Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Hi Purplefairy, I send larger overpayments when I can but otherwise it's Tilly tidies. Can't do it on the app (although balance is available) but it's easy to do on the main site. I log in on my phone. Your mortgage account should be available for you to make payments to. Had our 6 monthly statement through this week, it's several pages long!!

Hi greent, I'm just going to miss knocking those months off although we are nearly at December 2027 which isn't far away at all. You're right, it would be nice to see the other balance come down quickly aswell.

Productive day, work, given blood, resisting alcohol this evening (dh didn't even buy wine for himself) <wonders if he will open my gin>

CathT

Quick update time....

87p tilly tidy and maximising the most of the overpayments on the larger mortgage. Spent some time today creating a new spreadsheet (well I saved a copy of existing one and changed the figures) which took a lot longer than expected as had to manually do a lot and some of the formula weren't working so had to manually calculate. Spreadsheets are not my forte and it was actually a fellow mfw that created mine. However, I'm so glad I did it. We took our our mortgage for extension borrowing about £47k and so far haven't overpaid it. I didn't even have enough cells on my spreadsheet to get to the end date (already on 2037 and no idea how to create extra lines!!) so overpayment will absolutely be directed to that mortgage from next month. I'm actually quite excited about focusing on this mortgage as if I can get the other one to have an end date of December 2027 I'll be happy.

Our plan was to snowball other cash to that once mortgage free on larger part and also once my student loan repayments stop (surely i won't be paying that forever????)

40 minutes weights and 17k steps done today. Feeling pretty tired now but hoping I can stay awake to watch the rest of last nights film.

newgirly

Hi cath, I’m useless and don’t know how to create a spreadsheet so have been using one from here when I joined years ago, just wondered which one you use? I think mine was by Dave Addey

CathT

Nor me Newgirly, Lois sent me mine (she became mf and doesn't post anymore). I've used the Dave addey one but at least you can see the months left on that one. I guess I'll have to wait until I have overpaid enough so that I can actually see how the end date is affected. It currently says at least 2037 which horrifies me. However, that mortgage is 'only' £216 a month and was worth every penny to create our dream home.

Dh went to work for a couple of hours this morning so I went to the gym as soon as he got back (ds was unwell yesterday so couldn't take the children with me). 45 minutes of weights done and I really pushed myself. Popped to Icyland and hb on way back for bits and pieces and spent £25. Dh filled my car with fuel on way gone from work so today has been a bit spends. Think we need a challenge to only spend £9.50 on food before month end. Considering we already need wraps, bananas and milk tomorrow I am not sure how do-able that will be! That said, we do have a well stocked freezer so no major spends needed this week and I have batch cooked my lentil/veg/sweet potato mix I will happily eat for as many meals as it will provide.

Had a successful day in terms of quality family time which was good as children seem to prefer technology to our company at times! Also managed to cut the lawns (first cut of the season) and try and locate where we have birds nests as have seen lots of activity. Spent a few minutes watching some young birds having what looked like their first outing in our back garden a few days ago. We also have a resident robin and a nest in the front hedge. Encountering a spider on the stairs the other day however pushed my love of nature too far and dh relocated him outside.

March spends

Supermarket £290.80
Fuel £138.90

CathT

Another lull in the month whilst we wait for dh payslip to arrange overpayments etc. However I made a Tilly tidy yesterday of 67p and 50p today so trying to stay consistent!

Dh disagrees with the food shop challenge but I think it's possible and he's just changed what he planned for dinner tomorrow to cooking food we actually have!! £3.40 spent yesterday on necessary wraps, bananas and milk.

Felt tired all day so switching gym for tomorrow which fits in better with routine and the children anyway although I am now tempted to do some weights at home.

Not much else to report, c/tax going up £8 a month which isn't too disastrous. Tried to work out if we will be better off with change of tax code as income tax thresholds increasing, will redirect that money to dh pension and been meaning to increase his direct debit for ages. Also need to sort out savings accounts for dh and me as seem to have left ourselves without an account with a decent rate. Both n@tionwide accounts already in use and t3sco is slashing its rates from June. Will see if fd have a regular saver offer.

Hope everyone else's 'month end' is a little more exciting than mine!

CathT

Good evening, quick post as am shattered after my weights workout (I did smash it though and possibly overdid it as felt a little light headed towards the end) Am also feeling hungry so going to bed to restore my energy and keep me away from the fridge!!

17p Tilly tidy, 72p spent on yellow sticker ham and grapes.

That's just about all of today's achievements!

CathT

Just a quick post.....


DH gets paid tomorrow but I have amended our 30/30/30/10% overtime split and overpaid 65% of it as it's our last chance to overpay the bigger mortgage and I wanted to bring the end date from January 2028 to December 2027. Psychologically this feels like a big difference so worth doing. We are also in the 60's as of Monday :j


£130 also paid off holiday balance and mother's day present purchased. Just feels like I have moved money around today, however daily clicks done and no food spends so that's a success!

apple_muncher

Well done on that payment and those figures! It's all about the psychology, isn't it?!

CathT

Absolutely Apple. Just been reading another diary and we have to do what works for us financially regardless of what may seem better 'on paper'.

Was just thinking...I updated dh on the new end date yesterday (he trusts everything financial to me) and he seemed a bit disappointed! I'll be 45 and he will be 51 but think he's catching on and just wants the mortgage gone too. I'm having an inward battle again now about whether to just keep paying down the larger mortgage. Even letting the other run it's course at £210 a month isn't a huge financial commitment. Will see if I can do some sums and see if a 0.94% interest rate difference really makes such an impact. Ultimately clearing the larger mortgage we spend £7-800 (minimum) a month on is more life changing for us.

Washing machine on, house tidy, children fed and I'm going to go to the gym before watching dd play football. Will get moving soon as being at the gym for 8am last week meant I pretty much had my area to myself.

Staying out of the supermarket didn't last, our spends are really high this month and I'm not sure why! Probably will need a fruit top up over the weekend but main meals are covered. Co-0p deal is good this week which is handy for an easy dinner on the evenings we are busy with clubs. I will batch cook my lentil mix again later as it's nutrient packed, filling and cheap!

March spends

Supermarket £326.78
Fuel £138.90

CathT

Well it's the end of the month, it's hard to believe it's April tomorrow. Even my children have commented how quickly time has gone since Christmas. I remember time going very slowly when I was primary school age.

Gym slashed today (and yesterday) and have done almost 19k steps today. I did indulge during dinner today but it's all tracked and in the grand scheme of things hopefully hasn't stalled progress too much.

We go onto our new mortgage rate tomorrow, 2.05% fixed for 5 years and our daily interest drops to just under £4 a day. Daily clicks done and had a 50p y0ugov survey earlier.

Have also totted up our monthly
spends and the totals are increasing. Our overpayments were brilliant at £466.15 however food spends were £66 higher than last month and I'm not clear why. I guess tracking it makes it easy to keep an eye on even if I can't do a great deal about it!

March totals

Overpayments £466.15
Supermarket £340.33
Fuel £138.90