Strap in - we're going on a trip!

DancingTurtle

The last few days have been ok....

I've finally heard back from the premium bonds company. They will send me my new log on details by Friday, so I should hopefully have more news on my 'windfall' by the end of the week. Fingers crossed, its a biggie! 

In a bit of an unforeseen twist, I am going to have to pay out £175 for a residential 2 night school trip for my 11 year old. The trip is next week and up until now he hasn't wanted to go as he suffers from anxiety and doesn't enjoy staying away from home. However, at the last minute he has decided that he can do it. I'm so proud of him for deciding to do this, and obviously haven't mentioned the cost but am secretly panicking and hoping that school with let me pay over a few installments.

At the weekend I had to replace the headlights in my car for brighter ones at Halfords - £15 each! Luckily I had a booster seat that I bought in error, so they let me use that in exchange so I paid £15 and not £30. By chance they fitted them free too - I was still in the store and they went out and helped my partner without realising I hadn't paid for fitting, then refused payment which was great!

I did start my Christmas shopping a few days ago - Home Bargains, B&M etc for stocking fillers for my boys. It always serves to remind me how money doesn't go very far! I'm only due another £300 of income this month (£140 child maintenance and £160 child benefit), and there already feels like a lot of month left until next pay day - 28 November! I did buy 2 squishmallows and didn't realise until I got home that they were £19 each!! The shop is 20 miles away so too far to return them, but I was cross with myself for not clocking that.

I was due to go for drinks this weekend with friends, but people have been slowly dropping out so I'm not sure if that will go ahead or not. If not, I'll be a bit relieved, because I can save some cash and enjoy a night in instead!

I also saw the TikTok which is going round at the minute which encourages you to check if you have been overpaying your student loan based on thresholds. Apparently millions have, so I've submitted the form via email today, and will await a response on that. Nothing to lose!

I've also entered some competitions this morning. I never usually do but the thought of winning £1000 a month for the next year is pretty appealing (and much needed!) at the minute.

My lovely partner raised my money worries with me at the weekend. He wants to pay the uplift in my mortgage payments (about to go from £475 to £775 per month) because he wants to help me out. In his words 'we need to take the next step at some point in our relationship anyway' Eeek! Although he's not bothered if we are living together at that point or not - he just wants to help. I did resist because it doesn't feel right, but he's pretty adamant. I need to give this a lot of thought.

_Dolly_Rocker_

Can you re-mortgage to get a better deal? 

I'm not very clued up on these things but that seems a hell of a jump!

I've also been stung by both men I've had in my life so I'd be hesitant with that offer too. 

cocalls

I'd be wary of this too-if he's paying specifically towards the mortgage and continues to do so if you move in together legally he'll have a right to a share of your house should you split up.

Maybe he could start helping you out by paying back the £700 he owes you and paying for his share when you go out on days out???

MFWannabe

Please don’t let oh pay mortgage; it may sound horrible to say but if anything happens and you split up he could put in a claim if he’s been paying towards mortgage 
Is the jump from current interest rate to SVR? If so what are the interest rates for fixes with current lender? You have time to find another deal before April 

DancingTurtle

_Dolly_Rocker_ said:

Can you re-mortgage to get a better deal? 

I'm not very clued up on these things but that seems a hell of a jump!

I've also been stung by both men I've had in my life so I'd be hesitant with that offer too. 

That's what i'm in the process of doing. My deal is up in March/April so I've started looking through a broker 6 months earlier. He has secured me a deal as a worst case scenario, then if better deals become available between now and Spring I can be moved to those too.

DancingTurtle

cocalls said:

I'd be wary of this too-if he's paying specifically towards the mortgage and continues to do so if you move in together legally he'll have a right to a share of your house should you split up.

Maybe he could start helping you out by paying back the £700 he owes you and paying for his share when you go out on days out???

Yes, I put another post on the forum, and was advised it wasn't the best move to have him pay towards it. What do you think if he was to pay towards other household bills, or my debts though? That might keep things more secure for me and the children.

I need to remind him about that £700. I genuinely think he has forgotten as he is very kind and generous normally, but I can't let £700 slide.

DancingTurtle

MFWannabe said:

Please don’t let oh pay mortgage; it may sound horrible to say but if anything happens and you split up he could put in a claim if he’s been paying towards mortgage 
Is the jump from current interest rate to SVR? If so what are the interest rates for fixes with current lender? You have time to find another deal before April 

Got it!

What does SVR mean? I'm on a 1.9% deal at the minute and I think moving to something like 6% (same lender). Yes there is still time to secure a better deal - my mortgage broker is managing that. Scary times!

DancingTurtle

This morning I decided to apply for the £200 bank account switch with Nationwide. I was a little unsure about doing it when my mortgage deal is coming to an end, but with the £200 from that switch and the £125 from the HSBC bank account opening, it's hard to say no to £325 off my debt. I've applied and been accepted (for both) so am hopefully on the way to a chunk off the debt. When I add in the £600 from my Help to Save account that is due in June next year, that's just short of £1000 off my debt, and I've done next to nothing for it, so it is a no-brainer really.

In other news, my boyfriend has to have an operation in the next 6 weeks, with a recovery period of 3 weeks. I'm so keen for him to have it done as he's been struggling with pain, but sadly it does mean some of our winter/christmas plans may need to be cancelled as he is unlikely to be leaving the sofa for a while.

I did manage to get some ideas for Christmas presents for my friends' children yesterday and ordered a couple of bits off Amazon. I've also got the day off tomorrow to do some Xmas shopping with my mum, but there's only £300 in my account and that is to last until the end of the month (which includes 2 weekly shops). I need to go with a list and try to be concise. I did get a £13 Asda refund on an e-gift card yesterday, so must remember to  use that whilst doing my Asda shop online this Friday.

I need to remember to order myself some chocolate bars too. I keep seeing cheeky little spends on my bank statement courtesy of the canteen vending machine. I've fallen into the 3pm chocolate bar trap - 90p for a bar of chocolate!! Must remember to buy a multi pack and bring one to work each day instead. 

Hope everyone is having a great week!

cocalls

Yes, I put another post on the forum, and was advised it wasn't the best move to have him pay towards it. What do you think if he was to pay towards other household bills, or my debts though? That might keep things more secure for me and the children.

It's tricky isn't it, looking at your other post several posters were saying why should he pay towards your mortgage but half the bills would only come to just over £200(don't forget council tax will go up as no longer single person as will leccy) which doesn't seem fair as he'll get a free roof over his head. Could he also pay the monthly food bill which would balance things out but he wouldn't be paying rent iyswim?

DancingTurtle

cocalls said:

Yes, I put another post on the forum, and was advised it wasn't the best move to have him pay towards it. What do you think if he was to pay towards other household bills, or my debts though? That might keep things more secure for me and the children.

It's tricky isn't it, looking at your other post several posters were saying why should he pay towards your mortgage but half the bills would only come to just over £200(don't forget council tax will go up as no longer single person as will leccy) which doesn't seem fair as he'll get a free roof over his head. Could he also pay the monthly food bill which would balance things out but he wouldn't be paying rent iyswim?

Thanks cocalls. I got a bit shot down on that other post, so just let it go really, but I still have the same mindset of 'free roof over his head' like you have said. Not many people surely get to live that way, and isn't him paying rent to his parents at the minute, technically contributing towards their mortgage? I don't know. It's a bit complicated. I guess if he wanted to give me a set amount of money per month, he could pay it directly off my credit card or loan. That way he'd be contributing fairly but on the understanding it wasn't directly towards my mortgage.