I dream of a MF home for my plants

HotDog2020

Idreamofplants said:

HotDog2020 said:

I like your name and thread name - also I wanted to check with you to see if you know if you have over payment limits on your mortgage, if you are on a variable rate you should be fine (However the cost of the mortgage is higher) however if you take the cheaper option and fix, you may not be able to Over pay as much as you want, I was just thinking that if you overpay the small mortage wiping it before the fixed period ends it may cost you if there are charges, Just a friendly note to make sure you are not wasting your time?

Thanks for this - I have a fixed mortgage that allows limitless OP - only due to the fact that years ago I started overpaying on a different product and was restricted to 10% per year - so when we changed we went with a provider that allows you to OP as much as you want. Appreciate the comment though as it would be a shock if that wasn’t the case! 

May I ask what type of product do I need to look out for or provider where I can OP as much as I want? I had heard someone else mention this but never asked about it, I'll understand if you rarther not say.

beanielou

First Direct allow unlimited OP’s. 

Idreamofplants

As beanielou mentioned we have a FD product - not sure who else offers unlimited OPs as we’ve been with them for the past 5 years.

another no spend day today. Was taken out for a lovely lunch - I had budgeted £75 and now wondering whether to OP this onto the mortgage or whether to wait and see what else I need to pay for this month first. Recycled the four empty 2 litre pop bottles from teenagers bedroom and made them into pots to propagate my pothos in. Took three cuttings and following an online insta video, put cinnamon on the ends and have placed in water in the windowsill. I’m very much new to keeping plants alive. I’ve always been an impulsive plant buyer but then never had a lot of success at keeping them alive. So far the past few months all plants are doing really well. I think I was guilty of over watering beforehand. I need to make a frame for my kitchen to get more plants in the daylight.  Also went to look at a house in a much cheaper area that would enable us to be MF much sooner. Two of the bedrooms were tiny and the road was v sad looking. Lots of weeds everywhere and not much curb appeal. It’s much easier to think of downsizing as a good idea when looking at Rightmove than it actually is when trying to think how kids and all their stuff would fit into a smaller space.  Did a trip to the recycling after that with three bags of old stuff from my wardrobe. So all in all a pretty productive day. 

Idreamofplants

Sent £70 of the food budget over to the small mortgage and checked to make sure no early repayment issues - as long as not within my fixed term that total OP then is fine. So will need to keep that in mind next year once get under £1k on small mortgage as fix runs for another 18 months. Nice and sunny this morning so going to get out for a long walk before doing some housework. I have a £25 gift card I might treat myself to spending.this week off has flown by. No more time off work for months so going to try and make the most of today. 

LadyWithAPlan

Happy new diary! 

On your notes re moving your grocery money over to a separate account .. have you thought of trying YNAB? 

 I was a decades long budgeter and had lots of different virtual pots for My various sinking funds and monthly spends but in the 6 months I have been using it it’s made such a difference - when I move money across it tracks everything so the reporting makes it really clear - I am shocked the difference it makes after decrying it for so long - you really see the spending in real time 

Your son will also get a year free as a student - there is a 34 day free  trial so you can try across 3 months ;end of one to beginning of month 3) 

Idreamofplants

LadyWithAPlan said:

Happy new diary! 

On your notes re moving your grocery money over to a separate account .. have you thought of trying YNAB? 

 I was a decades long budgeter and had lots of different virtual pots for My various sinking funds and monthly spends but in the 6 months I have been using it it’s made such a difference - when I move money across it tracks everything so the reporting makes it really clear - I am shocked the difference it makes after decrying it for so long - you really see the spending in real time 

Your son will also get a year free as a student - there is a 34 day free  trial so you can try across 3 months ;end of one to beginning of month 3) 

Thanks … off to google what YNAB is. At the moment I’m just using a Prepaid card for food shopping which is easy as I can use Apple pay and everyone else can take the physical card for when they pop to the local co op about 50 times a week!

debtfreewannabe321

I LOVE the name of this thread (& your username)!!! I am wanting to move soon and I am pondering on how to move my plants safely more than the furniture and other items we own I am worried about costs and breakages on the plants more than anything else haha. 

Idreamofplants

debtfreewannabe321 said:

I LOVE the name of this thread (& your username)!!! I am wanting to move soon and I am pondering on how to move my plants safely more than the furniture and other items we own I am worried about costs and breakages on the plants more than anything else haha. 

I’d be the same if I was moving! Those crates that are used for internet shopping would be good. 

Idreamofplants

This week has gone by pretty quick.  I’ve spent money I wasn’t going to spend getting some summer clothes. There is £414 left on the prepaid card for food this month. I’m not confident there will be anything left for another OP. It’s been a 5 week pay month and with the eldest back from uni soon we have spent a lot on food. Having a chill afternoon today reading my library book. Did manage to get some info on my pension this week. I will definitely need to speak to someone who specialises in pensions before making any decisions but I’m thinking I will try and take out a lump sum in 2 years to pay a chunk off the mortgage - maybe £45000. The interest saving will be massive. I can take early withdrawals out at a penalty but this looks to be less than the interest I pay on the monster mortgage. 2.5 weeks until payday. Need to stop sending money. 

Idreamofplants

Managed a NSD yesterday - declined a trip with my mum to the garden centre because I knew it would end in me buying hanging baskets that I can’t afford this month. Baked a cake for middle child as they were revising all day. Can’t wait for the next two weeks of A levels to be over. My regular Sunday night insomnia has kicked in again so I’ve been up since 3am. Started to knit a jumper from a kit I bought for my daughter a few years ago but she found too complicated to do. It’s been at the bottom of a cupboard for about 5 years but I didn’t want to throw it out because it cost £38. Not sure how anyone affords to knit anything. The top I’m attempting would probably cost about £15 from the supermarket and look a lot more even than my knitting. Got another busy week of work ahead then the eldest returns from uni early this weekend which I’m v excited about. The garden is getting a good watering this morning - will summer ever appear?