Coming back to this topic, my estimates weren't a million miles away, water and sewage cheaper, electricity a lot cheaper even at a new high fix! (90 a month) shopping underestimated thats about £200.
Things have been going well and I have made £3500 in overpayments so far.
My pension is sitting at £1400 now, at nearly 40 this is pretty scary... up until now I have been on basic workplace pension (i put in 5% + 1% AVC, company puts in 3% (i have changed it from the default "10 year life Strat" too 100% equity..
as of the 6th of December I have been there a year, and I will get 10% from the company, with the option to raise my additional voluntary contributions , im going to put my 6% upto 10% meaning I get 20% of my basic wage going into a pension.
My mortgage fix of ten years at 2.59% is now looking like a solid move, But I am aware that will pass sooner than it might seem, and unless I make overpayments there will still be significant debt owing at the next fix that is highly likely to be a lot less favourable. I currently own approx 30% of my property.
I am torn, should I up my AVC on pensions, to maybe a total of 15/20% payment from me to go with 10% from employer - to try and catch up somewhat to where I should be. Or just raise my contributions to 10% and anything spare overpay mortgage?
I am aware my pension needs time to grow, and what I put in now can have 28 years of compound growth still, but that dwindles by each year that passes, however at the same time that new mortgage fix moves a year closer...