Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

No leftovers leftover now Cath :rotfl:

My long post has been disallowed by the forum rules, very strange! Anyway, I've been onto our mortgage company as I finally realised that we may have problems switching to a new deal when our expires. We know we already have issues going to repayment and extending the term.
They basically said that they may let us switch to a new deal if we can demonstrate that although we don't pass affordability we have still paid what we need to. Sounds a bit crazy as if we can't afford it they will up our % rate from 2.59 to 5.5 % :eek:

Anyway the upshot is im putting the mortgage back as no.1 priority above clearing the 0% ccs, we don't seem to have problems getting new deals for them and they are a cheaper rate. Hopefully it will show we can afford to make the payments we need to.

CathT

It can be difficult prioritising cc or mortgage ESP if they are on a 0% deal but at least the overall balance is coming down. It's tricky isn't spit though as those cc commitments impact on mortgage affordability. As long as the balance is reducing, you will get there.

Are you still doing any mini challenges?

newgirly

Morning cath, no mini challenges at the moment but you have pushed me to think of something I've slacked off lately

newgirly

Another busy week, im doing extra days at work as we have lots of jobs in, unfortunately we are still making a loss though so it could be better

I think another pay cut is probably on the cards in July, the staff have been notified it's a strong possibility. Obviously most of the worry is about the fact we have to do it however as I do all the home finances , am also a bit anxious about how it will impact us.

I'm going to start budgeting as if the second paycut has taken effect , we will lose about £340ish a month all in :eek: that leaves us on more of a 'survival' type budget if we are to stick to the mortgage term of just over 7 yrs. Abut £125 PW for literally everything which is not by direct debit except dhs petrol money and the kids pocket money, that's covered.

I do want to not get to bogged down with being obsessed with not spending as I've been there before! So the plan is to see how well we can live on less and still achieve things:

DDS 18th "Hollywood" themed party on a shoestring
All the kids birthday presents
Xmas- this will be a headache!
Food- eating better on less money (strangely we usually manage this)

And the big one, I know we cannot spend any money on the house until the mortgage is gone , but its shabby in places and not in the chic way :rotfl: I'm starting with a kitchen makeover, it will be a sort out and paint makeover with maybe some boot sale finds and an attempt at me making a blind. After that I'll try to do the garden perhaps.

Starting today, with the new organised me cleaning the whole house and getting dinner prepped early , then its notebook out and planning time

newgirly

Lots of cooking done, spag bol, chilli, and 2x veg pasta bakes

Its payday Tues and I can start using the cc again on Friday. As a new mni challenge (thanks cath I'm going to reduce the reduced budget if that makes sense. So instead of £500 it will be £300 all in next month.

Depending how that goes ,hopefully I can stash some towards birthdays

CathT

Good luck with your mini challenge

SmlSave

Great idea for the mini challenge lots of luck.

newgirly

Thanks cath and smlsave

Some final spending done today before the challenge starts, £25 on a lovely old chess set and board for ds2's birthday. He only wants the pieces which I've been watching out for since last summer on eBay, but they were silly money. So up at 6am and off to the bootsale, which turned out to be very worth while.

Dh will replace the bottom of the board with some leather at work, and block his name in gold on the back.

I resisted the urge to buy anything else and took my own coffee, even dh said the burgers were too dear at £4. The best \ worst Moment had to be watching a guy haggling with a seller over three bottles of half empty sherry , trying to knock him down as ' it's a risk as anyone could have put something in there "! :eek::eek

Popping round to see gran at mums this morning, then back home for cleaning and cooking.

newgirly

Payday tomorrow, I'll have a whopping £20 cash and then £280 on the cc to use from Friday. We do have lots of store cupboard stuff in like pulses and casserole mixes from approved foods, my lot are not keen on beans and pulses though!

We have a good supply of free eggs from my mums four hens currently though which helps.

Back on the 5\2 today after stopping my medication for the throat problems I had (defiantly stress related as has gone but comes back occasionally) I have started drinking lots of the wine and eating all the chocolate I got for my birthday, and together with a few meals out have gained half a stone :eek: I m must admit it has been enjoyable though :rotfl:

Anyway,strict with money and strict with food at the moment!

newgirly

Pay day today :j £1763 to the mortgage this month (£305 interest though , so that doesn't count!)
£300 challenge starts too, I do have a lunch meal out Thurs £10 that's been arranged for a few weeks , not the best start. I also need to think of at least one trip out with the kids this Easter , although they weren't very keen when this was mentioned , I may just leave them to it this time , or perhaps exchange some club card points for a meal somewhere.

Its a bit sad when they get older , I used to love planning days out and Easter egg hunts I need to borrow some small children who do want to make Easter crafts and birds nest cakes, does anyone want to swap me for a while? Mine will just stay in bed for half the day during the holidays , they are quite low maintenance :rotfl: