The Cottage Dream

Downshifterella

Great news on moving to the Shire Rounders and enjoy the fizz while you pack!!

Oh dear re washing machine I hope u get it sorted soon! Xx

Runders

HI all,

I'm working from home today whilst I wait for the washing machine repair man to show up. It's been great this morning, I got up, tidied all of the downstairs and chilled out with a coffee after before firing up the laptop at 9am. I currently commute 2 hours a day to work, and although I am sure that isn't much compared to a lot of people, but I find it really takes it out of me.

Once I have moved I will be working from home for the majority of the month and I am concerned about loneliness, are there any homeworkers on here with any tips?

I am actually in a bit of a panic about moving and this has been fulled by a completion date being set, with exchange happening at the end of this week. I am a marine biologist, moving to the middle of the bloody country - what the hell am I thinking?! I think a lot of this stems from the fear that I won't be able to find a new job. But, I haven't been able to find a new job where I am currently either. Part of the problem is that I am a bit niche now to the sector I am currently in, and so if I want to go elsewhere I have to start at the bottom on very low pay - I'm on my own and so this isn't really feasible. I could have stayed where I am with my £83k mortgage and paid it off some more to take a low paid job here, but for some reason at the time that scared me, and now not doing that scares me - my brain is exhausting at times!!!

Anywho enough of my whinging. I hope you all have a good wednesday!

Runders

Afternoon all,

Thankfully the washing machine wasn't too painful a fix at £78.

My current mortgage is an offset and the one I am going to isn't as I wanted the security of a fixed rate on such a big mortgage. So I've been casting my eye about for a savings account for it to go into and found the Marcus account as advised by the MSE savings page. I am just going to wait for the last payment on my current mortgage to come out on the 1st, and then I will transfer the money in my offset over to this.

I have also been thinking about a stocks and shares ISA - does anyone have any recommendations? I thought I had better start to think a bit more about retirement as I have been terrible and only been paying 2% into my pension for the last 10 years or so :eek:

I thought I could split any side hustles I come up with between investing for retirement, mortgage OP and fun money. It may mean only a little goes into each each month, but it's better than nothing!

helibob

I think, unless you're planning to retire massively early, paying into a pension is better than an S&S ISA, as you get the government uplift. I assume you're not in a work pension scheme (partly because if you are, you should have been auto-enrolled at a higher rate) but if one is available to you then it may be worth going for that, especially if your employer does matching contributions and/or salary sacrifice.

Runders

helibob wrote: »

I think, unless you're planning to retire massively early, paying into a pension is better than an S&S ISA, as you get the government uplift. I assume you're not in a work pension scheme (partly because if you are, you should have been auto-enrolled at a higher rate) but if one is available to you then it may be worth going for that, especially if your employer does matching contributions and/or salary sacrifice.

Hi Helibob, thanks for the response and advice. I am in an employer pension, but I have had it since 2010 and so I don't think I had to pay in the higher rate that the auto enrolment pensions have. I pay in 2% and my employer pays in 4%. I should actually look to at least match my employer contribution really. My pension has been a complete oversight on my part, and as I'm late 30's I probably really should pay more attention to it.

Runders

Morning all,

I hope the Monday blues isn't too bad for you all.

I spent a very satisfying evening editing my Spreadsheet of Doom :cool::rotfl: I know some of you all have fancy daily interest sections on yours, and this can then be used to show you how much interest your over payment saved you. I need to sit down and figure out how to get a section like this up and running too, as I think it will be a huge motivator.

I made an over payment to my current mortgage this morning to bring me down below £83,000. I know it's a bit futile when I am about to change to the new scary mortgage, but this is the last time I will probably be able to make a big payment like that for a long time, and so I wanted to savour the feeling whilst I had my morning coffee! The small things in life ey!

Anywho - after payday all new pots and budgets have been primed and this is the 1st month that I really have to stick within them, so I've got to get my MSE big girl pants on.

Have a lovely day all.

Runders

Morning all,

I seem to have gotten into the routine of reading through diaries and updating whilst I have my cup of tea in the morning.

I had the payment through for one lot of books I sent off and £6.10 has been moved into my pot for overpaying the new mortgage when I have it. I am not sure what is happening with the other lot I sent to a different company - I may have to chase it up. I currently have £106.10 waiting in my over payment pot for the new mortgage. I am hoping to add a few more pennies to it with FB sale groups etc. I really need to crack on this week in the evenings with sorting things out and getting them listed.

I stupidly forgot to ask that the mortgage product fees were not added to the mortgage as I have the cash to pay them, so I am going to pay that amount as an over payment straight away and get it gone.

I am hoping that the last bit of missing paperwork for my purchase will turn up this week and we can finally exchange. There is no going back then and hopefully my brain will stop worrying about if I am making a mistake or not because there will be no backing out! Does everyone else worry like this when they do something new, or am I just a prize plonker?!

Right - I'd sadly better get ready to go to work. pfft

Have a good day all.

Runders

Morning all,

I've just been playing around with my Spreadsheet of Doom and worked out that my daily interest on the new mortgage will be £10.36 :eek: I'd at least like to get rid of that 36p as soon as possible and at least have a nice whole number :rotfl:

I had an email from the other book company to say that the payment is on the way, is should be in my account in the next day or so so that's another £8.38 into the over payment pot for the new mortgage. I've also had some work expenses back this morning - but I accounted for them out of last months budget and so am going to split them between the over payment pot and my holiday fund

I need to stop by the post office on the way to work this morning and pick up yet more parcel tape - So many boxes to tape up. My friend gave me some great little sturdy ones yesterday and so they will be good for my left over books etc. I may try and cull down the left over ones a bit more and see if any of the sites are interested in them.

Have a good day all!

Tropically

Runders, I am so glad to see you are back!! I am sorry to hear about the distress you had for a few months and I'm so excited for you for your change. Well done for getting rid of some belongings, it makes moving easier and is a nice little sum. Good luck moving.

LeighofMar

I think the scared/nervous/excited/doubting crazy feelings are perfectly normal. House purchasing is a huge undertaking in the best of circumstances. I hope you are able to find a job youre comfortable with. I work from home 100% but I am an intense introvert so I have no problem being home all day, every day. Maybe once you settle in, you may get to know some neighbours, make friends and can meet for coffee or lunch so you feel like you have a balanced social life.
It will take awhile to know the budget for the new house in the first few months so don't fret too much about not knowing all the numbers right away. This is an exciting new chapter in your life. Enjoy your Shire.