FinancialBliss: My mortgage free journey…

I guess the first order of the day is happy new year. I started drafting this up at 23.40, but we've had problems with #2 being unsettled this evening. I'm sure fireworks currently going off locally won’t help either!

Can I say this has been massively difficult to do. I’ve not changed job, made any massive financial adjustments, so it’s hard to cherry pick a few points that stand out among other things done in 2007.

Bad points of 2007.

Shares. Top of the list without doubt must be our Northern Rock shares. These have seen a fall from 12.51 to close today at 84p. Obviously this is completely beyond my control and pretty much unexpected, but I can’t help thinking that had I purchased the car via the sale of 500 Rock shares last January rather than via a loan, I could potentially have been looking at 11/11/11.

Broadband. Having had broadband since 2005, I switched this year to those nice people that make objects, eg phones out of people – you know them: chat chat. Well I won’t mention them by name just in case, but I’m sure you know who I mean. As we were already taking calls via carrier pre-select from a BT land line to chat chat, I decided to switch completely to them. Their web site suggested that as an existing customer, I was entitled to free broadband.

Proceeded with order and my line was swapped, but after that, I was informed that I’d need to pay 15 pounds a month supplement for broadband as my exchange wasn’t yet unbundled. Spend 3 months arguing the toss with them; their tune – I’m now in an 18 month contract; my tune – you’re failing your obligation to meet contract, so you can’t charge me 70 quid to get out of it.

After telephones, letters and faxes of complaint, I never paid a penny for the broadband – my exchange only being unbundled in October this year.

Playstation 3. After the initial buzz in sourcing a 60Gb PS3 one stocks everywhere else had dried up, I can’t help feeling a bit of guilt about this purchase. Part of me says what the hell, you only live once, but part of me is thinking it was a bit of a selfish purchase.


Good points of 2007.

Diary. Top here has to be starting this diary. Don’t know about anyone else, but when you’re out at the pub / meal with friends, chatting at work etc, when was the last time you brought up the subject of mortgages? It’s pretty much a taboo subject in our circle of friends. By comparison, this mortgage free forums great. Loads of knowledgeable people to sound off questions / get answers and pretty much a friendly bunch too. Thanks!

Broadband. Despite this already being mentioned, once I’d switched provider, I’ve not had to call them since. The product itself, I think at least, is good. I’m a good way from the exchange and I’m getting 2.2mb connection, plus I’ve a 40Gb monthly allowance. Broadband being subsidised by line rental and calls, or free as chat chat like to market it. Our mobile usage has dropped too.

Asda credit card. Applied for the card in 2007 and the main benefit I’m using it for is the 2p reduction in fuel prices.

Quidco. Finally discovered this in late 2007 and I’m now getting into the habit of looking at quidco whenever we’re pricing up purchases.


That’s it for now. Aims for 2008 to be posted as soon as possible.

Thanks and happy 2008.

FB.

With it being the start of the month, mortgage payment has now cleared – comes out on the 1st.

From now on, I’m paying 898.03 per month. I’ve also overpaid by a whopping 1.97 to make a round 900.00 January payment. I’m unlikely to be making any further payments this month.

I’ve updated my signature and post #1 and I’ve also posted an update on the MFiT thread.

FB.