Mortgage Free by 01/01/11...so goes the plan

wynnvegas

Morning All,

Not a massive amount to report today - I keep saying that all our meticulous planning (most of which comes off pretty seamlessly) leaves us both looking a lot more boring than pretty much everyone we know as there is always a drama or event frenzy of some sort going on. Friends of ours recently got engaged, married, planned and had a five week honeymoon, sold their house, bought a new house and are now trying for baby no.1 - all in the space of about 8 months. Having stupidly been cajoled into signing up to facebook, all the depressives seem to be out in force - is it just me or is everyone on a "woe is me" fest on that thing. I think I'll save my first update to announce our mortgage freedom although that will undoubtedly only lead to people mincing on about how they're in all kinds of debt. I hate to admit it but I had to de-friend (yep, claiming that as a word!) my little cousin as she was starting to depress me - and that normally takes some serious doing!

It's my eldest brother's birthday today and we popped him round some toiletries as a gift bag at the weekend. He's a proper hothead and has had more jobs than I've had hot dinners in his 32 years, the latest of which he walked out on last week. It's depressing to see the lives both him and my little brother lead and both are quality examples of how to live (if you can call it that) on benefits. With debt collectors chasing them both day after day and them struggling by (apart from coffee and fags which always seem to be in abundant supply), no real qualifications and a pair or horror work histories between them, both seem to have pretty much given up on any kind of decent existence which, at 32 and 26, is quite a depressing thought. What is worse is that we're in a position to assist and neither are interested enough to take a helping hand when it's on offer. My little brother stooped to what I thought was his lowest level when he "got" the mother a couple of fags for her birthday in August. However, he's since surpassed himself by laying out a life plan that is predicated on her dying and leaving him a good chunk of cash in her will. He's a charmer!

Anyhoo, on the money front today, paid off the credit cards as M has been paid. I always stick a couple of hundred extra in on each card to try and limit the hit on the following month but as I check these things daily, there's no fooling myself so I don't know why I persist. At least I know we're wasting very little money these days and both M's birthday and Christmas have been bought so that's a normally major expense that I've managed to fold into the SOA-friendly period! I've got tiles to buy at the weekend before they all get discontinued and, after spending more than normal in good ol' Tesco last week, the fridge, freezer, cupboards and kitchen corner where we normally store things like juice, water and rice are all packed so October should be a very MSE bread, milk, fruit and veg month.

Cheers,

Billy

wynnvegas

Hi TYO,

I thought moving from months to days was great (no idea what happened to the weeks phase as I seem to have jumped that one! Now that I'm on Froggy time and counting down the hours, I'm already looking forward to the minutes part of the journey. A few folk have hit on the premise of logging various milestone markers which I wish I'd thought of earlier. I still think the most pleasing one (for reasons passing understanding) was blasting through the £20,000 marker and immediately looking forward to the £15,000 marker the following month. For some reason, £10k didn't seem that big a deal. Getting blase in my old age!

When I look back on the last year and a half, I honestly don't think we've done much that we'd change. I've bought a lot less rubbish from Hot UK Deals and just about convinced myself that just because it's a decent deal, it doesn't mean I need to clear the shop - although I still do very occasionally (and enjoy such instances immensely). I get taken out quite a lot for business lunches so I've never really missed the going out to eat part but M has decided that this is one thing that, a minimum of once a month, we'll be changing. I can't say there's all that much on the theatre and concert side that we've let pass us by (other than M would have definitely appreciated a wee jaunt down to London to see Bon Jovi in the summer at the O2) and, as for shopping, the little blast that she managed in Vegas in the summer seems to have quelled the need to buy yet more clothes until the already arranged hit on Glasgow on the 6th of November - yes, it's in the diary!

As to the holidays, we've got Vegas 2011 planned with M's auntie and sister coming along for the ride and Vegas/Hawaii 2012 on the docket for the mother, my sister and my auntie (maybe 2 aunties) so that will cost a good bit but will be well worth it as, other than M's auntie who has done Vegas almost as much as us, none of the others would ever be able to afford a trip like that. We'll probably wait until 2012 to start our Easter and October jaunts but we've already earmarked Japan, Switzerland and Paris as likely early candidates for those trips. Never too early to start planning....

Back to the snooker on Monday so here's hoping for a continued run of good luck with the new cue. The lad I play with quite liked the one I got so I'll either give that one to him and get myself a properly fancy one if I decide to take the snooker halfway seriously or I'll get him a similar one as we occasionally play doubles against a couple of folk at work who normally take us to task mercilessly.

Cheers,

Billy

gallygirl

Gosh, counting in hours without having to use a calculator would be great

You should be proud of your yourself for what you have achieved, especially with such poor role models in your siblings! And it's lovely to see you being generous with other family members :T.








PS I'm an only child (of 49 ) orphan - adopt me please :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Billy
good luck with your continuing success at snooker (though Im sure you have a predisposition to do well and "luck" doesnt come into it...perhaps it is the new sports equipment? :rotfl:) I think the idea of buying your friend a stick ...cue... (couldnt think of the word for a sec , and I do know people dont play snooker with sticks! ) is lovely -sure he will really appreciate it!
sorry to hear your siblings dont seem to be money savvy (understatement Im sure) ... you have done brilliantely and hopefully they may cotton onto your example? mine , though not on benefits, have never really thought through money but are starting to get the idea I think ... maybe I have led by example! ...probably not :rotfl:
holiday plans sound great as do the shopping plan... I think I have cut down food shopping and utility bills as much as possible and cut out wasteful spending as well ..not really much of a shopping gal Ive gotta say (shocking I know!) so not sure where all my money was going (though I did OP about £10K already on the mortgage since taking out 3 yrs ago, I musnt forget that!) .. the biggie for me will be starting work again and finding a job Im happy and settled in and then watch the OPs start coming... (shes says trying to convince herself)

GG just wanted to set the record straight the random number I typed in was not in any way shape or form worked out with a calculator... :rotfl: ... I just typed in a random long number as how many hours it probably is till the mortgage is paid off!

anyway, shall continue to read with interest Billy about your celebrations once MF ( I think that would be a fab facebook status- I hear you on all the depressing updates that sometimes go on on there! )
tyo

wynnvegas

Morning Folks,

The humanity!!!!

