Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

savingholmes

24% savings rate is immense. Good that you are able to increase it still further. When are you due to go on your trip?

ajmoney

savingholmes said:

24% savings rate is immense. Good that you are able to increase it still further. When are you due to go on your trip?

My holiday is at the end of August.  I am using the holiday savings account for any hotel stays and fuel for visiting family etc as they are out of the norm.

I am not sure how far I can push from the 24% and the figure is a bit false as most of it is mortgage OPs but it is saving me money in the long run and the interest rate on my mrtgages is more than my savings accounts so it makes sense.  Already since December my monthly payment has been reduced by £16 due to my OPs

Humdinger1

AJ well done!  24% is huge.  Are you enjoying your new life?   Always read your diary but don't always post as life  often gets in the way.  Onwards and upwards Humdinger 

ajmoney

Humdinger1 said:

AJ well done!  24% is huge.  Are you enjoying your new life?   Always read your diary but don't always post as life  often gets in the way.  Onwards and upwards Humdinger 

Yes, I still have wobbles but I am generally enjoying my life. 
I am starting to wonder if this virus will affect my holiday even though it isn't until the end of August. Glad I paid for the flights on my credit card but really wishing I had paid the deposit on there too for the holiday part... 

scottishlass

ajmoney said:

I am not sure how far I can push from the 24% and the figure is a bit false as most of it is mortgage OPs but it is saving me money in the long run and the interest rate on my mrtgages is more than my savings accounts so it makes sense.  Already since December my monthly payment has been reduced by £16 due to my OPs

As I'm normally a reader rather than a poster I thought I'd be brave and ask a question - when you say your monthly payments have been reduced is that actual or in theory as usually OP and taking off the term as oppose to OP and reducing the balance is better in the long run (saves you more interest) Hope that makes sense.

ajmoney

scottishlass said:

ajmoney said:

I am not sure how far I can push from the 24% and the figure is a bit false as most of it is mortgage OPs but it is saving me money in the long run and the interest rate on my mrtgages is more than my savings accounts so it makes sense.  Already since December my monthly payment has been reduced by £16 due to my OPs

As I'm normally a reader rather than a poster I thought I'd be brave and ask a question - when you say your monthly payments have been reduced is that actual or in theory as usually OP and taking off the term as oppose to OP and reducing the balance is better in the long run (saves you more interest) Hope that makes sense.

I asked some advice on that a little while ago. While it doesn't make too much of a difference on this smaller mortgage when I start OPing the larger one I don't necessarily want to commit money. My monthly mortgage amount has reduced in actual terms and the term has stayed the same but I am OPing up to the original amount. This mortgage will be gone by the end of the year and at that point I will reassess what I do with the next portion of my mortgage.

This all seems a little mute with the interest rate change today, I may be able to get rid of this small one even quicker. 

ajmoney

Anyone else feel like the world has been turned on its head? 

We had my nan's funeral yesterday, it was a lovely service although I wasn't a fan of the vicar.  While it was very emotional I was able to stay quite strong.  The wake after was a great time to catch up with my wider family.  There has always been a little bit of a strange divide which was driven through with a bus when my grandad died, it was no better yesterday but I had a great chat with some of my cousins.

I was meant to be working today and tomorrow but it was postponed yesterday, the downside of being a performer to audiences that sit in close confines.  I was expecting to drive from the funeral and stay in a hotel last night ready for today but when the news filtered through it made sense to forfeit the £50 room and drive all the way home last night so I can have 2 full days off.  I had to go shopping this morning as I had nothing in expecting to be away.  In these crazy times I didn't even know what to buy, I haven't gone crazy but for once I think I have bought enough for a weeks meals; time will tell.

So what do I do with the next three days?  I am going for lunch and a catch up with a friend today.  Due to one of my fellow run drectors at parkrun now having to self isolate I have taken on that role tomorrow, I can't help but think this might be the last one for a while with the Scottish government banning gatherings of over 500 people from Monday.  I am hopeful that they continue because we don't use the emergency services at our events.  Sunday there is a possibility of some cycle training with the triathlon club so I am waiting for those details.

I have entered 6 sporting events this year, am shadowing as an official at another 4 and have my holiday.  One of my events got cancelled yesterday and while most of the others are under 500 people I don't think this is the end of the cancellations.  With a lot of my work likely to be cancelled or postponed too I am concerned about how the next few weeks/months are going to pan out.  Everything I have put into my life (especially the exercise) has been a huge benefit to my mental wellbeing and without these to focus on it might be tough to stay in the place I have got to.  I am hopeful my wild swimming won't be affected but if we all get asked to stay at home...

Money wise...I sent £3 to my ISA this morning as a bill was lower than I expected.

ajmoney

I posted a gardening job on one of these websites where tradesman get in touch and didn't get any interest so they offered to transfer the job to another.  I have had someone approach me to come and give a quote but everyhting is sceaming at me not to entertain it.  He has given his name and the company he works for and when I google the company it comes up as one that was dissolved 5 years ago and when I search for his name the only information that comes up is through this website.  There are no pictures, only one rating which was six months ago and very basic and his profile seems to cover everything without really detailing anything.  After all the hassle of trades people over the last year my instinct is telling me not to ask for him to look at the job. 

What is your opinion?

Suffolk_lass

Definitely not. I would speak to a couple of neighbours with nicely kept gardens (especially if they are a bit frail - they are your best bet). Or a civic garden with someone working in it who has been properly trained. Ask them if they want any extra work? I think I suggested checking your Village/location's FB page and ask for a recommendation. Lots of experienced home gardeners do a bit on the side having finished their careers and needing to do a bit to top up occupational pensions before they get their state pensions (like me!)

ajmoney

Suffolk_lass said:

Definitely not. I would speak to a couple of neighbours with nicely kept gardens (especially if they are a bit frail - they are your best bet). Or a civic garden with someone working in it who has been properly trained. Ask them if they want any extra work? I think I suggested checking your Village/location's FB page and ask for a recommendation. Lots of experienced home gardeners do a bit on the side having finished their careers and needing to do a bit to top up occupational pensions before they get their state pensions (like me!)

I have done this today and am waiting for replies.  A couple of friends have also commented on my own post they are trying to remember the names of people.  I have taken the ad down on the website.