Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

SandyShores

Logged into the mortgage account this evening and it was £12.05 over - so I guess that is the daily interest from yesterday.  Feels like I am bailing out a holey boat - but I know that more water is going out than coming in (or more cash going out to the mortgage than interest building up).  Just a lot of bailing to do.

I also made up amounts on the receipt scanning apps so I've made a tenner today - all from scanning receipts in.  So that's another £10 onto the xmas 21 fund.  Good news that I didn't receive a speeding ticket today from my motorway trip just over 2 weeks ago - I think that means I'm in the clear.  I also heard from one of the old utility companies who say that I owe them just shy of £750.  Really annoying, but if I owe it I will need to pay it.  Apparently if you don't hear from them in 12 months then you probably wouldn't have to pay them, so I slightly kick myself for reminding them, but it was playing on my mind.  I will write a letter of complaint that they left it so long but if nothing comes from it I will offer instalments.  It set me feeling a little down again, but I've rallied now.  We are in such a better position than last xmas and better than for several years, so I can't let small setbacks have such an effect.  

It really is a strange one this year, I'm sure everyone is feeling the same.  I was just reading about the lorry drivers stuck at the ports, poor things, so I really can't complain.  I'm at home in my warm bed, pusscat at my feet and family safe and sound.  I really hope next year is a better one for everyone.  

SandyShores

Well that's it over for this year.  Was nice but quiet.  Got out for a run and had a lovely dinner.  Nice that we had cards from all of our new next door neighbours.  Going to relax in PJs now and watch something on the box.  (I did just check into the mortgage account - yes interest is updated daily but the payments I make must take a little time to hit the account as yesterday's isn't showing yet - can't resist a little money saving evening on xmas day).

SandyShores

Relaxing day today and having fun playing with the spreadsheets.  Checking on the mortgage - we bought with only a 5% stake, but now owe only 93.5%. A whole 1.5% extra owned   Doesn't sound like much but its nice to see progress.  

Paying off the whole things seems like a very long way off, but those one percents will steadily add up.  I'm looking forward to owning 10%, then 20%, 33.3% will be a huge milestone and then I think when you get to 40% you can attract the best mortgage rates.  You can tell that I am really impatient for progress, but I have other things I need to be focussing on in the meantime and which will all help get there a bit sooner.

SandyShores

One of those days not really doing anything and normally I'd feel like it was wasted, but its been lovely and relaxing.  TV, food shopping, longish board game before tea and then everyone cooked their own.  Mine was a spicy lentil and root veg casserole:  https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/slow-cooker-spiced-root-lentil-casserole.  I used potatoes instead of parsnips, and added a few mushrooms and peas - delicious and will definitely make again.  Feeling hopeful for the new year - isn't it funny how your mood can change and you can feel much better even though nothing much else has changed.  I'm feeling more grateful for our situation and gaining confidence in myself and my ability to survive - financially and in life.  

FtbDreaming

Ooh I would find that annoying if my interest went on daily. I’d be forever trying to beat it. 

Glad you’ve had a nice xmas. I don’t know what happened to me but I think I’ve poisoned myself with alcohol last night. I was sick as a dog all night and today but I’m coming out the other side now! I’m looking forward to being fresh tomorrow. And no drinking at new year as I’m working New Year’s Day. 

I like the thought of keeping track of the LTV. Do you do it based on purchase price? Mine was bought for £82k but only valued at £80k by the bank. If I went on house sales in the street since I think it’s worth £105-115k which would put me at a fantastic ltv if I chose to change lender at the end of the fix! 

SandyShores

Hi FtBDreaming

Thanks for dropping by.  I think I will be okay with the daily interest, but first I need to catch up with this month's interest, so that in January I can pay it forward.  I'm using price paid for the LTV.  Its a new house and they are just getting going with building the rest of the site so nothing to compare with at the moment.  I think new places drop value like new cars, but then there is all the talk of prices rising and falling.  So I'm going to continue with purchase price until everything settles a little.  BTW hope you feel better now

Just sat up in bed listening to storm Bella rattling the house and goodness knows what outside.  Hope everyone is safe and warm inside.  I was wondering whether to go and get the wreath in off the door, but we've had it about ten years and some of the berries have started to melt in the rain so it will have to take its chances I'm afraid - although I hope it survives.

savingholmes

Hope you escaped any serious harm from the storm. The wind is whistling and moaning here but we seem okay so far. Glad you had a good Christmas. 

SandyShores

Thanks savingholmes, just had a quick check and it looks like everything is okay, and the wreath has survived for another year.  I actually managed to catch up on some sleep last night - I got the kindle out and it only took a couple of pages before I was out for the count (I know I shouldn't go on my phone or watch tv pre-sleep time).

Hopped on the scales this morning and the damage doesn't seem to be too bad there either - the pre-xmas mince pies were the culprits so I resisted buying yesterday.  Pastry and me really don't get along.  

I'm not sure when this sense of something about to go wrong came into my life.  I don't know if anyone else has it?  Everything is fine, but there's a sense of something around the corner could go wrong.  Quick look on the internet and Sleep Problems came up as number one - causing anxiety - and seconded by stress.  That makes sense to me and I definitely need to work on both of those.  They go onto talk about cognitive distortions and negative core beliefs - usually formed in childhood or by trauma's.  I think I did used to be quite a positive, optimistic person, but being in debt and the worry it caused, was definitely a hugely stressful and traumatic time for me.  I refer to Allen Carr's No More Worrying from time to time, but I might look into using CBT.  This article has some popular techniques you can try at home: https://www.healthline.com/health/cognitive-behavioral-therapy such as SMART Goals, journalling and thinking about how you speak to yourself.  The diaries on MSE  really help with all of this - setting my goals, writing my thoughts down etc.

savingholmes

I think many of us feel a sense of impending doom when we need to change. If we use it healthily - and listen to our inner wisdom - or positive sources when our well is empty - we can rebalance our lives and get back on track.

SandyShores

That makes sense savingholmes.  Getting out of 'bad' debt was really satisfying, and our current plans to pay off the mortgage / build up our pensions will be equally good.  But that spiritual well definitely needs a little filling, and I can see how the thought of making the necessary changes is causing a bit of anxiety.  Its something I need to focus on a bit more now.