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Watty's Awakening
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In other news I have had a meeting with a planning consultant who I knew when with PPH. I'd avoided talking to him because of the PPH connection but decided I really need to progress the vision board.
Seeing if anything can be done with the barn was on my radar at the start of the year as a way of resolving all the financials that resulted from PPH and this planning chap knows the officials at the borough council so I decided to go for it and was very honest about PPH. He was so supportive, that I was touched. People are just so very nice if they are not PPHs. He explained my options very carefully but also told me all about the conflicts the borough council face with the Local Plan, government policy, local policy and contracts already signed etc. As a result I understand the complexity and the dynamics. We also talked about how to maximise the profits on the house if I want to sell up when the overage deal is done and how potentially I might get the overage deal lifted if the Local Plan changes (because then there will never be any chance of building on the land so PPH has no grounds for keeping it and devaluing the property).
The result was that I will wait until the end of April/early May to see what is happening locally. If the plans to build in the area are still progressing then I will wait it out and sell the land for development when PPH's deal has expired. There is no way I'm giving him another penny! We also worked out a strategy for the main house in that event to maximise the profit (rent it, because it will be devalued while the building work is in progress, then sell when the work is finished).
If it looks like the building plans are to be dropped, which is a possibility he suggested I apply for a holiday let which I have a 75% chance of getting and then move into that and rent the main house. It is indeed illegal to live in a holiday let but the chances of anyone reporting me in this area are remote and if I still have the house I can always move back into it. This will give me an income and time to decide what to do, plus, the house will be worth a lot more with a self contained annex there.
So I close the year with options from my "ifs" and "maybes" I started with explored, shelved for now but a clearer idea of where I am which is all to the good.
Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!13 -
You can live in a holiday let for either 10 or 11 months of the year. My nephew and his wife lived in a static caravan home on a holiday park, but had to leave for 6 weeks in Jan-Feb every year. They alternated between his parents, when they visited his brother in Australia, and going to Cyprus for a month and then staying with friends for a couple of weeks. So not impossible, if it ever did become an issue. You might occasionally live in the house too, if empty...Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here8 -
That was a very brave and very productive meeting. Proud of you, and how great to be able to now see those outcomes and plan for known unknowns7
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Thank you at @Suffolk_lass and @PennysIntoPounds
I feel that I have now progressed that one as far as it will go in 2024 and it is now being parked. I will revisit it next year around May (which means anyone reading will too
) Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!7 -
Busy day here! Two girlfriends coming to stay next week. The first arrives Monday so just waiting for a Morries order then off to buy a duvet and pillows then will get both spare rooms properly straight. I have no idea where the bedding went and as it is not possible to lose a duvet and pillows I can only assume PPH took them.
Two Christmas trees up and decorated - either side of the French windows in sitting room. Love them. I always had a real Christmas tree with PPH but I have gone for two fake ones now. Covered two matching cardboard boxes with silver wrap left over from a project and then popped a tree in each. They look fab. One tree has the memory baubles on since leaving PPH. The tradition was so worth starting, each animal has their own with a picture of them, there is an engraved one with the date of the final court injunction, the gifted ones the VNM and I swap and models of my cars since PPH. Love them and quite an emotional and happy time unwrapping and hanging them. The other tree is entirely pink as I found pink baubles in the loft that have not been used for years.
Just need to tidy up (a large job) before friends arrive, ironing to do and unpack business stock that arrived yesterday. I have 7 large crates. They will probably need to live in the house until the new year but people come to see me not the house so I can live with that, so long as the boxes are pushed up against the walls it will be fine. Then need to do a few hours work as not much will be done when the girls are here. I had hoped new person would be in role before but went for a New Year start so I can really devote the time to getting it all right.
An MSE smile to close with: some of you might remember that in decluttering I removed things that reminded me of PPH and as a result I have been living with three forks and limited cutlery. Popped into the Charity Shop in the village and found some gorgeous cutlery for 10 p an item. So pleased with it, really lovely quality stuff and now i have enough for my friends staying easily with spares. The cutlery drawer is full to bursting! I felt the universe was looking out for me with that as I've been looking at new stuff and not found anything I really like and some of it was so expensive. . I need to pop back in today as the ladies are looking out for a mirror for one of the spare rooms and promised to put one by if one was donated so I could have first refusal.Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!17 -
The Universe is supporting you ❤️ Love the cutlery story 😊
Enjoy your visitors 😊
KKAs at 15.07.25:
- When bought house £315,995 mortgage debt and end date at start = October 2039 - now £233,521
- OPs to mortgage = £11,816 Interest saved £5,28 to date
Fixed rate 3.85% ends January 2030
Read 41 books of target 52 in 2025, as @ 9th August
Produce tracker: £276 of £300 in 2025
Watch your thoughts, they become your words.
Watch your words, they become your actions.Watch your actions, they become your reality.7 -
Enjoy your cutling!
Dxxx22: 3🏅 4⭐ 23: 5🏅 6 ⭐ 24 1🏅 2⭐ 25 🏅 🥈⭐ Never save something for a special occasion. Every day is a special occasion. The diff between what you were yesterday and what you will be tomorrow is what you do today Well organised clutter is still clutter - Joshua Becker If you aren't already using something you won't start using it more by shoving it in a cupboard- AJMoney The barrier standing between you & what youre truly capable of isnt lack of info, ideas or techniques. The secret is 'do it'3 -
Enjoy your visitors.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.4 -
Love what you're doing with the significant decs @Watty1! Why do I picture Wattydog as a Richard Scary illustration? Large dog crammed into mini, quite possibly driving. The way you are defining your life and laying PPH to rest is inspiring. I wonder if any friend who bumps into him occasionally might mention that he's known as this and let him attempt to work out what it means. We don't want to get bogged down in revenge scenarios with the incompetent and irrelevant; but on the other hand, could this be the perfect illustration of the saying that comedy equals tragedy plus time? You are utterly wonderful; do you know this? Love Humdinger xx7
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It really feels just now that it is. That is not to say everything is wonderful but at this moment I feel very blessed.KajiKita said:The Universe is supporting you ❤️ Love the cutlery story 😊Made it to mortgage free but what a muddle that became
In the event the proverbial hits the fan then co-habitees are better stashing their cash than being mortgage free !!9
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