Radish72 MFW diary

Radish72

I'm new to all this so I have started my first diary to track my progress, any comments, tips, suggestion welcome

Bit of background
Finshed uni with a debt of 10K then needed a car loan of 3K to get to work, thankfully have payed all this back so just have my mortgage to pay back, Need to work out my outsanding balance and a pay back date/plan
Is 3 years realistic?

Lynn11

Good luck with your plan and hope that you are able to do this in your 3 years.

Radish72

Thank you Lynn11, you have the honour of being my first reply

Worked out last night that in 3 years (Aug 2012) I will be turning 40 so I think that should be the target date

Although at some point in the near future I will be moving in with boyfriend so mortgate will probably increase to a huge sum (but still affordable) but that could be a new challenge

Radish72

Have been reading numerous new diarys looking for ideas and feel really inspired so I'm going to set myself a job list

1. Work out a monthy budget that I can live on each month -done
2. Find something to put my £2 coins in - a curry sauce jar
3. Find out what months are council tax/water rates free and overpay this amount to the mortgage - need to look at water rate bill
4. Close Barclays bank account and decide what to do with the balance(mortgage v ISA) - done overpaid mortgage with money
5. Sign up for on line banking - done although can't seem to see mortgage?
6. Decide monthly ovepayment amount and pay off mortgage each payday (so it is not there to spend)
7. Use Tesco vouchers for days out/meals out - have 10 pin bowling and a La Tasca meal vouchers
8. Find out balance of mortgage so can update signature
9. Plan food shopping better and use left over money each month towards overpaying - £85 for Jan towards mortgage
10. Join another challenge - weight loss goal

clarew

usually feb and march are the "free" months for council tax (if paid by 10months over direct debit) , before they hit you with the large increase in april!

Good luck with your quest.

poppyoscar_3

Hi Radish, and welcome.

Looks like you have some good ideas to get going. Will pinch your council tax idea if you don't mind!

Will keep watching your progress as I need a bit of a kick up the bum to get going again!

Good luck,

PO xx

Radish72

Hi Clarew

Not thinking about the rise in April, they might be kind to us all

Hi Poppyoscar

Your are very welcome to pinching the council tax idea as I pinched it off someones else diary, (think it was Jackies) but I thought we are all friends on this site and its good to share

Someone else mentioned water rates might have 2 'free' months if done by direct debit so have a look at that as well

Have you started your own diary

poppyoscar_3

Radish72 wrote: »

Hi Poppyoscar

Your are very welcome to pinching the council tax idea as I pinched it off someones else diary, (think it was Jackies) but I thought we are all friends on this site and its good to share

Someone else mentioned water rates might have 2 'free' months if done by direct debit so have a look at that as well

Have you started your own diary

Yup - here it is - I'll test you on it later!! :rotfl: :eek:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=722039

POxx

uzubairu

clarew wrote: »

usually feb and march are the "free" months for council tax (if paid by 10months over direct debit) , before they hit you with the large increase in april!

Good luck with your quest.

My free months also go into the overpayment fund.

I'm also able to pay my council tax by credit card (with no fees), so I pay over 10 months using my Tesco credit card and get Clubcard points too.
I used to pay by direct debit until I found out I could do this.

We're going to Egypt next month paid in full with Tesco Deals vouchers.

StuartGMC

Radish
Good luck in the plans. I average our bills like council tax and water over 12 months, so it indicates also the amount on average to OP/save each month too. It works out the same, simply horses for courses.

Looking forward to more detail as you progress, but, be warned these diaries can be addictive!

gallygirl

Radish, good luck with your plans.

Using CTax & water DD free months are great for OP's as it's money already budgeted for. However I may have to use mine this year to clear OD as my plan to pay it off with money found in street is not very successful (18p and €0.12 in 2 months )