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

Suffolk_lass

Wretched TGAOSDC - I blame the chat on here, lol. It is on channel 25 Freeview one weekday evening and I watched a bit of it.  Our bank holiday Monday was spent emptying the large workshop and going through it all. It took two days. We know how to live! Now I am painting it (good grief!) - the white gloss paint had solidified to an unstirable gel so I am using the wrong-choice masonry paint we already have. Banana Dream 3 will look lovely with black shed paint - just the window frames and doors. We use masonry paint on pine and polystyrene bee-hive kit so I figured it was a good substitute and a bit more MSE.

The Pig shed next, then the tool shed, then the cart lodge, then the greenhouse. Then... the house. I might be dead by then!

LadyWithAPlan

@Suffolk_lass
what a way to spend a bank holiday Monday !!  am now not sure if you hate me ? 

Personally I am impressed - sounds like you got loads done and just think of the calories burnt not sitting enjoying life but routing thru all
these random outhouses .. is there a reason you are doing the house you actually live in last ?? 

I rewatched a few of the death cleaning episides   bank holiday Monday to get me moving forward again after being away .. some of the later episodes are incredibly moving and also testament to going through terrible times and getting through the other side - one whose late ex wife possesions still held angry memories of the awful divorce and her betrayal, another somehow incredibly uplifting one where a lady who lost her partner in covid ended up celebrating their life etc.

Suffolk_lass

LadyWithAPlan said:

@Suffolk_lass
what a way to spend a bank holiday Monday !!  am now not sure if you hate me ? 

Personally I am impressed - sounds like you got loads done and just think of the calories burnt not sitting enjoying life but routing thru all
these random outhouses .. is there a reason you are doing the house you actually live in last ?? 

No, of course not, lol, it is not a little hilarious how much we influence each other on here! The house is last because the outbuildings are worse. When it rains I sort things inside but it hasn't for ages here...

PennysIntoPounds

Congrats on the wins and hooray for more money in the flat pot

SandyShores

Looking back on the houses we've lived in, I would say that I felt suffocated and trapped in the ones that I didn't like.  The few (maybe 2 or 3) where I felt completely relaxed and at home were a joy.  As well as more run of the mill houses, I've lived in bigger houses, in beautiful villages and in the middle of beautiful countryside.  But I wouldn't swap any of them for our current house.  Its far from being a mansion, but its light and airy, detached, plenty of parking, walking distance to places, on the edge of countryside, feels safe and isn't overlooked.  I think you know what you need to achieve that feeling of joy, and its definitely worth waiting for.

I think the only question I would ask is about the garden.  I have seen apartments with lovely balconies/raised patio areas with lovely aspects that I would favour over a garden if I didn't have an outdoor moggy.

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello @LadyWithAPlan, how inspiring your three year review was! 

Well done on getting such a decent deposit together but I only know myself how tough the London property market can be so completely get your reluctance to put your stake in the ground. If this is helpful and as another poster said I can feel you seem scared of buying or "making a mistake". I wondered would you be comfortable being a life long renter? My OH was absolutely happy to be a life long renter as for him he liked the flexibility to up and move around. He's lived pretty much all over London and has some wonderful stories to tell but it came at a big cost as for him he had no deposit, no equity and he's now finding his health has some challenges that I am feeling would be hard if he was still renting. As you know I bought a place (with OH) outside of London earlier this yr on a much smaller budget. I think i'm trying to say health is a consideration too and there are valid arguments for both being a renter and being a home owner.

I will say though our finances was /  are in a much more challenging situation than your position and for us the only sensible option was to upsticks and get out of London and buy. Renting became a 'challace around our necks'.

LadyWithAPlan

Suffolk_lass said:

LadyWithAPlan said:

@Suffolk_lass
what a way to spend a bank holiday Monday !!  am now not sure if you hate me ? 

Personally I am impressed - sounds like you got loads done and just think of the calories burnt not sitting enjoying life but routing thru all
these random outhouses .. is there a reason you are doing the house you actually live in last ?? 

No, of course not, lol, it is not a little hilarious how much we influence each other on here! The house is last because the outbuildings are worse. When it rains I sort things inside but it hasn't for ages here...

This is so true on the influence.... @SISTERGOLD inspired me to do my first diy course, other here got me on the grocery challenge, not paying supermarkets to stock
their food, doing surveys, and indeed I said no to ynab for years but finally cracked under MSE pressure and it has been life changing.

I was watching the Restoration workshop programme on u.co.uk free streaming  (same station as to watch Swedish death cleaning) on bank holiday Monday and v inspired by all the welding/electrical upcycling they do - it is one thing to strip and paint/polish old furniture  but this next level creative upcycle is amazing. I will do just one course this term to keep me entertained and also to keep my student discount card so looking around at present for that. I always like to learn something in Sept and Jan then have the summer term free. I like the Sept going back to school rhythm  
I will not be taking on any big projects as I have enough to get on with !

LadyWithAPlan

PennysIntoPounds said:

Congrats on the wins and hooray for more money in the flat pot

tx!!! Reading all the diaries on here I am reminded that extra money needs to go to my mortgage pig account. It needs to start flying!

