Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Happy Monday!

Had a busy weekend and I'm a bit achy this morning, we've been decorating the lounge, well more of a refresh really, same colour but the ceiling definitely needed re painting following our leaky roof episode and as we already had the wall colour paint DD decided to repaint the walls too.  We have a vaulted ceiling so it is a bit of a task!!  We had a trip to Big Town first as we wanted to update the recessed lights in the lounge and hallways, they are the old style ones so choice was limited as to what would fit but we have managed to get some very smart brushed nickel ones that look fab against the lovely white ceiling.  I attacked the patio doors, giving them a good clean and removing some old brittle and very orange sealant, it's bugged me since I moved in (6 nearly 7 years ago!) I then got the bug and cleaned every door in the house, including all of the kitchen cabinets and the front door.

Whilst we were in Big Town we also bought new roller blinds for our bedroom, a nice dark denim blue with a slight tweed texture, we also managed to get a very smart light for the ceiling and new lamp shade for the bedsides, we have everything we need now so once we have finished the lounge and hallways our bedroom will be next on the hit list.  I am really pleased with what we will have achieved this year, as well as the patio and all of the paving in the garden, DDs room has been decorated, the shower room refreshed, conservatory roof fixed and redecorated, lounge leak fixed and decor refreshed, hallways refreshed and then our bedroom.  Just the main bathroom and kitchen to do, the ceilings may well get done before Christmas (might as well while we have the paint etc out!! ), I'm still contemplating getting the kitchen cabinets wrapped or sprayed, it will cost about £2k, they are good solid units and it would be cheaper than getting a new kitchen.  That could be a project for next year, we already have some new metro tiles to go up that we got from Facebook.

We are off to our nearest city tonight to collect a bicycle for DH, bit of a trek but worth it as he is getting it for free.

Payday tomorrow and I will update my totals, my Christmas saver matures on Wednesday and I can then pay our holiday balance now that DH is definitely on board.

A couple of sales on Vinted, that's still ticking along nicely.  I nearly had a wobble and order the Marksies Beauty Calendar as I was ordered some bits for DS but I reminded myself of all of the toiletries etc I already have that need using so resisted the temptation, maybe next year if I have cleared some of the stash!

I have treated myself to a new Kind1e, my old Sony e-reader is totally defunct.  I do like reading a real book but for holidays and at night when I can't sleep an e-reader is perfect so that I don't disturb DH.  My old one was really old, didn't have any built in illumination, I had a case with a light in it.  I have been looking at options for a while, weighing up second hand via V1nted/Eb@y, different models etc but then remembered I had some Curries vouchers from the Microwave debacle so had enough to cover the cost of the Kind1e and got free next day delivery, I bought a case from Amaz0n and it all arrived yesterday, I am a very happy bunny.

I better get on with some work, have a good day.

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

A wet and windy morning here in the South West but we haven't been hit as hard as I expected.......yet.

I have updated my signature now that we have been paid and my Christmas Saver has matured.  My savings have actually gone up, despite me using some of the Christmas savings to pay the holiday balance and I have always included those funds in my totals.  Mortgage and loan slowly coming down, I am going to try and up my overpayments to £500pm next year and then, once my loan is repaid, up to the £750pm I always aimed for. that will bring it down below £100k before the fixed rate expires.

I have checked my savings pots for Christmas, I have £150 in T0pcashback and £180 in coins which I will take to the bank, I have quite a few presents organised already DH and I are just getting each other token gifts and we won't go mad on food as we are away from 30th December.  Spending money for our holiday is sorted, I'm putting away some of DS's rent money each month (£500 so far with another £500 to come) I also have 100euros left from my last trip.

savingholmes

Sounds like things are going really well. 

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Another busy weekend for DH and I.

