1 brick at a time

MovingForwards

It's coming down nicely 🤗

longway2go

Current balance 144,380.40 which means 380.40 and then 10% of my mortgage has been paid and I own my living room... Time to treat ourselves to some new blinds and carpet I think.
The next room I want to own is my kitchen and I need to get my balance to 128k to do that.
Onwards and downwards

savingholmes

Some great ops

FtbDreaming

Oooh I love the 10% well done! Ive paid 1% in the first 3 weeks but mine is tiny compared to most! 

I’d deffo treat yourself and make it more cosy for the winter with the blinds and carpet. I bought a little bouquet of artificial flowers today to go in the empty vase Ive had in my livingroom for about a year lol. I’m trying not to buy anything significant as I’ll be working through the house top to toe when I have saved enough to start the loft conversion. 

longway2go

Everything has been a bit up in the air here as we are potentially looking to move. We could do with a bigger garden for the children and would like an extra bedroom. We have booked in to see 2 different houses next week and are having a valuation in ours aswell. Today my oh has decorated our bedroom and I have been trying to clear clutter and entertain the boys. 
I still haven't 100% decided on the move as it does mean a bigger mortgage but think the lockdown has made me realise how important a decent size garden is to us as a family so we will see what next week brings.
We have a btl and I am toying with selling it which would pay the difference in mortgage or there abouts but not sure if it's better to keep in the long term so some more thought needed on that aswell. 

Today I have made an OP of 62.45, 32.45 was surveys and 30 something else so won't be using that towards my target for the month. 
Have batch cooked lunches and soup as hoping for a healthy week amongst some madness. 

savingholmes

You are making great progress. I think 2020 will be the year of the property reshuffle. We'd like to move too.

Grogged

There's no harm in looking and it will help you clarify what you're looking for actually need.
It'll also show you anything you need to do to help sell yours if you decide to move.

longway2go

Thank you both, I don't think I would feel so torn if I hadn't been actively pushing to clear the mortgage early but my garden did provide so much fun when I was little and its something I don't want them to miss out on. I can clear the mortgage early or pay the same and give them the garden and more space in the house.  The garden is also something I feel I would like for myself as the boys get older and I can't increase what we have unless we move.
I could clear the mortgage and then get the bigger house but that's years away and we would all miss out in tgat period. 
Sorry for the long post but it's helpful to get my thoughts out tbh. 

savingholmes

What you are doing sounds sensible. You can always downsize later. I think you have the 'bug' / commitment to being mortgage free - and can restart in the new place.

longway2go

We prepared our house for the valuation today and tbh I felt extremely proud of what we have and realised that I really do love our house. We have a lovely view, big living room and kitchen space.  The main driver of the move is a bigger garden for the boys but it would be a step up and therefore cost quite a bit.  I have been thinking about what is driving me to want things like an ensuite or downstairs loo when it's more to clean and tbh wonder if I am caught up in the excitement of the move more than the finished position. Oh and I talked and he said he really likes our house to so we have pretty much decided to try and do a little something in the garden to make what we have more fun/active for the boys. We are also going to get new blinds and carpet and maybe some other bits to make ours the home we love even more. 
We then had the valuation with the agent making comment about how lucky we were with the view and room sizes. It was valued fir a bit less than we thought which further cemented our thoughts. 
I then had a work meeting and things are changing which mean that my job will become less secure in the next few years which again made me want to stay put. 
We are booked in to see 2 places this week, so we will do that, because if we don't we will always wonder about them but I feel it will actually help us with the mindset. 
I feel that previously I have felt guilty spending money on nice things for the house. I now realise that actually it's ours to enjoy and with the progress we are making and money saved by not moving we can make improvements without the guilt.  I actually feel very at peace with the decision we have 95% made and am looking forward to doing bits to make it more enjoyable. 
Not much going on survey wise the last few days as I have been busy getting the house up together but starting to pick things back up again.