The 'scenic route' to mortgage freedom...

PiggyBankShaker

The kids are both back in school today and I have that 'fresh start' feeling, like anything is possible. It don't know really because we are still stuck in the mire of all the 'fresh start' stuff that we initiated last year, none of which has come to fruition. The architect has said that the drawing aren't going to be ready for another week, after he told me last week that they would be ready on Friday just gone. I think it's testament to how much I like the design and buy into the vision that I haven't lost interest and sacked it off altogether. I bothers me so much precisely because I am excited about the extension, if I didn't care about it then I wouldn't care either that the architect is dragging his feet. I have to find more patience from somewhere.

In other news, I had the job interview yesterday, and it went fine but not great. They said they'll let me know today, but I am not greatly optimistic. It's got me thinking more about work and money in general and what I should do with my time. I don't really want to go back to 'working' full time as I believe that my mental health will just fall off a cliff and sooner or later I'll end up having to quit in order to get myself back on track. And as for the job I currently have... well, on paper it 100% perfect for me, and I love the 'idea' of it, and actually doing it is fine and the money is welcome and all, but it doesn't make me happy. Not really. So, there we go. Things to think about for sure.

In money news, we ended up not buying any new school uniform yet, but by half term there will be new shoes and trousers to buy for sure. The money for DD's braces went out yesterday and none of the refunds we are owed have materialised. Our spreadsheet needs updating following the weekend and I know that OH has been shopping even if I have managed to resist buying any books. I think that's all for now.

PiggyBankShaker

So... they offered me the job and I accepted it. I'd spent most of yesterday lunchtime telling OH about how I didn't think I would get it, how it probably would have been bad for me in the medium to long run health-wise and how we should seriously start thinking about doing a joint side hustle together like flipping a house or opening a business... and then they rang and I was so surprised and flattered that I accepted on the spot. So, we'll see how that plays out. Money-wise it will be an extra £500 a month, with the potential of overtime if I want it. It's the sort of role where there is progression possibilities which are a certainly a plus, but like I say we'll see how it plays out.

Jessy103

Congrats on the new job

greent

Congratulations!! 👏👏🥳 x

PiggyBankShaker

Thanks @greent and @Jessy103

PiggyBankShaker

The architect is coming today to finalise the technical drawings for the extension. I'm simultaneously excited and nervous, the end feels near now but I don't want to be disappointed by more unexpected delays. As soon as we start getting some quotes in for the work we can beginning planning in earnest and have a sense of when the build can start. My dream is for it all to be finished by next Christmas, so here's hoping our cash flow agrees!

Just over halfway through the month and we're practically out of cash. The energy rebate/refund hasn't been paid yet and we could really do with it! So far we've resisted having any takeaways even though we've both been quite tired this week. We've stayed the course and cooked food instead of giving in to temptation. This should be the last month really that we have to play financial catch up with the credit card spending and we can start saving again. Other than our discretionary spending (kids activities mainly! but also pets and diesel) our expenditure in core areas is really pretty pared back with little scope for efficiencies. Hopefully my bit of extra income (when it starts!) will help things along.

PiggyBankShaker

The meeting with the architect went really well (they usually do to be fair) we made some tweaks, he made some suggestions, it's all looking good and I'm super excited. However, he needs at least another week to finalise the drawings... so the waiting continues.

I worked all day yesterday, it was really enjoyable and energising at time, but tiring afterwards. I feel really quite drained today. Had a lovely date night with OH last night. Two 70p yellow sticker pizzas each from Co-op, and some ice cream in bed with a super-cheesy action film. Bliss.

Today we went to a charity football match and it was great fun. The sun shone the whole time and there were loads of goals. We did a small top-up shop in Morrisons, so the spending tracker will need updating.

No other news to report. The rebate from the energy company still hasn't arrived and the cashback that OH got when he renewed the house insurance hasn't tracked either unfortunately. He's queried it with TopCashBack so hopefully they can chase it up.

PiggyBankShaker

The Child Benefit has gone into the bank (yay!) but the energy refund is still outstanding (boo!) If it had, we'd have £300 to last until the end of the month, as such we have £160.

I submitted £85 of expenses yesterday, which should get controlled tomorrow and paid next week hopefully.

But there's no other money news to report. I've been reading with increasing horror the potential fallout from gas shortages and all the knock-ons it could have. Scary stuff. Even though our energy prices are going up 35% they will still be a fraction cheaper than the next best fix. So we're going to wait a new months and see what happens with the wholesale energy market.

We also did some maths last night on the financials around ditching our fix and swapping our mortgage to a cheaper deal. We have 3 years left to run and are currently paying 2.34% which at the time to took it out so good value, with interest rates dropping as much as they have we could be saving £100 a month, which might just make us break even with the current ERC over the remainder of the fix. What we're going to do is wait until our statement date in Dec/Jan and see what the ERC and interest rates are at that point and then decide. I'd like to overpay the mortgage by £300 a month until then, by OH says not to whilst we're 'saving' for the extension. 

No news on the start date for my new job, apparently I *might* hear something this week.

PiggyBankShaker

One week until payday. Trying to keep spending to a minimum. Just been told our energy provider has gone bust - waiting to hear who will inherit our account. DH chased the £141 were owed from our previous supplier again today, fearing they they are about to go bust too. He was on hold for 45 minutes then just as he started talking to someone his phone switched itself off. I think he's going to try again tomorrow.

We're planning on sorting and tidying the woodpile on Saturday to see how much dry wood we have for the winter and to see if we can free up space for some more. Everyday we use the woodburner is one more day we can delay putting the heating on!

Today I submitted all the paperwork for my new job, starting to quite look forward to it now. Tomorrow I'm off to donate blood and might swing by the place I'll be working for a quick gander. Still no start date yet, but I'm not in a rush. In theory we're also meant to be hearing from the architect tomorrow as well, but I'm not holding my breath.

I think that's everything for today.

PiggyBankShaker

Morning! Accountability check in.

The energy company has sent a cheque! It for £103 though not the £141 I was expecting. DH said he knew this though, it was on the last bill or something, but I'm still chalking it up to a win.

We're on track to have quite a frugal month by the standards of the previous two. Expenditure on clothes, gardening, gifts, groceries, household, kids activities, pets, toiletries, is all down and we're on track to spend about £700 less than last month. We just have to stay the course for a few more days.

It's DD's birthday in October, so there'll be a bit more expenditure but if we can split the difference that'll be a win, as well. No idea exactly what she wants yet but we'll see. 

The extension has been occupying my thoughts a lot since the architect came last Friday, its feeling more real. We're going to need a lot of money and we're also starting from a low base savings-wise. Even with the second job, its going to take us a while to save up. We need to make a proper plan.