We finally managed to put everything back in the lounge on Friday evening, tv back on the wall etc and then Saturday started on our bedroom.  Obviously had to clear it first.  Stripped the walls of the horrible old textured paper, filled in some holes and rough plaster work that we uncovered, DH painted the ceiling and I attacked the sealant around the windows then we gave the walls a first coat of paint before I went out to meet an old school friend for some dinner.  Sunday morning we were up bright and early, partly due to having no blinds at our bedroom window! Second coat of paint on the walls, wired up the new light fitting, fitted the new blinds to the windows and wallpapered the feature wall, no mean feat as we have a semi-vaulted ceiling with lots of odd angles, new bedding on the bed, it all looks so different.  We have removed some of the furniture and rearranged the rest, tv and full length mirror still to go up in their new positions and two new floating shelves to be install when they arrive.  We are both so pleased with it, I last decorated it when I first moved in so this is the first time we have decorated a bedroom for us!

Next weekend we were supposed to have friends visiting but they have cancelled and to be honest we're quite relieved, after 2 busy weekends it will be nice to have the house to ourselves and just chill.  We've got a few busy weekends ahead and then it will be Christmas!

It's just DH and I at home tonight so I'm going to cook us a steak dinner, we were supposed to have it last night as a treat but we were too tired to enjoying it after our hard work so we thought tonight would be better.  We have everything in, including cream etc to make the stilton sauce we like, might even wash it down with a glass of red.

We've drained the hot tub ready to pack it away for the winter and have noticed a huge difference in the amount of electricity we are using which more than makes up for the additional gas usage now that the heating is on.  It's a shame that we can't keep it up but we can't justify the costs for the amount of use it's getting.

No great money saving revelations today but it came up on my memories that it is 3 years ago today that the house became mine and I was finally able to buy the Ex out, luckily we had only lived here for 1 year before he left and he did absolutely none of the decorating etc so it had always felt like mine and there were no strong joint memories. I love my home so much and am so happy that I was able to do this and it meant that DD could stay in her home and not have to move house as she was going through GCSEs and A-levels.  DH has obviously also moved in now and we have been making the house 'ours', when I look at how much we have done, especially to the garden, I am so grateful.  I  count my blessings everyday.

Have a fab day everyone

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Another gloomy day here, is anyone else getting fed up with the rain?

Last night I made a quick pasta bake with some bolognaise sauce from the freezer, I thought I was going to have to juggle WFH with dance class but DS got home in time to taking DGD to her dancing.  This meant that DH and I managed to put up the tv in it's new position, re-fixed the full-length mirror and put up the 2 floating shelves as they arrived yesterday, tonight I need to sort out my bits and pieces and arrange what is going on the shelves, this will be a mixture of storage boxes and decorative items.  I've put a huge stew in the slow cooker for tonight, used up all the odd bits of veg in the fridge and some chicken from the freezer, will add dumplings once I get home and buy some nice crusty bread to go with it, hopefully there will be enough for tomorrow too

I've just finished reading my first book on the Kind1e and have to say I have really enjoyed using it, it's compact and very lightweight and the built in lighting makes it ideal for when I can't sleep.  I'm getting a bit more in to technology, I bought myself a smart watch a while ago, it was reduced to £20 and I love it, I managed to get DH the masculine version brand new from V1nted for £10, it arrived at the weekend and he is really impressed with it.

53 days til our holiday.....not that I'm counting!

Have a great afternoon

MvTMM

savingholmes

The redecorating sounds lovely. Great to have a holiday to look forward to as well.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I did post yesterday but it doesn't seem to have saved so I don't know what happened there!

We had a quiet, chilled weekend, just DH and I although we did pootle and get a few things done, hot tub scrubbed and packed away for winter, the covers from the 2 settees washed and then wrestled back on, we popped out for coffee and cake in a new coffee shop that has opened, that was very nice.  I also carried on sorting through my stuff, being selective about what is going back into our bedroom, through doing this we have managed to get rid of a full height shelving unit and two large wicker storage trunks - shocking really!  I still have some bits in DD's room to sort out, I will get them done this weekend as I want to give the room a thorough clean, change the bedlinen etc, ready for our visitors the following weekend.

I'm loving how the house is looking now and DH is going to paint the ceiling in the kitchen this week too, most of the rooms will have had a freshen up this year then.

Money wise, this month seems a struggle but I've just checked my bank account and remembered that I paid for some of the decorating supplies for our bedroom, blinds etc and also paid the balance of our holiday.  Good news, DD had an email today offering a p/t job, starting tomorrow and working around her studies, I'll still carry on sending her money for food each week but it will mean she has some money for extras.

