Mortgage free in Forever Home :-)

KajiKita

Productive and positive day in work - won’t say any more as I don’t want to think about it here 😉

Ordered some specialist batteries when I got home,
knitted two rows of my blanket project with the new metal circular needle - what a difference! 🤩
dead headed the rose by the front door that I planted last year - the scent is swoon worthy …  ❤️,
cut back some more dead stuff I’d missed,
pulled a few bits of sticky weed I’d missed under the contorted hazel,
took my read library book upstairs and swooped it for an unread one and finally, after prepping breakfast and lunch for tomorrow,
loaded up watering cans in conservatory and greenhouse for tomorrow morning’s sousings … 😉
then, wandered about and pulled a hefty handful of bindweed from the onions bed before my shower.
comfortably hit 9K steps 😊

KK

PennysIntoPounds

You are smashing it! So pleased to hear your constant satisfaction.

Is Mr KK doing okay or are you extra smashing it to provide a more contented environment? How's his mum doing? Funny old time after funerals for those closest 

KajiKita

Thanks for asking @PennysIntoPounds 😊 Mr KK seems okay. He went back to work yesterday in spite of still having quite a(n annoying) cough. Even so, when I got home he was trundling around the garden mowing and strimming until well after 6pm when I had to chase him in for a shower and so I could feed him! 😉

Mr KK went out for a ride on Sunday and on his way out popped into his mum’s, finding her asleep in the armchair in the conservatory. So I would say her flight / fight is dropping back. She is keeping busy but when she said to him that, she ‘has to get on with it’ she had a proper wobble. Mr KK will pop in on her again either Wednesday/Thursday this week. So I think ups and downs there. I think early December will be the difficult time as that is FiL’s birthday and the first one without him. He would have been 90 so I am quietly going to start suggesting that we organise a celebration of him for as we would normally always have had a family meal at that time of year. 

KK

PennysIntoPounds

Bound to be ups and downs. That's a really nice idea for December. Will you and Mr KK do something on fathers day in a few weeks too? Even if they didn't normally do anything it can be a bit much having 'Father' shouted from every shop shelf, email and newspaper when things still feel raw

Brie

After my dad died my mom said she would burst into tears at odd moments - something which I think is completely natural as when you turn to say something and then remember the person isn't there.  She also said it took her a good year during which she first had their anniversary, then Christmas, then his birthday and then father's day and her birthday in quick succession.  And then the anniversary of his death.  I think that was the time she finally had the closure.  I expect we all go through it in our own special way.

Hope they, and you, continue to be strong and when you're not know you have each other to lean on.  

KajiKita

Thanks @PennysIntoPounds and @Brie ❤️ Yes a full year’s cycle is tough … and I take your point about Father’s Day coming up soon. I will ask gently. 

Had the mortgage advisor come round tonight. Really useful conversation. 

Apparently the ‘swop rates’ are what determine mortgage rates even more than BoE interest rates. At the moment swop rates are just starting to drop as the financial institutions are more confident than the BoE. 

60% is the last critical LTV level - very few lenders give better rates for 50% LTV. He was pleased that we had done some OPing 😊

We need to be absolutely up front with him about all lines of credit that we have and typically what we spend on our credit cards each month - the FCA have obliged lenders to look more closely at this now since we last mortgaged. 

We looked at 2, 3, and 5 year rate options. For now he is going to apply for a 4.38% 3 year fixed rate for us. 

Come August we can start a conversation with our current provider as to what rates they might offer us.He also pointed that by October this year, when our current deal ends, we will have paid off another £5,750 of the capital. 👍

I feel very fired up to really focus on getting my and our savings built up before the new mortgage kicks in. If I could get it back up to cover 6 months minimum by then I would feel much more secure. I’d also like £1K tucked away in the shared house savings. I will review what my take home pay looks like this week after contributing the maximum 10% that my employer matches. I will keep that going for the next five months as well and reconsider again come October. 

We will do the wedding anniversary dinner in the very nice local restaurant next month, but I don’t think I will bother with my week away I was considering - I have plenty to entertain me here 😊

KK

beanielou

Glad that you had a good conversation with MA. Good plans going forward.  Could you maybe consider a wee midweek break?

KajiKita

beanielou said:

  Could you maybe consider a wee midweek break?

Hi Beanie, 

Honestly, I’m not sure. I will use all my annual leave but I will staycation. I might at least plan to go to some local gardens and eat lunch out for a couple of days. 

Edit: I have done two rows of blanket 😊

KK

PennysIntoPounds

All sounds very productive and motivating. Don't entirely reject the idea of some time away if you have leave you can take though, you've both been through an awful lot these past few months. It's fantastic you're focused on mse pots, but if you feel you can afford at least a long weekend away or mid week break as @beanielou said, don't mentally ringfence the money for OPs if you start feeling like 'actually, I/we could really do with a change of scenery and permission to do nothing for a few days'

savingholmes

Glad you bought a dress. 

Agree with the holiday suggestion. Even a couple of nights away gives you a fresh head when you come back. Although I think you sometimes travel with work it's not the same effect.

Hope the bites and graze are settling down.