Little by little, and with love

RosaBernicia

Here to declare 0% finance deal gone and (all being well) never such a thing to return!  It let me back into the account today, so I have paid it in full, have an email receipt and promptly got an access page saying that I no longer have any active accounts with them.  Yay!

Surveyor coming round for new mortgage company... trying not to worry about this but it is a niggle.  The place is not looking its best as had just cleared one room to paint and another is waiting... and the garden is a tip.  House prices on this street really vary and I bought in the middle of lockdown so am just hoping they agree it is worth what I paid then. 

RosaBernicia

So the budget is way over but mostly due to clothes shopping, with multiple sizes so at least half of it won't stay. 

I have finally got round to putting up new smoke alarms properly but refused to mess around drilling holes so am trying out Command strips for them (currently waiting for adhesive to fix as instructed). 

Hacked the absolute worst out of the garden today - which included some huge and beautiful thistles, I am always sorry to move them but they needed to shift.  Need to tackle a bit of the former lawn later this week.  And get quotes for sorting the paving etc. 

The van has had another wibble - sigh - just as I was planning to go away next month.  Just as well I got it fixed at local garage last time.  Waiting to hear when they can look at it.  Trying not to add up what it's cost me between buying it, fixing it, taxing it and choosing a house with driveway space for two vehicles. 

Closed 0% finance thing on YNAB as payment has confirmed cleared - that is a good feeling.  Checked regarding the credit file comment about keeping usage below 70% and am considering paying an extra £50 to the 0% CC this month just so that is down to under 70% as well as my overall usage being low.  I should probably ditch the extra CC that I'm not using, as it's no longer 0% and I have enough space on the main one that I clear every month to use that for any emergencies. 

I guess the next thing to sort out is the mortgage, and continue working on the house and garden.  I am hoping I can start to save more by the end of the year and build up to redoing the bathroom. 

kerri_gt

Argh to the van, though better it happen before you go away rather than during.

Prob a bit late now but could yoi display the cut thistles in a vase for a bit inside? Maybe you wouldn't feel bad about them getting the chop then. 

Try not to stress about the house valuation. I was really nervous when ours was done for a remortgage deal but got the distinct impression so long as we hadn't done anything drastic to the property and it was in good repair (or at least as expected) without mushrooms growing from the bathroom or the windows smashed in etc that was all they were interested in. Certainly they weren't there expecting it staged to sell - and i imagine they've seen all the tricks in the book on thay front too before.

RosaBernicia

kerri_gt said:

Argh to the van, though better it happen before you go away rather than during.

Prob a bit late now but could yoi display the cut thistles in a vase for a bit inside? Maybe you wouldn't feel bad about them getting the chop then. 

Try not to stress about the house valuation. I was really nervous when ours was done for a remortgage deal but got the distinct impression so long as we hadn't done anything drastic to the property and it was in good repair (or at least as expected) without mushrooms growing from the bathroom or the windows smashed in etc that was all they were interested in. Certainly they weren't there expecting it staged to sell - and i imagine they've seen all the tricks in the book on thay front too before.

Thanks Kerri

The thistles would need full size architectural hotel style vases!  I might try it if any little ones sneak back in though. 

The surveyor did ask if the valuation was to sell or remortgage - I explained definitely not selling as it's still a work in progress!  We chatted and tbh I was slightly surprised he didn't seem to have reviewed the last sale info.  He did pretty much confirm what you say though, so long as there's no major issues the lenders usually want to lend and are no longer interested in hearing about peeling paint etc.  Which is just as well in this instance!  Apparently the report should go back today so fingers crossed. 

kerri_gt

RosaBernicia said:

kerri_gt said:

Argh to the van, though better it happen before you go away rather than during.

Prob a bit late now but could yoi display the cut thistles in a vase for a bit inside? Maybe you wouldn't feel bad about them getting the chop then. 

Try not to stress about the house valuation. I was really nervous when ours was done for a remortgage deal but got the distinct impression so long as we hadn't done anything drastic to the property and it was in good repair (or at least as expected) without mushrooms growing from the bathroom or the windows smashed in etc that was all they were interested in. Certainly they weren't there expecting it staged to sell - and i imagine they've seen all the tricks in the book on thay front too before.