I need to sort out my Christmas present stash and see what I still need to buy, DD and DGD are both pretty sorted as are most of my colleagues but I still need big pressies for DS and his g/f, my sister and my parents.  DH and I are just doing small gifts as we are going on holiday.

Have a great day

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Happy Hump Day.

I've been looking at my accounts and trying to hatch a plan for the next 12 months.

Mortgage - I am a bit adrift with my overpayments and pretty annoyed with myself about it but I have a plan to claw back a bit.  I will make an extra payment before the end of this year to get the balance into the £110Ks and then the aim is to get below £100k by the end of next year.  I will have one more year (2025) before the fixed deal ends, I'm hoping the interest rates will have come down a bit by then.

Credit Card - I'm not going to meet the target of repaying by Dec 2024, I will repay £250pm next year, which will bring it down to £3k, then snowball my loan payments as that will have been repaid and pay £500pm for the next 6 months to clear it.  I do kick myself with how stupid I have been building up this debt again BUT my Next account is now a no go zone (its at Nil, still open but I refuse to pay for returns) and I know this was a weakness.

Savings - I am going to continue to save DS's rent contributions (£300pm) and pay into my Premium Bonds (£25pm) but not do any other big savings schemes, I have a comfortable savings pot for now and would rather concentrate on debt reduction for now, conscious that I have 18-24 months before I will be looking at new mortgage fixes.  I'm also aware that I don't know how much longer DS will be living with us, I know there has been talk of him moving in with his girlfriend.

Holidays etc - I have £200 on T0pcashback and £180 in cash for Christmas, a lot of pressies are now bought.  I have £500 saved for January holiday spending money, this will only really be food and drinks, we don't really do 'shopping' and breakfast is included at the hotel.  March holiday I will use the Council Tax 'free months' of February and March which will be almost £500.

House Improvements - the garden is pretty much done, we just want to replace the greenhouse with a maintenance free shed, we've seen these for under £300.  Inside is pretty well decorated through.  We would like to replace the flooring but I would be happy just doing the kitchen and bathrooms for now.  Longer term we would like laminate throughout the living areas (not bedrooms), I would also like the kitchen units painted or wrapped.  

Lets see how that all pans out!! 

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Thank Crunchie it's Friday!!

I'm so looking forward to the weekend.  I need to sort out DDs bedroom so that it's ready for the visitors.  I think I need to list some stuff on the buy and sell FB pages to get rid.

DDs job seems to be going ok, she's working again today and going out with her new colleagues tomorrow night

DS in is London with g/f tonight so we are babysitting DGD, so chilled night in front of the telly is in order.  Tomorrow I have to take mum driving in her new car (she didn't even test drive it!) so better check my life insurance and Will are in order!!!

Hopefully cheap and cheerful weekend ahead.

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Well I survived the driving lesson and Mum is very happy with her new car.

DH and I have barely left the house this weekend.  We've been pootling again.  DH has mended a chair, cleaned the oven, painted a couple of ceilings and moved some items around.  I cleaned around the windows and ceilings of DD and DS's rooms, both had black mould starting, all gone now and both instructed to leave their windows open on the latch for ventilation.  I have tidied DDs room, given her the shelving unit we removed from our room which fits nicely and gives her more space for books   Bed freshly made for our guests, you could feel the springs in her mattress, which is still quite new, so I ordered a new mattress topper, also got some new fitted sheets for DDs bed and ours so all looking and feeling lovely now.  I listed some more bits on FB marketplace and Vinted and have made a couple of sales.

I do need to finish sorting out some paperwork etc but that will get done before our guests arrive on Friday.

Friday night DGD just wanted pasta for dinner, DH and I didn't have anything.  Saturday I did us all a nice roast with a £3 large chicken and bits and pieces from our stocks.  Sunday was just DH and I so I took all the 'Orts' as my nan would call them and made a concoction, a sort of tart, shredded chicken, chorizo, charred peppers, cherry tomatoes, goats cheese. 3 beaten eggs and a sprinkle of cheddar all in a puff pastry case, it was really yummy, we've got the other half of it tonight.

Have a great day all

MvTMM