The second hurdle - Nichelette v the huge mortgage

sunshineli

I’ve just read your diary from the beginning and subscribed. You and your DH have done so well career wise in just a few years, and prioritising paying off your mortgage whilst having such high childcare costs is really impressive. You should be really proud of your progress

Nichelette

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81889116#Comment_81889116

Thank you. That's really kind of you to say. I think a lot of the time we get tied up with things and don't stop to look at what we've actually achieved.

Pleased to report huge potato bag had some gems in it this month. I do love a massive potato 😅. They're good for jackets and easier to peel if need be. I hate peeling potatoes..

So I forgot that we put £500 into vanguard, and I've booked us a few days on the IOW mid April as DS1 has an inset day on the Monday after easter holidays, and it's just after his birthday. That was £290. Ferry is usually about £80-90ish return but even with 25% off is about £150 so we're already down about a grand 🙈. I was hoping I could put tesco vouchers towards ferry but can't as it's double discount. I'm thinking of swapping them for restaurant vouchers to use there on one of the days instead. Am a bit of an idiot for booking before checking ferry, but done now and kids will enjoy. We went just before DS2 turned 1 and they loved the ferry 🥰.

Also remembered my car is due MOT soon. It should be okay fingers crossed.

Have had another low level virus this week. Feel like this is my permanent state now 🙃. On Friday afternoon we're off to London again to get DS2 replacement splint.

Can get 4.2% through Halifax so I've secured for now whilst we see if it lowers. Broker got 4 so it's slightly higher than that still. There is another option of 3.74% with a £999 fee upfront which is slightly cheaper monthly overall. I'm considering this rather than having to go through conveyancing to change provider as it's only slightly more overall and I do like the ease of having mortgage and current account from same bank. I'm hoping if BoE drop base rate it might impact positively 🤞🏻. Time will tell I suppose!

debtfreewannabe321

Hope the virus disappears soon. I am like this so often I feel it's my permanent state of being sometimes. Vitamin c &d have helped a little though and after some blood tests coming back with low vitamin D it was obviously needed for me 🙈. Hopefully the sun will come out soon and warm up and we all be feeling a bit healthier and more energetic.

The trip to the IOW sounds fun! And I think a good price. I've never been there before, it's on my list to do along with Many other places 😃..

Nichelette

@debtfreewannabe321 thank you! I definitely think it's partly the time of year. Everyone at work seems to be permanently ill too! I should take more vitamins. I have a load of spatone sat in the wardrobe which I should fish out. I don't always take it in the morning if I have coffee because I know it inhibits iron absorption, and I drink a lot of coffee 😬.

IOW is lovely. Being close we went there loads as kids. There are a lot of 'attractions' but also nice walks etc. I'd recommend going if you've never been.

Not much money news to report. I had a £5 off £10 lidl voucher expiring. I told DH to get £10 worth of stuff to use it. He went around with his calculator and excelled spending £10.18 to qualify 🤣.

My boss broke the retirement news to his boss yesterday. Expect it went down like a lead balloon, and though everyone else knew I don't think she had a clue. Can't wait to see what they do with his job 🫠

Nichelette

Have been looking at rates we've been offered. Noticed Halifax has a 3.74% rate with a £999 fee, BUT we could start this 2 months early which would save us £246 on existing mortgage, working out as £1051 once fee and saving is factored in.

Brokers 4% is £8 lower a month, but to be honest in my time poor position I don't feel like the messing about is worth the saving, plus I do like Halifax, and the early repayment fee (if we didn't port) drops to 1% in year 2 where Barclays is 2% for the duration. There is £500 cashback but it looks like that is all going on conveyancing fees (think broker said about £380 but reality seems to be higher).

If Halifax were to offer a 4.1% rate that would be £10 more than broker. I know nothing is guaranteed, but if BOE drop base rate like I've seen a lot of in news, it might be worth holding on. I * believe * Halifax usually look at rates in 1st too?

Nichelette

Also forgot to say I am still going to pay some of our savings off mortgage, but I'm waiting until we remortgage as anything we OP can also be underpaid in the future, so it's a buffer if anything unexpected does happen, but once we've remortgaged we 'lose' the ability to access anything we've previously OP'd.

Nichelette

Long story short, but having spoken with my manager looks like we might hear something about redundancies in the next couple of weeks 🤞🏻. I know that has it's own problems, but my life needs a major shake up and I'm done. I'm hoping they will let me go if that's the case. Maybe 40th birthday present 🤣. Definitely don't want my managers job (maybe unless they reduced it to 3 days a week, though even then I'd still not really want it tbh and would only be a convenience/pay thing for a while). It makes sense to let me go as they have to keep my counterpart because she's legally protected because of maternity leave. Will see I guess.. the thing that does make me laugh is I think if they do this the majority of us who want to go are the harder/better workers who know more 😅. Tbh company deserves it to go to the fan the way they've behaved 🙃. Sadly know they're not the only ones. Maybe self employment is the answer! Positive is (unless the change the rules), by virtue of having worked for so long before having kids I've already qualified for full state pension when you factor in the years I'll get credit for kids.

Nichelette

Quick one before school drop. DH kindly mentioned he'd got a text that his car insurance was expiring so I had to renew 3 days before at £300. If he bothered to check his emails I would have done 3 weeks ahead and probably got it for less. Nevermind.. I'd forgotten it was due but suppose another big expense gone. Has reminded me I need to book my MOT too. I'm meeting my friend on Saturday so might drop it then walk to hers to get it done.

Work yesterday was pretty rubbish and have more c*ap to go back to today. I'm on the edge 😂

We've got about £750 left until we're paid next Friday. I was worrying a bit about running low but obviously we're not. I feel a but removed from reality as I know a lot of people would love to have that. Suppose it's what we become used to.

I went food shopping on Saturday (we ended up skipping a week and just getting milk and veg again) but was only £45. I love food but I think this has made me realise we're not big eaters volume wise 😅.

No PB win again 🙄. Definitely going to pay some off mortgage once we're on new one.

South_coast

I would love to both have car insurance for £300 and not be a big-volume food eater 😅😅😅

Hope today is better than you think x

Nichelette

Skipped another week of food shopping 😅. Not deliberately, just ended up being a time thing at the weekend again. I made a lot last week that had portions left over and I've made a couple of lots of soup so we've mostly been living on that and freezer bits as that's quite full still.

Car passed MOT though I was expecting that to be honest, though there is always the worry 😂.

Long story but DH car had to go to Honda. Needs a sensor replaced. Minus about £400. Exact figure TBC on Thursday when he collects it. Was worrying in case was something major, so whilst a lot could have been worse. Will largely be balanced out by no council tax month. That's going up to £262. Swear a few years ago it was £200 😩.

Still waiting to hear about redundancy. My manager spoke to union lady who said maybe May so something must be going on as they always know first.

DS1 was sick on the way back from collecting DH from office today. Wish I could put it down to travel sickness but sadly not, so he'll be at home with me next couple of days. Not that I want him to be ill, but after about an hour he was fine again and wanting food 🤦🏻‍♀️. It's a shame because they're trying space food at school tomorrow and he was looking forward to it.

Thanks to our orange friends excellent timing don't think we'll get a better mortgage rate now either..