Pay Off Your Mortgage In Two Years Blog Discussion

Lotta_Littlies

I'm glad we haven't offended you as I'm sure it's the last thing we'd want to do.

I have to admit that participating in a programme like this is a very brave thing to do. I know I couldn't do it. What made you go for it? Also are you planning on continuing to become mortgage free sooner rather than later and have you set yourselves a timescale to achieve this?

I'm positive that if you push for it together you'll have it done and dusted in 2-3 years tops.

Lotta

D&DD

Hi Sean and Anne-Marie
I really felt for you both during the programme I think you have guts to have even carried on with the project while facing such an emotional time..I still think you did acheive a lot and if I could raise that much extra inside a couple of years I would be happy! As another poster said it was nice to see a normal family with normal jobs etc and all the struggles that most people face.I did have a little chuckle at some of your erm heated moments as you sounded just like me and my OH :rotfl: Wish you all the best for the future and would like to ask has it made an impact on your standard of living by being creditcard debt free?? (I soo wish that was us :rotfl: )

jollyanna

Well done Anne-Marie and Sean.. I wonder if you would have completed the task if Rene had given you an extra six months to allow for the trauma you suffered? Maybe not, pain can't be measured in time.

caseya

Hi Everyone

Sorry for not respondiong sooner but I have been in bed all day trying to recover from a sickness bug. I would like to put my reply in 3 parts if I may, to give you some insight into filming, to answer your questions and to give my views on the outcome and where we are now. But before all that, may a say a huge thank you to all of you for your comments and well wishes - it really does mean so much - I take every hug I can:grouphug:

My husband applied for the programme initially to give him the kick he needed (why do men never listen to their spouses?). The original presenter was Jasmine Birtles who has a fabulous book called A BIT ON THE SIDE which is where I got alot of my money-making and money-saving ideas from, so thank you Jasmine. The researcher for the programme I thank personally for introducing me to the MSE website. It has been a HUGE help in our quest.
The first filming day was actually 23 Jan 2005, the last filming day was December 6th 2007 so not quite the two years. The programme was the largest 'experiment' in BBC history - therefore whether we paid off the mortgage or not, I never considered it a win or a failure. My only reason for doing the experiment was to clear our debt, not the mortgage - so in that sense, we did win. The clip of me crying about the hallway was done 2 weeks after the miscariage - so some perspective there on my emotional state! (Though Rene does give great hugs)

To answer your questions :

The 8k earned was on top of the normal job and was before tax. Don't blame me, blame the Beeb for the tax issue - that's all I have to say on that:rolleyes:
The singing was never going to be a success. After the first year so many commented on how sad I looked - how would you like to be entertained by someone who is not enjoying it? As you may have noticed I wear my heart on my sleeve and I cannot hide from my face how I feel. Maybe I was selfish, but I believe you should never do a job you don't enjoy - life is far too short.
I quit Weightcare when I was signed off sick for depression. It is hard to stand up in front of 30 people and motivate them when you just want to crawl up in a ball and cry. I still attend the classes (when I am on a happy day) and maybe one day I will return to do the classes, but that, yes I was selfish with. For the first time in my life I took time out for myself and for that I am not ashamed.
As I said we were doing the programme for the debt really, but now find ourselves wanting to pay off the mortgage as soon as. This year though, we are taking a year out. Now don't panic, we're not going back to our old ways when I say that, we will still be budgetting and saving every penny, but the money will be spent on a much needed new car - which we will pay for cash for the first time, a new fridge freezer, finishing decorating the house (did you see our bedroom? that lilac has got to go:rotfl: ) and spending money for our well deserved trip to Florida. Then we are giving ourselves another 18 months after that to pay off the mortgage.
As for being Sean's manager - can you imagine it, he would drive me round the bend! Seriously, I think the best thing I have done for Sean is to take the step back because it has helped him grow in himself.
How did we save 14k in 1 year? Pretty easy once you set your mind to it. To recap our earnings were 2500 a month, our outgoings were 2600 a month! I got my bonus in Feb 2005 and that helped clear some of the debt. We made a list of all the debt we had and took it one by one, paying off the highest interest rate first. Sean earned extra doing his hypnotist gigs which had increased from his cold calling (yes he did do work, not just have coffee breaks:rotfl: ) and the rest came from pure hard saving. The Beeb gave us a budget of £155, I then gave myself lower than that - £130 per week. This was for essentials - food, clothing, petrol. So to explain - payday comes, I transfer total amount needed for bills, then I transferred £520 to my instant savings account for the weekly budget and whatever was left over was transferred to my ING account. This included child tax credits, child benefit etc. All Sean's money was handed straight over to me to put in the bank and he was given £30 a week budget (£15 of which was for petrol). I changed my shopping habbits by shopping at Aldis, market for fruit and veg, ebay and charity shops for most clothes, or would get in the sales and so on... Our social life actually got better because we found cheaper ways to go out - free cinema screenings, and other means by which I can't reveal... :cool:

