Future Proofing my life: Deposit saving then MFW journey in under 13 years

Sistergold

Oh sorry to hear about the flat! You are so right London is so full of flats, the next one you love will be even better. When it’s yours you will get it! X

KajiKita

I have just been catching up …! What a lot has happened!!😊
What comes through to me most strongly, is your passion for a garden. That is starting to sound like a non-negotiable for you, to me. 

Yaay for the TCB 😊👏 (glad I was helpful 😉), have you tried the cashew cream yet? 

Onwards and upwards 😊

KK

LadyWithAPlan

KajiKita said:

I have just been catching up …! What a lot has happened!!😊
What comes through to me most strongly, is your passion for a garden. That is starting to sound like a non-negotiable for you, to me. 

Yaay for the TCB 😊👏 (glad I was helpful 😉), have you tried the cashew cream yet? 

Onwards and upwards 😊

KK

Cashew cream in fridge yet to be blended - do I also use the soaking water ? 

Yes a garden is definitely v high on priority list 

@Sistergold  I am believing in your house love and faith  
I spoke to broker and he applying for My MIP next Thursday (madly busy up to the 31st Jan so can’t look this week .. idea is £125k dep and £350k mortgage to give me room to look 
only on £114k deposit at moment but I am owed loads so and I will probably prefer to buy at 400k level 
figure aiming for that £125k deposit goal  is a big motivation for work and saving .. 
plus when I hopefully have the MIP I can turn start searching hard next weekend 

LadyWithAPlan

HotDog2020 said:

Also you might be right that they will cancel if they have put in too high an offer, for my place there was another person going for it, they got in there first however changed their mind as it was going to take too long to settle, whereas I had all the time! With Yours they may have second decision about offering so high an amount for a one bed? Anyhow you are in a good position, and by the way I had taken 2-3 decision in principles out by the time I purchased so it didn't knock me far from the goal - obvs - different situation, but still.

Ah house buying in london tx for your positive sharing 

@merlinsbeard we are all v philosophical and mystical about this finding the right home I see I think you are right if it’s the one it will come back - 

Fortune_Smiles said:

Sorry to hear that the flat didn't work out LaPlan but what's for you won't go by you - there's a perfect LaPlan home out there waiting for you.

Fortune x

Tx ! Will start searching properly next weekend 

LadyWithAPlan

NSD Yesterday so 11/13 - probably will spend this eve..
Got college class today  but had to work and catch up so missed them annoyingly but am popping out to see friends and having a dance  this eve later
- I will no doubt buy a drink or 2  but am not feeling that great - wouldn't go given so much on with tax/ work.. but its an important event for a friend so..

Age of money 27 days!! 

Popped out yesterday to drs  for flu shot which is near the Lid etc but I have a full fridge/freezer  and want to ideally not shop before end Jan beyond some veg/fruit if I can  - so i didnt  - I see I am £7 off hitting £100 coupon for spend in Lid - so I will do that this weekend and get the coupon plus I have 15% off kale
Annoyingly my local Lid  near my gym is closingin a few months (yes the gym I am hardly in)  - I will have to start shopping at Aldi which is a good 15 min walk in the wrong direction so no easy pop in after working out. There are other SM  there  but more the Sain/Tesco I only go in for branded goods.  
Aldi I dont think has an app/coupon thing?

Looking at my Jan spend vs last few months ... I have spent  about 5% on social stuff in jan compared to  in Dec! I will spend a bit more but ... 
Yes it is Jan but it is also ynab GO miracle alarms as well. I have a home to buy and a £125l hse deposit target to hit
I have seen my 6 m free prime runs out end March - may do the 50% off student after .... plus I have a £140 annual coming out 27th but I think I will cancel - its a work one I dont need 

Voda**ne billing early   I have a 2 yr b/band deal  - was 1 yr free then 2nd year I pay £25 a month.
My first bill was taken out for Jan £6.01   and £31.xx for Jan 12 - Feb 12 - yet it was not delivered til Feb 4th last year and installed Feb 9th - spent an hour on hold to them - they have said they will get the Vod bus team to call back withon 48 hrs ... its now 3+ days ... so I will call them again  - seeing every penny going out the ynab as I have to categorise and approve it really makes my spending v obvious. 
Plus they charging me more than agreed  and an extra month! 

