Mana Ahumoni -- Working towards Financial Freedom

Three more sleeps til the keys are in our hands ♥️ my stomach is full of butterflies and queasy feels 😂  House is more packed up now ♥️  Massive thanks to Moira who came to help us and was RUTHLESS and supportive in emptying doom boxes, doom bags and clearing the chaos from the lounge. Three rubbish bags later, three more boxes to donate.... We're getting there!  She even created an action plan for moving day so we don't get too overwhelmed and give up/get angry 😂♥️ so very thankful to her ♥️ can't wait to get involved with her mahi and have a go at the Conquerers app!! ♥️ Ngā mihi nui e hoa ♥️

Processing lots of thoughts at stupid hour o'clock:  Continuing to break the cycle and shatter glass ceilings.  Currently working through lots of feelings of guilt and anti-rich person / fancy people who live in fancy houses perceptions and prejudices.  Creating a happy home, free from DV, abuse and trauma. Connecting with good people to bring in the good vibes.  Choosing where and when to spend my energy and provide others with my aroha.  Considering that perhaps maybe all my time and effort in some places and with some people has been helpful for me, but not reciprocated - and accepting this.  Co-ordinating offers of help and support in the move, whether wishes or actual.  Checking that all things are ready and good to go.  Safe spaces. Safe environment. Safe home.

One week!  So crazy!  About half the house is packed up.  Each box we pack is making it all feel so real.  Every few hours I look up at Crystel and excitedly say - I bought a house!  The other night, she must have finally realised and it dawned on her what is about to happen.  She hopped up from the wingback chair in the kitchen and came over to me and gave me the biggest hug.  "There's my sister!" I said.  Because now she saw it. She said she appreciated me - well, reading between the lines. She was thinking about something someone else said how they appreciate their whanau and then she just hopped up and gave me a massive hug.  Something someone said the other day - was that not only have I broken the cycle for me or Crystel, but I've broken the cycle for Riley too.  That's massive.  Still heaps of packing to do tomorrow.  Dogs are booked into the kennels.  I've sought further leave.  I'm awaiting an email or phone ...

About a month ago... I first noticed a big change.  Sure, it had probably been gradual and my mindset had become further cemented.  I noticed that once I'd gotten comfortable with having money in my account after the two weeks pay - that it was actually easy to keep it there over the next two weeks.  And so on.  Is it this easy for everyone else? Like... You can just leave the money there and not touch it?  And you're not tempted to buy things? It kind of feels a bit like when I cut out sugar and carbs, dairy and gluten. Like... The more I do it, it's less hard to continue.  Right now I still have half my pay in my account.  I don't plan on spending much over the coming week.  I've paid all my bills.  I've put money into my savings.  I've got food in the cupboard. Petrol in my car. 

Today we stopped using the words 'hypothetically' and 'theoretically' when discussing the new whare. We just discussed the new whare and started making plans ♥️  #kaingahou #tokuhaerenga #happy

The shock may have just worn off.  Heart still racing.  Overwhelm creeping in 😂🤦‍♀️ This is what I wanted.  This is what I've been working towards for a long time... Still my heart is racing and my breath is short.  Just breathe Als.

So this is pretty cool ♥️ 

Okay.  So I think I'm in shock right now.  Maybe a little bit in denial too, perhaps? My heart is racing.  It actually happened.  We went unconditional !  For real .  It's kind of a relief, actually.  To no longer be fighting. Working and saving and hoping, hoping, hoping it's enough this time.  Unconditional .  I just feel a bit....  I don't have the words.  After everything I've been through to get to this point, I'd thought I'd be more excited.  But it's more like a calm has swept through me.  Earlier at 2pm when we read John's email - I was beyond excited. So excited. Screaming out the window and cheeeehoooo-ing out the window. I was on a huge happy buzz.  I'd told Bonny earlier that day that I had only given myself 48 hours of positivity because I didn't want to get too emotionally attached for it to fall through like last time.  This time I approached the entire situation very rationally. Without emotion....

We did it!  I did it!  My support team is incredible!  Beyond stoked!  A more serious post to come soon ♥️

6:37am Nerves. Up early. Thinking. Doing karakia.  Worrying. Wondering.  Nervous tapping of my foot.  Eyes blinking rapidly and slowly.  Tired. 

Ugh.  Oof.  I'm big time nervous.  No response all day.  Bonny said to think positive thoughts and celebrate.  I'm a little too scared to celebrate.  But trying to let myself have positive thoughts for today and tomorrow.  Because we've done everything the bank asked.  I have support from You Own and the mortgage broker. I haven't heard anything actually from the lawyers ... Which is a little concerning.  But until it goes unconditional there isn't much else for them to do.  I've been this far before but it wasn't this smooth last time. I thought last time was smooth - that it was too easy. That things were falling into place.  But now I know that was only just the beginning.  There is so much else to do.  It's so important to make it easy for the mortgage broker and bank to read through your financial information.  It should be effortless.  The way that Alisha from Enable Me encouraged me to reorganise my bank a...

