Rawr_'s Saving Diary

ValiantSon

rawr_ wrote: »

I'm mindful that I have a couple of good months for saving coming up as we have our council tax free months,

Are you aware that you can pay your council tax over 12 months? It may help with budgeting to do so, or not, depending on how you budget, but I thought I'd draw your attention to it just in case. Not all councils make this clear, but you are entitled to ask them for a 12 month payment schedule.

rawr_

ValiantSon wrote: »

Are you aware that you can pay your council tax over 12 months? It may help with budgeting to do so, or not, depending on how you budget, but I thought I'd draw your attention to it just in case. Not all councils make this clear, but you are entitled to ask them for a 12 month payment schedule.

Thanks ValiantSon, I'm aware - I think the plan was if we struggled at all then we would ask to switch to 12 months, but me being me I quite enjoy the 'free' months so I can put that sum in a savings account! I fear if its a smaller amount of saving each month, it does tend to get lost or dwindled away! But of course, it depends on what works for everyone! Ours is a hefty £160 per month, which is quite a blow, but we can manage it fine.

I know I've been quite quiet, I feel updating weekly has been working well for me, but have had a busy week! We went to look at a house on Saturday, and loved it. Unfortunately, they declined our offer - in my opinion I think they are being greedy - but no matter, I haven't let it upset me and will just keep my eye on it.

Fatbritabroad

ValiantSon wrote: »

Are you aware that you can pay your council tax over 12 months? It may help with budgeting to do so, or not, depending on how you budget, but I thought I'd draw your attention to it just in case. Not all councils make this clear, but you are entitled to ask them for a 12 month payment schedule.

I never knew that. I kind of like the two 'free' months but useful to know

Alexland

Fatbritabroad wrote: »

I never knew that. I kind of like the two 'free' months but useful to know

I like the money in my bank account earning interest for as long as possible so don't see the advantage overpaying for most of the year when it's the same price either way.

ValiantSon

Alexland wrote: »

I like the money in my bank account earning interest for as long as possible so don't see the advantage overpaying for most of the year when it's the same price either way.

Agreed. In a sense these "free months" are actually costing people because they lose potential interest over those two months, so rather than being "free months" they are "extra cost" months.

My gran always said, "Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves."

rawr_

It's February already :eek:

January was a good month for me, saved more than I thought I would! I feel I'm falling into 'not spending unless needed' thing quite well. I've found it quite hard in the past for some reason, but I guess it's different when you're saving for some you REALLY want!

We viewed a couple of houses this last week. Last Saturday we fell in love with a property, but our offer was declined. We feel the vendors are being a little greedy, which I guess is the nature of selling a house, but we're leaving it. The estate agents !!!!ed us off to no end though. It was listed as a 3 bed, for offers over £170,000 - so we offered over that amount. A few days later, they have listed it as a 4 bed (because theres a room downstairs they use as a bedroom - I don't agree it should be listed as such) and are now asking for offers over £175k... I think we just felt a little misled with the whole thing, so we're forgetting it and moving on, hoping something else comes on the market that is similar in the near future. We're not desperate or in a rush, we've had our eye out since August, and in waiting have gone from a 5% deposit to a 10%, so we're in a better position than we were. Plus, the longer we wait the more we can save I guess!

ValiantSon

Cheeky of the estate agents and the seller. A room downstairs is not a bedroom! Maybe I should put my house on the market as a 7 bedroomed house by claiming that the reception rooms are bedrooms. Absolutely ridiculous. I suspect that this strategy will backfire on them as people will look at it and conclude that it is a three bed with sellers who you don't want to deal with.

rawr_

ValiantSon wrote: »

Cheeky of the estate agents and the seller. A room downstairs is not a bedroom! Maybe I should put my house on the market as a 7 bedroomed house by claiming that the reception rooms are bedrooms. Absolutely ridiculous. I suspect that this strategy will backfire on them as people will look at it and conclude that it is a three bed with sellers who you don't want to deal with.

I know right. I kind of hope it does backfire on them. They have an open house today, and I'm guessing the estate agent will ring me again next week so I'll be interested to know whether they do actually get any better offers on it. I think maybe some people that don't do their research on houses previously sold down that road may pay more, but I hope they don't get blindsided. It does make me think though that I probably wouldn't want to deal with them now, even if they did accept a lower offer in the future...

*little.squirrel*

Ugh, how frustrating! But, yes, in the meantime you are saving lots more towards a deposit. Positive thinking.

Alexland

rawr_ wrote: »

I know right. I kind of hope it does backfire on them. They have an open house today, and I'm guessing the estate agent will ring me again next week so I'll be interested to know whether they do actually get any better offers on it. I think maybe some people that don't do their research on houses previously sold down that road may pay more, but I hope they don't get blindsided. It does make me think though that I probably wouldn't want to deal with them now, even if they did accept a lower offer in the future...

Yeah if a seller isn't committed to a transaction and is still on the lookout for a better offer you don't want to get too involved. There are plenty more properties out there to find. I have always asked if the seller or buyer is happy before instructing our solicitors to start work.