Forever Starts Now

starnac

Hi all. 

After years of saying we were looking to move, we finally did it! Our last house was meant to be a temporary stop before our "Forever Home" but life got in the way, we paid off debt, we had another child, changed jobs etc, and we were still living there 11 years later. 

The pandemic finally gave me the push I needed. The four of us (plus the dog) stuck at home with no garden to enjoy the beautiful weather we had. I finally had enough and pulled my finger out. I sorted out our savings, which were pretty good (thanks MSE and years of DFW), organised them and our budgets, and saved the money we weren't spending due to being at home. We had a decent amount for a deposit and both have decent jobs so we were able to get a big mortgage for our forever home. 

We found one eventually but it meant moving out of our area and the kids had to move schools. So it was a big decision for us to go for it.

We have been in for 2 months now and are finally feeling settled. However, the mortgage figures give me anxiety! It's the biggest amount I have ever owed! 

So we start here! The road to completely owning our Forever Home. 

Forever Starts Now.

starnac

Figures (as of today 23/12/2021)

Mortgage: £288,414.31
Interest Rate: 2.37%
Monthly payment: £1,363.90
Time Remaining: 22years 9 months

starnac

I am struggling with the new forum format. I know it's probably not new anymore but it's been a while since I've posted on here. I need to update my signature. I managed to do it yesterday but I can't remember how I did it! Lol!

I would ideally like to reduce the mortgage by £10k by this time next year. Definitely I want it to drop into the next 10 bracket so £27x,xxx 

I'm off to have a good catch up around the boards to get back into the proper MSE mindset again. Not the loose version I've been doing over the past few years. 

starnac

The House

The main thing that attracted us to this house was/is the garden. In our last house we had a small concrete yard but I have always wanted a proper garden. We have grown fruit and veg in pots over the years but we haven't really had the space to grow much. I am really enjoying planning out what we will grow in this new garden. We have so much more space now and the garden is kind of split into two, so we have room for growing and chickens (I can't wait for these) and still have room for a "garden" to sit out in/the dog/kids to play in.

Growing up we always kept chickens and it is something that I have wanted to do as an adult. DH has never really been keen but since we had our offer accepted on this house, he has been including chickens in the garden plans which I am really happy about. I think he is quite excited to have chickens too. He didn't really have pets growing up while I had a variety of different animals over the years due to my stepdad bringing home all kinds of waifs and strays lol! Much to my mum's dismay!!

beanielou

Happy shiny new diary 

Karmacat

Starnac!  Happy New Diary!  And you have a new house - with room for chickens, yay.  You know about the chicken thread on here, don't you?  It's run by the lovely Edwink, Cheery's a member too.  

Your garden sounds wonderful - and good for you, for taking the step.  A forever home has to have some greenery, if at all possible.

Subscribed  

starnac

Hi both, Thank you for popping in. 

Ooh I didn't know about the chicken thread, I will go searching for it. Thank you.

Christmas Eve! Wow! Where has this year gone? I really can't believe it. I do not feel ready this year at all. Every year we save for Christmas so that we are not trying to buy everything out of November's wages but this year I didn't save as much as I normally do due to the house costing more than we had planned.

The kids have had everything off their lists (they don't really ask for much) and a few extras but apart from that there isn't much else. This house is so much bigger than the last one so our decorations are sparse, there's only the normal food in the fridge. I didn't even buy advent calendars this year because I was in hospital end of Nov, beg of Dec and forgot. It really doesn't feel Christmassy here at all. 

Thankfully we were given a tin of chocolates and some nice biscuits by people at church so we do have some sweet things to eat this evening while we watch a Christmas film in our new PJ's that the elf will leave when the kids have a bath later on. 

Cheery_Daff

Hello! Welcome back (if you've been away - or had I just lost you??) and happy shiny new diary!

Chocs and Christmas film and new PJs sounds like a perfect Christmas eve We always had new PJs on Christmas eve too. Your house sounds a bit like ours this year - some decorations, but barely anything else, and I didn't even get out our permanent advent calendar (it's a little book that turns into a kind of frieze thing with little flaps to open). 

Hey ho, tomorrow will turn up whether we're ready for it or not

Looking forward to following on your journey! I have a similarly scary mortgage (lower than yours, but with only my income and Mr Cheery's pension). Nearly four years in and I'm starting to get used to the idea

I see you've found the chicken thread - hooray! 

starnac

Hi Cherry. Yes I've been away from MSE for a while. Back now though as mortgage is a scary amount!!!

Yes found the chicken thread yay! 

starnac

Well Christmas Day is nearly over and to be fair it was much better than I expected. As Santa was putting the presents out last night I was worried that the piles looked very small this year. 

Then my mum and sister turned up this morning with their presents and the piles almost doubled! But the best thing was watching the kids open their present. DD (now a teenager) was particularly hard to buy for this year but her face lit up Everytime she opened something. Genuine excitement. And that's what makes it for me! It absolutely made my day! I was worrying for no reason last night! 

I hope you have all had a nice day however you celebrated Christmas.

Thriftmaster1973

Just make questioning every spend an "in-built" habit that you do daily.

Always look for cheaper options which provide the same result.

Watch your mortgage on a monthly basis and record all overpayments.

Once your in the "habit" you'll stay with it as you'll realise how much money your actually saving.

Good luck & stick with it!