I really wish the best of luck to you guys... Give the bank a shout and see what their "special introductory rate for the first year" is. If 3.75/3.85 is the going Tracker rate at the moment you might get 3.3 or 3.5% for the first year. Just to make things a little easier on you guys...
I have a theory on fixed rate mortgages - they are designed to captalise on peoples fear as much as anything else... An accountant friend of mine working in BOI showed me stats that proved over virtually every 20/25/30 year cycle you were better off on variable rather than fixed mortgages, he also pointed out you could be lucky opting for fixed at certain times etc., but over he majority of the time variable was best.... Fair enough I said, but what about the uncertainty of variable (or tracker rates) if you are willing to pay a little extra for security.... Simple logic kicked in and we came up with this ---- (only for the financially disciplined - which you seem to be)
Get a fixed rate payment option - say 4.5% for 5 years (35 yr mort 400k)
= €1,990 - don't take this mortgage, but use it as a basis
If the current Tracker rate mort is 3.7% = €1,688. - opt for the tracker mortgage......
Now using the fixed as a basis-------
Save the €302 difference every month (into a special account).......
If the Tracker goes up to 3.9% = 1,735., now only save the new difference which is 255.
If your tracker goes to 4.5%, 4.6% or 5% firstly you are in the habit of paying 4.5% a month anyway secondly dip into your savings from the months you made cash..... It's a way of taking a proportion of the risk out of the sitaution while still not being stuck with a fixed rate.
Also - Lidl and Aldi are great spots, myself and herself always look at each other after we've shopped in Tesco's and go how did we spend soo much on 3/4 bags of basics and the same money in Lidl and you'd need a trolley to carry it all. Never mind the feeling of being conned after walking out of Marks and Sparks or Superquinn...
Your sensible people, you'll get through tough times (even if you have to extend your mortgage in 5 years from the 30 left on it back to 35 - or take a 3 month break from it etc. - which are all costly options, but get you through....)
Best of luck - let me know how you get on.