uzubairu's Mortgage Free Journey

uzubairu

I used to have a bath 5 times a week, because I liked to soak and pamper myself before work.
After my research into saving water, I tried the 4 minute shower routine, and after a fortnight I had it perfected.

Queen-Bee_2

uzubairu wrote: »

I used to have a bath 5 times a week, because I liked to soak and pamper myself before work.

I can relate to this - I used to have a full tub, right up to the brim, every night and read in it for a good hour, topping up with hot water regularly. Now I've got to grips with the water (and heating) implications, it's showers all the way.
Having just done a comparison between my weekly energy charges for the last two weeks and my average weekly charge for last year, I can see there's been a big drop. I'm not sure my showers can account for all of it, but I'm sure they've played their part!
QB

uzubairu

Queen-Bee wrote: »

I used to have a full tub, right up to the brim, every night and read in it for a good hour, topping up with hot water regularly.
QB

I limit that experience to 2 days a week.
When it starts getting cold I get out now instead of topping up with hot water.

uzubairu

Yesterday the heavens opened (in a very big way), 2 hours after we hired bikes for the day. :eek:

We returned the bikes 4 hours early, and after drying out and getting something to eat, we indulged in a little retail therapy.
We saw some beautiful items we just couldn't resist buying.

This has resulted in us deciding to overpay by just £375 this month.

It may end up being more before we reach the end of the month.

Thankfully today the weather has been 92 for most of the day and no showers and a wonderfull trip to the Everglades, topped off with us claiming our free meal at the posh restaurant later this evening.

uzubairu

It's Labor Day today and the temp is 95F (luckily we went for a 5 hour bike ride yesterday when it was a little cooler - I've decided I want a road bike for my birthday next February).

My OH was thinking about how many lovely holidays we could have if we didn't have the mortgage to pay, so he is really desperate to get it paid off in the next 5 years (which is 2 years earlier than originally planned).

He has done some brief calculations (he loves his spreadsheets) and thinks it's achievable.
I'll give it some attention when we get home.

It's amazing how a lovely holiday makes you think about all the nice things you could do with your money each month if you didn't have to pay your mortgage.
We'd have an extra £18,000 a year to spend/invest/make changes to our lives.

I'll be able to make an overpayment of £500 this month because my work expenses have been paid as a cheque and one of my colleagues has deposited it in my bank account, so I'll send another £125 when the cheque clears.

I'm going to do some more eBaying when I get back, so that I can hopefully add another £100 and get the balance to start £85,xxx instead of £86,xxx at the end of the month.

SmlSave

My OH was thinking about how many lovely holidays we could have if we didn't have the mortgage to pay, so he is really desperate to get it paid off in the next 5 years

Maybe I should suggest this to my OH to get him on board

I'm glad your enjoying your holiday.

uzubairu

I'm back from our holiday and I don't go back until next week.

OH has some DIY tasks to do around the house.

I've got some items to list on eBay today (need to take lots of pictures first).
Car needs a proper wash and vacuum.
The fridge is bare, so I need to do a small shop (trying to clear the freezer as well).

setmefree2

Hope you enjoy your time off. Hope you find som time for some R & R

uzubairu

uzubairu wrote: »

Talking of holidays, I have only just discovered that Tesco are introducing limits (from 1st September 2009) on the value of Deals vouchers you can redeem per person/per holiday. :eek:
£400 with Cosmos and £700 with Virgin.
Luckily I have enough vouchers (without receiving this quarter's mailing yet) to pay for a holiday (Egypt in Jan/Feb next year) in full.
OH is going to confirm dates at work on Monday and then I will be booking it.
If I book after the 1st September, I will have to put £350 cash towards the same holiday. I know what I would rather do with the cash.

Received an invoice today confirming that the holiday has been paid for in full.
We'll be going on this holiday at the beginning of February next year. :j:j:j

uzubairu

Paid in £200 at a Nationwide branch this morning, so OP this month is £575.

Hope to add another £50 -£75 before the month is out.
I've got a lot of junk scheduled to list tomorrow, so I hope I can get something for most items and reach this target.

We are going out for a meal with friends this evening. :beer: