I am quite excited about doing it, small amount of wall to be painted, window sills and skirting to sand, stain and varnish and an off cut of lino and it should be done. I have some ideas for artifical plants but need to make sure they will survive in the extreme temperatures in there and have an idea of a light fitting I would like in there. I picked up some paint charts today to start getting some ideas.

ajmoney

I wish I wasn't such an early riser! I have already tried out my turbo trainer for 30 mins, harvested some of my strawberries, pulled up quite a few weeds and dead headed my roses and now I need to decide what to do next :rotfl: if you hadn't guessed I am not very good at sitting doing nothing. I could do more in the garden but I am being midful of my back so am only doing short easy bursts. Ironing next, sort stuff for my inaugural sea swim and head that way. It is a nice temperature today but I am not sure how that equates in the sea, I have been advised to pack for a winters day for afterwards :eek:
I guess maybe there should be something money related in here...I haven't spent any money yet today :j and the swim is free :j

ajmoney

My strawberries weren't very nice, I will try again but I think I may need to give up on this year's crop and either work at cultivating what is there for next year or start again entirely.
Today's job around the rain showers is to cut back a shrub that has grown wild and is the height of my guttering so it is clear when the work starts in a couple of weeks. I have been trying to find out what it is but my plant app isn't being very helpful so rather than pruning sensibly I am just taking it right back. I also need to double check the side of the house is accessible as I have a tree that is growing in the way a little.
I am going on a summer pruning workshop tomorrow which focusses on fruit trees, they are next on my agenda and it will be good to know what I am doing rather than having to rely on other people.
My garden is definitely a work in progress as there is so much to do but I am enjoying the changes.
Another loch swim this week and a possible sea swim tonight, loving this new pastime.