Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

debtfreewannabe321

How lovely of your dad! 🥰
I'd sell the convertible and pay for the insurance, number plate if you want it and will it pay for most of the car you're buying? 
Congratulations to DH on his new job too! 🥳

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Happy Monday!  Bright and sunny here today which is lovely to see.

Thank you for all your thoughts re the car.  Selling my existing convertible won't actually raise much money, just a few hundred as it is so old so won't impact our finances that much.  Thoughts on the private plate, psychologically it will re-enforce that the car is now ours and not my fathers, he did make a comment the other day about us taking them places and I really don't want it to be assumed that we will be a taxi service.  I know that probably sounds bad but I work full time in a stressful role which eats into my home life quite considerably, I don't always have the scope to take leave when they want to go somewhere and quite honestly I NEED my leave for RnR.  I always help where I can and am always their first port of call over my sister, I just don't want to be put under added pressure.

We had a relaxed weekend, well apart from me having to stay late at work on Friday and also go in on Saturday!  Did some tidying and sorting, posted a couple more sales from V!nted, need to go through my wardrobe and list some more items.  We did go into town and I chose some new glasses to take advantage of the welfare scheme at work, I've submitted my claim today.  We also popped to our favourite coffee shop for coffee and lemon and blueberry cake

Have a great day

MvTMM

savingholmes

I can see the benefit of the private plate in how you described it. Definitely good to manage expectations.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

It's been a week since I last posted, its been absolutely manic at work, one thing after another.

DH and I had a nice relaxed weekend, he took me to a very nice restaurant on Friday for a belated Valentines Meal, we love it there, the food is amazing and the owner commented on how elegant we looked, which was nice as she always looks stunning.  Saturday night we had a cheese and port night with some lovely cheeses from a farm shop, including a Yarg wrapped in stinging nettles

I had a sort through of my wardrobe, sent a few things to the charity shop and listed a few more bits on Vinted, including some DMs which I haven't worn and, although I love them on everyone else, I feel are just to clumpy for me.

DS got some good news yesterday, his new tenancy starts on 1st March, I'm so pleased for them all, DGD is very excited about the new house and moving in with Daddy's girlfriend and her daughter.  It's a lovely big terraced house in our town, really well situated for shops, schools etc and a easy walk to work for DS partner.  Lots to do as they need to decorate (its a bit tired) and they need furniture and white goods but they'll make it lovely and of course we will help where we can.  I have given them £1000 towards the deposit etc and offered the loan of more if they need it.  It's been great having them with us over the last year but it will be lovely to just be me and DH again and reclaim the toy shop (conservatory) and spare room - which I can't wait to redecorate!

I still haven't paid dad for the car, he is getting it MOTd etc first, he insisted, wants to check it is all ok before he hands it over.  DH is then going to do some work on the convertible so that we can get the best price on it (hopefully what I paid for it 7 years ago).

I also need to order my currency soon, so my savings are going to take a battering this month, but all for good reason and somewhat planned for.  I can't wait for my holiday, I'm finding work very tough at the moment, BUT had a new staff member join this week and 2 more are due back from long term absence so things should improve.....I hope.

Have a good day

MvTMM

savingholmes

Exciting times for your DS and DGD. Hope it all works out.

Glad you had a lovely meal - times together like that are important.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Well another week has flown by!

We had another lovely weekend, family board games night on Friday with DS and DGD during which DS and I consumed 3 bottles of wine!  Saturday was fairly chilled, went for a quick pub dinner before an evening in the cinema, watched Wicked Little Letters, very funny and remarkably a true story.  Sunday I popped to see my parents, completed an application for a Blue Badge due to Dad's health issues, I still haven't taken ownership of the car, infact dad became very tearful talking about it so I did ask if it would be better if I didn't have it but said he didn't think so.

I have collected my Euros today, £700 worth, I will save any that are leftover for our next holiday or gift some to DD for her mini break to Dublin.  My suitcase is down from the loft and I am hoping to pack most of it tomorrow as we will be busy helping DS and his DGF with the house this weekend.

My Docs that I listed on V!nted sold last night so I posted them off this morning, that is £75 headed my way. I have a few more items to list when I get a chance, although I will have to put it in to Holiday mode soon.

It is good news re the Energy Price Cap going down, looking at the calculators that should save me approx £400pa plus with DS and DGD moving out our usage should drop even more.  Food wise our spends should be minimal for the next few weeks, it's just DS and I from Friday and then I am away for a week, we have loads of food in the freezers so will concentrate on using some things up.  I'm waiting to hear if we will actually get a pay rise this year, we've had 1% the last couple of years which is effectively a pay cut.

Payday on Thursday so will update my totals, obviously savings have taken a bit of a beating with helping DS, the car and paying for my currency.

