Keeping our options open

savingholmes

Sorry things aren't going as well as you hoped. Perhaps it's time to review your mortgage over payments against your whole budget and agree a new plan that allows for these other things too.

becky170

I'm not having much luck with my car. Last week something hit my windowscreen and cracked it and now my check engine light has come on. The windowscreen has been fixed and it's booked in to be checked over the in garage next week. It is 11 years old so some maintenance is to be expected but really hoping it's nothing major. It's just got to hang on to when DD starts school next September. Anyway as it's out of action I'll be back on the bus to go to work...which I'm relieved about as being stuck in traffic all the time was stressing me out. 

We had an ocado delivery last night and I've been guilty of stocking up on bung in the oven M&S meals to make this week easier. I better look at the damage to the grocery budget tonight   

It's not long until half term now. We've got a trip to the zoo booked so really looking forward to that as it's about 3 years since we last took the kids. Fingers crossed for good weather 

becky170

I've added up our grocery spending to date and we're up to £295.17 so far this month. I better keep a eye on what I'm spending for the rest of the month if I'm going to stick to my £500 budget. It should be doable though.... although those are usually my famous last words before I go spectacularly over budget 

savingholmes

Good luck with your grocery spend. Meal planning and getting food delivered helped me

becky170

Well my car had it's trip to the garage and unfortunately it will cost more to fix it than the car is worth, so it looks like it's time for a new car. We have over 20k in our savings so we can afford it, but I think we have decided that we'll stop mortgage overpayments for now and focus on saving for new cars/bathrooms. I'm sure we'll come back to being mortgage free wannabes sometime in the future though

FtbDreaming

Aww you’ll soon be back. We have to reprioritise our finances all the time that’s why it’s a journey. There are some months I’ve only op £9 to round down to the next £10 but the goal is still there just the goalposts get moved now and again! 

Hope you get a nice bargain of a new car and come back all guns blazing xx

savingholmes

Fantastic savings level. 

On the car - I once bought a pre-registered car and saved £4K on the list price. It had only ever been in the hands of the dealer. I'd have saved even more if I had bought 1 year old or older car as more of the depreciation would have already happened. I'm not sure if I would ever choose to buy totally brand new again...

becky170

savingholmes said:

Fantastic savings level. 

On the car - I once bought a pre-registered car and saved £4K on the list price. It had only ever been in the hands of the dealer. I'd have saved even more if I had bought 1 year old or older car as more of the depreciation would have already happened. I'm not sure if I would ever choose to buy totally brand new again...

Yeah we'll get a new to me car. Hoping to spend around 10-12k so looking to get one a couple of years old. Would like a 1 year old one but the second hand car market seems quite expensive at the moment. 

becky170

FtbDreaming said:

Aww you’ll soon be back. We have to reprioritise our finances all the time that’s why it’s a journey. There are some months I’ve only op £9 to round down to the next £10 but the goal is still there just the goalposts get moved now and again! 

Hope you get a nice bargain of a new car and come back all guns blazing xx

Thanks FtbDreaming. I don't think I'll manage to overcome the urge of paying the odd £5 here and there so hopefully there will still be a trickle of overpayments 

savingholmes

How much mortgage do you have left Becky?