I started my IVA journey around this time in 2011; the time really has flown by. After completing my IVA early in October 2015, I've been focusing on making sure I'm in a good position to be able to remortgage onto a more sensible rate when the defaults and IVA drop off in September this year. It's come round so fast! It seems like only a short while ago I was thinking, "...this will all drop off in just under two years' time...", now it's just a few months away...
Aside from the purchase of a newer car (saved for and bought outright!
) I've continued to live a frugal and sensible a lifestyle. I learned my lesson from my IVA - I still budget and track outgoings, the only difference has been allowing myself a little more leeway with regards to things like meals out and such.
My mortgage is one of the legacy Northern Rock ones which was hived off to NRAM when the Government stepped in and subsequently shoved to 'Landmark Mortgages'. I have a mortgage of ~£148k outstanding on a property worth around £200k. It's interest-only at Landmark's SVR of 4.64% and I've been here 12 years, mortgage was 25 years. I spoke to Ryan at Zebra back in '15 when the IVA finished, mainly to make sure there wasn't something I could do immediately (realistically there wasn't) but I wanted to make sure I didn't assume I couldn't.
His advice was excellent and I've followed that to date; to save but don't pay capital off the mortgage just yet - it's better to keep it liquid and the amount of interest I'd save would probably be pretty negligible. As it is I've managed to have my savings in an account earning 5% interest into which I can pay up to £500/mo so it's gone a long way to offsetting anyway!
Right now I'm in the process of making sure the credit files are all in shape and wondered if there's anything I've missed? So far I've done the following:
1) Credit card - almost immediately after the IVA Capital One offered me a card. I took it and have used it for small amounts each month (mostly my fuel spend) which is paid off in full every month by Direct Debit. Capital One have increased my limit this month due to the way I've managed the card, rising from £1,500 to £2,000. Is this a good thing? I don't need the higher limit but if it is 'helpful' from a scoring perspective I'll leave it at £2k. If it could be detrimental, I'll ask them to reduce it back down.
2) No recent 'hard searches' - I had one from Nationwide in March but that's it. No more will be done between now and Oct/Nov.
3) All defaulted accounts align to the start date (or earlier) of my IVA.
4) I'm on the electoral roll (12 years).
I have around £5k in savings now and anticipate adding a further £2-3k to this between now and October which can be used to reduce the capital when remortgaging (if required). I'm hoping to be able to get onto a lower rate and will probably need to extend back up to the original 25 years (or more) but that's OK as it won't be the last time I remortgage and I can alter it down in future if I've reduced the capital faster etc.
Is there anything else I can or should be doing now for October...?