Have a great day

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Productive day yesterday, sorted out my clothes for the holiday, not actually packed as such, need to iron a few items and then pack into my cubes.  I still need to sort out some toiletries to take from my stash, I love using up mini sizes when on holiday and I have plenty to chose from.

I was thrilled the other night.  I have an old pair of Dune peep toed, heeled shoes which seem to go with everything and are extremely comfortable, I have even sent SOS messages to DH in the past to meet me in the pub and to bring 'THE SHOES' as others I have worn have been too uncomfortable.  I have had them for at least 15 years and they have been my go to for all of that time, they have been re-heeled, resoled etc but are definitely looking tired now.  I have had 3 different searches set up on VInted in the hope of finding another pair but given their age didn't really have any optimism.  I popped on the app the other night and lo and behold a brand new pair in my size had just been listed, I didn't even haggle on the price (which was a bit steep) and immediately bought them, shouting to my hubby in joy to tell him (men just don't get it do they?).  I'm so excited for them to arrive.

I also had a small victory with swimwear.  I have 3 different colours of Regatt@ swimwear, bikinis or swimsuits with the matching sarongs, all bought hugely reduced and very flattering even though I am currently carrying a bit extra weight.  For some reason I only bought the green colourway in the swimsuit and sarong, not a bikini and I was regretting this, popped on to V!nted and there it was in my size, bikini top, briefs and matching tankini top, all brand new with labels and £9 the lot, I am so chuffed, they will be going in the suitcase when they arrive.

DS took me to look at the house yesterday, they officially get the keys tomorrow.  It's lovely and big but very tired so we will have our work cut out this weekend trying to paint as much as possible.  I have ordered 100 magic sponges to scrub everything!  DGD was very excited, especially when she saw her new bedroom.

I have updated my signature, very tempted to pay another £185 off of the mortgage to get below £110K!

Have a great day

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Well I am absolutely shattered after the weekend.  The house is lovely and spacious, an old Victorian terrace, and has a lovely homely feel to it BUT it was filthy, how can people leave a house like that and how can the landlords, who lets face it charge a fortune, expect someone to move in to that?  We spent all weekend bleaching and scrubbing and DH and DD painted like demons, lounge, bathroom, separate toilet and 2.5 bedrooms done!!  I am shattered and achy and can't wait to get on the plane on Saturday and head for the sun!

DD surprised us on Friday, she came home to help with the move/decorating, her best friend picked her up from Big Town Station it was so lovely to see her.  She is home until Sunday so we have booked to go and see Dune Pt2 tomorrow night as a treat.

I still haven't packed for my holiday, everything is thrown in my case but I need to pack it in my cubes.  I will sort toiletries and everything for the hold luggage tonight and then it will just been hand luggage to sort on Thursday/Friday.  The bikini from V!nted should be here tomorrow .  I'm gutted re the Dune shoes I ordered on V!nted, the ones I had been searching for for ages, I messaged the seller at the weekend as they hadn't been posted and I ideally wanted them to arrive before I go away. she responded that her sister had gone mad because she had sold them and insisted that she let her have them so she was going to have to cancel the sale!

In good news, I got the money through for the DMs I sold so that had gone straight across to my Next account to pay for the 2 pairs or similar sandals I bought to replace them as well as some other bits, I'm really happy with that.

I've also checked my bank account and made the decision to pay an additional £185 to the mortgage, bringing the outstanding balance to below £110k, I want to try and get below £100k this year but it will be a struggle.

Oh and dad told me last night that I can have the car when I get back from holiday, he got tearful again but he says he knows he needs to let it go, I've reassured him that I won't pressurise him, it has to be on his terms.

Have a good day

MvTMM

debtfreewannabe321

Morning MvTMM, DS house sounds like it will be lovely with a lick of paint. Gutting about the Dune shoes, I had a pair of Carvela shoes once that were my go to, black heeled sling backs, so comfy and went with everything. I wore them to death and could never find a replacement for them. Never thought to look on v1nted but they are probably over 20 years out of the shops by now. Funny you have just sold a pair of DMs as my DP bought me a pair or ruby red ones for my birthday as I was having a nostalgic moment a few weeks ago when I saw some in a local shop lol. He was good and MS and got them on bay of E good as new for half the price! I love them with my jeans but am trying to wear them in, I forgot how painful new ones are! 

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi @debtfreewannabe321

I'm glad someone gets it re the shoes, I was so happy to find them, especially after 15 years!  It might be worth searching for your Carvela ones.....you never know!

The DMs I sold were the sandal type, I absolutely loved them but they were slightly too big and didn't really suit me if I'm honest.  With the proceeds I have bought something very similar but slightly less chunky from Next, far more 'me' and for a fraction of the price, so of course bought 2 different colours!!  :

Good luck breaking in your new babies!

MvTMM