Where to focus - mortgage, renovations etc?

debtfreewannabe321

Congratulations on the offer! I hope you find something you love and that works finance wise.

shellstar

I've found a house. I saw so many at the weekend with DS in tow - never again haha! I usually view houses without him but people could only fit me in for weekend/naptime viewings and it was honestly a lot. With him running around, trying to climb on things and the mother of all meltdowns when he spotted a toy tractor in one child's bedroom and I said he couldn't have/play with it. Took me 10 minutes to get him back in the car after that viewing because he was so desperate to get back in that house and get that tractor. It's not like him to be so difficult to calm down. It was honestly stressful.

So, I've offered on the house I've found but the offer was rejected. They haven't been on the market long and have had a lot of interest. So I've done all my sums, and war gamed various scenarios, and looked at what I can cut and what I can't and still give my son and I the life we both deserve. I can't get to what they asked for, but I can get close, and so I have offered that this morning. I've made it clear it's best and final. If it isn't enough, then I will just have to except it's not the right house and find another. The other houses had pretty big compromises on layout, area, level of renovation, price and often at least three of those. This house, it's just costing me more than I ideally want to play but is otherwise perfect. Well, it has no parking, but most of the houses I've viewed have had no parking so that's not a deal breaker.

Anyway, I'm waiting to hear if they will accept the offer or not. Hopefully they will say yes.

northwalesd

Good luck with the revised offer on that house shellstar. As you say if they decline then that house just wasn't for you.

beanielou

Positive vibes.

shellstar

Offer accepted! Hurrah! The chain is not complete however, so I shall now sit on my hands (bar securing my mortgage offer - best to do that asap in case rates do increase) and wait for the chain to complete. I feel very excited about this house. It needs no work at all and I really like the way it is decorated. In recent years it's had new windows, new roof, ground source heat pump added. It has an enclosed and private front garden where my home office/private therapy practice can go, leaving the house and back garden completely private for my DS and I. There is a lovely pond in the front garden that I would love to keep as it was so relaxing to be near, but I am not sure I have the time to maintain it, and I would have thought it would cost money to maintain properly, not to mention not really wanting a body of water near a toddler, so I think I will remove that. Other than that, I just really felt as though the house was a sanctuary and that was such a big draw for me. I will try to stay grounded and hope for the best re: chains etc.

shellstar

Chain still not complete but I've received my mortgage offer. I've decided to go with a tracker, which is a little scary for me as I'm used to fixed rates but I do take comfort that I can transition to a fixed rate when I wish to. The chain is still not complete but my seller is actively looking. They had an offer rejected yesterday, losing out to a FTB, and are seeing several houses on Friday, at least one of which they are very keen on I'm told. My buyer has just booked in their valuation and survey so that's a good sign. I'm going to wait until the chain completes.

Got an email today that I'll be getting the £100 member payment from Nationwide. That will be going to the moving fund.

I've started applying for placements, as I will be signed off to start working with clients soon. I'm starting to worry a little. Most are not replying. Several do not support my modality. Two I live too far away for. One invited me to their induction event, but it turns out they have mandatory training and development on a Sunday and I can't commit to that with my lessons and my son. I really only have Fridays for supervision and clients until I give up work. I can't give up work until DS is out of full time childcare and ideally not before I am in a position to start charging clients, which realistically is two years away. This is looking like a logistical nightmare to be honest. I am just trusting the process atm. I can't be only person with such constraints and fingers crossed it all eventually falls into place. Other people have found a way through this before, so I can too!

beanielou

Keep plodding 🤗

shellstar

Not a lot to report. I won £2.50 on the Euromillions. Was going to put it in the moving fund, but then DS had some very big and unfortunate feelings on Saturday and threw his tractor at the TV, smashing the screen. I've ordered the cheapest same size tv from AO. If it happens again, I'm honestly not replacing it until he's older. I'll just watch TV on my secret tablet he knows nothing about once he's in bed. C'est la vie!

My seller has had an offer accepted on a house, but the chain is not yet complete. My buyer has completed their survey though, so hopefully nothing difficult comes out of that. Was speaking to my financial advisor about insurance - life, critical illness and income protection etc. I currently spend about £47 a month on this, but for the new house it will be nearer £149. I considered not, but realised given there is absolutely no physical or financial safety net for my son and I, unfortunately I do need these in place in case the worst happens. So, more belt tightening to come to cover those once we move.

DS is 3 this month! Can't believe it. I considered a party, but unfortunately work insisted I attend an in-person strategy event (overseas) the same week. I got very upset, and the compromise is that I have to attend, but can fly back for his birthday and then return to the event. It's costing me almost £500 in trains, flights and taxis (as flights are at pre and post public transport times) so party is out. Sorry kid - you just get Mumma for your birthday. My boss asked if he'd even notice. I told her I would notice. I don't do this all on my own to let other people celebrate his birthday with him! It's bad enough how much time we have to be apart for work, work travel and re-training etc. I'm going to take him out for the day somewhere with animals and tractor rides.

South_coast

Nice supportive boss 🤦‍♀️ Good news on the chain, hope it gets completed soon x

shellstar

The chain is complete! 6 houses deep but survey booked and GOGOGO!