Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

I have rung the BS today and the current OS balance is :


£153,284
£7495 0% CC
Total £160,779

I have the cc payment coming out in a few days and I can make decs full op £274 from the 1st. Not sure whether to op it straight away or hold on to it as its xmas? I have never had a careful christmas before really, I think i'll see how I feel in a few days.

I'm going to spend the week finally decorating the hall and landing, I have already bought the paint, just need to get a cheap blind for the window next to the front door. I got a really lovely glass lamp from laura ashley today, the inlaws are getting it for us for xmas, I just so happened to have a voucher to part pay for it in my purse, so when we get re-imbursed I shall put the extra to Jan's Op pot, cheeky but it has to be done!

newgirly

:snow_grin It has snowed in the night at last! I know lots of you are probably fed up with snow now, but there is nothing like waking up when its still dark and seeing evrything has gone white in the night.
Its the perfect amount as well, looks pretty but not enough for a day off school!

Anyway my other good new for this morning is topcashback has finally tracked as payable for a few things, mobile and life ins. so including Dh's acct the total is £105 :j. I think all or most of this will go towards januarys op.

newgirly

I've just been looking at the lists of what I've bought my kids for xmas, and DD has about 50% more than the boys , so I have ended up ordering a box set of friends for DS2 which was reduced to £20 at mr t , he was afer this last year but it was £50 then. I have also ordered a dvd and game for DS1 so he's not got less! I do this every year, I always feel like I've not bought enough and end up getting more at the last minute.
So the money from topcashback I got today has now been slightly reduced somewhat, I am now going to put by £40 towards the first op of 2011.

I managed to get all 3 kids to school today in the snow , but it took ages, now i've had a text to say one school is shutting at lunchtime, I don't know why they bothered opening really.

CathT

i always remembering comparing piles of presents as a child. Present buying is easier when you just have the one! Glad your TCB money is tracking, i am due a Quidco payout but nothing from TCB yet. Between the two it is over £200!

Are you expecting more snow if school is closing then?

newgirly

Hi cath, it is snowing quite hard now, DDs senior school is shut, but the boys junior school are always the last ones to close. I'm going to send dd and her friend round the corner to get themselves some chips for lunch as there is no food in the house!

Good news with the quidco/topcashback, I have to check mine a few times a day to see if something has come up as payable, how sad is that

cha97michelle

I'm due the grand sum of 29p tomorrow from quidco. Hard to maintain my enthusiasm. :rotfl:It will go into my overpayment pot though.

newgirly

The boiler packed up tonight, Its only 11 months old, my dad thinks water from the bath has been getting into it from above when the kids are splashing. Hes got it going but says it could go again, fingers crossed as if its does the warranty won't cover damage caused by naughty kids.
Whilst looking for a screwdriver for Dad, I came across my tesco reward vouchers that we did not use earlier in the year, £70 worth, date of expiry 30th nov :mad:. I am sure they won't exchange them as I've been refused before, I will have to ring up tomorrow.

cha97michelle

Can you spend them online? Might be worth a try as you have an hour or so left?

newgirly

Thanks Michelle, I rang tesco and they said I can send the vouchers back as they were only just out of date, they can't re-issue rewards so will credit back my clubcard acct. Thats fine as I will use them on a double up in store day.

I am have just made the last OP of this year £274.52, so new targets need to be set for next year. I think I will keep the target low as its all going to come from extra income through surveys and savings in the food budget. I think I will make the new target £80 per month as if I OP by £77 the balance will reduce by at least £1000 pm.

So next years target is £960, blimey that doesn't sound a lot does it:o

I have really enjoyed being a MFW this year, everyone has been so kind and helpful, so thank you.

CathT

SO glad you got the vouchers sorted, would have been horrible to lose them. How is your boiler? Hopefully it would be covered?? It's things like this that partly put me off getting a new one as ours is 15+ years old and in the 6 years we have lived here never let us down - it's just a bit inefficient and doesn't heat the radiators well enough.

My rough target for next year is probably around £2000 so not hugely different to yours. Any overpayment makes a difference. I just wish i had found this fourm earlier in the year.