Thanks Kerri

The thistles would need full size architectural hotel style vases!  I might try it if any little ones sneak back in though. 

The surveyor did ask if the valuation was to sell or remortgage - I explained definitely not selling as it's still a work in progress!  We chatted and tbh I was slightly surprised he didn't seem to have reviewed the last sale info.  He did pretty much confirm what you say though, so long as there's no major issues the lenders usually want to lend and are no longer interested in hearing about peeling paint etc.  Which is just as well in this instance!  Apparently the report should go back today so fingers crossed. 

ahh well - that's something to keep an eye out for on Freecycle 

I think when it comes to properties, whatever you think is 'bad' or not as you'd like, surveyors have seen it all and more and for re-mortgages can see past the cosmetic work in progress. 

EssexHebridean

Pleased to hear it sounds as though the survey went well - if anything I think prices have increased since lockdown haven't they so you should be fine. 

That's a pain about the van - but definitely better that it happens before it risks leaving you with problems while you're actually away in it! Fingers crossed the local place will be able to sort it again, and it won't be too expensive. 

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean said:

Pleased to hear it sounds as though the survey went well - if anything I think prices have increased since lockdown haven't they so you should be fine. 

That's a pain about the van - but definitely better that it happens before it risks leaving you with problems while you're actually away in it! Fingers crossed the local place will be able to sort it again, and it won't be too expensive. 

Absolutely EH - especially as I was planning on taking it on ferries etc!  My lovely local garage will look at it on Tuesday. 

RosaBernicia

Belated payday shuffle... delighted to only have one actual debt now, since the loan and 0% are Done With and have disappeared off my YNAB! 

Cleared the month to month CC, and got the 0% one down to <70%.  Just been playing with amounts and although I don't think I can quite do 5% for the next few months, I think I should be able to do 2.5%.  That feels like a nice clear amount to track progress. 

Invoices paid and others logged for next month.

Meter readings done - I am trying to put them in on the 1st and the 15th, a bit of a compromise as it gives me a better picture than just every month and I don't think I will get them done every week.  I was just in credit after this month's direct debit which is good, and what is even better is I got a referral bonus so that has put me safely in the black (and I'm pleased to hear it has gone through for the person on the other side of that referral, you know who you are, thank you!).  I confess I have not been very careful with the heating etc as the weather's been really variable here and I put it back on for a cold day - I must go and cut down its timings again.

There are a couple of bits of cashback pending but I can't really do much more to chase either of them. 

Premium Bonds bought - I am no longer adding to the buffer category, as I filled it with the back pay, and will review savings in the autumn. 

No news on the valuation yet, except for a message saying the mortgage company are really busy and taking longer to process things and apologising.  So fingers still crossed.  A house down the road has just come on the market at a higher price than I would have expected so perhaps that's a positive sign. 

This month is going to be spendy as I have visitors and travel plans (and I am just hoping sorting the van isn't going to be too expensive).  I haven't managed to put aside as much as I'd like, but as there is not likely to be much happening next month - and I have more budget now the loan is gone - I will just put stuff on the month to month CC and pay it off in August.  I'm also hoping to be able to stop or cut down my counselling from next month, which will save quite a bit. 

So plodding, but most things heading in the right direction 

RosaBernicia

Logged a couple of pending returns which I had forgotten weren't entered in last month so of course YNAB had allocated the money as overspend.  That's gained a nice bit back in the pot, now I just have to actually post them!

And just checked TCB to see what insurance offers they had, and found the last one has finally shown up as confirmed - I had given up on it.  Just hoping it gets actually paid faster than it got confirmed - it's £80 so was worth choosing that deal, but only if I actually get the cash! 

RosaBernicia

Just dashing in to say hurrah, the mortgage offer has come through - £50 a month below the provider's current equivalent deal, so that was worth doing in time (still a little annoyed I missed an even cheaper deal, but grateful it's gone through).  The present rate with my current lender is over £100 a month more, so I am not optimistic that their offer to an existing customer will be any better in another few weeks' time. 

Also had refund for the robot mop this morning, which was a relief as it took ages and I can't find the courier receipt, so was a bit worried that had gone astray.  And the last payment from the cat's pet insurance, finally, which I had also given up on seeing any time soon.  Nice to feel that money is going in the right direction for once, long may it continue!