It's not a problem. I was on a fixed rate so my payments did not go down until very recently, but even if I lose my job tomorrow I have saved enough to pay it off because it's practically over now anyway.

Once it's paid, my biggest expense will be the council tax. That is the actually only reason I can't retire next year; it costs £100 a month to empty the bins I never actually put out

However, my point is that my "generous estimate" of income was technically fraud. I can justify it because the rules are stupid and it's one of those laws that is "so obviously stupid everyone ignores it including the police".

If the law was defined in a less arse shaped way, then it should be enforced.

I can see where you are coming from. I can live unbelievably cheaply and so can support a higher debt load than other people with the same income. Yes the rules do not take that into account but then if problems happen and you are highly leveraged then you could be in trouble very quickly. It also ignores income increases.

lol, I have to admit I expected to be better off with annual pay reviews - but I'm on less now than I was 14 years ago when I took it out!

As you say, some people spend more than others. I have some Scottish friends who are very impressed by how tight-fisted I am

I am the same. I will buy value groceries and save on many things yet have blown several hundred pounds on LED desk lamps, which look pretty good and only use 3W each. In fact my lighting entire house only takes 10W or so. Less than a decent low energy bulb.