SLLM (Single Lady Large Mortgage)

Sistergold

Oh hello @JennyJukes, oh what an inconvenience about the washing machine?! Settling in is really fraught with ups and down and plumping issue of some kind is a classic one and often urgent. Hopefully you will find a good plumber who will turn up and sort it once and for all! 

Yes no need not to go for new role which sounds exciting and good luck! 

X

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello ladies, 

Hope you are having a good weekend so far. Last night I went to the pub and came home to watch one of those fly on the wall docu programs about bad landlords and nightmare tenants. It was stuff of nightmares! Ever so grateful for having a good tenant at the moment and equally having a good landlord in the home I rent too! 

I don't have any exciting financial updates - still quietly plodding on. This month I'm looking like it will be 4 months on the trot I have managed to have a bit extra for 'real' savings rather than going over budget which is awesome. Next couple of months will be big months of big dips into savings as my partner is taking semi retirement so I'm having to use savings to tied us over until his pension payments kicks in and we get a handle on what our new budget will be. 

@JennyJukes well done on being a dab hand at DIY, good skills to have. I'd profess to being more of the 'apprentice'. In the home I rent the grout could do with being replaced in the kitchen and bathroom & I am considering taking on the task. 

JennyJukes

Congratulations on the savings @Queen_of_the_Hive it'll be Christmas by the time my bills all sort out but Christmas is a very busy time for our family.  My birthday in December, 1 nephew end of November and 2 nephews also in December, plus Christmas for all of them and the other nephew!  

I have someone out Monday to install my washing machine, he said the stopcock does need replaced but he can patch it up when he does the washing machine and it will be fine, he says it's not an emergency and wouldn't recommend replacing it unless I'm doing a bigger job because he will need to shut off the whole supply to the neighbour which probably won't please the neighbours, and any water leak can be managed by an emergency plumber.  I'd rather have had it sorted to be honest everything in one go especially since it took me so long to get a plumber out.  My last 2 just didn't turn up or contact me??

So I gave EON my opening meter readings, there are 2 meter readings and they put them round the wrong way, so when I gave new meter readings the right way it looked like my readings went up drastically.  They've sent me a £1400 bill for one months use.  I spent Mon-Fri trying to fix it, being placed on hold, told they can't see the pictures of my meter readings (even though someone emailed me to say he got them and updated my account), telling me to call back the next day, telling me they'd call back.  Still not sorted.  And it's all their fault in the first place!  Oh and to make a complaint I have to call them??!!  I answer calls for a living myself so I don't have the time to call every day and be placed on hold and they're not open on weekends.  I'm completely frustrated. 

I hope you all have a much better week than me!  The sun is out at least so I'm going to try enjoy it and relax 

Sistergold

@Queen_of_the_Hive, well done for being able to save in a trot, really good feeling and yes only to dip into the savings again! Birthdays do come thick and fast sometimes and I have similar scenario end to beginning of year. 

Before divorce it was husband in October, two children in November the Christmas comes in then 1 child first week of January and another child in February! I just felt there was no breather! Well now I don’t have to worry about October as I don’t give Mr Ex birthday presents! Very lucky on the rental front for you for sure as that can be a challenge it seems! The older you get the more difficult and annoying it can become! Since you are happy with where you are fingers crossed you will be able to stay there for ad long as you need to without being asked to move! Classic reason being landlord needing to sell! 

Have a lovely week, xx

Sistergold

Oh @JennyJukes, I pray to God that you can sort out the bill sooner rather than later? They do make it difficult to resolve readings which need to be changed downwards. Did that one time gave wrong numbers and when I got a bill in the thousands had to sort it out in a panic and it was not easy as they needed emails and pictures. They cancelled the exorbitant bill in the end but it did cause me a bit of stress as bill was over £3000 at the time. 

Have a lovely week! Xx

JennyJukes

Hi ladies, how are you all?

No further forward with my energy bill so I raised a complaint and will see where that gets me.

I made my first overpayment today !!  only about £50 but hey it's something.  Even £50 per month will pay my mortgage of 2 year 11 month earlier!! I could pay more but I want to enjoy my money too.

Still such amazing weather here but shame I'll probably spend this weekend plumbing in my own washing machine... :-) lets see how that goes!

RachP87

Hi All

I’ve only just started my mortgage, I moved in on 29th June - my first payment hasn’t been officially taken out yet but I had allowed for it to come out in July so I have overpaid this already. Didn’t manage any extra as there’s a hell of a lot of work needed doing and after paying for the plasterer etc I thought I’d keep any extra for any issues that I haven’t allowed for - at least until I get paid at the end of this month anyway!

I do have an emergency fund but I don’t like dipping into that as I don’t want to become reliant on it, so would rather use what money I have to deal with any small issues that may arise.

my mortgage balance scares the hell out of me if I’m honest. I have been married before, I got married very young, long story but basically he left me with a lot of debts. I worked extremely hard to clear all of that and I’ve never been in debt since, so the thought of owing £185K makes me feel sick!!

but I am going to start overpaying as much as I can whenever I can, I’ve set it up for auto £200 overpayments every month and will then use any extra to overpay. 

I’m glad I’m not the only single woman doing this - I feel quite proud of myself managing it on my own and the only downside is I don’t have anyone to share my pride with lol 

JennyJukes

Hi @RachP87 I started my mortgage 11th June first payment was 1st July.  Is this your first home too?

I am in the same boat, fortunately I didn't get married (almost, twice lol) but I got left with no money and no belongings.  We had a joint account and he took all the money the very night I left and unfortunately as it was in joint names I had no challenge and it wasn't worth fighting.  He said I "abandoned" him (he was abusive and I went into a womans refuge) so he deserved the money.  He also used it as a way to try make me come back saying I had no money and he would graciously let me sleep on the sofa and held my belongings hostage in a similar way.  Few months later he bought his own house thanks to taking advantage of me.  It took me 4 years to save for my own deposit and to replace all my belongings and whilst I sometimes get upset seeing how much longer it took me to do it compared to him and the fact I could have done it sooner if it wasn't for him, I know that I'm happier than he is and ever will be.  This was the cost of my freedom and I've went from homeless with no money to my own 2 bedroom property so I'm pretty proud!

Sistergold

Hello @JennyJukes, very annoying that the utility bill has not been sorted. It’s good though that you have put your complaint in writing. Well done for getting into the swing of OPs as every little helps and the OPs do quickly accumulate! It’s really good that £50 a month will reduce your mortgage by almost 3yrs! Tell us how you get on with the plumbing! Xx

Sistergold

Hello @RachP87 wellcome to SLLMs! You don’t have to feel alone in this world of single lady alone with a large mortgage! Congratulations for being able to get a mortgage alone and well done for being able to move into your “new home”! Please always pop in so we know how you are getting on! It’s good that you have set up a regular OP as this will quickly accumulate and go a long way to reducing your mortgage earlier! It’s really exciting that more and more single laddies are becoming home owners! 

I must say in my first year I was quite scared about being on my own with a mortgage but I don’t think about it much now! The mortgage feels more Uber control the more OPs I make!  Xx