Gallygirl's 95 month challenge - now 'only' 92 months

gallygirl

Can I Play Too Please ?

I have decided to keep a diary to keep myself inspired, help mark progress and hopefully be of interest to someone.

OK – about me – I’ve been on here a few years but changed my user name as I was outed at work :eek: . I’ve let tallgirl know of my change of name so hopefully the MFIT challenge will be sorted for next update.

Basically I have 3 mortgages – 1 with Egg for 37.2k, for main residence. 1 with Egg for 73.6k for BTL (but secured against main residence), 1 with C&G for 42.7k for BTL.Overall total of 153.5k, which horrifies me but is much smaller than some on here.


I have 3 challenges on the go:
1. MFIT. Target to pay £25,400 off, BACK ON TARGET
2. Pay off 37k in total (or at least have in offset account) by the time of my 50th (in 35 paydays time). ON TARGET – just, assuming I overpay £350 a month, to be matched by OH).
3. The biggie :eek:. Pay off all mortgages (or have in offset, savings etc) by the time of my 55th (in 95 paydays time). ON TARGET – just, assuming Snowballing once target 2 is achieved & same level of OP’s maintained.

I work full time, have part time OH who pays ½ mortgage (all properties joint) and matches all overpayments but I pay all bills. DS at uni, so that’s £200 a month. I mystery shop, quidco, pigsback, ebay, have Peefer the mortgage pig and also have all you lot to keep me inspired.

Ok, have bored myself now so will shut up and try to think of something interesting to say next time . This isn't as easy as it looks, is it .


2009 targets Inspired by Team GB I'm setting some Gold, Silver & Bronze targets for next year:

Mortgage
* Reduce by 15k ACHIEVED
* Reduce by 12.5k
* Reduce by 3.5k
Rationale: 15k is target on 2009 challenge. Silver is target if I make all planned repayments and bronze is how much mortgage should reduce just by monthly payments. Bronze a bit easy to be honest but I want to make sure I 'medal' . All additional income will go here.

Mystery Shopping Income
* £1000 ACHIEVED
* £750
* £500
Rationale: I have received just under £500 since June so 1k should be achievable, however £250 came from 2 jobs which may not be repeated.

Income from competitions, sale/use of pigsback vouchers etc.
* £1500
* £1000
* £500 FAILED
Rationale: Largely in the lap of the gods. Challenge will run from end of Feb 08 to end of March 10 (from day I go to NY to day OH turns 50, want to use the £1500 for a hol).

Weight
* Reduce by 2 stone
* Reduce by 1 stone
* Reduce by 1/2 stone ACHIEVED
Rationale: :eek::o

2010 TARGETS


Mortgage
* Reduce by 25k :eek:
* Reduce by 20k
* Reduce by 15k
Rationale: 15k was target on 2009 challenge, based only on 1 mortgage. MFiTT2 target is 68.5k so need to stretch ourselves to o/pay as much as possible in 2010 before low interest rates (and 1 of our mortgage deals) come to an end.

Mystery Shopping/Comps/Other Extra Income
* £3000
* £2500
* £2000
Rationale: I have added comps & MS together as more time on one means less time for other stuff. I achieved over 2k in 2009 but didn’t really do too much MS till March, so 2k is the minimum I should achieve. Have around £70 of Joules clothing from their sale I should at least double my money on

Weight
* Reduce by 2 stone
* Reduce by 1 stone
* Reduce by 1/2 stone
Rationale: Same as last year. At least have ended year a little lower than last year :rolleyes:

Other areas:

Pensions: keep a close eye. One is with FP through work – just increased payment to £250 a month, plus work pay around £135 a month. Limited choice of funds but doing v well this year. Other is in process of being converted to SIPP with HL – pot of around 10k I think & I’m not contributing so not major & therefore I can take high risk on it. Will need to decide what to do with it – thinking of Japan for part of it. Maybe renewable energy/research & oil exploration.

Other financial stuff: more emphasis on meal planning (freezer is full so no excuse), lunches to work (this has slipped recently). More shopping in Lidl, less in Morrisons, without a list. Continue with checking best deals for power (with npower, every time I’ve checked I’ve had best tariff).

