Start at the very beginning.

Moneyfordreams

I cancelled my TV license when we moved 18mths ago. We lived in an hotel for nearly 3months and definitely had no TV for 3 months. They still make you pay year on year... I had to back pay from when I left which was super annoying. My arguments didn't cut it. Check it out first if you plan to stop and restart.

Very annoying re tax... I hate HMRC.

Brindlebabe

Happy Christmas everyone!
Back to work today, Christmas Day successfully navigated (largely thanks to dogs and wine). Didn’t spend too much this year (so far...) some money on work meal out, some on family meal out and a bit (but not excessive) on presents. Husband coming in under budget on the family meal largely because I told him he had a £25 budget and if he didn’t spend it all he could keep half the rest (leaving half in the account). He spent £10.95. Very proud.

The challenge this month is to make the pay Check last 5 and a half weeks!

One good thing is that £88/month ikea loan finishes this month (1 year after moving in) had been looking forward to adding that to mortgage overpayment, but now I need it to pay the taxman, never mind though. Still nice to cross one loan off the list!

Brindlebabe

Having a good day today!

Just cancelled V*rgin broadband £27/month deal about to expire. Have set up with P*st O**ice instead at £20.90/month. It's not so fast, but it will be fast enough! Was supposed to get a £65 A*azon voucher by doing it online but it didn't work. I phoned and mentioned it to the lady on the phone and she's taken £65 off direct debit for month 2 instead which is great! Feel proud of myself that I haven't put it off until too late and ended up paying too much until I get sorted.

Have also done a monthly budget. I knew it was going to be a tight one because January always is, but looks like I can still save £340 (minus MOT costs) this month which is great.

Mortgage overpayments still limited to £12/month at present but that's ok. Better than nothing, and we are building the savings back up instead.

Also - Ikea loan has one more payment. Also, have cancelled gym membership (£80/month for both of us) because we're not using at the moment and we can always run round the park or do yoga videos online for a bit. Probably will re-join the gym when there's an offer on if we're missing it. Also - have realised that council tax 2 months off (£145/month) falls exactly right to pay for my Glastonbury ticket (hooray) so that won't need to come out of savings.

I would like to overpay mortgage - that is the whole point of this forum!! - but am enjoying the progress anyway, and mainly, celebrating taking (and retaining) control of our finances.

Hope all is well with everyone. Happy post-Christmas weekend. :beer:

Brindlebabe

Feeling a bit down this morning.

My husband isn’t really happy in our flat. It’s too noisy and he doesn’t like the city we live in. He wants to go back to Wales where we lived before and to somewhere a bit greener and quieter. He resents the huge mortgage on what he thinks is an overpriced flat (it is overpriced, but in line with the city and housing market as a whole).

We have 1 year left on our fixed rate and it would cost £6000 to get out earlier so that’s not really an option. And my job is tied to this city for 3 and a half more years so when we sell this flat we’ll need to rent most likely until I finish this contract and get another job, which hopefully would be a permanant contract so a good point to settle, probably in Wales.

I don’t really want to sell, but I realise we have to leave the flat as soon as financially possible otherwise my husband won’t cope. I don’t know whether the flat will have increased in value, given that we will only have had it for a short time, we have put some double glazing in but not much else. It needs painting which seems like a massive chore if we’re just going to sell in a year and not get the benefit. Paying the mortgage seems much less motivating if we’re going to sell soon anyway and the savings on interest will just be redirected to estate agents and solicitors. I just feel really demotivated in general. Husband is trying to save so that we can ‘get out of here quicker’ but we can’t leave until the fixed rate is up anyway. In the mean time, we need to plan some treats like weekends away otherwise it’s going to be a very long year indeed... but going away isn’t cheap and to get abroad we need to pay for doggy care which seems like a lot of money so we usually don’t bother.

Suggestions welcomed.
Bb

Moneyfordreams

Could you rent out your flat and you rent somewhere else?
I think I've recalled you job (or what I think it is ) and I imagine it would be difficult in a training type role to move except at certain points.

Did your husband not enjoy the caf!? Is he isolated whilst you are busy?

