Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

savingholmes

Well done on the paddle boarding and the savings.

With relatives - perhaps you could ask your sister or nieces directly to do specific things. Break the pattern.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Morning All

@savingholmes - I find the whole thing with my family difficult to be honest, if I suggest my sister helps, because she has the time to do so, I get told I'm jealous that she 'doesn't have to work', she is a kept woman (not a particularly happy one), she does  live a different town but it's only and hour away and again she does have the benefit of time.  I have a full-time demanding job and family at home to take care of, school runs etc to juggle, if I do take time off to ferry parents around that eats in to my Annual Leave, which I really do need for RnR.  I'm proud of my career, I've studied and worked hard to get here and it's a very rewarding role, helping those less fortunate, plus I'm proud that I didn't crumble during my divorce, I fought back and managed to buy out the house in my own name, I am an independent woman and don't need a man, I choose to be with my new husband, whereas my sister has told me before she couldn't afford to leave hers.  I probably sound really bitter but I've had years of this; my parents hold her up as a success as she has stayed in her marriage and doesn't work whereas I am a disaster as I have been divorced and 'have' to go out to work, despite being in a role that benefits the community and also having a Degree in that field.  I could stop work tomorrow if I chose, sell the house, downsize and buy outright, but I don't want to.  Sorry for the rant!!

Anyway, yesterday my Dad told me he has had the appointment through for his second cataract operation, could I take him, if I can't they would look at other options, such as the bus!  Deep breathe!!   I will ask if they have approached my sister at all?

Enough of that.  I did get to the bank yesterday and changed up my coins so £200 tucked away in my purse for our trip.  My friend was going to stay in different accommodation but has now asked to share ours so that will reduce the cost to me

Next week is looking really full on so a quiet weekend planned for this one, I really need to tackle the conservatory and clear the growing piles of stuff in there so that is my goal.  If the weather is kind we might make pizzas with DGD as she likes doing that.

Have a great day and a lovely weekend

MvTMM

savingholmes

Families are weird. I'm spending time with mine tomorrow and it's hard to make myself go.  Hopefully it will be ok.

Jessy103

I think it's very strange what people view as success. I live in a one bed bungalow, so people think I must be poor. No, I chose to buy the bungalow because I could pay it for it myself without relying on anyone else. I might not have a four bed detached house but I do have disposable income to spend on what I want (mainly on overpayments atm) but while people are working overtime to pay their huge mortgages, I've been able to cut my hours to spend time on things I want to, not work.

I say good for you for achieving what you have and you should be super proud and boo to your sister and parents for thinking that way 🙂

badmemory

Peace of mind is priceless.  Families not always so much.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Sorry it's been a while since I checked in.

Thank you for the words of support, they are most appreciated.  Blood families are funny things aren't they, I much prefer the family I have created for myself with close friends etc.

We had a fabulous time in Birmingham, P!nk was amazing, totally lived up to and exceeded our expectations.  We ate, drank and laughed for 3 days, it was fab.  Back at work for 2 days and then I had a weekend away with DH to celebrate our First Wedding Anniversary, it was magical!

I bit the bullet and asked my sister to take dad to his appointment which she has agreed to do.

I did manage to sort a lot of the stuff out in the conservatory and sold several items on Facebook for DD, gave her a bit of money to tide her over to her first payday.  Vinted sales seem to have slowed down, I've reduced some of the prices in the hope that that helps.

I'm spending some time looking at my finances, debts and savings and future planning, 2.5 years until my fixed rate expires, I want the remortgage amount below £100,000 and my LTV above 75% to get me the best possible rate.

Have a great day

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Morning All

Had a slightly 'off' day yesterday, felt exhausted, achy and deflated, got home from work and slept from 5 til 7pm, had a hot bubbly bath, a nice cuppa and toast and pate with DH and felt a bit better.  Slept well last night which is unusual and have a bit more bounce in me today.

I have made some financial decisions, nothing too radical.  All of my debts are on a 0% card until Jan 2025, I have set up a direct debit of £290pm to clear this by Dec 2024, my loan also expires in Dec 2024 so combined this frees up over £500pm, I know we may need some of this to replace a car but if not this will bolster mortgage overpayments for a year before the fixed rate expires.  In the meantime I have set my overpayments to £325pm (the remainder of my budget for repayments after the £290 goes to the credit card), I will also keep up my rounding down payments to keep the mortgage figure 'tidy' so in reality this will be more like £350pm.  I have redone my budget, will be continuing my savings and this plan seems to work well for me.  I have updated my signature to reflect this.

I think I need to reset my brain.  I have had such a lovely week with the 2 trips away and it's made me realise how much I love spending time with people who are dear to me and experiencing new things.  I spend far too much money on 'stuff', I've tried before to restrict this and need to be really strict with myself.  If I continue to spend on small items, that in most cases I don't actually need, I won't have the money to spend on bigger things like holidays and concerts, that needs to be my focus.

Don't fritter on little things save it for the big things!

And on that note, have a great day

MvTMM

savingholmes

Glad you had a fabulous time at the concert.

The money rethink sounds helpful.

Have a lovey week.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Morning All

Had a nice relaxed evening last night.  I bought 2 x 400g of minced beef for £1.55 each on my way home, one has gone in the freezer and the other made a bolognaise sauce.  DGD saw me cooking it and I saw her turn her nose up (I'd just put the grated carrots, courgettes and onions in the pan) but I didn't say anything.  When I was serving dinner she said 'I don't like what you're having', I asked what we were having and she just looked and shrugged her shoulders, so I asked how she knows she doesn't like it if she hasn't tried it, she said she had tried it with Mummy (her stock answer when she doesn't want something), I said well it's spaghetti bolognaise and you love that, you always order it.  Long story short she wolfed down 3 servings!  I'm doing a curry tonight and she has asked me to put spinach in it after I got her to try that recently!!  Her mum is a very picky eater and DGD is copying her but I'm fighting back

I can't believe a year ago today we were on the road to our wedding destination, that year has flown by!

I've made a GP appointment for next Tuesday as I am permanently exhausted and my joints all ache.  I was talking to my friend when we were away and she said that's how her DH's Polymyalgia started so I should ask for some blood tests, will see what the doctor says.

Have a good day

MvTMM

savingholmes

Hope the blood tests come back clear. It's never nice to be in pain like that though. Hope  you recover quickly.