Quiting smoking is something you have to want to give up. I didn't at the time - they did make it look worse, I only actually smoked 2-3 a day and you'll be pleased to know that since the new year I have given up.

There has been a mumble about doing a follow up but not sure if this will come to fruition - I will keep you posted on here on our progress.

My mum and dad live 5 minutes away so have my children alot, their choice as well. It's one of the reasons we moved to the area was to be close to them. We believe family is most important. We certainly couldn't have done it without their support and love.

I did get made redundant in November, but unfortunately have not been well enough still to return to work. I intend going back sometime soon to doing what I loved - being a PA. You are right in that the redundancy money went into the pot, which more than cleared our last loan.

Wow - I think I should write a book! One last thing which is very important to me just to get off my chest, not necessarily for those of you who have posted because you have all been so supportive and lovely.

My husband has been the most loving and supportive man I could wish for. There were many many days when I just stayed in bed crying all day and he had to take the kids to school, pick them up, feed them, put them to bed all this while starting up a new business, cold calling and doing shows which meant he did not get home until 2am in the morning. He has worked effortlessly for all his life, and even more so since this programme began. Yes, he can be frustrating at times, like all marriages we women have to put up with alot but I believe in him and his talent 100%. He is a grafter no matter how portrayed, but if having drive and not being lazy is getting up at 6am and working till 7pm and not seeing your wife or kids then I'll take the 'lazy, no drive' man every time. He is a fantastic dad, the best husband and we are a stronger unit than ever.

As for the programme, with all it's highs and lows if you asked me would I do it again - in an instant! Because not only has it helped us get out of debt (I don't count mortgage as 'debt' - I know I know), it has paved the way to a better lifestyle. I will never pay for anything full price again, I use comparison sites, cash back sites and voucher sites to get the cheapest deals - all thanks to MSE and the researcher! I am even appealing my council tax banding!

I hope I have answered everyone's questions and not droned on too long (hey, you didn't see much of me on the programme after all:D ).

hypno06

Thanks Anne Marie!

Seriously, perhaps you should do a book on it. Start keeping a diary and see where it goes, you never know!

Good luck and please keep everyone informed on the progress, mortgage or otherwise (getting rid of the lilac bedroom!)

gallygirl

Sorry you're till feeling down - for what it's worth I thought you looked stunning at the end of the programme!

Just shows what editing can do (maybe Jade is lovely after all :rotfl: ).

Keep on with the journey, it's not easy but it's easier than you think at the start!!!

clarew

Thanks for the reply Ann Marie, i must say i never thought sean looked lazy, he has a talent that he will always have and he can use as and when he is ready to.

You guys seemed to be really together and a very loving supportive family. I would love to have been able to save that much in 2 years! I am glad you are taking some time out, as i mentioned previously family comes first above all else, and family tragedies/ill health etc puts all else into perspective.

Thanks for updating us on how things are, i am seriously considering trying to do the budget, and think perhaps as you said above, putting the "spending" money into 1 account may help me in my mission. We have joint income of £2700 with mortgage £1100 plus bills (london prices), so i will put pen to paper and try to work out a budget for us!

Enjoy your year out, and look forward to hearing from you both intermittantly!

angela110660

I thought you did very well so congrats. I have to say that I always thought that of all the participants, yourselves and the people from Cornwall were the best bets to achieve because you had "hidden" talents.
I would love to see one of the hypnotism events you do - will your husband come to Hampshire again??
Well done.

pink_fairy_7

Hi anne-marie and sean
Thank you for all your posts. I thought that you both did really well. Clearing the cc debt at least must be a great feeling.
Good luck for the future.

pink fairy x

FZwanab

Just wanted to say thanks to Anne Marie for the great reply. Its nice to know what happens after a programme and Sean was great for taking a risk and trying things, more than I have ever done. Best of luck to you both in the future.