So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Cheery_Daff

Fingers crossed work picks up more next month. Pizza sounds tasty! You've reminded me I've got some quark in the fridge that went out of date in July 😱 I've not opened it, so I suppose it shouldn't be actually mouldy... but I can't imagine it's going to be at its best... might venture to open it later...

themadvix

Thanks Cheery. The pizza was tasty - it's been ages since I've made hm pizza because of the cost of having the oven running at full pelt, but it was really good.

Do report back on the quark! The mozzarella was organic stuff I had with my veg box and I have to say, I could really taste the difference (unless that was just the ageing process!)

EssexHebridean

Mmm you've  made me fancy HM pizza now! 

Great news on the PB's win - as we got nada this month I'm assuming that some of that was our share too....no, you're welcome, really!   

I remember the woes of low income s months on SE all too well - ouch to that. As you say having the Cambridge stuff to plug the gaps is handy, at the very least. Also approve of not raining as a gratitude - it's stopped here now, too, so at least I shouldn't get wet at lunchtime!

Also - fantastic mortgage OP - it really is within spitting distance now, isn't it! Got to chuckle that just as we're looking at taking on another mortgage, you are looking at getting shot of yours! 

themadvix

It was good pizza EH! 🤣

I'm just thinking of heading out for a walk - I need to take a parcel to the PO and some fresh air and non-screen time would be good. I find the weather always affects my mood/motivation, but especially at this time of year.

Unfortunately I doubt this will be our last mortgage, so we'll no doubt follow in your footsteps at some point (the self-build idea still hasn't gone away), but it will be nice not to have to worry about it for a few years. 

themadvix

Morning all,

Quick check in this morning as I've claimed a couple of jobs on the work platform thing as well as having Cambridge work to do, plus Olio distribution and popping to Mum's (for photocopy for pension transfer). Client has just been in touch with some (paid for) queries too.

Was paid by Cambridge overnight - had forgotten about this (claimed holiday pay), so it was a nice surprise!

Have just bought a new (other) automatic cat feeder on ebay - a long-considered purchase and we can always sell it if it doesn't work for us, but it might help with naughty B&W cat's peeing problem, which has been really bad lately. (My thinking is maybe he gets hangry when we don't get up early enough to feed him/let him out / a small bit of dry food will act as a distraction and stop him peeing). Also useful for when we go away. Had been sent an offer as it was in my watch list, went through TCB, used the £15 cashback credit on my CC and will get 40 Nectar points too - so not a bad price in the end. Originally was £44 + P&P, will actually cost £28 inc P&P.

Olio was a small collection last night, but got rid of all but a couple of wraps and kept lunch and snack for Mr MV, two pints of organic semi-skimmed milk and a punnet of strawbs. No one claimed the pepper stir fry mix, so that'll be dinner tonight.

R'ford delivery today - stocking up on onions, carrots, potatoes, garlic and ginger. Also a broccoli to make stilton and broccoli soup for Mr MV (to use up the stilton). I will need to buy eggs today.

MS things:
* Platform jobs - these will pay out this month, so that's handy
* Clicks and HW
* GFK TV survey entries - I have 70k points, so I need to do the entering for their points draws
* Jack Monroe's carrot, kidney bean and cumin 'burgers' last night for dinner (hot dog shaped burgers, as that's what shaped buns we had in the freezer)

Gratitudes:
* It's not raining! Again!
* Will see Mum for a cuppa today
* Work

Have a good day all!

EssexHebridean

Cat feeder was a god bargain then - well MSE'd!

I have to say having the few years without a mortgage to really focus on saving has been brilliant. Our original mortgage was a bit smaller than what we're looking at borrowing now - at at the end we were paying £1000 a month as standard including a chunky OP which will be around what our new one is likely to be at before we start with the OP's! Those few years - and the associated savings accumulated - mean that we won't need to hold off on doing work needed to a new house though - we'll be able to focus on beginning to both make it better for us to live in AND add value right from the get-go - which will all pay off down the line hopefully. 

Self builds are an interesting idea - a step too far for us I think, although for a while we were considering that if we ever got up to the Hebrides. I am currently veering wildly between really fancying a renovation project, and panicking and deciding that actually I'd far sooner someone else had done it all for me and I could just sit back and enjoy it!  

themadvix

Cat feeder was hopefully a good bargain and I forgot to add that it was covered by the ‘cat’ pot, so I’ve paid that off the cc right away (especially as it’s not a card I use regularly so didn’t want to forget it was there.

 I’m not entirely convinced about the self-build either EH, but it does appeal in some respects. Wouldn’t be a grand  design I don’t think, but something modular that goes up quickly would be nice potentially. (If we could ever afford a Hufhaus, it would be one of them, especially with the team of lederhosen-clad Germans who descend to build it! But that would require Agent Million and then some!). I don’t blame you for swinging wildly between a renovation and something that doesn’t require the work - I’ve definitely felt like that too!

Spent £3 in Coop on eggs and then £1.93 in Sains on chips and paracetamol. Have unpacked and put away R’ford delivery - all present and correct.

Purrrsuaded naughty B&W cat to use litter tray for his wee - caught him eyeing up the corner of the room and discouraged that, then put him in the litter tray. He leapt out but got the message because that’s where he returned to a few minutes later… it’s a start! It’s such a frustrating habit of his!

Cheery_Daff

We enjoyed a few years without a mortgage too, although ours was pretty tiny to start with and not paid off early. 

I love the idea of having done a self build - but there is NO way on this earth we'd ever attempt one 😂 Our relationship would definitely not survive that 🙄 I'd be very hesitant to take on anywhere that required even this level of renovation again. Although having said that, when we were looking for this place, everywhere we saw that was 'finished' just didn't feel like home somehow. I think we'd just got so used to living somewhere half finished that it was hard to feel comfortable somewhere so clean and tidy 🙄😂 I suspect if we ever move again we'll be having the same discussion!

badmemory

One of the ways I have used to get myself to drift off to sleep for over 50 years was by designing my own house.  It is amazing how much that design has changed.  Let's face it who at 20 would be designing in a utility room & several bathrooms.  But it does still work.  I now want a basement which has a small gym in it in addition to all the other things.  The trouble is now it gets bigger & more expensive with every year.  It is still a good way to sleep though.

savingholmes

Well done on PB wins

Self build sounds nice in theory but huge amount of work and uncertainty. Depends how well you'd cope and how much help you want