Reading @debtfreewannabe321 moving diary (very impressed with her organisation whilst dealing with kids, budget and last minute buying chaos) she reminded me of her vision board successes. I have not settled down this week to do this as I am working, getting back into my home life and seeing friends for first time in 5 weeks so.
So I will do as she suggested and write clear wants and I will print some pics of lounges, gardens  etc  to look at daily to see what I am choosing to work towards.

SandyShores said:

.....But I wouldn't swap any of them for our current house.  Its far from being a mansion, but its light and airy, detached, plenty of parking, walking distance to places, on the edge of countryside, feels safe and isn't overlooked.  I think you know what you need to achieve that feeling of joy, and its definitely worth waiting for.

I think the only question I would ask is about the garden.  I have seen apartments with lovely balconies/raised patio areas with lovely aspects that I would favour over a garden if I didn't have an outdoor moggy.

Where you love sounds lovely! Very valid point re the garden - I have a vision of a large apple tree, a bbq, table and few chairs and grass, but I may indeed get nicer views and more light. I am planning a dog though, I am looking at places with balconies and gardens - not only looking at gardens.



London spending ... Social in Aug £135.95 so far
Whilst the headline figure £135 spent on drinks, social, coffees and the cab is not crazy for an entire month (one can drop that in one evening in  London) I  am aware since being back in London for less than a week and seeing friends my spending has gone up! Not crazy but with one friend  Wed we had a walk in the park I bought myself that £4.45 coffee and then we bought a round each  £18 each (I am on this red wine and water  due to my slow carb nutrition) so I am an extra slow drinker 
I am not buying crisps or pub snacks any more.. as only have that one cheat day/week  (tomorrow but  really not that bothered)


Then saw another friend  yesterday I have not seen for a month - again a walk  and I bought a round - 2 red wine  L £23 and then we joined others and had a fabulous night - some are very wealthy and insisted on picking up the tab so then £21 black cab home - so for such a great late night out £44 is not bad but I am having to pull money out other categories.... i would normally get a late night bus but it was late and I had had a few red wines... it is very difficult to get drunk as it is hard to drink red wine fast I find so I was ordering one glass of wine  for everyone else 2 or 3  - it would have been v different if I had been on my normal rose or bubbles.

I am seeing another friend tomorrow  who just healing out of weeks of radio/chemo etc after surgery - using some 'won tickets' for a gallery exhibition - £23 each (!) which I would not have paid for.... but then there will be a round of drinks... Staying in tonight to save money and get organised

It was lovely to be out in London town and surrounded with lovely people and feeling free - now I am single.

WelshmansDaughter

Something I read the other day came to mind while catching up on your diary- end and means goals. Your goal could be looked at as wanting to buy a place. Or it is you want to feel a particular way. 

Can’t remember if this has been suggested before but have you thought about staying in the type of place you are thinking of buying in a short term rental like bnb? 

LadyWithAPlan

Queen_of_the_Hive said:

Hello @LadyWithAPlan, how inspiring your three year review was! 

Well done on getting such a decent deposit together but I only know myself how tough the London property market can be so completely get your reluctance to put your stake in the ground. If this is helpful and as another poster said I can feel you seem scared of buying or "making a mistake". I wondered would you be comfortable being a life long renter? My OH was absolutely happy to be a life long renter as for him he liked the flexibility to up and move around. He's lived pretty much all over London and has some wonderful stories to tell but it came at a big cost as for him he had no deposit, no equity and he's now finding his health has some challenges that I am feeling would be hard if he was still renting. As you know I bought a place (with OH) outside of London earlier this yr on a much smaller budget. I think i'm trying to say health is a consideration too and there are valid arguments for both being a renter and being a home owner.

I will say though our finances was /  are in a much more challenging situation than your position and for us the only sensible option was to upsticks and get out of London and buy. Renting became a 'challace around our necks'.

It is a miracle the size of my deposit ...I am amazed at myself!  its been a few years mind you, I have been watching pennies  (apart from when I do extended trips which are frugal but still the focus is not there clearly - on increasing my house deposit over  my fabulous lifestyle.) and I had side hustles along my actual work. 
Also  having had v cheap rent  for the last 8 years til last Oct helped, it then went up, still cheap but £500 pm extra  comes off my monthly  savings plus other COL increases.

I like the freedom of renting but as you say there comes a point as we age where  having a paid off mortgage or being in control of the cost of the living by having a set mortgage vs being under the rental mkt  increases. Health wise I am great but I do know that can change so I am back firmly on deposit savings and the new job

@WelshmansDaughter tx for popping in - I  like your thinking about how the home will make me feel - probably a layer of security (after the layer of panic at the mortgage size) 
It will also give me a huge goal of gamifying to mortgage neutral 
I can see where I live now the building work finally starting in earnest which will signal me having to leave here - I gather it’s a 2 year project but the sand has started running 

Stayed in last night NSD day 

I did order some 10000ius of vit D and got 2 packs as I gift the parents it - however my friend is healing from radiotherapy surgery and 
chemo etc so will give him a pack if it arrives in time - my dentist got me on it as he said it’s hugely important for healing - we get 25000ius  vit D on a sunny Mediterranean day so it’s safe 

EMS today then seeing the exhibition with my free won tix and some MB as well

Cashback £2.50
I have been emailed re my long existing £2.50 voucher in my local garden centre - I do need some more plant stuff or I will buy a herb pot from there. Not going to go mad and not spending til Sept but nice to know. I sometimes buy lovely Xmas ornaments as gifts from there so I might do that instead