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  • I would say keep it all in cash. I know it's exciting to think about being mortgage free but it does make one get tunnel vision to a certain extent.

    You and OH should definitely think of the money as being for the deposit but keeping it in cash you'll find there's a bit more flexibility if there's some total and utter disaster (long period of ill health, car has to be scrapped, tree falls on the house and insurance company drags their feet about paying out for repairs) in the future.

    If everything is wrapped up in the house then you may have to go into debt for pay for emergencies and then face the extra paperwork of trying to remortgage to release equity etc. This money is separate from an emergency fund (like my maternity leave savings were) but can be accessed put to a very expensive emergency if necessary.
    "You won't bloom until you're planted" - Graffiti spotted in Newcastle.

    Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind - Doctor Who

    Total mortgage overpayments 2017 - 2024 - £8945.62!
  • themadvix
    themadvix Posts: 8,748 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Photogenic
    Also, you’ll need cash to actually make a purchase, so definitely worth having a good chunk available - solicitors, survey etc plus stamp duty.

     With the quilt- until it falls apart? Definitely depends on quality though. I was quite surprised at you needing new bath mats the other month - ours are 12 years old and still going strong. We are using a duvet that Mr MV’s mum gave us lightly used 10 years ago and it’s not good quality and I would love to replace it but will buy something high quality and keep for a long time when we finally get a bigger bed - there’s no point buying a new one now. When it needs washing, we use our sleeping bags for a couple of nights!
    Mortgage free 16/06/2023! £132,500 cleared in 11 years, 3 months and 7 days

    'Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.' Ernest Hemingway


  • QueenJess
    QueenJess Posts: 4,496 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Definitely keep some cash.  It's surprising how expensive moving is sometimes.. you forget all the little things like moving vans, having to buy some new furniture because it doesn't fit, DIY etc.
    I keep quilts until they fall apart as well.  I would love to replace mine with a better quality one, but will wait until I have to.  I have one of those 4+4 togs, so I know come the warmer months I can wash a duvet, then when it's dry swap it out for the other one.
    I have two sets of sheets, duvet covers and pillowslips for the bed and one set fell apart after 10 years, although the other set is still going after 11 years.  I'm sure they will fall apart quite soon.  It was quite dramatic as I was putting the duvet in the cover and my hand just went right through!  It must have got quite thin over the years!
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  • Jessy103
    Jessy103 Posts: 2,242 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Thank you for the comments. You are of course right about keeping it in cash just in case and for moving fees. When DH has paid the car off, he will still have around £6k left in savings, so it's a good start. I am getting very tunnel visioned with paying off the mortgage, I think it's because I'm getting desperate to move. I bought this little bungalow because its all I could afford on my own at the time but now I'm starting to resent it and everything it doesn't have, when instead I should appreciate the fact that we have own little place when other people aren't so lucky!

    Re the quilt and bath mat, maybe I'm buying replacements too soon then! They should really start sticking labels on the front of these things saying 'This bathmat will last you 10 years', 'This quilt will last you 20 years' and of course 'This "insert item here" will see you out!' 🤣 (my parents bought a new divan bed last month and my mum said 'it will see us out' 🤣)
    Mortgage Balance as of July 2025 £14,900.
    Starting Mortgage Balance (June 2019) £72,000.
    Aiming to be mortgage free by my 40th birthday, June 2026!
  • newgirly
    newgirly Posts: 9,335 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Mortgage-free Glee! Name Dropper
    Glad you are getting better jessy 😊

    As for the advice, I’d say it’s more sensible to keep the cash as the others have said, however if it was me I’d probably want it off the mortgage too 😆
    MFW 67 - Finally mortgage free! 💙😁
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 95,562 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    How lovely to get flowers  :)
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.

    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.
    ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • Cheery_Daff
    Cheery_Daff Posts: 17,144 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Aw, that's very thoughtful of her, how lovely.

    Glad you're healing well. I think of you every time I fill my hot water bottle now (although apparently it hasn't yet stopped me putting boiling water in the darn thing! 🤦‍♀️)
  • Jessy103
    Jessy103 Posts: 2,242 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Oh cheery! Please do! I hate the thought of this happening to anyone else 😔
    Mortgage Balance as of July 2025 £14,900.
    Starting Mortgage Balance (June 2019) £72,000.
    Aiming to be mortgage free by my 40th birthday, June 2026!
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