Pay off mortgage and start having even more fun 😁

newgirly

Well the theatre was disappointing, I really thought it would be my cup of tea, unfortunately it just felt like it was full of very dated uncomfortable jokes, the actors were great though. Total spend about £105 for everything (brunch, dinner, drinks ticket and travel) which is pretty good going I think! Also spend some of dd’s Xmas cash gift on a dr who “meep” t shirt in forbidden planet, it’s messed up the 50/50 present rule but she will LOVE it! 

Ds2 and girlfriend have had an offer accepted on a flat nearby 😁 landlord seller won’t take it off the market until the new mortgage offer gets sent over, but it’s in the next town about a ten min drive away so I’m very pleased, a fairly safe area near the tube, he was going to try for further into east London so I’m glad it was too dear if I’m honest as he’s closer to mummy 😆 Although I am prepared for the fact this may not be their long term home as girlfriend is from Leeds and returns home to see family constantly, although if ds1 does move away he’s told me he will come back all the time, not to see us but for West Ham of course! 

So far so good not buying clothes, I mean it’s only day seven but it’s a start 😬 Did a quite long survey last night, will need to remember log in details to check what my balance is, plus I also need to read uo on what I needed to do to get a cash reward for the new HSBC bank accounts, the cards came through while we were away.

South_coast

Ooh, exciting times for DS2 😀 Does that leave you with none living at home then (I lose track!)

newgirly

Oops I meant ds1 s moving out, ds2 and wife will be with us for a fair while yet 😆 they will be the last ones though SC.

I think I’ve picked up my friend's cold from when we went to the theatre the other day, feel like I’m fighting it off and I’m supposed to be to out driving the girls to our Xmas dinner , will message later and warn them, just incase they would rather avoid me. 

I had a result yesterday from the cruise company, no offer of a free balcony upgrade for the next cruise, but an offer of £400 cash or £500 credit as compensation for no water for a few days, apparently issues with the cabin in their workings out account for 1/4 of the holiday cost so he refunded the cabin for the whole trip. Which is actually more than 1/4 as the trip was £859 each. 

Anyway I didn’t even haggle for more as it seemed fair, so £500 less to pay on the balance due next week, this 2 week full board cruise to the med next April is now costing us £408 each or £29.14 a day! Currently the price online is from £949pp, very happy with that! 

So now the decision is what to do with the £500, I could make life way more easy and just pay for the parking which I do need to book soon (£250) and maybe even the fizzy drinks package £275, or have it as a mini emergency fund for the year as it will be a very tight one, or I could overpayit. 

I feel like I should at least book the parking as this does sell out and nobody has offered a lift 😆 I think you can get a refund if you don’t need it. An perhaps see how much difference it mgt make to the op spreadsheet, my guess is not a lot at this late stage with such high monthly payments 🙄

skint_spice

Good result NG, nice to have to decide where to send your money!

daisy_1571

Parking.  You need it, it sells out plus you can cancel 

Dxx

killerpeaty

Glad to hear your dad is okay, it's scary regardless.

Your cruise sounds a bit of a mixed bag but getting all that money back is brilliant.

newgirly

Thanks Kp, I’m pleased as it makes such a difference right now! 

Hi Daisy, I don’t need the parking now as my parents have said they will come ( we asked a while ago, they don’t really ever go away alone) and they booked an expensive fare that included parking and don’t want money towards it 😁 so have put a bit towards the drinks package, a little towards the cruise for spending money and some towards the caravan trip booked for next May plus I spent £35 on breakfast Sunday for ds1, girlfriend, my brother and I 😬 

Poor ds2 and wife are stuck in York, after taking her Nan and aunt on Friday plus their dogs, Nan is poorly and in hospital, Aunt has gone home with her own dog and left them there 😡  no idea how long until they can come back yet and they both have work from today, hopefully not long! 

Yesterday I had a good day for freebies, free cleaning item from Lidl- so I got 50 dishwasher tabs (£4.29) and also a pack of corner yoghurts Lidl, and a bottle of perfume of my choice worth £6 on M&S advent calendar. Then my Nivea spf facial moisturiser worth £3.44 with boots points 😁 

will check all the finances soon and see where we are, I do need to decode what to cook Boxing Day too 🤔

newgirly

Ds2 is still in York waiting for Nan in law to be let out, I’m looking after the hamster, stick insects and preying mantis 😩 

After an early start today - dh let in crazy cat when he left for work who was nosing around trying to unwrap presents 😆 I’m going to get things done! I’ve got an extra day free tomorrow too so: 

• Clean whole house -done 
• Wrap last present for friend 
• Check and update finances 
• Meal plan for Boxing Day 
• Do all washing and sort out clothes rail with stuff for the rest of winter, I’ve too many clothes out that don’t need to be 
• Check on survey site and see how many points of got so far -done 
• Research opening a nationwide member regular saver at 8% to hold some of the mortgage ops 
• Register the new hsbc accounts online (for free cashback) 
• May set a budget for next year, although I think it has to be the same as it is now really 😆

newgirly

Another day indoors catching up on stuff, I did manage to cross of some of the bigger things yesterday, cleaning the whole house and doing all the washing - I cheated and had the heating on for hours as ds1 was working from home and it got the washing dry, was lovely having a cosy warm home 😁 Also did a few hours work for dh. 

So today will be more online and paperwork related, I had a quick late night chat last night with dh when he got in, we are supposed to be getting more rent from dh’s boss for the factory, he agreed to pay it for one month (Dec) while he decides whether he will sign the new lease or not as he is re configuring some of his companies. So it will be an extra £300 a month if it comes - if it doesn’t nor will any rent which is half our income or possibly dhs wages , so I can’t really plan on that! It’s all or nothing 😱

Anyway for once I’m assuming all will be well, I think it will be and if it’s not we will be in emergency mode living off the offset and a cushion he has in the business while we get a new tennant in. Anyway the point being I asked dh if he wanted it to go just to mortgage or if I should use some to pay the balance off the cruise we have booked for my 50th in May 2025 , dh was going to try get the money together but i think that’s daft and we can still stick to the 33 month end date which is a lot less pressure. 

Back later with the final a plan for 2024 and probably the first half of 2025 too! 😆

South_coast

Heating isn't chasing, NG - it's why you have it, and it stops your house getting damp!

Hope you get some clarity about the factory soon 🤞