Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

Accounts checked last night £170.80 left from £1000 grocery challenge budget (oct/Nov/Dec) I can't see me managing to get under target really , but will have spent less than I would have without the challenge , which I suppose half a win

We have too many expensive nights out and no money allocated - well not enough, where in the past I have made some excuses and not gone out so much, this year I haven't. After a lucky year receivig money unexpectedly and doing OK with our usual ops we have managed to pay off way more than expected. Half of me would rather stay in is December and not spend loads on going out and stick to the plan, the other half of me thinks s*d it go and have some fun!

After a go on the spreadsheet, I've reduced the money we are living on by £20 pm to free up a lump sum to waste this month. It's not a sensible plan, but Id like to attempt to NOT add a month on the term.

Realistically I know we won't probably end the mortgage at the end of sept 2018 , it will probably be a month or two later as the budget is to tight, but as long as it's still the same year I won't beat myself up too much about it

Off out today to spend a bit of money, its mine and my best friend's annual Xmas day out , breakfast in costa before we get on the train, posh hotel cream tea for lunch, show, then cocktails and dinner :beer: it's one of my favourite days of the year and is definitely worth spending money on :xmastree:

Normal service will be resumed after Xmas, where I will trying to be very sensible and frugal again

Moneyfordreams

Sounds lovely. Who cares if your a few months behind. Your a lot more ahead than you would have been

newgirly

Thanks mfd's

Great day yesterday, afternoon tea at the soho hotel, not cheap but well worth it - with spiced apple bellinis :beer: followed by the woman in black show which was very good, then a wander found regent street which was er slightly busy :rotfl:then off to soho but could not get into a bar- all bursting or shut for parties, so ended up in John Lewis wine bar and got a table :T then back to Liverpool Street by cab (bit pricey but worth it) as our usual train aka the "vomit comet" were all cancelled, eneded up in pizza express at Liverpool st. Where dd rang from on her way home, so she crossed the road and had a drink with us and came home. Vouchercode used :money: we had a whip between the two of us , including cabs £100 each :eek: fab day though.

newgirly

Yet another spendy day yesterday, lovely meal with best friend and her dh, fanatastic new Mediterranean restaurant in town, I have no right to be feeling as well as I do today

After a relatively careful year I seem to be doing all my overspending for the year this month. Today will be some present wrapping, some housework and washing and hopefully I will spend a bit of time making a financial plan for next year. :money:

newgirly

All present wrapping done, except an Amazon voucher and a weekend away voucher for dd that I have lost :eek: I also realised that dh has a pair of primarni slippers only the cruise for next year is booked and is a surprise but I think I'll get him a few more bits to open, some sweets etc.

Already worn out and it's only the 12th! I went to bed at 8.30 last night, three nights out booked this week as well.

I just joined the mfw 17 challenge , no target set yet but usually it's one that is a challenge and (aside from this year) we don't quite reach. I'm thinking for the mortgage £30k plus whatever the loan payments are minus the interest, perhaps £5k ish? Will look into it properly. Current mortgage balance o/s is £60k and target term is 22 months, but Im sure we can't hit that anyway, so perhaps £30k over the next 2 years is a nice round figure.

rupertwelliams

Its not as easy as it seems to be. You need to think this along and carefully though. But gains more a lot of plans on the future about mortgage.

newgirly

Crazy busy a work at the moment, it's always the way in the run up to Xmas though , fingers crossed it's still busy in January.

Did an Aldi shop last night, nightmare location on the way home from work so horrendous traffic, but worth it as I got a lovely fresh Xmas wreath with cinnamon sticks and berries for £5.49 is exactly the same size as the £32.99 ones I looked at last week at the garden centre :T

Out a the Albert hall tonight after work for a Xmas concert with best friend and her sisters, we went last year and it was very festive, low spend night as we usually just go straight there and take a coke in as it's so hot.

I'm lusting after the soap and glory weekly boots offer now as one of the guys of work ordered it for his wife and it was delivered to work yesterday , have been very obviously dropping heavy hints to dh who was far to busy to notice :rotfl:

Kittenkirst

How was the Royal Albert Hall?
The Christmas wreath sounds fab, I'm going to take a look when I next go as I really fancy one but I don't want to pay £20+ really.

newgirly

Oops Its been a few days since posting! The Albert hall was great thanks kitten kirst very festive.

Went out on thurs for a girls night out and Friday with two girl friends too, I'm quite tired now

Quick to do list for tomorrow / Monday is :

Cleaning whole house -
Bathrooms
Bedrooms
Kitchen
Downstairs
Garden tidy

Accounts
Xmas week meal and and Boxing Day entertaining food plan
Shopping list
Put away vast ironing piles, I spent the day ironing
Wrap table presents
Wrap all other presents

I might be at work tomorrow as we are super busy so the list may not get completed, nothing new there mind :rotfl:

Kittenkirst

Glad to hear the Albert Hall went well.
I love this time of year and seeing loved ones but it sure gets tiring!

You've reminded me that I need to sort out or Christmas Eve and day food plan!