Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

SmlSave

Well the heating is off and its b****y cold! I have a friend coming for lunch so it will have to go on then

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who does this!

Hope you had a nice lunch with your friend.

Don't feel bad if you spend the OP money, you and the family need to enjoy yourselves too

newgirly

The heating is on now! I don't feel I can have it turned off when the kids are at home, so its nice and cosy. We are off to in laws for lunch and a party tonight. If the party doesn't have a paying bar it could well be my first NSD in a while!
I am beginning to feel a bit christmassy, so I might get some wrapping done this morning ( not the kids stuff, that will have to wait). I tried to be MSE by buying brown paper to wrap up with, then spent about £35 in costco on tissue ,tags and posh ribbon :eek:
I am trying to get some cheap ideas for half term, so far am meeting up with a friend and her 4 on one day, and DH has one day off so I think we will go to adventure island theme park with out clubcard vouchers as they run out in nov. just hope it is not tipping down.

Hope everyone has a good weekend

[Deleted User]

hey newgirly
I hear you on the xmasy feelings and the wish to spend money on some of the gorgeous things in the shops at the moment!! I think it is about the ever elusive balance.. you have to have some kind of life whilst paying off the mortgage otherwise you could end up with no mortgage but miserable friends and family so the heating being on to keep you guys warm and days out with the kids I would say are good things!
good luck with stretching the money next month!

CathT

Our heating is on a fair bit at the moment too but I think it's late enough in the year to justify it! Couldn't believe it last night watching tv with DH, i was fully dressed but had to get a blanket, DH sat there in shorts and t-shirt!
I don't feel christmassy yet - I wish i did! Although a trip to Costco did make me feel quite festive!
Have a wonderful half term, hope the weather is kind and you get your days out!

newgirly

Thanks Guys, the heating is on and will stay on whenever the kids are home, my DH also would not dream of wearing anything but jeans and t shirt whatever the weather then wanting the heating turned up as he's cold.

The party was good but I drank too much wine so not feeling the best today, but I did manage a NSD yesterday as we did not have to pay for drinks last night.( hence probably too much wine!)

Today I would like to stay in cook a roast and watch some DVDs, however I fear DH may be wanting us to visit his parents as we haven't been round for weeks, still on the upside at least I won't have to cook.

Still don't have too many ideas for 1/2 term, DD is going out with friends and BOYFRIEND :eek: on tuesday to the pictures. Other than that not sure really, I was hoping for one of the 1p bowling deals but there don't seem to be any, will keep an eye on the deals board.

Might do a trip to the natural history museum, have'nt been for a while, only thing is we went to the science museum in 1/2 term last year and there were hundreds of people lined up in the street waiting to get in, I have never seen it so busy. Might see if friend wants to go on weds.

This month seems to be going quickly, its soon mortgage payment day, hooray. I can't wait until december when I can tell dh how much we have paid off in 7 months since we re mortgaged. I just wish I could tell everone I know to do the same thing! I don't think I would have ever thought this was possible for us, I'm now living off half the money weekly I was 2 years ago and back then I was spending on cards as well.
One thing that I hope will come out of this is my kids won't be as useless with money as we were.

Ok, I need to stop rambling on I think, I am definatly becoming a MFW bore! When I do manage to pay this mortgage off I will have to take another one out as I won't know what to do with myself

newgirly

I have managed a couple of one poll surveys today, but my best news is I had £40 become payable on topcashback for a couple of savings accts I opened. This has come at a very good time as I can't use the CC again until the 12th nov, and I have £9 left in my purse until the 1st nov. So instead of OPing the credit card with it I shall use it! Was going to have to borrow from next months money otherwise, hopefully I might just make that stretch.
Will be staying in instead of going to museum on weds as I forgot I have got a boots delivery turning up at some point, xmas toys for friends kids. So will have my friend and her lot over for lunch, quick trip out for some iceland pizzas in order I think.
I don't mind not doing big days out this week really as I have a cold and no energy at all, the boys bought a new football game with pocket money today so they will want to veg out and play that tomorrow, other than that I only have lots of running DD about to do.

I did nearly cancel sky today, but after a chat with Dh have decided to keep it, as the kids watch sky1 and the disney channels a lot, all the free ones are more for younger kids it seems, and I just feel I am pushing things a bit to far. DH is not bothered either way really, but the kids don't get many treats any more so its going to stay, at least for a while.

pammyj74

I dont have sky, just freeview and my kids are 9 and 7, my ds watches horrid henry mostly, DD watches a few programmes on cbbc and citv but she doesnt watch much tv anyway. I have jst treated myself to a recordeable freeview box and I have been recording films and things that they can then watch whenever and I can still watch what I want at the same time as recording. i love it! My kids have never been used to sky anyway so they cant miss what they never had.

We arent doing anything this week either, I am at work for three days anyway but the kids havent asked and I havent mentioned it. with the weather not good we prefer to stay in and watch a good movie instead

Well done on TCB. I am at £32 on onepoll but I bet these last few bits will take forever and I still wont have reached it by xmas!

newgirly

To early a start again today, I have been up since DH left at 5am. Thought I would blitz the house before my friend comes over later, but am having a nice cup of tea instead.
I'm feeling a bit naughty as I took 2 DS's out yesterday and bought them loads of new clothes each, £150 worth It sounds a lot I know but it was all asda and matalan. Winter stuff is always dearer I think, but it had to be done, all they were down to was old tracksuit bottoms and hand me downs that were getting a bit worn out!
I am going to take the money out of the OP pot which is set aside for the Op's until April, so it gives me 6 mths to make the extra to cover it. Will just have to make sure it's a one off.
DH did'nt bat an eyelid when he came home and saw the mountain of clothes, he just said oh they are nice. I was hoping he would ask why have you been out spending like that? I think he is definatly a reluctant MFW still.

Did a couple of surveys last night, VO and lightspeed, but have had a few days with none on onepoll. Might have a look on topcashback and see if there is anything new I can sign up for.:D

newgirly

I worked out my new mortgage balance yesterdaay as the dd came out, with the interest at £14.60 per day it was £394.20 in total int.
The monthly (massive!) mortgage payment since we shortened the term is now £1372.64
So this month we have paid £978.44 off the actual balance. In a few days I can make Nov's OP of £274. since may 17th we have so far paid off £6468.49 off the balance.
I am really struggling living off this reduced amount, it really takes some getting used to. I think the main difference is having to plan most things in advance and be super organised.
I have no idea how much I spent before doing the SOA, I did draw out cash when needed, but now I have to spend for most things on the card and then pay off the next month. This month has been bad as I bought lots of clothes for the boys on it, I need to pay that back from stretching my budget even further over the next few months. I now can't use the card until the 12th nov which is still 14 days away.
I have £30 cash left from my top cashback payout, I spent £10 taking the kids to the cinema kids club yesterday when OH was off.
I think I need to spend the money left on packed lunch stuff for the kids, and try and use whats in the freezer and cupboards for dinners for us.
Will check out the surveys later.

SmlSave

I am really struggling living off this reduced amount, it really takes some getting used to. I think the main difference is having to plan most things in advance and be super organised

You will be fine newgirly I know you will