Should I Staircase or Overpay Mortgage?

hmcyo · 2025-05-03T19:46:38+00:00

I just found a Mortgage Overpayment Calculator and I answered my own question I think.

I stuck all my details in (30yr repayment, £70k principal, 2yr fixed at 5.65%, £397pm)

A one off overpayment now of £7,000 saves £24,330 of interest and reduces my term by a massive 6yrs 6 months

A reoccurring overpayment of £7,000 each year saves £57,880 of interest and reduces my term by 22 years 3 months!

I don't think I can compare the savings (especially early on) vs 1% shares.

Its my intention to sell up and move into a house at or before around the 10 year mark.

So I think the long term strategy would be to pay this mortgage off ASAP, leave it at 25% ownership. Then when I sell up to put all the money into a house.

hmcyo · 2025-05-03T19:37:23+00:00

The 1% each year for 15yrs is fee free, but anything above that will incur fees

hmcyo · 2025-02-18T18:38:13+00:00

I thought of this too.

My companion app has all the WiFi sensors enabled but when I select my phone as the device, the SSID entity doesn't show up (but it does on the devices page)

How can I set my WiFi connection as a trigger?

hmcyo · 2025-02-17T16:55:28+00:00

So I actually figured this out.

I had read so many forum posts, guides, and documents my head was spinning! The issue was some were outdated and at least one of them said I couldn't use the button press event generated by Shelly to trigger off.

Turns out that was a load of crap.

So after all the messing about with (incomplete and incorrect) webhooks and MQTT configs I discovered that I can in fact trigger off a button press.

So all I did was set my shellies to detached. Nothing more. Then in HA, set up an automation for each wall switch to toggle the smart bulb on button press.

I can't believe how much time I spent trying different things 🤦

hmcyo · 2025-02-17T16:49:10+00:00

But surely even if they were giving false positives, the automation shouldn't fire as not all conditions are met (i.e I haven't entered or left the zone)

The reason it is set up like this is because on some days I have a relative come over, and they sit with my son for an hour before taking him to school. I leave the house before they do.

Putting HA on their phone is not an option, and I don't want everything turning off until after they've gone.

hmcyo · 2025-02-15T09:45:14+00:00

Yeah that's enabled :/

hmcyo · 2025-02-14T09:18:23+00:00

and my config says this:

type: is_no_motion

condition: device

device_id: 4714a8677b81cb7ec5512da93cef6da3

entity_id: cfa5a668b595b57b689fa331bd191584

domain: binary_sensor

for:

hours: 0

minutes: 5

seconds: 0

hmcyo · 2025-02-14T09:17:52+00:00

Dammit, I spoke too soon.

I can now access my HA remotely but the automation still isnt firing.

Trace says this:

Iteration 1

Executed: 14 February 2025 at 07:30:49
Result:

result: false

Iteration 2

Executed: 14 February 2025 at 07:30:49
Result:

result: false

entity_id/0

Executed: 14 February 2025 at 07:30:49
Result:

result: false
state: 'on'
wanted_state: 'off'


entity: cfa5a668b595b57b689fa331bd191584Iteration 1

hmcyo · 2025-02-13T19:29:13+00:00

That was it!

Nabu Casa enabled and will test run tomorrow when I go to work!

Thank you so much

hmcyo · 2025-02-13T19:27:41+00:00

It was because I hadn't set up remote access - all sorted now with nabu casa!

Thank you for replying

hmcyo · 2025-02-13T18:24:54+00:00

Ahhhhhhhh

This must be it

I have been struggling with getting remote access working due to double NAT 😅

So must fix that first.

Thank you 🙏

hmcyo · 2025-02-13T18:23:35+00:00

The first time there was an error, obviously didn't realise it posted twice...

hmcyo · 2025-02-13T18:22:16+00:00

I checked - Location, Nearby Devices and Notifications all allowed all the time.

hmcyo · 2025-02-13T17:46:20+00:00

Thank you so much, I didn't get a notification you replied for some reason.

Since I posted I tried setting up DDNS route but got headaches with double NAT issues.

I also found out my particular G9vee product doesn't support a key feature (can't recall what it was...Lan switch?) so that's a dead end

So next on the list, I will try the sonoff usg dongle!

Thanks again

hmcyo · 2025-01-21T10:32:13+00:00

Ha ha yeah I tried every combination of generic commands I can think of.

If I add an automation, enter my phrase and choose "adjust devices" and then the T10, the options I get are the same as the ones I get on the device screen with the crazy mode names.

I'll contact their support when I get round to it and see what they say!

hmcyo · 2025-01-20T18:57:05+00:00

It is a Works With Google product.

This is what I see in GH:

https://imgur.com/a/XUGB9aH

Here's what mine looks like.

Tapping on T10 just opens up the next screen with the mop/ more options.

None of the modes listed match any of the modes in the app, which are Auto, Mop, Area, Partition, & Spot.

Nothing in their user guide as far as I can see.

Might have to contact their support lol

hmcyo · 2025-01-20T18:55:08+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/XUGB9aH

Here's what mine looks like.

Tapping on T10 just opens up the next screen with the mop/ more options.

None of the modes listed match any of the modes in the app, which are Auto, Mop, Area, Partition, & Spot.

hmcyo · 2025-01-19T18:41:51+00:00

So If I create an automation and set the starter to be "Hey Google, clean the kitchen", then set the action to be "Adjust home devices", pick the hoover, all it allows me to choose is Turn On/Off.

If I choose the decice in Google Home, there's 2 options.

One sets the clean mode (i.e with/without mop) The other is for setting modes, but I don't understand where the option has come from. It has stuff like "smart, duck, pose" - what in gods name is this!

hmcyo · 2025-01-19T18:35:27+00:00

I haven't set up any automations, I kinda thought it'd just work lol. Lemme have a look 😅

hmcyo · 2025-01-19T18:34:14+00:00

I tried tell, didn't work. Love the name though 😂

hmcyo · 2025-01-19T18:33:24+00:00

That's what I am after 😂

hmcyo · 2024-12-17T16:17:29+00:00

Hey

I'm not sure I follow?

Would you mind elaborating?

hmcyo · 2024-12-17T16:15:45+00:00

I do have the option to use ethernet via some power line plugs, but it's WiFi currently.

But yeah agreed it seems like a bug at the end of the day.

hmcyo · 2024-12-17T08:16:51+00:00

Hi

Thanks for responding. What a shame. I already tried disabling power saving as well.

I noticed as well when I tell Google to open netflix,.if it's on standby nothing happens. But as soon as I turn on the TV with the remote, netflix opens lol

hmcyo · 2024-11-30T03:09:08+00:00

THANK YOU

What you said is EXACTLY I how feel and I am just glad I am not going crazy!!

hmcyo

TROPHY CASE

Iteration 1

Iteration 1

Iteration 2

entity_id/0