A blissful home - mortgage_girl's MF diary

mortgage_girl

Thanks for stopping by BW. Half term was busy, but in a good way. I got caught up with some schoolwork and some house jobs and it was really quite productive. We went to see Ruby Wax in her most recent show too, which was fab.

I've managed to sell a few more bits on eb@y and got a few more am@zon vouchers from sb which has all gone into the op pot. I didn't quite manage to offset the £260 holiday money as planned but did manage to make just over £190, so I wasn't too far off. I'm going to aim for the same amount this month, so we'll see how it goes.

The planting season has just about started so I've been busy digging over the vegetable patch this weekend. I've planted some tomato seeds too and ordered some marrow and squash seeds too. I'm really looking forwards to the warmer weather...although I will miss lighting the coal fire - it makes the room feel so warm and cozy.

I hope everyone has had a good Sunday.

MGx

Jo_Blogs

Well done MG you seem to be well on the way to becoming MF - wishing you all the best :T

mortgage_girl

Thank you Jo I keep doing what I can between the curve balls that life throws us every now and again.

It's been a fairly quiet week with regards to money saving as work has been so busy. I did get a couple of Am@zon vouchers through from sb's so I've put the money into my op account. I've also listed a few bits on eb@y today - I'm hoping to rediscover my mojo this week as I really haven't felt like listing at all.

Alongside work hecticness, I've been catching up on a few house jobs and I did manage to get some summer bulbs planted out in the garden today - despite the drizzle doing its best to put me off. I've also managed to run 4 mornings this week and have been trying to squeeze a bit of yoga and reading in on an evening. The chooks are laying again which is fab! I've missed getting eggs, shop ones just aren't the same.

Hope you've all had a good Sunday.

MGx

CathT

Sounds like you're achieving a lot. 4 morning runs is impressive, the light mornings are helping aren't they.

I'm hoping our extension is finished in time for me to plant summer bulbs.

BookWorm

Hello MG - hope the school term isn't too full on and that you are managing to get some time for fun/chilling

mortgage_girl

Hello BW and Cath. Thanks for stopping by. I can't believe how long it's been since I last logged on - it seems I've got plenty of catching up to do. Work has been busy and there's been some rather unpleasant life-stuff going on so I've been quite preoccupied. Things have settled somewhat and somehow I've still managed to keep track of my op's so I'll update them later on this week. We did manage to get away for a holiday during half term too, which was very relaxing - I managed to read 4 books!

So hello - I'm back. :wave: I'll update a bit more later in the week.

MGx

mortgage_girl

Well the holidays are here and how time has flown, we're already half-way through! They have been busy so far, but in a good way. We've spent lots of time out and about doing things and it's been lovely - although I have missed my quiet time a little, so I'm enjoying some time to myself while my gf is out today. So far I've cleaned the oven, done some gardening and have applied for a tax rebate for my union subscriptions.

Although I've not been posting regularly, I've been busy offsetting/op-ing the mortgage and I'm almost half way to my annual target...I'll have to knuckle down to achieve it but I'm sure I will, and even if I don't then every little helps!

I've decluttered loads of things (and still have more to go!). Last week we ended up taking 6 bags of unwanted kitchen 'stuff' to the charity shop, mainly duplicates of things from when we moved in together. I've also been busy selling things - I can't believe what people will actually buy on eB@y, one man's junk really is another man's treasure.

Despite being out and about this holiday I've managed to build in quite a bit of time to read and I'm still keeping up with my morning runs 4 times per week. I'm currently working my way through the 'Gone' series by Michael Grant, they're not my usual type of novel but they're keeping me gripped. I also have a rather large stash of other books to get through as I discovered the BOGOF book offer on mus1c m@gpie - 2 books delivered for £2.99 - bargain! Most of the ones I've received have been in fantastic condition too.

We're going for some last minute shopping tomorrow before our holiday to Italy on Friday - I'm very excited but not looking forward to packing my suitcase, it's one of the jobs I hate! I'm hoping to get it out of the way tomorrow night so I don't dwell on it over the next few days.

MGx

CathT

Great de-cluttering and impressive commitment to your running. Holiday sounds fab and I dislike the preparation and packing too! Be worth it once it's done and you switch off and enjoy the sunshine. I'm trying to read more aswell, currently working my way through the first HP book!

Keep posting, have missed your updates

mortgage_girl

Thanks for stopping by Cath - I don't know where the time goes! Italy was lovely but we did end up investing in a rather beautiful (but expensive) jewellery box so the next few months will be spent paying off the credit card. :eek: The weather was in the 30's so we had a couple of days doing touristy sightseeing visits (Pompeii, Vesuvius and the Amalfi coast) and the rest of the time pottering around Sorrento and avoiding the mid-day sun. I actually managed to get tanned without getting burnt which is quite an achievement.

It's back to reality now though and we're already into the second week of term. Things are as manic as usual so I've decided to have a chilled weekend doing nothing...well I've already decluttered the bathroom cupboards and deep cleaned the bathroom so it's not exactly 'doing nothing' but I do feel better for it. We've decided to try a recipe from our stash of cookbooks for tea - brocolli and green bean tart with a fig and apple compote, which should be interesting. It was actually supposed to have asparagus in it but we couldn't find any so we've adapted it somewhat.

I did attempt to go for a run this morning but after being out for about 2 minutes the heavens opened and I was soaked so I ran back home and went on the exercise bike instead. I'll try again tomorrow. I've managed to squeeze in 4 runs already this week so I'm not too worried if it doesn't work out.

Hope you're all having a cozy Saturday and keeping warm.

MGx

mortgage_girl

Jewellery box is now paid for so I'm back in the game with my mortgage OPs. I've managed to throw and extra £185 at it this month and put my usual £250 into the regular saver. The bank account is running a bit low now so it'll be lots of weekend reading / house jobs for the next few weekends.

I've had quite a productive day today - I've cleaned out the wormery ready to list on eBay, done some washing and dried it on the line and cooked a Sunday lunch. I'm planning on using the rest of the chicken up in a stew tomorrow so that'll give us an easy & cheap tea from the leftovers.

Work is manic at the moment as we're expecting a phonecall from those certain 'visitors' who shall not be named at any time, so we're all trying to get things in order. I'm still managing to run 5 times per week which is keeping me sane, as well as going my weekly yoga session (and trying to do 10 minutes of practice at home per day).

I've looked at my spreadsheet and if things stay as they are with the mortageg / savings then I'll be mortgage neutral by December 2018. Although, I'll be looking at ways to reduce that as much as possible once I've got time to get my head round it a bit more.

Happy Sunday!

MGx