Easter 2025 I’m coming to get you!

South_coast

That's still a lot more info than my council are giving. All ours are saying is that they'll get to it as soon as possible, but definitely by the deadline of 30/09 😳!

Hettyhound

Oh my, life has really caught up with me!  I can’t believe where the time has gone.  So sadly I lost my uncle in early April and then about 3 weeks later my auntie was diagnosed with cancer.  Initially they weren’t going to do anything (she’s 88) and the tumour is only 3cms.  However we went to visit last weekend and my cousin told me she’s had assessments to see if she is fit for surgery; she’s not your typical 88 year old.  The  anaesthetist has said he will operate but they are seeing the consultant next week so let’s see.  Work ticks along and bits get paid off the mortgage.  Obviously the interest rises have to be taken into account for my plans but at the moment the only fix is 2 years and only 1% below the normal mortgage rate so not worth it.  The new rates kick in on 1st January 2023 so I’ve got a little time to reduce the capital down before then, it’s currently sitting at £36, 835.  I’ve tried to do some costing based on a standard base rate of 4.79 which is 0.5 above where it currently stands.  In other news my son is having treatment for Retained Reflexes.  I’d never heard of them but was so fed up at work one day following a meeting at school (we are applying for a SEN in October) that a colleague mentioned it.  Anyway I came home and googled and it described my son exactly.  Long story short had him assessed and he has some retained primitive reflexes which are affecting several areas of life.  We started a daily exercise programme at the end of June and following the initial getting worse before better stage which happens he is definitely showing improvements.  Relatives that hadn’t seen him since Easter said they could see a change. We are back for re assessment in 2 weeks and should get further exercises to help different areas such as reading, writing, working memory.  He still has outbursts but they are shorter and less intense and thankfully he seems to have stopped throwing things at me.  Things have improved so much that today I have booked a pre Christmas treat for us.  I have always wanted to take him to London to see a show; Mary Poppins is booked!

savingholmes

I am so pleased your DS is getting treatment. Well done for persevering. Not easy getting help when you need it.

My condolences on the loss of your uncle. Hope your aunt is fit for surgery.

On the interest - perhaps look at money transfers (to a CC) or a loan - you might get better rates with the mortgage being small. One of the ways of achieving the same thing without a charge is to take a zero percent long term spending card and gradually increase the balance on that - and pay off your mortgage with the difference. It's what Martin would refer to as 'wrong product' right outcome type scenario - like booking a package holiday to somewhere because it was cheaper than flights alone... 

HTH

Hettyhound

Well good morning everyone!  I know it’s been ages.  So updates;  auntie not having surgery but at the moment has no symptoms from the cancer which is good, financial squeeze same as everyone else (more below), the treatment for my son’s retained reflexes does seem to be having an effect.

with regards to my son, we have just been for a second review and are booked in again before Christmas.  His Moro reflex had completely gone by the end of August but this week when he was tested it has come back a little (but not as bad) which is quite normal.  His reading is improving and flowing better and the way he holds his pencil is vastly improved, he now has a pincer grip and rests his hand on the paper whilst writing which helps with the control; he refused to do this before no matter how much he was told it would help.  I also have him on a vitamin and mineral programme which will take at least 6 months to build up the missing minerals never laid down during pregnancy.  Slow steps but improvements and relatives who don’t see him very often have noticed a big difference.

in mortgage news my re mortgage date is 31.12.22.  Already had a letter from the bank about it but as there is a reasonably small amount left (should be around £33,000) I’m going to go onto their standard rate and then I can overpay as much as I want.  The rate I’m being quoted at the moment is 5.04%.  My monthly payment will actually reduce slightly as I’m remortgaging at a lower balance than before.  Childcare prices are going through the roof from January, a day at holiday club is rising from £28 to £35 and before and after school are seeing similar %age increases.  Once I get moved on universal credit from child tax credits my payment will drop by more than 50% as I’m one of those who will be worse of.  All in all I’m going to be doing some creative  budgeting and meal planning 😢.  My sealed pot was opened last week so Christmas is covered with those savings although I have told Alex Santa is feeling the cost of living squeeze; his answer was yeah but he’s magic so he can just magic the stuff; sadly not my young innocent boy.

Now the clocks have altered I am allowing myself to put the heating on if needs be although not during the day (I have loads to blankets, hot water bottles, socks and an oodie!). Also if I’m feeling cold while wfh pushing the hoover round does two jobs, warms you and cleans!  Car booked in for mot on 9th November and hoping no rail strike on 10th December as I’ve got everything booked to go to London for our theatre trip so🤞for both of those.  So now we are in the run up to Christmas I’ll be watching all my pennies and not getting swayed by offers in the supermarket and marketing schemes.  We won’t starve and the emergency fund is there for a reason should it be needed.  Right off to alter all the clocks and make some breakfast, think about lunch and tea and make a shopping list for tomorrow evening as it’s pay day finally tomorrow.

Moneyfordreams

Great to catch up (I took some time away too). It sounds as though the program is really helping him. The mortgage rate is awful  Does the mortgage standard rate mean it can go down too if the rates drop?   

I hope you manage to get to see the show

savingholmes

Sorry about the mortgage rate - but great to be so close to mortgage free. 

Glad the treatments are helping your son and that your aunt is feeling ok.

Jessy103

Glad to hear DS is doing better 🙂

Hettyhound

Thanks everyone.  DS has been anything but darling today    However his latest exercise she told us to do on an evening as it has a calming effect and I think it has; maybe just that he's tired but hopeful.  I put the heating on tonight as I was concerned it might come on one morning and may not work properly and I'd be there at 6am trying to sort it out.  All good and thermostat will get turned down again as its currently not too bad temperature wise.  No idea how much anything will cost this winter regarding the heating.  I have cancelled my British gas service contract as I didn't feel it was value for money.  I've got a local recommendation for a service engineer so putting aside £10 a month instead of £23 for servicing and I have my emergency fund for a reason (although boiler only 7 years old).

savingholmes

I think that is a good call on boiler service

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Morning Hetty
Nice to read your updates. 
My mortgage fixed rate deal ended in July and i have done the same as you are thinking - went onto the SVR so i can overpay as much as i can manage.
Hope you get to the theatre next month