SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

lantanna

I am also really looking forward to summer and getting outside and getting bits done, i'm booked in to have my patio extended at the start of April and I'm looking into shed options.  The back garden needs sorted and sown and a lawnmower bought. 

Hoping that any garden costs will be minimal after I get the first summer out of the way. 

I have really noticed a sharp rise in the price of food over the last month and I need to be more conscious going forward of my food waste. 

I'm off to Tenerife for a week in 5 weeks so going to try and run down the cupboards and freezer a bit until then and also hopefully shift a few lbs.

Sistergold

@lantanna, Tenerife, happy holidays! Yes summer is always buzzing and it gives you the sense and feeling that it’s time to do garden and home improvements. When it’s cold, well not much can be done maybe just painting inside, even then it’s best to lie low during winter. I also need to upgrade my garden. I have been working on making myself appreciate gardening as it’s good for my body(productive exercise) and also good to improve sense of well-being as you are connecting with nature. 

Let’s see how we all do with our gardens this summer? When I do get the energy and especially money I would want to lay some grow through paving on the front yard. This is just for extra parking when needed. I like the idea of gas to still grow on the parking areas, Like this 👇🏾

Friday1989

There's some great home improvements happening in this thread! I've just spent a lot of money on fitted cupboards under the stairs. It's a huge space so now I have loads of storage. I'm looking forward to getting rid of the rubbish plastic drawers and fake leather ottomans. Next on my list is the bathroom. That's going to be very expensive! I have no intention of moving anywhere anytime soon (or maybe ever) so it will be worth it. 

I had a cheap mini break to Belgium. Flixbus with a 20% new customer discount cost £24 return (with a free meal on the ferry each way!) and a cheap hotel for two nights was £55 each for me and my friend. Belgium itself was quite expensive but the travel and accommodation being £80 meant it wasn't too bad overall. Flixbus go to a few places in Belgium and France so I might use them again. They go to lots of other places in Europe but I think the length of time on the coach means it's not such a good deal. My next trip is Japan in April. I'm extremely excited! It's only taken 18 years to get there 😂

I've sorted through some books and DVDs and am selling them on ziffit. It's only about £20 in total (lots only get 20p) but every little helps. I need to do some ebaying but I find it so annoying. 

lantanna

I love the look of that paving! 

Im in Northern Ireland so my travel options are a bit more limited unfortunately less good deals to take advantage off.  The work I need done in my garden is going to cost me £3600 in March/April plus about £600 on a decent shed and lawnmower so I'm really hoping that will be it for a few years.  I'll be happy to put the work in to maintain it.  

If its dry this weekend I need to do some weeding.  
Im finally seeing the end of the boxes and things that need to find a home in the house as well now so I feel like I can get into a proper cleaning schedule now too. 

Sistergold

@frankersBri, that’s really good progress having storage done under the stairs. Makes so much difference to have where to store things in general! The more storage the better! I also now have so many plastic containers which I had bought to store kitchen items as I just did not have enough cabinets with the old units. Also had some shelving bought from Amazon which I used temporarily in the kitchen. The plastic boxes are now piled up outside. I just saw recently some pictures of them being used as planters when I was looking for what to buy to use in the garden as I struggled with slugs and snails when I plant vegetables on the ground. So I am planning to use the plastic storage containers for planting this summer see if I can harvest something without too much competition with the snails. 

@lantanna, it’s good that you are almost done with unpacking, I think it took me almost 4 years to finish unpacking! I just had to much unresolved stuff which I had to slowly get through. I only have a bit still in boxes but hope soon I can look through and find a place for everything. 

lantanna

It feels so good to get to the end of the unpacking, you've just made me feel like I've actually accomplished something as I felt the 6 months it has taken me was really bad. 

Good idea about the plastic tubs for planters - might use that one myself! 

I need to get the weeds out of the front lawn this weekend - just hoping it is dry to be able to do it. 

Sistergold

Hello ladies. Hope you had a nice productive Weeknd. @lantanna was it dry Weeknd your end? Here it was a bit wet not that I saw much of it as was doing the plastering course which I have now completed. 

Mortgage update. As we would all know mortgage rates went up and so my monthly payment will go up from March. Just received this letter! 

This is even lower than what it will go up to when my product expires in June! What a fix we find ourselves in! Wonder what the payment would have been if I had never made overpayments? Well onwards we go. I for one am looking forward to summer hopefully we can get some nice free sunshine! X

lantanna

Yes bring on the sunshine, it was wet here and blowing a gale!!! Exactly I bet your so pleased about the repayments 

Friday1989

A bit of warmer weather would be lovely! 

Last month was really good for saving, to the extent I had to check my bank account multiple times because it was around £400 more than I usually save. I think probably because I didn't buy any gig tickets or pay for flights etc. I'm all paid up on my summer gigs so I'm not expecting any huge sums going on entertainment in the next few months. 

So far this month spending has been ridiculous. Nearly £300 spent on clothes, although I expect at least £150 will be returned (I bought multiples because of size/fit). I usually spend around £100-£150 a year on clothes and shoes but I have gained weight in the last year and have to accept I need new clothes. 

The worst part is how much I'm spending on going to see family in the UK. £150 for a return train ticket to see my dad! I've opted for a £10 return coach to see my sister to save £50 (3.5 hours total vs 2) but I can't handle 5+ hours on a coach to my mum's, and it would still be £50! 

The person who owed me a large sum of money has finally paid me back after years  I now have enough to do the bathroom so I need to get planning that. 

I've paid a total of £37k off my mortgage in 2.5 years so that feels good, but still such a long way to go I absolutely hate owing money (I've never bought anything on credit) I'm still getting my head around owing so much! 

Sistergold

@Friday1989, £400 extra into your savings wow that’s a lot! Congratulations are in order £37k paid into mortgage! After living through covid where we missed family, lost family and could not see each other the way we should I think it’s okay to allow the money spent on visiting family and friends to be honest! Life can be too short and best show the love while we can! Doing the bathroom with the money you have gotten back is a good idea, good to upgrade the house when we can. Are you going to do the bathroom yourself?