The Hen House Chronicles

MerryHen

Busy month over here in the Hen House so updating here kept dropping down my to do list 😅

So, first things first, start of the month numbers:

July Overpayment: £550
Mortgage balance: £69,356.40
Total Overpayments: £36,763.75
Term reduced by: 4.5 years
Term remaining: 7 years
July savings: £575 (which included £24 NS&I interest from last month)

DD's kid's saver matured and the balance moved into a lower interest account so that's all been moved into a NS&I junior ISA for her. The interest rate on her monthly savings account dropped from 4.5% to 4% but looks to still be the best kids' saving account so I'll continue saving into it and reassess in another year.

DH's old pension ported over to his current one so his pensions are all in one place. Next step is to contact HMRC about tax relief.

From next month our outgoings will be going up a bit. DD is starting with a childminder two days a week, she was due to start in April but covid. I am nervous about her going with all the talk of a second wave of covid but I'm also aware that if covid isn't going anywhere I will need to learn to live with it, and trying to work and do all the childcare isn't really working. I am also returning to counselling to work through some anxiety related stuff, the waiting list for NHS counselling is quite long though so I'm going privately which it's pricey. Hopefully it helps though. Anyway, with those two extra costs I might have to start employing a few more money saving ideas.

I have also enrolled on a distance learning access to HE midwifery course which I am quite excited about.

Training as a midwife is something I've been thinking about for such a long time, even pre-kids and DS's death, but I was put off by both the stories from friends and family who work in the NHS (including a close relative in obstetrics) and my own self-doubt. I think I'll regret not at least trying though so I'm going for it. It's been almost a decade since I completed my degree so to get back into studying I decided to try the access course, I can see how balancing studying, working and parenting goes and it'll also give me some recent study to apply to university with. I am looking forward to studying again, I really enjoyed university first time around.

Finance wise I didn't think I'd get any help with the access course because I already have a degree but it turns out I can apply for an advance learner fund which will be written off if I go on to complete a healthcare degree. If I don't go on to do a degree the loan will be added to my current student loan. Hopefully the former happens!

In other news, my decking has turned out really well. I'd planned to deck the whole area out back (about 6 by 13 ft) but once it was half built it actually looked pretty good so I left it like that and have used the extra timber to build some seating and I am now part way through constructing a raised bed. I'm quite proud of how it's coming along, the addition of a few outdoor mirrors and a couple of strings of fairy lights has made it into a really cosy space. I'll see if I can add some then and now photos under this post.

We're still no further with the house remodel. I have delegated contacting builders to DH who is yet to do actually do it. I think we're both dragging our feet over it a bit because we don't want the disruption of building work, but the downstairs space will be so much lighter and more usable once it's done. We just need to take the plunge.

MerryHen

Daytime decking


Nighttime decking



Before 😱

Grogged

Wow on all fronts!
I can see why you did the decking, so much better than "before" 😆
Amazing how much you've done in such a short time.
Good luck with course.
ATB G.

LeighofMar

Amazing decking job. Very cozy and functional. Enjoy!

teapot2

Decking area looks great as does the seating.  Hope you enjoy the course and manage the juggling, definitely worth having a go

Jessy103

Looks lovely, well done! 😀

wh_em

Fantastic job on the decking, looks soo good! You've worked really hard by the looks of it

greent

Oooh - love the decking - the seating that you've done with the extra timber is also fab!  

Grogged

Morning @MerryHen, how's things in your world?
Has your midwifery course started yet?
I hope you managed to enjoy your decking during the late summer, after all that hard work!
ATB, G.

MerryHen

*creeps back in*

It turns out I am the worst at this diary thing 😅

As is to be expected a lot has happened in the past three years, but the most pertinent news is that 

WE ARE MORTGAGE FREE!

We paid off the mortgage in June this year. Eight and a half years early, saving ~20k in interest (based on the original interest rate so probably more with current rates).

The house isn't a whole load different to before but that's for another post (hopefully not in another three years...)