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

Merlin's_Beard

February was really a good month for you, and it seems like things are happening in so many areas of your life, all good!

Suffolk_lass

Just popping in to ask if the flat with private garden is south or west backing? a small north or east backing can be a bit dark and even slimy. If the features are things like coving or skirting, they can all be redone. eg At our old house, we removed a small section of the moulding on top of the skirting, and had several metres of that profile made up to replace sections that were missing and the missing mouldings on one side of the 9' doors between the sitting and dining rooms (that had been chiseled off) - they looked spectacular, once redone

LadyWithAPlan

@Suffolk_lasstx for heads up . 
flat I saw Sat the private garden was a third of the garden space - the last bit - couple trees quite big bbq space but kitchen was tiny as was even the master bedrooms so it’s a no even though freehold and would take offers - I do love that road and 3 mins from tube 

seeing another flat on the same road Tuesday

@Merlin's_Beard" I know ! Lessons learned and I really could have found a home and a partner  in the same month

 ..
Buying under /over what I want 
a flat I saw last year I liked and dragged my mum up to london to see it (and flat with the stairs ) has come back on market  as the buyer not making any moves forward / I looked at it again Saturday - private garden (small darkish but cute  as garden is split) brand newly done - 2 bed but the lounge is dark as the kitchen comes off it then the garden with upstairs balcony also obscuring light - plus the main bedroom is not huge 
it’s so cheap on at £375k share of freehold and it would literally be only an extra £250pm month than what I am paying .. 
I could be happy there but I love  light filled so this is why I said no before .. 
but looking at the maths I would not have to change my lifestyle (apart from getting rid of clothes as my double double wardrobes would not fit … 

I also looked at the flat I love just from the street again - it’s £85k more to borrow - shared garden but it’s bigger gorgeous features and full of light - I really really really want it but it’s £700pm more a month easily  on mortgage payments - I could work more though - nowhere near full capacity there  which would cover it 

I was talking to MWAP on Saturday about how though I had won a smeg kettle - I always wanted a red one - and the one I won is cream .  So I haven’t used it it’s still in its box - I only want what I want and save for it -and will wait .. 
I don’t want it in the wrong colour . ! (They wouldn’t exchange) 

 similarly my faux fur heated throw (I didn’t mention this to him but same principal  applies) - I knew  it was the one but was much more expensive than the others- then it sold out - but it was £130 vs £80 other lovely ones or £40 cheap ones - but I didn’t buy it for 1.5 years cos I only wanted that one .. I then saw boots had it for £99 plus I got 10% off and pounced and I love it and use it daily . I am always willing to wait for what I really want (& yes this is whilst I have £100k plus in deposit savings so I do have restraint !) 

My rent is going up again in April £50 - annual increase after  going up  massively in Oct - my neighbours have £200 increases so I know I am ready to buy but if I under buy as in a flat where the light will always be an issue or some such .. I think I have to buy a flat I  love not just something that’s ok and want to leave in 3 years - so this does mean nearer £450k vs £375k 

The EA has text me for feedback on counter offer but I have arranged a call with my wheeler dealer but  good if on your side mortgage Broker  this afternoon - I am also seeing a over what I want to pay £500 plus  2 bed with shared garden on same road tomorrow .. to get idea of prices . 

Premium bond win £25  which is better than last months zero
 (won £50 in Jan_ I have just over £16k in there)

Grocery spend £21.09 but crisps £1.50 + groceries £7.49/
Popped into Sains for a few pre going out dinner snacks  and a bottle of very nice Rose Cremant £14.50 to £12
tortilla chips £1.50, dips, satsumas, waters etc

My fav chorella brand is doing 3 for 2 offer so £42.97 for 3 lots inc postage.. so moved the extra from my bulk money
I take both chorella and spirulina daily and it really helps with my inflammation (allergies) and my hair is thicker it seems and skin glowing... though my led face mask  and daily kale helps that

Had a fabulous weekend - private Soho members club with very good friend of decades - saw a singer doing a bad impersonation of Janis Joplin - I loved Janis - but please sing your authentic voice - my friend hated her with a passion - with live band then a dj - great catch up and bumped into more old friends - Ahd a bit of a dance 

saw more flats Saturday - one EA didn’t turn up !! And promised to be there in 15 mins - then after 40 min waiting in the cold - and no clear ETA I cancelled them as had a viewing elsewhere - and told them to take me off their books -

Dating update - as I know you are more interested than this than my mse  ways  
Sat eve MWAP took me out to my local fabulous Greek restaurant- he is so lovely /kind/ similar background and views etc which he has been very clear he is v happy with  -   Plus he is gorgeous- we are both falling for each other

 And he has informed me I am now on his daily list of things he is grateful for having in his life -(so sweet)  he is definitely a keeper  - we taking it slow but he is organising a weekend trip to Europe asap for us - 4 days together will kill or cure us  

Sunday I saw some friends with loads tech - as was thinking of buying a piece of kit - I took some hardware over And  taught them how to use that - good news is their kit is great but I now know it’s too complex for what I need now - will take months of learning - and what with house buying etc it’s overkill - so saved a few grand there  
I was also talking to them about budgets - they are trying to live a purely creative life which is fine and something I have managed before but it takes a lot of income streams and hustle unless you are v lucky - but the awful stress of not having income and having to sell things to pay the rent which is where they are now  .. 
their flat was gorgeous though - studio but huge skylight windows - top of an east london ex warehouse - and a nook  overlooking the canal so you can dine abd see the world - all brick and wood 
maybe I should look at massive studios . Hmm

PennysIntoPounds

Glad its going well with MWAP.

Re flat you love with shared garden, do you know who it's shared with? Will you love the flat £700 more per month if there are kids playing loudly every evening in summer and all weekend every weekend or people barbecuing with their mates every weekend in summer?

LadyWithAPlan

PennysIntoPounds said:

Glad its going well with MWAP.

Re flat you love with shared garden, do you know who it's shared with? Will you love the flat £700 more per month if there are kids playing loudly every evening in summer and all weekend every weekend or people barbecuing with their mates every weekend in summer?

At present the upstairs neighbours never use it .... but who knows who will turn up in future if they sell 
The main bedroom/kitchen have huge glass windows looking out onto the decking which I think they also may be able to use .. if it was a private garden I would pay the extra immediately but ....

skint_spice

I am not keen on a shared garden myself but appreciate it may be more common in cities so less chance of your own private space.

South_coast

Also you may end up in the trap of always thinking the other party is going to maintain it and end up with nothing getting done to it (or is that just me that would passive-aggresive not confront it 🤔)!

Watty1

I would go with the light every time.  The house i have is dark and tbh I am very clear that if I buy again light will be a bit part of it.   last year i opened up a roof window and put the biggest i could in and that convinced me  - light every time.   

The shared garden would be a bit of an issue, what happens if one of you has a noisy bbq and/or children and you want a quiet evening with a book one summer?    What happens when you grow your tomatoes and their dog eats them?  (That actually happened to a friend of mine:) )

redofromstart

I know I'm odd but I'd pay £700 extra to not share the garden.  It's bad enough when you are married to the kamikaze chain saw wielding non gardener...

I completely agree on the light though. Sit tight and see what else is about as you say.

beanielou

Light always for me & no shared garden. Mind you if it was shared someone else might do it for me