Up early.  Nerves.  Crystel was nervous last night.  I was calm. I am nervous now.  She's asleep  😂🤦‍♀️ Ugh. Waiting is hard. 

Locked in.  Before the loan is / isn't approved.  Good sign?  2.99 %p.a. for 12months This also allows the $4k cash contribution.  Which will help with the lawyers.  I chose to go with this rate for this length of time as a fixed rate because the rates were going to go up considerably the next day.  It was a good time to do this.  Let's hope it pays off.  Need to come up with a plan for when that low rate stops next year and we jump to a higher price for interest rates.  How much could actually be paid off in one year?

'Twas the Night Before Easter Tuesday .. And all in the house... Were nervous and excited and scared and catastrophising 😂🤦‍♀️ Tomorrow we will hopefully hear back from the bank.  Yesterday John said that he'd sent off the last boarder letter to the bank and that he is waiting to see if there are any other pre-approval conditions still remaining.  Crystel and I went through the list tonight.  Pretty much everything has been completed on this list.  The only thing I'm not sure is if the bank accepts the house as a good asset/risk.  They won't ask to see the builder's report because it wasn't on the S&P and if they do - they might question why there is no name attached to it but other than that - there is literally only two very minor issues with that whare.  All of these things we can do once we know the loan is approved.  I can't do any of these things until the loan is approved.  So - we wait.  My gr...

Kia ora koutou!  To anyone reading this - I need your help.  I'm searching for a boarder to move in and help with costs. Times are super tough for first home buyers and if you know my story then you'll know I've had a pretty rough ride the last few years.  The house I'm in the process of trying to buy is absolutely beautiful. Immaculate, even.  The boarder would be paying for their own food. We can supply a single bed and drawers if needed. Board would also cover internet and power.  The boarder would need to undergo a police check to ensure safety etc. 

"Your world is a reflection of what you believe." Just read this post:  Poverty Mindset - read it! It had so many useful points! "How to Get Out of Poverty Mindset "We all have a blueprint. It’s how we’re programmed, and it guides the things we do and how we live our lives. These blueprints come from our upbringing, likely from our parents. In other words, from the day you started earning your very first dollar, your future financial fate was predetermined. And unless you make some change to disassociate yourself from your preconditioning, your end result will be the same. And it will happen over and over again." "How can you hate rich people and yet want to become one yourself? Rich people admire other rich people. Poor people often resent rich people, so it’s hard to become something you resent." "Your future success is predetermined by how your mind is programmed. If you subconsciously believe you’re destined to be poor, although you might say...

I've just seen this house --  https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/property/residential/sale/bay-of-plenty/opotiki/opotiki/listing/3554735202 Did I make a terrible mistake?  I'm sitting here in my lounge of my rental house, bawling my eyes out because I'm so nervous about everything.  It's overwhelming.  The puzzle piece is not set down yet And I feel like I've screwed up again.  If I find a boarder - then the house and mortgage will work.  If I don't find a boarder - then the finance date will come and go and I'll not be able to buy the house or get the cash contribution which would help pay the lawyers.  Have I made a terrible mistake by not waiting to see what other houses would come up? I feel sick to my stomach.  Scared about whether I will feel happy there.  Scared about whether I will find joy there.  Scared about whether I can afford the mortgage payments on my own if Crystel were to leave or the other boarder moved out. ...

My mortgage broker/financial advisor John talked with me today about interest rates.  SBS had contacted him to ask whether I wanted to go with the 12 month 2.99% interest rate and that although it hasn't gone unconditional yet - they thought they'd check before the interest rates go up tomorrow.  It all sounds really real. Like... It's happening. That totally stresses me out 😂 I was thinking the other day about pulling out of the whole thing because I'm scared.  Mostly scared, actually.  Nervous that if Crystel goes or the new boarder (whoever that may be) - then I won't be able to afford it.  That it totally freaks me out that I could end up in huge asf debt and then not be able to make repayments on my own and be even more fucked.  And that the dogs won't be able to just run around.  That they'll be even more hōhā than they are now coz they'll poo all over the stones and make a general mess.  Ugh and it's expensive right? But it's getting more...

The valuation came back, as expected.  I still have $900 in my account. I still don't understand why this is but hope to sort it out tomorrow.  The last thing to sort out -- boarder letters. We need a boarder to make this work.  Do I have to have two boarders?  Ugh. 

Now that I'm in a contract... I just can't afford to spend any further time looking at other houses.  All my effort and energy is going towards this purchase.  It's overwhelming.  Still hopeful.  Still nervous! 

What does this mean?  Oh! They're anticipating missing the deadline for Monday. I don't understand why though as this is the same valuer and nothing would have changed in the two weeks since he last did it.  Hmmmmmmm...  And! Weird surprise earlier today while picking up my glasses from Specsavers - $900 had been returned to my account.  I realised later once I re-read the valuers email that they put a hold on my card for that amount until the report was completed. But then the money is back?  Confusing! Maybe the valuer took pity on me and paid it back because he'd just done a valuation on the same house a week or two ago. 