Brindlebabe

Thanks,

I think renting out would be possible, it’s certainly a rentable flat. I think we would need to change the terms of our mortgage which I guess may cost. After paying an estate agent to run it I’m not sure we’d make much money but should be able to cover the mortgage costs, so it’s an option, but to be honest, we don’t need more complications in our life so if it was faff free we might go for it but I think we’d rather get rid of the flat all together if we’re not living here.

The cafe fell through for various reasons. Have been ups and downs since then but he’s actively looking for voluntary posts again, in fact he’s got plans to go to a community garden/allotment today and an interview for something else next week, so I’m hoping that will work out. I think he feels trapped in the flat a lot, and still lacks some purpose.

Moving my job would be hard. But probably not impossible, but I’d really rather not move, it would compromise my training a bit and I really want the stability of staying in the same training rotation for 5 years! I’m just starting to get to know people and it would be disruptive to move (not to mention the application process again!).

Anyway, we’ll see. Ups and downs. We celebrated a year in the flat yesterday and reflected on some of the good things about it, so not all gloom. Will try to keep you updated.

Oh - and car passed mot. Only £40. Miraculous!

Thanks
Bb

Brindlebabe

Morning,
Things looking up a bit.
Husband seems a bit happier about things than he was last week. A few sunny days have made a lot of difference and he’s got an interview today for a voluntary post helping a good distribution charity which he feels positive about. He’s got plans to go back to the community allotment and do some vegetable growing tomorrow too which sounds very good for his soul!

Had a lovely day on sunday. Went for a long walk with husband and sister and brother-in-law and took a picnic so was a spend free day.

Made up for it yesterday by buying flights to Spain for 5 nights with 2 of my old friends next month. I’m leaving husband at home to look after the doggy. I really need a proper break so I’m looking forward to it hugely. Feel a bit guilty about the cost (it’s only £70 so far for train, flights and travel insurance, but accommodation and food and drink may add up I suspect!). Plus I still have to pay for the Glastonbury ticket. But you do need something to look forward to, so I’m trying not to feel too bad. Plus since Cancelling my gym membership is a big saving but I will miss the yoga classes terribly so I am making sacrifices..

One possible good thing is the horrible £2500 tax bill I got before Christmas is possibly the result of my workplace from 2017 continuing to tell hmrc that I work there, when I definitely don’t. So I’m hoping I can sort that out and the taxman will drop the bill.. I’ve set up a £100 monthly direct debit so would be really great if I could cancel that! Fingers crossed. Just need to spend probably about 3 hours in phone calls first..

Hope all is well
Bb

Moneyfordreams

Well done on booking your holiday. :T

Brindlebabe

Thank you.
It’s not as easy as it sounds!
I’m very glad it’s booked though,:j

Brindlebabe

Husband started as a drivers mate for food distribution charity yesterday. It went really well and I think it will do him the world of good. Plus it’s a great charity to support and, as a perk, he gets to bring home 5 items of food from the warehouse at the end of the day. So yesterday he brought back 2 bags of rice, chickpeas, baked beans and a beautiful cauliflower. So will help reduce our food bill, and if he can be out and about more and find some purpose in things it might just keep him from wanting to sell the flat quite so soon! He’s supposed to be going to the local community allotment today so hopefully that will go well too. Only problem was he came home to dog vom and mess in the house. But we’ve just changed her food and she’s had a funny tummy since so I don’t think it was related to her being on her own as much as a funny tummy. So next week she’s going out in the morning before he goes (usually she likes a lie in!) and hopefully won’t be a mess to come home to!

No progress on the tax bill... have tried to call my previous workplace but the staffing department don’t seem to pick up. I’m on nights next week though so I can sit on the phone all day if I need to.

Life’s a bit hard just now, but lots to be grateful for. Had about £300 still in the account come payday, and if we stay on budget this month should have £600 to add to that! Even despite my Spain trip. I’m keen to stick it all in an overpayment but husband wants to build up the buffer a bit more so we’re doing that first. Mainly I’m just proud of us spending less than we earn ! This hasn’t always been the case.

Have a good Wednesday everyone
Bb