I dream of a MF home for my plants

Idreamofplants

oops leant on the keypad and it send that last post half written!

It is pay day today so I've sent £2000 OP to the mortgage.  I got two fraud alerts on my internet banking asking me to confirm I was absolutely sure I wasn't being scammed when making the payment.  It made me laugh as my mortgage absolutely feels like a scam at 4.9% interest!!!!!! The total is now under £170k for the first time ever - am very pleased about this! With the interest and usual payment to go out in Feb I reckon the total will be around £168K mark. Feb is a fairly cheap month - 5 shops until next pay day but no trips planned anywhere as yet.  We get the council tax savings which I think we are going to tuck away to start saving for some new flooring.  

It looks so windy outside the window - makes me want to stay home all day but I have to go get some food in as I didn't book at internet shop in time this week. Also planning a trip to the gym with DD & a bit of baking. 

Idreamofplants

The weekend is flying by.  Went for a run this morning with a friend and then they treated me to coffee. Came home and enlisted the kids in getting the house tidied.  We did a crazy hour and got bathrooms done, most floors hoovered (battery ran out of charge frustratingly so need to finish tomorrow), clothes sorted, bedding changed, ironing done, and youngest bedroom tidied.  Am now exhausted & still need to walk dogs.  Having a take out for tea - not v MSE but was a planned treat for the kids & I'm happy to not have to cook.  Booked a yoga class for the morning and then nothing much planned for the rest of tomorrow.  Wondering whether to try and find some cheaper flooring solutions.  The wood floor we have been looking at is pricey but on the plus side where we have paid more for wood flooring elsewhere in the house it still looks great years on.  The two rooms we need to do have pretty terrible carpet.  Youngest bedroom also could do with carpet replacing but I'm not doing it until he's a few years older and there's no chance of it getting wrecked straight away.  I think the flooring we like will be about £1700 for 2 rooms - that seems a crazy amount of money to spend at the moment.  

SandyShores

Idreamofplants said:

I agree Sandyshores - there is not much in my life that I enjoy more than the feeling after going out for a run...

............Running is like a bit of freedom even though I find it really hard!

I was doing longer runs last year - about 11 miles longest and you've reminded me of the feeling of setting off for  some time with just me and my music.  11 miles a bit too long for me really, 6 miles is just about right.

Its hard fitting it all in though, sounds like you have already had a productive weekend.  Nice overpayment btw!!  

Idreamofplants

11 miles is also way too much for me at the moment SandyShores - unless I'm building up to a half marathon I tend to keep my long run between 6-8 miles.  There is something about the time away from everything that running gives you that is like nothing else. I think it's down to being outside for so long whereas the rest of the week I'm in front of a screen. It's been an uneventful week.  I'm about to waste money sorting a car out for the kids.  Totally unnecessary but will make their lives easier when getting to and from work.  They both walk miles and miles at the moment. Just figuring out the cheapest way to fund it and who will pay for what so it doesn't lead to them arguing. I feel like my money habits are very all or nothing at the moment. I am using TCB to earn pennies, not buying any clothes or toiletries, making lunches for work etc yet about to spend loads on a car. The car money will come from not making OP for a couple of months. But I don't want to put helping the kids on hold just because I have set us a crazy high target of OP mortgage. 

SandyShores

I'm looking forward to building up to 6 miles again, I'm doing about 4 at the moment.  

Totally understand re. the saving pennies here and there, while making big spends.  But its because you are making those small savings that its easier to make the big spend.  We're about to pause OPs but we have some holidays etc. coming up and time away is important.

South_coast

SandyShores said:

I'm looking forward to building up to 6 miles again, I'm doing about 4 at the moment.  

Snap! It's sooo frustrating when Exhilarated Brain is going "C'mon, juuust a little further!", but Grown-up Brain steps in and says "No! You can try that next week. Today you have to turn round" 🤣🤦‍♀️

Idreamofplants

spent the weekend looking at various options for car buying - none of it cheap but the kids are looking forward to having the use of a car and DD is hoping to start a better job as now she will be able to travel a bit further for work.  Haven't had a car loan for a long time so been looking at different rates - got 6.7% for £13K over 2 years which seems ok. Going for an electric - I have £1000 in savings to cover the installation cost.  Also had confirmation of full time hours until the end of the year.  Just hoping work is bearable for the foreseeable future - have started looking around for alternative roles but nothing as yet suitable.  

I'm trying to keep on getting out for a coupe of 5-6 mile runs per week & then a shorter run or interval session - even though my joints aren't thanking me for it it definitely helps with work stress. 

SandyShores

Will be interested to hear about your experience with a second hand electric car.  My diesel is getting on a bit and I know at some point I will need to change it.  I was thinking of changing to a petrol polo but your post prompted me to look into it and there are a few that look quite good. I don't do many miles which isn't healthy for any car - don'tI know if an electric would be better for me.  Good luck with yours, Iet us know how you get on.

Well done with the runs, I struggle with getting out at this time of year, must find a way to motivate myself.

Idreamofplants

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been on here. Not much money saving has been done in that time.  I bought the car and so far so good. Managed to get under 6% interest on the loan over 3 years so will be reducing any OP to mortgage to cover this.  The car has done low mileage for being 3 years old so am hoping that is a good sign.  
I've been struggling with generally feeling overwhelmed for the past couple of weeks.  I find making decisions difficult so changing car has been stressful.  Also lots of the usual chaos in juggling work/kids/pets.  The only time I've felt calm has been when I've been out running or at the gym so have booked something every night this week for after work.  The one thing I haven't stressed about recently has been the mortgage.  Being in the £160s feels more manageable somehow & I can't keep focusing on counting down to it being paid off whilst life is so busy at the moment.  Our budget is completely out of control.  We've taken on a couple of new regular DDs in addition to the car loan to cover pet insurance and contact lens subscription so need to redo my spreadsheet - but that also is on the list of things I can't be arsed to sort at the moment. Going to aim to get it done this week at some point.  
Youngest is off this week and so I'm looking forward to having Friday off with them.  No plans as yet and hoping the weather picks up by then.

LadyWithAPlan

Well done for getting in the 160s ! 

Sounds like you finding a good work /life /run balance