Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

CathT

You did really well on your challenge and you're right, without those goals we would be way over.

Good to hear you're testing negative, it's getting harder and harder to avoid it isn't it. 

themadvix

Glad you had a nice Christmas and are still -ve. Watch is a lovely present. Think white is a good move - it goes with everything at least!

newgirly

Hi Cath and Vix 😊

Ive just realised that this April (2022) is the original end date of when my mortgage would have been cleared after I started this diary 😱 I think I need to think about perhaps starting a new diary as this is getting a tad long now 😂 I might do a 12 year round up and plan for the new year then, shouldn’t take long! 

killerpeaty

My Christmas was lovely, thank you for asking!

I think your diary is something to be proud of. You've had a lot happen in these 12 years and when I originally read it I really felt like I was part of your story even if I was moving through it quite fast!

Ramouth

I think your diary is something to be proud of. You've had a lot happen in these 12 years and when I originally read it I really felt like I was part of your story even if I was moving through it quite fast!

I agree.  It was one of the first I started reading and was difficult to put down at times!  You have come so far and should be really proud.  I love the way you are so close as a family and am often in awe of your cooking - particularly when you are preparing something different for each person in the family!  Wishing you happiness and success for 2023 x R

newgirly

Ahh thanks guys 😊 I can’t believe how fast the time has gone, and the fact I’ve still got a mortgage 😂

I’ve a good excuse for not updating the New Years plan, I’ve had a sick bug, no idea how I caught that as I’ve not left the house since Xmas day. Anyway a plan has been scribbled down tonight and it’s more or less the same as now with a few tweaks.

As it’s still an offset mortgage emergency savings consist of the mortgage overpayments, controversial I know but we are people who spent most of our life overspending and paying off rather than saving, it’s not something that comes naturally hence the mortgage ops instead of savings or investments. I mean we can save now but at this moment in time we aren’t! 

So I do zero sum budgeting as I’ll spend anything not already ring fenced on whatever catches my eye so I have to be careful 😂 

Bills               £665.14       this includes car and home ins savings pot/mots etc. 

Dh.                £100             to be spent mostly on Jaffa cakes from what I can see 
Me.               £100              mostly spent on coffee and toast with friends or mum 😬
Food/petrol.  £550             All household bits and misc really 
Holidays.       £800             Shocking yes I know 😂 Going to see the world before I get too old or scared! 

Mort op.        £800       

Mortgage.     £347
Home exp.    £100.             A new category to pay for home updates and repairs (usually wing it!)
Outings/fun.  £85.               Also a new category to get us out and about more 🙂

All grown up things I’ve not budgeted for like the dentist and hairdressers will come from our personal £100 a month allowance. The Xmas category has vanished and instead I’m actually taking £1200 from nov and decs holiday budget, So really the holiday budget is £700 pm.   

The food and petrol budget has decreased, during the end of this year I was doing a £20 a day budget (£620pm) so this will be £17.74 ish per day, but I don’t use much petrol now and I have time to cook so have no excuses really. 

South_coast

Sounds good, NG 👍 No need to justify the holiday budget - it's your money and you can spend it how you like! Plus you're matching it with mortgage OP's, so we can't chuck you out yet 🤣!

killerpeaty

I agree with SC, it's not that you're neglecting your mortgage, it's your fun money.

You nearly got rid of your mortgage if memory serves so you can't be too hard on yourself. You can't help when life happens!

Hope you feel better soon

newgirly

Thanks sc, I don’t want to get chucked out 😆 
KP, it would have been paid off In 2020 but we emptied the offset to pay off the mortgage on the industrial unit we own. The rent now makes up the difference in income as I lost my part time job and dh got a pay cut, swings and roundabouts I guess! 

I’m feeling much more in control now, last year was a blur of splurging money booking trips to go on and not tracking spending very well. 2022 is likely to be a year where we could easily spend way more than planned due to the kids’ weddings 😱  we already added to the £5k each we gave them all by putting aside £500 as a gift each, but hopefully bar outfits and hen do for dd (it’s an ABBA meal at the o2 not a weekend in Vegas 😆) we should be ok. 

Off to the shops now with best friend for a coffee, first time in a few weeks going somewhere a bit busier but it needs to be done as I’ve been a hermit lately. 

Jessy103

Pfft, if anyone wants chucking out, it's SC! Showing off and paying off the mortgage super early 😛

Hope you're feeling better, NG x