Just re-read over the SBS pre-approval letter and the YouOwn information too.  Just checking what other things I need to do.  Probably the hardest thing is to find another boarder.  I also have to have a conversation soon with my landlord about a possible move out date (if we go unconditional).  And my cousin wants to move in here with her son. Would be so good!  But I'm not sure either. It'd probably suit Travis and Monroe a bit better rather than Kate and Jack? Either way it's out of my hands. The landlord will want to use a rental agency to sort out future renting issues etc.  Either way - just wanted to share this also - from the SBS pre-approval letter.  Our journey has been a bit different to this very linear pathway 😂 but we're getting there. Hopefully we have some positive news next week before the settlement date the week after. 

I keep rewatching the video I took last Sunday. I just realised it's only been five days since the offer was accepted! So much has happened during this time:  * Valuation has been ordered * Bank has recieved info from YouOwn and my mortgage broker * Lawyers are discussing with the mortgage broker the next steps in how this shared equity thing works * Discussiins have taken place with people who could become boarders * I've set up an SBS account in the event that this goes unconditional * We've done more research into the cash contribution - $4k from SBS with the First Home Combo * Talked with dad, the council and my friend James about the missing info from the LIM and found it in the file. I now have the building plans also 😁  * Talked with Aunty Adrienne about home insurance and she advised me to go with SBS for home insurance for at least a year and that if I wanted to - her insurance broker business Hugh Vercoe and Associates would be happy to help. The good thing about...

Upcoming fees: $5300 Lawyers: $4400 On file: $1900 To come: $2500 Valuation: $900 - paid 5th April Funds at 5th April: $5,800 Cash contribution from SBS: $4000 -- usually pay on settlement or day after Term deposit: $1400 Savings: $500 By 4th May -- Settlement: $6600 SBS Contribution - $4000 Term Deposit - $1400 Projected Savings:$1200 - saving $400 per pay- 3 pay periods Plus Crystel's contribution: $1150 $400 towards lawyer's fees ($100 extra per week) Plus: board $150 for the next five weeks -- $750

Update:  Signed the Sales and Purchase agreement.  Sent it to lawyers and mortgage broker and Nigel from YouOwn too.  The vendors accepted the offer.  Yay!  Now the next ten days of working through the finance conditions needs to take place.  And if all goes well... Settlement on the 4th May.  Further update to come re: all the korero today.  Exhausted.  Lots of hypothetical discussions this arvo. 

Hypothetically...  * If the Sales and Purchase agreement is signed tomorrow morning * If the S&P is sent back to Bonny * If the vendors accept my offer * If the bank accepts the house * If YouOwn accepts the house * If I can get the rest of my Kiwisaver out too ($4k?) * If I don't have to get a valuation because one was recently done on this property by the previous buyers... * Even if I do have to get another valuation * If the bank and YouOwn drawdown the funds * If it goes unconditional * If the deposit is paid to the vendor's solicitor * If I get the keys Then.... Hypothetically... I would be moving into this whare in the upcoming school holidays... Hypothetically... We would have a new home... Hypothetically... I would be a home owner...

Earlier today I was elated. Later I was frustrated. Now I've reflected and feel better about my decision to put an offer on Buchanan.  Went to the open home for Buchanan.  Loved it. Looked around three or four times. We were the only potential buyers there. We took a video of the property so we could have another proper look later. And to send to nan.  I called John and checked in with him. He sounded positive.  Immediately upon entering it was like being welcomed home.  It was a different kind of feeling but similar - like welcome back - a little triggering -- at 13 Ford as it reminded us of the house we grew up in.  Like Crystel said - Buchanan was already a home. Ford you'd have to make it a home.  Buchanan Pros:  * Two bathrooms * Tidy property * New house (code of compliance issued in 2020) * Only lived in for 7 months * Soooooo many delicious features - the soft close kitchen drawers - the bright lighting into each room - butler's pantry - a...

Going off the costs last time... Builders Report: $632 Valuation: $887 LIM: $530 Council - house info: $10 Lawyers fees: $2300 All up:  $4359 I am not ready. 🤦‍♀️ Currently have $1800 plus whatever is in savings with Aunty.  $2559 unaccounted for. 

So I recognise some changes.  I'm a lot more risk averse. I don't just jump into getting excited at houses first. I look at the roof, I want to be thorough when it comes to the safety and security of the house. Thinking about a house carefully before putting an offer in.  I'm waiting til I actually have the keys to the house before I start thinking about buying new furniture or where my current things might go.  I'm struggling a little with the not dreaming about the house.  I like what Kathryn said - that my forever house is out there, it's just hiding at the moment.  That hope is still there.  But so is this ticking clock for the bank pre-approval. 60 days from application date. It's already been 15 days.  I'm starting to get nervous and feel like I have to move faster.  I want to see the photos of the other houses Bonny has waiting to be listed.  I have money in my accounts still - three days from payday!  That in itself is a big chan...