SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

Sistergold

Yes we will soon be celebrating @LadyWithAPlan’ house move, oh how time flies!

@lantanna for the longest time I had so much stuff everywhere me and the children all slept in my bedroom, some on the bed some on the floor as it was the only room which was tidy. You will get the bed set up soon. 

@Mumoffourkids, being in a new house can be the most expensive time and it will be nice to get as much done as you can before winter so no harm in holding fire on OP for now. I think it took me almost a year to start OP? It’s just nice to get a certain amount of work done, the work to be done does not seem to finish though so priorities. As you get through the list more will need to be added to the list. Also getting to do some of it yourself will increase how far the money will go. 

At some point I just had a burnout and just decided to stop works for a while! It can become a bit too much always having work done! 

Laddies you are all doing well though! 🎉🥳

Mumoffourkids

Sistergold said:

Yes we will soon be celebrating @LadyWithAPlan’ house move, oh how time flies!

@lantanna for the longest time I had so much stuff everywhere me and the children all slept in my bedroom, some on the bed some on the floor as it was the only room which was tidy. You will get the bed set up soon. 

@Mumoffourkids, being in a new house can be the most expensive time and it will be nice to get as much done as you can before winter so no harm in holding fire on OP for now. I think it took me almost a year to start OP? It’s just nice to get a certain amount of work done, the work to be done does not seem to finish though so priorities. As you get through the list more will need to be added to the list. Also getting to do some of it yourself will increase how far the money will go. 

At some point I just had a burnout and just decided to stop works for a while! It can become a bit too much always having work done! 

Laddies you are all doing well though! 🎉🥳

Thank you. I have just sent a £200 overpayment to the mortgage just to see what effect it has on the interest. However, I think as you suggested that I will hold off any further overpayments for now just until I have done some more work on the house. I am not afraid to have a go myself but things like electrics, plumbing and more substantial woodworks which needs to be sturdy is a bit beyond me at the moment. Once I have completely cleared the old house and that is gone, then I will start doing more bits in the new house. Starting with probably painting and getting carpets laid in two of the bedrooms. Old house clearance is progressing nicely and should be finished by Monday. Then I can concentrate on working out budgets for doing stuff on the new house. Although I am now working for the next four days in a row which is not usual for me as I only normally do three days a week.

LadyWithAPlan

Sistergold said:

Yes we will soon be celebrating @LadyWithAPlan’ house move, oh how time flies!

Laddies you are all doing well though! 🎉🥳

Ha - I am not convinced  - it may be 2024 ! Though the thought of starting those OPs sounds v exciting  - the £380-400k mortgage less so - that pressure is scary.
Ladies you are doing brilliantly

I am  doing my very fabulous  'women only' free DIY course - inspired by @Sistergold - this is beginners term - 10 weeks - (just did drill and jigsaw yesterday and feeling confident)  but there is also an intermediate and advanced  levels I am planning to do.
I am already thinking I want to buy a fixer upper as I don't like new builds anyway, my taste is very different so I will be redoing as soon as I move in - I have never had a white wall in any place I could decorate -  and the London new builds high service charges of £250/month etc so this DIY is definitely aimed at the next step of house buying

There is a London Excel home renovation exhibition in 2  weekends I have free tix to - I went last year and some really good talks on development, design, surveys etc so I am planning to go again - again educating myself
Link for free tickets if you in London area 
https://www.excel.london/whats-on/the-london-homebuilding-renovating-show-2022

lantanna

Like your thinking Lady with a plan. I’ve bought everything now that September will allow. I’ll be sitting on my garden chairs in the living room for at least six months til I save up for some settees. I want to own them when I sit on them, plus I need time to decide on exactly what way I want the room to look.

let’s hope the weather stays mild for as long as possible to keep our heating bills low. 

I’ve an electrician booked in to move a heating control, I need it moved to accommodate my wardrobe.  Thinking of being very minimal this year with the Christmas decor.  Def don’t want to be spending money on that this year.

lantanna

The joys of dealing with tradespeople has commenced. Had a guy round on Friday to mount the to and put a few other bits up.  He was really nervous and I don’t have much confidence in what he did.  Plus he’s left dirty marks all over my walls.  Lesson learnt try and go from recommendations from now on….. house is irritating me now as there is so much be done, plus I won’t be staying in it now for a week as I’m cat sitting.

EndlessStruggle

My buyers are nearly ready, I'm just waiting for a valuation/survey to be arranged by them.

They've had searches and we've done initial enquiries.

I've sent off all the paperwork.

I've had all the contracts for my purchase but we're waiting for probate.

Just got to get confirmation of mortgage porting application but my income has increased so I'm not too worried.

Luckily most of my trusted tradespeople cover my new house area so that's a relief. 

The new property is cheaper so I'll have enough from the profit to do most of what I want to do to the house.

Just have everything crossed that my buyers don't pull out.

Sistergold

@Mumoffourkids, yes things like electrics, plumbing is best left to the professionals also I don’t do heights even if it’s something I can do just for safety. 

@LadyWithAPlan, the renovations show sounds exciting! 

@lantanna, mmm Christmas is now just round the corner, how time flys! Yes low spending this Christmas season is the way to go. Not sure if I will manage that as I think I will have to increase what I normally give the children as prices have gone up. Tradesmen are a hit and miss for sure! 

@EndlessStruggle, good to hear that the sale and purchase are both progressing well! Lucky you are in same area to continue working with tradesmen you already know.

HELLO everyone, everything has been going well on my end! Mortgage payments going out like clockwork! 

Sistergold

Oh just an update. I seem to have mastered welding somehow and the kitchen units are getting finished slowly but surely! So far I have mounted four wall cabinets, namely over fridge w100cm x d67cm x h40cm,  right side of extraction hood h94cm x w90cm x d38cm, corner unit of h94cmx w90cm/90cm x d38cm and unit of h84cm x w90cm x d38cm. 

I have since added the boards for shelving, painted them and now left to do the side boards and wood for the doors. It has been hard and long but there is good progress now. Will start on the floor units soon. 

slm6002

You are so clever to make this yourself.  I am only just grasping the minor DIY jobs around the house so cant compete with this.  We will all be waiting for the final reveal of the finished kitchen

lantanna

Well done Sister gold, something I couldn’t contemplate. 

I’ve started on my Xmas presents already, got quite a bit in. Hopefully finish in November. I’ve been cat sitting in my parents house for a week so looking forward to getting back to my house and making some progress with the unpacking this week.