Five Year Fix, Five Year Plan

FlacosFloozie

Hi Merlin's,

Another vet here We're definitely recession proof right now! If you're not already a member the vetspanel surveys can be worth signing up to. They're sporadic but usually net around £15-30 amazon vouchers a time.

Once you've moved in I highly recommend a decent freezer so you can batch cook meals, freeze and microwave them after a later shift. The slow cooker is also your friend in winter. The busier work is the more my food budget rises- too much convenience food really mounts up!

We moved into a new build just over 5 years ago, HSBC also messed about with our mortgage but I swear I'm not a future you. I opted for lvl in the kitchen and bathrooms and I love it. Easy to clean and still looks great despite pets and muddy boots.

Best of luck and enjoy the new house!

beanielou

Just caught up with your diary.
Everything seems to be moving on nicely.
Only about 6 weeks to go 

Dandytf

My 5 yr fix starts 01/08.
Now planning to work towards reducing term from 9.8 years to 5 or 6 years.
Good luck mser's 

Merlin's_Beard

Thanks @beanielou - feels like a long time  because it's been pushed back, but really not!

@FlacosFloozie - I think you might be a future me, but it's good to know the flooring is pet and mud proof  .Am already a vetspanel member - have you looked at Biosat? Pays out in Am*zon vouchers on a few weeks delay, similar frequency and questions to VP but can be a nice earner.

@Dandytf - good luck! Hopefully just a month behind you.

Aimingforthegoodlife

Hi Merlin's Beard, just had a nosy through, impressive EF and impressive savings for deposit, well done! Hoping that it all becomes clearer and you get a proper date through, its strange, we have moved twice and both times solicitors didnt seem to want to actually help us! Recently my folks bought a bungalow after selling their home to a cash buyer, making them cash buyers, it still took about 5months, no one seemed to understand what the problem was! Bizarre!

Merlin's_Beard

Quiet week this week because it's been too hot to think. House desperately needs a clean though!

Not much to report on the house - have some samples of blinds to have a look through this weekend.

Been paid early because the boss is away over the next week, so the YNAB categories for August have been populated. About £30 more than last month because of the NI threshold increase. Might be getting a pay rise this month, according to rumour, but I'll wait and see if it's everyone or just certain job roles.

After pay, EF stands at £9,500 but I still haven't factored removals, blinds, bedroom curtains or any unexpected costs into that so will be a lot lower by the end of August.

Tiredbutdetermined

Afternoon, just had a good read through your diary.

You are very organised with the curtains and blinds. When we moved in to a new build we spent months with no blinds in the bedroom - no idea how or why but I feel sorry for our neighbours!
I need to buy new blinds for the middle and top floor but the prospect of fitting them fills me with dread!

It must feel great to have such a decent EF to fall back on

savingholmes

Always nice to be paid early.

I changed my mortgage due date - so am now waiting 2 extra weeks before my next payment and it feels weird - as that's two weeks beyond my pay day - but I did OP early to compensate.

killerpeaty

Didn't know that there were vet survey sites. Fingers crossed for your raise! It would be very handy with your new place!

Merlin's_Beard

@Tiredbutdetermined - I'm cheating and getting my dad to fit them. If he's in a good mood I might get him to teach me what to do for next time though.

@savingholmes - I do my absolute best not to spend the end-of-July salary until August 1st hits, so it shouldn't make a difference really. But it is nice to know what I've got.

@killerpeaty - they're the place to be if you're really invested in fleas and diarrhoea