Planned spends:
New mattress. Researched this already, looks like I can get a good one from an independent company for £300. Don’t want memory foam, just bog standard. Have narrowed it down but can’t order till back from Gambia. Will be doing late Jan.
Lounge & new sofas. Not spending more than £1200 on sofas. Will do when paint lounge so probably May Day holiday. Say £50 for paint, £100 for curtains (only 1 window, 54” drop). May well do nothing – don’t want leather & only fabric ones I’ve liked so far are around 3k.

So, total of less than 2k, will come from offset so that 25k is actually 27k _pale_

Need also to sort out computer - I think this one is on its' last legs. And I had planned to tart up the kitchen last year but didn't - need to decide whether to do that or take the plunge & get a new one _pale_


Plus usual stuff – exercise more (wiifit plus 50m pool in town, although only open as 50m twice a week), drink less (TPA – looking to you for inspiration here), eat less, see friends more, take part in more out of work activities (costs money but usually stay with friend so save petrol money). Avoid Alexon & M&S sales (not my fault - was left alone on Xmas Day with a PC & CC, £270 on M&S :rolleyes: - just my luck it will probably all fit :rotfl:

frazzmunch

hi galley girl.....welcome aboard...:D...only just started myself but already obsessed!! good luck with your journey, i'll stop by frequently and find out how its going!!:j

shopgirl2512

Hi!

Looking forward to reading all about your adventures...Good luck!!

StuartGMC

gallygirl wrote: »

Ok, have bored myself now so will shut up and try to think of something interesting to say next time . This isn't as easy as it looks, is it .

Don't think you bored us! On my first post I wasn't sure I'd keep it going, now I feel guilty if I don't post for a day.... is that OCD????

Seriously, good to see you have a series of targets along the way.
Good luck and keep with it

gallygirl

Thanks all!

Last night I dreamt I was on a hotel forecourt with colleagues. I spotted some coins so made an excuse to stay behind. Picked up £1 and 50p coins but woke in a sweat as I KNEW I'd seen a 2p coin as well but couldn't find it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:. I think I have issues .

setmefree2

Good Luck Gallygirl and well done on your progress so far:T:T:T

gallygirl

OK, so good things today:
- had boots resoled, £8.99 :eek: but cheaper than new boots
- sorted out & gave away stuff on freecycle - ok, didn't save me anything, but I was helped such a lot by friends & strangers when marriage broke up & it's nice to give something back. Everyone v grateful. Also gave some stuff to charity shop (they gave me a gift aid card so they can claim tax back ), and put some stuff in clothes bank. That was v traumatic - had to make a value judgement between Sally Army & Dr Barnardos . Gave to Sally Army so will give to Barnados next time. Easier with charity shop - the one I can park outside gets it .
- made a payment of £275 to offset account so that will be included in update to tallgirl when mortgage comes out tomorrow :j
- checked out freezer. I had enough meals for all October :T . Wrote them all down so I can cross off when used.
- then went to Morrisons & bought 6 more from bargain shelf .
- remembered to use money off coupons :beer: . Only after she had already processed card & had to cancel & start again .
- got a plasterer coming out to give quote for work on btl house. Think it will be scary :eek: .
- fed peefer the mortgage pig
- can't find the £1.50 I found in my dream last night though :rotfl:

shopgirl2512

Wow! You seem to be a very busy bee! I'm impressed with your get up and go (I could do with some of that myself...).:rolleyes: I have had relatively expensive few days - dinner out with guests, etc. I'm hoping things get better...keep up the god work!

gallygirl

I don't intend to post on here every day (pauses to hand out tissues to all & sundry), but time to update records as mortgages have gone out :j.

Main mortgage now down to £35,313.23 (original figure was of 1st Sept and have paid into offset during Sept) and others dropped a little also.

Total o/s now 'only' £151,289.17 :eek:.

Challenge 1 - MFiT challenge - 70% complete :j.

Challenges 2 & 3 still on target (had a scary moment as forgot to include offset in balances on snowball so thought I'd dropped behind :eek:).

Going back to bed as off work with v heavy cold - look like a cross between :mad: and _pale_.

evab_2

Hope you feel better soon, dh has a cold too streaming eyes and nose - keeping him well away from me!

ZoeGirl_3

Wow, 95 month challenge! Thats thinking ahead :T

Good luck