Powers’s mortgage free thread

savingholmes

At least you managed to get multiple people to quote - that's an achievement in itself!

powerspowers

Definitely SH, we’re doing better than we did with the bathroom!

I’m feeling somewhat overwhelmed. I need to make some bookings for voluntary role but it’s not going smoothly. I had wanted it done by today as we’re off camping tomorrow and i don’t want it dragging over me. It’s stressing me and taking over life at the minute!

 I’ve decided to finish work at lunch today to give me chance to sort out the bookings. I’m hoping for a sensible answer from a company I’ve asked to quote. They add an admin fee per person but at this point I’m happy to pay as I’m getting in knots doing it myself and risking other peoples cash. 

I also need to give myself a break. I’ve taken on a considerable challenge and it’s pointless beating myself up. T is being supportive, which is good as I want to give myself a slap. Trying to remember what my counsellor said about being kind to myself!! 

savingholmes

Being kind to yourself is a good plan 

LadyWithAPlan

Sounds like you are doing amazingly well. The being paid for study, the OPs, and now a possible new conservatory or room to the house.
Maybe have a single storey built  as it works all year round and then have this shed office built later as a conservatory space?

I really would love to buy somewhere I can grow some veg and fruit but that means moving further out of London. All that veg coming though at this time of year... My family all grow stuff so there is surplus but still!

powerspowers

Not got chance for a full update but mortgage is down to £103,588 😁 

powerspowers

Still no further on with bookings! It just seems chaotic. Need to build in 2 hours transfer time when it used to be 30minutes. Phone lines closed because of high demand. It’s mayhem! 

Back to work yesterday, I’m a bit tired and distracted but plugged through. Camping was good, just me, T and the smaller boy as bigger boy was at scout camp. We had quite a relaxed time, did some sightseeing in Lincoln and went to the aquapark which killed me and T! My whole body hurt but it did make me laugh and great to see youngest so confident in  the water 🐠 

LadyWithAPlan said:

Sounds like you are doing amazingly well. The being paid for study, the OPs, and now a possible new conservatory or room to the house.
Maybe have a single storey built  as it works all year round and then have this shed office built later as a conservatory space?

I really would love to buy somewhere I can grow some veg and fruit but that means moving further out of London. All that veg coming though at this time of year... My family all grow stuff so there is surplus but still!

We are leaning towards single storey extension to make the room more useable. The conservatory companies are struggling with the building regs. We either put in dividing doors or one company said to just ignore the regs and pay for an indemnity certificate when we sell- which is fair enough but one of our drivers is to be more eco minded and heating the garden is not contributing to that. We’ve not had the builders quote back yet. I think the plan would be to divert the OP money to some sort of finance- possibly via mortgage borrowing as cheaper than a loan? Need to keep mulling with T. 

savingholmes

Glad you had fun at the water park.

Great progress on the mortgage. Could you start saving up towards the new extension while you are planning it? Then there wouldn't be as much to find or do you have one of those mortgages where you can easily borrow back?

powerspowers

savingholmes said:

Glad you had fun at the water park.

Great progress on the mortgage. Could you start saving up towards the new extension while you are planning it? Then there wouldn't be as much to find or do you have one of those mortgages where you can easily borrow back?

We probably should SH but I’ve been decision fatigued so just did my usual money shuffle! Will try to make a plan before next payday

powerspowers

Almost a week late but check in with monthly fruit basket.  

OPs averaging £550pm in order to meet 1&3 yr targets (sub £100k and sub £75k)
January £625 🍏
feb £300🍋
march £660🍏

April £630🍏
May £665 🍏🍏
June £650🍏
July £630 🍏
August £610 🍏

Mortgage balance is £103,096. I’m tempted to find the extra £96 to get under £103 but would need another £80 to cover interest for the rest of the month to stay there 

Savings are holding steady. We spent less than I expected on holiday #1 so I’ve tucked away £100 towards holiday #2

House projects- 
En suite progress is very very slow and unlikely to progress whilst kids are off. 

We’ve had windows and door quoted for as well as conservatory roof. Think we are waiting for two quotes to come back still. Front door is coming out of the house pot and is going to be done first. Current front door is minging and I reckon I could put my shoulder through it if I wanted! 

Garden is somewhat overgrown! I did some weeding yesterday and pulling out dead things. Courgettes and beetroot are doing marvellously and picking them quicker than we are eating them. New potatoes were lush but all gone now. Plums are going to feature heavily in my future. Squash and pumpkins are going to be prolific, might open a puck your own! Less convinced on tomatoes and lettuce- we’ve had some but not enough to stop buying them. 

Eco swaps- we’ve failed at plastic free lady for the last two visits (she does fortnightly market tours). We have very little landfill waste now as take soft plastic to supermarket but I’m not convinced that it all gets recycled so still trying to reduce. Composting is working well, we use bokashi bran to pre compost it and then it goes really quickly once in the big bin. 

Work/life balance- I’ve been feeling a bit burnt out by my volunteer role which is reminding me of how I felt at work last year!! Not good but I feel I’ve made progress and a plan this week and I know the work I’m putting in at the moment will be worth it in a few months. Paid work is going okay, I’m looking forward to starting studying, although I haven’t even applied to uni yet as need paperwork about the finances finalised. I’ve lost the wagon on getting up and moving apart from the day I cycle to the office.

random achievement- I’ve read 14 books   in 9 months! I was a complete bookworm as a kid but practically stopped reading as an adult. I’m making an effort to always have a book on the go and visiting the library. It’s hard as I’m still not in the habit and spend too much time on my phone but it’s a positive change, I’m enjoying reading and I’m proud of it. 

savingholmes

Lots of achievements in that list. Go you!