FOOD
Had bought some GF aberdeen angus beef burgers so had that fried in coconut oil along with red sweet peppers, mushrooms and the magic green word  kale. I do like it gently fried.

Cashew cream tx @kajikitka
Finally did the cashew cream -never tried before -  very nice as a spoon  of in coffee..
I also now found a recipe adding olive oil, lemon juice, garlic to make it like a sour cream so may try that with half of it... good to know as a back up for DF milk ir cream or sauce bases...  cashews were from Mr Ald...

House buying
As I am using YNAB it does not matter - beyond payments out - where money sits as in which bank - my 30 odd virtual bank pots are all empty  as the 'pots/envelopes/categories' are now  in ynab - easier as you can see big balances immediately and of course the reporting is great on whats left, whats spent and ooops unplanned spending or annual subscription missed so where I am covering it from...

The CC is  currently £155 (lowest in years - I did always pay off in full)  and staying there  til statement end- I will buy groceries and drinks from my main bank acct - this is the big switch as  I was cycling the cash thru my CC  and it made it look like I am utilising too much of my cc for my credit score even if I pay it off next day..on occassion.
However I have moved some cash from business and other bank accts into my main personal bank to make that balance look more flush  as that is where coincidentally I have banked for 25+ years and where I am likely to get a contract mortgage. It is also the same bank as my cc  and rent goes outso it all ties in and hopefully will help.
The broker charges £295 for getting my MIP (and free for all the subsequent MIP) then £295 for the actual real mortgage..

I will need to ask couple friends for conveyancing solicitor intros.. sounds like a nightmare with some and I do not suffer business fools ..

KajiKita

Yaay for the cashew cream being a success 😊❤️👏

You sound like a well tuned engine, driving forward into a rosy future 😊

KK

savingholmes

Hi LWAP - sorry that someone else got in first with an offer. It sounds like you are getting clearer on what you want and which elements are negotiable. I would be uncomfortable with a lease at all - but definitely a lease below 99 years. I'd definitely in that scenario ask as SisterGold suggested for a share of the freehold - or ask what scope there is to extend the lease as part of the purchase. 

Assuming all goes well and I finally get in my new house - I was gutted in Aug/Sept as sis and BIL pointed out loads of issues with a house I was in love with footprint and views wise. However they saved me £35K plus the costs the works would have been as that's how much less the house I'm buying next door to that one is on for. It's in much better condition. Even if I'd wanted the next door one - it's still on the market but now up for £15K less than it was originally. The right house - still needs to be at the right price point. Things will come together one day - but I totally get how frustrating the journey is.

TallGirl

Same her sorry you list out but if it’s meant to be it will be. Get a solicitor lined up so you’re ready to go day one when you offer. Good to get recommendation and do not go for cheap online factory you’ll get less handholding. 

South_coast

Normally I'd advocate watching every penny, but I'd be wary of spending too much time pursuing the Vodafone thing when you could be using that time to chase your ££££ invoices/doing more work. Plus, the second year may have been £25/month when you signed up, but it will have gone up last March by CPI plus 3.9(?)%, so the £31.xx could well be the right amount or very close

debtfreewannabe321

Morning @LadyWithAPlan I have read through your diary over the last week. I was holding my breath hoping you'd found your new home this morning as I got to the house viewing....sorry it didn't come through but like yourself I believe that there is the right one out there for you, perhaps it's not ready yet.... 

Your talk of YNAB is making me want to sign up and try it again, perhaps now I am more focused it might be worth trying one last time  

I moved out of London so I could afford to live comfortably and buy a home, so I totally get you wanting to perhaps underbuy and go smaller to keep the mortgage do-able. I think looking at 1 & 2 beds is a good idea.
Now I'm all caught up with you I will pop in to cheer on the flat hunting and money saving ventures DFW321