BabyB wants to be mortgage free (or at least have more equity!)

babyb06

Spent a couple of hours lurking on other people's diaries and it has spurred me on to start decluttering and either ebay or charity shop what I don't need. I quite like the sound of Courgette's one in one out type challenge, but we will see how I get on!

Just joined MFW2011 challenge and my target is £12250. It is more than I originally planned, but have done so well in the last few months that I wanted to up the challenge - I can't beleive how much this site has helped me!

So the aim - £7250 more required to pay off family loan and £5000 off my mortgage (or into my offset account).

Let the challenge begin!

babyb06

I spent a lot less than I had budgeted in NYC - although I had fun and bought lots the mantra - do i need it, will i use it, can i get it cheaper really worked for me. There is still one large purchase I want to make that I planned to get in NYC but actually turned out to be more expensive than England, for the moment though, this money is going into my savings account because I have had an attack of MSE nerves at the thought of spending £800 on a handbag - my OH thinks I am mad to buy it, I want it and have done for a while, so going to think about it and reconsider in a months time.

Also, as I wasn't well over Christmas I didn't go out as much as planned/didn't drink and so I have lots of money left over.

So £1887.78 into savings account (£800 of which may be withdrawn at later date for handbag) total = £4637.78
And mortgage now stands at £149,746.09

All going in the right direction

babyb06

Wow - can't believe how well I am doing on my target for the year - there were the perks of left over holiday money and Christmas money but the big thing is how low my interest is - I am paying £500 less in interest on my new mortgage so that is meaning huge O/P's. My interest will go up next month as a lot of the money in my offset is to pay my tax bill and that has to be paid in a few weeks - boo!

Got lots to do on the house in the next couple of months - 16 of the 32 spotlights in the flat have broken and am toying with the idea of having all replaced (depending on cost) as it seems to be one a week breaking. Also need to sort out the windowsill under the balcony door where the wood has rotted from water getting in. And need to build some shelves/a cupboard in a recess in spare room (that has been on to do list since I moved in 2.5 years ago - this WILL be the year it is done). Just need to find the workmen!

The most annoying thing that will slow me down for the next month is the boiler. It has broken AGAIN - 3rd day of cold showers. Plumber is on holiday till Wed and whilst I would use a different one, when I have tried to call one from Yellow Pages when we have problems in the past, most won't touch (or will "have a go, but not seen one of those before") so best sticking to someone who knows it I guess.

Going to have a search to see if I can find a policy for the boiler to cover it in the future - most of the well known ones are only for gas boilers, so will have a look in to it again this week.

babyb06

Just updated signature for end Jan 2011 as follows

Have £5168 in offset account towards £10000 family loan to be repaid this year. Mortgage down by £519.31 in January.

Can't believe how much I have changed my financial situation in just 6 months and none of the changes have been painful, still having nights out/meals just looking for offers, stopped buying useless items (amazing how much I used to spend on magazines, candles etc)spending on a cashback credit card, using cashback sites online and checking my accounts regularly.

So much more I can do if I put my mind to it. Also starting to declutter which is really helping me as I have a tendency to let things get on top of me and this has helped me think clearer - need to stay positive!

Babyb

CathT

Hi Babyb, sounds like the OP's are going really well despite the car and boiler problems ouch! Hope that's your run of expensive bad luck well and truly over!

pammyj74

Just read your thread. Wow at your income but not to the long hours.
Well done on a fab start to the year of ops

babyb06

Hmmm.....I'm a little confused - I thought that February and March were council tax free months, but my direct debit has gone out as normal this month! Annoyed I cannot investigate why till Monday.

A bad week at work - too much to do, not enough sleep but does mean more money i guess. But although I have earned more no one has been paying, so just a mini o/p of loose change in bank account.

My bad week was topped off with a car accident! Not my fault and thankfully not too much damage but my right neck/shoulder are in pain and I could do without the hassle of going to the garage today. Also felt stupily teary for the last few days and wondering what I could've done to avoid it (nothing I was stationary at traffic lights) - I need to sort myself out!

Got a lovely day planned after dropping my car off, taking my neice to ballet lessons and then a family lunch ahead of my birthday next week.

Been lurking at diaries this morning - lots of ideas to think about!

sarahevie

Re the council tax. Happened to us last year. They took our normal council tax for Feb and March I enquired and they just reduced the next years payments to compensate. Was annoyed as I wanted the refund.

OH just went with what they suggested.

In August we had the car accident you've just had. Sat at traffic lights stupid car careered into the back of us. We ended up comofrting the other driver though, the irony.

I immediately got out to check on the kids. I could tell my eldest at 22 months was ok (I was watching her in the rear view mirror at the time as we were waiting for the lights to change and she barely moved). But it was less obvious with my 6 week old in a rear facing car seat. So I went to pick her up and it really upset the other driver that we had very young kids in our car.

All fine though. I'm pretty sure neither of my girls moved, kids car seats are pretty good. OH hit his head quite bad on our roof but kids and me (driving) were fine.

babyb06

sarahevie wrote: »

Re the council tax. Happened to us last year. They took our normal council tax for Feb and March I enquired and they just reduced the next years payments to compensate. Was annoyed as I wanted the refund.

OH just went with what they suggested.

In August we had the car accident you've just had. Sat at traffic lights stupid car careered into the back of us. We ended up comofrting the other driver though, the irony.

I immediately got out to check on the kids. I could tell my eldest at 22 months was ok (I was watching her in the rear view mirror at the time as we were waiting for the lights to change and she barely moved). But it was less obvious with my 6 week old in a rear facing car seat. So I went to pick her up and it really upset the other driver that we had very young kids in our car.

All fine though. I'm pretty sure neither of my girls moved, kids car seats are pretty good. OH hit his head quite bad on our roof but kids and me (driving) were fine.

I really want a refund from council tax was going to go into the o/p pot!

Did you replace the car seats? I had one for my neice in my car (4 years old more of a booster seat with back rest than baby seat) although she wasn't in it at the time. Not sure if i need to replace it for safety reasons or not

Thanks for the advice

CathT

Hope you are ok Babyb following the accident, keep an eye on your neck pain ?whiplash. Not sure about the car seat, am sure loads would come up if you googled though.

I would definitely be wanting my c/tax back, they had no right to take it in the first place. Hope mine doesn't get taken this month, not budgeted for it!