£5,000 of a mortgage showing as at this morning and £4,729.83 as a bank balance. Unfortunately, getting over the hump early just isn't doable as the normal bills and such like would leave us a wee bit short. There's also the £1,250 to come off for credit card bills so next month it'll be. Good news today that quidco, after about 6 months, have finally seen fit to give me not only the load of cashback that I had queried but another 4 besides so I'll get my highest ever cashback of £179.87 in the next couple of days. Two family loans (the wee ones) have now been paid back as well so that's them off the naughty list for Christmas!

Bought a couple of things yesterday that weren't strictly necessary but these "one day only!" sales do tend to tempt just a bit too much and the complete West Wing boxset at Play yesterday for £33.60 after cashback was to good to pass up. That's another Christmas present out of the way - now that I think about it, our christmas shopping is not far away from being finished as we've decided, with the multitudes, we're going to go bigger on birthdays and just pop round one of the big tins of chocolates per house at Christmas - otherwise we'll never get round to getting the bathroom done! My neices and nephews will get a load of stuff on top but trying to keep up with cousins and now their kids is possibly going to be too much to get round in the space of a couple of weeks.

We have the next overpayment to make on Friday morning and then I have the bank at 11am. That should, all things being equal, knock another three days off the mortgage term so everything is looking up!

Cheers,

Billy

wynnvegas

Morning Gallygirl,

Thanks for your message. M isn't for kids at all so broaching the idea of a 49-year old entrant to the house would be an interesting notion to say the least! I would say in defence of the family (other than the two brothers) that they all seem perfectly happy to get on with what they've got but it's nice to be in a position to do something for them all.

Just noticed your signature so I'm off to find the A-Z challenge - sounds like fun.

Cheers,

Billy

wynnvegas

Thanks TYO,

I've been keeping up with your diary and your positivity is very impressive. I've very faith that once you're back working and the various health issues in your house are resolved, you'll get into the overpayments with some gusto! A few of the family have been asking about how we've managed to get where we are but the notion of working hard, playing not so hard and overpaying every spare penny didn't go down overly well. Most are hoping for the lottery to come their way as a solution - talking of which I'll be able to start playing again from November!

On the snooker, I'm bugging out of the rematch next week as I have to go down to "that England" for a few days. It'll let me revel in my 6-0 whitewash for a few days longer if nothing else!! I've very faith it was the new stick but there's always a good bit of luck thrown in when I play. The guy I play with did get me a bonus of £500 earlier in the year as I recommended him into my place of work through the referral scheme so I thought it only fair that, once we had a wee bit of spare cash, I'd treat him to a cue and a case. At this rate, there's every chance I'll keep ahead on the karma stakes!!

I've just about had it with facebook after only a few months. I'll have another clearout of all the folk that seem to slip in as friends every now and again and I'll whittle it down to just the family and close friends as the pictures of the kiddies and various stories of life (not including the "I'm tired" and "I'm off to bed" and my personal favourite "I'm bored" - why would you go to the effort to post that?)

I've got a new race on with my current project - http://www.alljigsawpuzzles.co.uk/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=2646. Having done the first half of the thing (NY and SF), I'm trying to beat the clock to get part 3 (Singapore) done before the christmas tree comes out to play. M has her eyes set on a monster tree this year (her first post-mortgage present to herself) so one way or another, the jigsaw is going elsewhere during December so I'm trying my damndest to get it done.

Cheers,

Billy

babyb06

Just wanted to say how much I am enjoyed reading your diary - I think I have similar values and situation - I work hard and want to enjoy it with nice holidays (NYC in December!), but still o/p to secure my future. Helping my family is also v important - I earn substantially more than them and was really taken by the supermarket run that you do, certainly something I will consider (I currently just help my sister as and when and pay for my neice's dance lessons etc).

I have finally started my own diary - so fingers crossed I can make some inroads into my huge mortgage! Congratulations on what you have achieved - amazing!

gallygirl

wynnvegas wrote: »

Morning Gallygirl,

Thanks for your message. M isn't for kids at all so broaching the idea of a 49-year old entrant to the house would be an interesting notion to say the least!

You could say I was a late developer and away at boarding school . Distant cousin? Great Aunt 3 times removed? I'm not proud

wynnvegas wrote: »

I've got a new race on with my current project - http://www.alljigsawpuzzles.co.uk/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=2646. Having done the first half of the thing (NY and SF), I'm trying to beat the clock to get part 3 (Singapore) done before the christmas tree comes out to play. M has her eyes set on a monster tree this year (her first post-mortgage present to herself) so one way or another, the jigsaw is going elsewhere during December so I'm trying my damndest to get it done.

A jigsaw? How sad is that....

ahem, this may be waiting to be cracked open at ours: http://www.alljigsawpuzzles.co.uk/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp?keyword=waterloo . OH gets v competitive :rotfl:. V impressed by 18,000 pieces :eek:, how long has that taken?

wynnvegas

Thanks Babyb,

I'll find your diary this morning and subscribe. It's good to see all the new people hopping on the overpaying bandwagon. The very best of luck to you with everything.

Cheers,

Billy