2008 MFW newbies

twinklie

Awwww Snaggles, just read your tag. Poor little Ryan. I'm a teacher and used to be a TA working with kids with Asperger's. Life ain't easy for the little mites.

Having said that there was one lad in particular that stands out who was brilliant. He was soooo funny. He didn't understand why he was funny but he accepted that he was.

Often wondered though, is it really tough raising and explaining ins and outs of daily life to very young asperger sufferers - I've only ever dealt with secondary age. I always just think of it as extreme maleness. I think it makes sense really when you think about it.

Moniker

I would like to join the list if I can please? Two years ago after finally converting all our mortgage to a repayment type I persuaded my DH to go for a 5 year fix at 4.98% with the Nationwide. He was reluctant to fix for 5 years but I had read that to get a fix under 5% at that time would be a good thing! I also showed him that if we bit the bullet and made the maximum overpayment allowed (£500 per month) we would clear the mortgage completely in the 5 year period. We started the 5 year plan with a mortgage of just over £62000, and in July we went under the £40k mark for the first time! I can't tell you how thrilling it was! At this rate we should be under £30k by next April and it will be paid off in July 2011. It has meant being absolutely fixed on paying that extra £500 each month no matter what - but I treat it ,as Martin says, as if I was paying myself! (Which I am in a manner of speaking).

The next year is going to be tough as DD1 is going back to uni to study for a masters and we will need to support her (i.e. paying her rent etc - she has saved the fees herself). But I am absolutley determined to keep up the overpayments. We have kept the endowments going - we had no luck trying to get compensation as we bought them direct, so we thought we might as well let them run. After a period of not doing well they have picked up a bit - though they still wouldn't pay off the mortgage.

Anyway to anyone who might be in doubt about the value of paying off the mortgage early I would say it is definitely worth it, and even if you can only throw small amounts at it, do it! When I started overpaying in 2002 I could only afford to pay irregular amounts, but it has all made a difference. I only wish I had taken more interest in the whole thing and persuaded my DH to act sooner!

I will post actual amounts owed at the start of August if that's ok? Sorry for the long post!

Moniker

Moniker

I would like to join the list if I can please? Two years ago after finally converting all our mortgage to a repayment type I persuaded my DH to go for a 5 year fix at 4.98% with the Nationwide. He was reluctant to fix for 5 years but I had read that to get a fix under 5% at that time would be a good thing! I also showed him that if we bit the bullet and made the maximum overpayment allowed (£500 per month) we would clear the mortgage completely in the 5 year period. We started the 5 year plan with a mortgage of just over £62000, and in July we went under the £40k mark for the first time! I can't tell you how thrilling it was! At this rate we should be under £30k by next April and it will be paid off in July 2011. It has meant being absolutely fixed on paying that extra £500 each month no matter what - but I treat it ,as Martin says, as if I was paying myself! (Which I am in a manner of speaking).

The next year is going to be tough as DD1 is going back to uni to study for a masters and we will need to support her (i.e. paying her rent etc - she has saved the fees herself). But I am absolutley determined to keep up the overpayments. We have kept the endowments going - we had no luck trying to get compensation as we bought them direct, so we thought we might as well let them run. After a period of not doing well they have picked up a bit - though they still wouldn't pay off the mortgage.

Anyway to anyone who might be in doubt about the value of paying off the mortgage early I would say it is definitely worth it, and even if you can only throw small amounts at it, do it! When I started overpaying in 2002 I could only afford to pay irregular amounts, but it has all made a difference. I only wish I had taken more interest in the whole thing and persuaded my DH to act sooner!

I will post actual amounts owed at the start of August if that's ok? Sorry for the long post!

Moniker

Moniker

Sorry I don't know why this got posted twice - I think because it took so long to write and I got logged out!

Sorry folks.

Moniker

belfastgirl23

Wow Moniker that's inspirational. Good luck!

Snaggles

twinklie wrote: »

Awwww Snaggles, just read your tag. Poor little Ryan. I'm a teacher and used to be a TA working with kids with Asperger's. Life ain't easy for the little mites.

Having said that there was one lad in particular that stands out who was brilliant. He was soooo funny. He didn't understand why he was funny but he accepted that he was.

Often wondered though, is it really tough raising and explaining ins and outs of daily life to very young asperger sufferers - I've only ever dealt with secondary age. I always just think of it as extreme maleness. I think it makes sense really when you think about it.

Hiya Twinklie

Yes, it can be tough sometimes, although I wouldn't change him for the world. A lot of Ryan's problems are sensory issues, so loud or sudden sounds are painful to him, he can't bear certain tastes or textures, gentle touches can hurt him, although he might not feel pain if he is genuinely hurt....the list is endless really. He also struggles to process instructions etc at school, and his social/conversational skills are a long way behind his peers. So life is pretty confusing and frustrating for him, which often leads to angry/aggressive outbursts.

He is also incredibly brave, and has a beautiful heart though, and I can't even begin to describe how much I love him or how proud I am of my beautiful, tall, blond angel. And yes, he is very funny - he has an unusual way with language sometimes, and is unintentionally extremely witty.

Sorry, a bit off topic really, although actually, Ryan is a lot of the reason I am doing this - he needs his own room, so that he has a safe place where he can go when he needs to escape, and the only way we can afford to give him that is by getting this mortgage as low as possible this year, and then either building an extension, or moving house next year.

bernlyn

hi reading this has definitely inspired me. i have set an overpaymet of £250 a month and start the ball rolling in july. the aim is to pay the mortgage off in 15 year but still working on ideas to pay it off before then.

BARGAINHUNTER!

Im Bargainhuneter (no 51) in the list. I have been aiming for £200 a month and setting my standing order higher than my mortgage payment to reflect this. So far this year i have managed to overpay £1,436.30 and my total overpayment for July was £207.00 :j

fluffysox

Hi everyone, and well done to all, particularly George Jetson:j

My July overpayment total is £496 bringing my my overpayment so far to £2127- above target for the year! :T :T It's really addictive this MSE stuff. I doubt I'll be able to match this overpayment in the coming months, particularly since I need to get two new windows fitted before winter- but who knows- any spare money is going to be hurled at the mortgage prior to our tracker deal ending in November. :eek: The lower the Loan to Value percentage the more choice we'll have of new deals- much needed amongst the slim pickings out there at the moment.

Although good news, OH being made redundant soon so will get a payout. :T Also thankfully he has a new job to start a few days later so extra cash is a bonus.:rotfl: :rotfl: I will try to persuade him to do summat productive with the cash- rather than gradually frittering it away on nothing;) .

Anyway to all of you, best wishes for a fab summer, particularly all my fellow teachers- enjoy the break!:p

polesana

Hi everyone
I have just moved into my very first flat complete with big scary mortgage!:eek:
I would love to start overpaying as soon as possible. I don't earn lots but as a dedicated MSE'r I look after the pennies....
I am with Nationwide (2yr fixed) and any advice would be much appreciated! :T