Viola's MFW Adventure

Iris_Blue

This weather is so unpredictable! I wish we had some decent sun though as now it feels so cold and that makes me miserable.

It made me laugh about the boxes as we just cleared out attic out and what was up there..empty boxes! Why?? ( no odd shoes though - that's just you ) but you're right it is liberating to declutter ..it's nice to know we have tidy lofts and garages. Tidy house... tidy mind

viola_brandywine

Not just me then Iris I actually keep going into my newly clear garage just to see all the space!

Quite a good day so far - waiting for some bread to rise and have made a nice chocolate fudge cake (oops, guess that's my diet done for then ) Also picked 8 green chillies from my garden.

viola_brandywine

Back from a lovely long weekend away in lovely Yorkshire. The weather was a bit drizzly but it didn't matter at all. Managed not to spend too much and used much less petrol that I thought. I tried to watch what we spent but otherwise had a break from thinking about the mortgage. I think this has done me good really as I was starting to get a bit stressed out with it all and needed a break from counting the pennies. I'm still thinking that I will stop saving now and focus on putting as much into OPs as I can instead. My targets are now

* Mortgage totally offset by savings by October payday and therefore by the time I'm 30.
* Mortgage totally paid off by June 2012.

I should be able to do this with overpayments of £512. Unfortunately I have my 0% credit card to pay off by next May and have run them up quite a bit so it will be a bit of a stretch to meet this. I'm determined to though and once this is done we can think about having kids. I am a bit worried about how late we are leaving it but life will be so much easier without the mortgage to pay. I also get very stressed about work and hope I can take on something less stressful or take a break altogether and be a SAHM.

My other targets are to cut down on the wine and lose a stone. I think I will record the diet progress on here to motivate me. Should hopefully save money on food too. Ok - 0/14 lb.

Right, must get back on track!

viola_brandywine

Good week so far. Went to boots to buy a new eye pencil for £2.99 and had exactly 299 points on my advantage card so got it for free Slight annoyance in that I bought a magazine for a free £5 gift card for a certain shop and the shop wouldn't accept it when I tried to use it I walked away so no money spent. Also ate a lovely meal with free courgettes from my garden yesterday.

Overpaid £1.94 to round my account down to the nearest £10. I put away £100 on payday for my trip away and I haven't had to use it so if I get through the weekend without going into it I think I will OP it. Hoping to OP £500 when I get paid.

viola_brandywine

Feeling good today. Ordered some clothes online from the sale and managed to get cashback in two places and added an extra cardigan to get the free delivery. I intend to send the extra thing back but I might feel guilty about it Also been to the hairdressers for the first time in almost a year and got all my split ends sorted out. That cost £29 and then I spent £5 on milk, eggs, butter and fruit. That is all I should have to spend for the weekend.

I have also picked 500g gooseberries from my garden and have just turned them into 3 jars of jam Also got some sourdough bread rising in the kitchen. I always seem to feel happy when I spend a day baking!

Sepa74

Ooooh... gooseberry jam. Yum yum.

viola_brandywine

Hi Sepa, just saw from your diary that you like gardening too. I love being out in mine although I don't have enough time at home to keep on top of all the weeds! The gooseberry jam is delicious, it actually set into a proper jelly which is a first for me All from one plant too.

newgirly

Hi Viola I've just been catching up with your diary, you are doing really well, I'm very envious of your OS balance!

Sepa74

lol, yes, I have very greenfingers, but I hear you about the weeds. My tiny bit of lawn is starting to look like it could walk away at any moment!

I've been thinking I wouldn't mind buying a gooseberry bush as I have a couple of large pots spare. I love the jam, it's such a distinctive flavour and it's yummy yummy yummy on porridge. Maybe for next year

viola_brandywine

Thanks for posting newgirly and Sepa! No more jam made as birds have stolen all my strawberries

Been a while since my last post as I have been quite busy with work and also went to Silverstone for the grand prix last weekend, which was amazing. That was pretty expensive but we love F1 and are treating it like our summer holiday.

Mortgage update:
Sent £500 OP today
Mortgage balance now £15,394
Savings £10,398
Mortage - savings £4,996 :D

Hoping I can OP/save this last bit by November then throw everything I can at the remaining balance.

CC debts £2,597

Bring on the weekend! Will be catching up with some friends this weekend and having a picnic which should be nice if the weather is good.