Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Thanks debtfree, it definitely helped me to recharge. Still plodding, have overpaid another £10 today and sent £25 to the childrens' premium bonds as no football subs to pay this month. They're not going to have huge pots of money as they enter adulthood but we want to help them out a little bit.

Have been reading on other diaries about some inventive cooking and we are definitely in a bit of a rut with our menu choices so have got out one of my recipe books - 'p1nch 0f n0m' and am going to find something creative and tasty to make for a treat. I'm hoping we'll already have most of the store-cupboard ingredients as just being able to pop out for things isn't really possible.

No much to report really, nothing exciting happening here but we are a step closer to mortgage freedom and choices.

apple_muncher

Glad you had snow fun. We only had a smidgen of it here, but the neighborhood kids worked together to build a 3' snowman with a 6'' little one too!

CathT

apple_muncher said:

Glad you had snow fun. We only had a smidgen of it here, but the neighborhood kids worked together to build a 3' snowman with a 6'' little one too!

It helps to make the snow last longer too! We have an odd patch remaining in the centre of our lawn. I walked the dog early evening and it was so lovely that it was still light which made me feel like Spring really isn't too far away - was cold though!!

Am feeling really accomplished this evening, think it helps I have had a day off too but had a chance to look at some figures and have set some randomly times mini goals. Am on track with January goals so time for more planning. Mortgage 2 fixed rate ends in August and as we are fixed on 2.59% I know we can get it a lot lower. I am trying to remember if FD allow you to fix 3 or 6 months in advance?? If we can get that mortgage down to £30k by August and fix on new rate we can officially knock 5 years off the term. So far we have shaved off 30 months (only started overpaying August 2019) and the new rate and effects of our overpayments means we can knock off another 30 months!

I have also set some targets for our 0% cards, the balance isn't huge and doesn't bother me so happy to switch until cleared.

So today I have overpaid £135 which knocked a month off - met my goal of 2 months knocked off in January

Sent £100 to stoozing card - need another £65 to hit January target.

Dh gets paid again Friday so more shuffling expected. I think 2021 is going to be the year of hitting the mortgage and savings goals hard. We're not going to be going on holiday and are living relatively simply. Am hoping if we put the effort in now, we can soon reap the rewards.

January spends

supermarket £199.64
fuel £79.04

newgirly

Hi Cath, that’s what we are doing for as long as we can this year, it seems a good time to chuck everything at it, the shops being shut is helping here for sure 😁 Good luck reducing the balance for August - you can do it 🙂

shangaijimmy

I'm pretty sure FD is 3 months for locking in your rate. On our last round of remortgage I accepted a rate in December, and then a better rate in January, all for a March start. I think, anyway...

apple_muncher

After I had dd and returned to work on a two day contract, any time after that when I worked more than that, it went straight off the mortgage. So when I did 4 days for a few months, it was a lot! Since we budgeted for 2 days and had the lifestyle based on that, we didn't miss the extra. And when dh was made redundant, the mortgage was so small that he/we had choices and chose to set up a sole trader business plus a 2-bit job. Suddenly I became the main earner on 2 days a week!!!

Sorry, I'm wittering. Basically, go for it!!! It is worth it!

debtfreeoneday

Think 2021 is looking like that for a lot of people. Great progress Cath. 

CathT

Thanks everyone, I really think this is the year to go for it. Made a small OP of £2.70 other day as used cash for groceries and finally broke in to the £20 note I've had in my purse for 3 weeks! Figured I meant aswell transfer the money and overpay it as it almost felt like free money! Made another £50+ overpayment yesterday and knocked another month off. £150 to stoozing card so that's gone under a much more manageable milestone too.

It's so cold and dreary today! Took the dog for a walk in the park and it was so different compared to it looking magical being covered in snow last week. No families out, just dog walkers and everywhere was muddy! I'm not sure the ground can take anymore rain. 

Dh has done a big food shop which takes us well over £200 spends for the month we are currently sitting at but it gives us a good headstart on Feb and all in budget. 

Having a tired and hungry day which I am embracing with rest and regular snacks! 

January spends 

supermarket £260.07
fuel £79.04

debtfreeoneday

Resting takes energy so you must snack to rest. 😂

CathT

I have snacked well today!!

Well it's finally the end of the month, January is such an odd month anyway but entering Feb will feel like a step closer to brighter times ahead.

We have had a productive January. A bit of decluttering and organising - could have done more but am not setting any bit goals! 

Didn't achieve my goal of 2 full body weight workouts. I could have found the time to do this but lacked motivation and any energy. Not disappointed at this, it was more important for me to keep on top of fatigue this month. I've also developed some annoying shoulder pain. I thought I'd trapped a nerve last May but still suffering!

We have done well in terms of finances, thrown over £700 at stoozing card, shaved 3 months off mortgage 2 and generally spend very little!  I've also read 3 books this month which is impressive for me and definitely shows I've allowed myself to slow down this month. 

I've done some admin type stuff today, booked school for week after next which takes us up to half term (who knows what's happening after that?), emailed orthodontist as dd wanted me to chase up when her initial appointment likely to be. Think she is getting a bit self conscious and more than ready to have her braces done. I've also emailed the dog groomer as dog getting rather fluffy (although I assume they are closed). 

Let's see what February brings!

January totals

supermarket £260.07
fuel £79.04
OP's £323.39