Drip drip drip feeding the mortgage

tjp70

Tilly and ICTD,

Thank you for your lovely replies.

tjp

gallygirl

What sad news tjp . I'm sure you're doing what is right for you and your family.

GG x

tjp70

On New Year’s Day, I set some targets for this year. Whilst the death of our relative has made us change our goals, I thought I would do a quick update as to how we are doing.

The targets were:

Achieve OPs of at least £4735.56
The standing orders are still in place and whilst we will not achieve this target (because we no longer make Tillytidies, or are focusing on ebaying everything), we should still OP £4000.00 this year.

Decorate lounge
This is still on the list. DS has just completed his painting & decorating course at college and has been asked to help with this job. Hopefully it will be completed in the Autumn.

New sofas
Purchased. They were an absolute steal on ebay - £150.00 for a three seater sofa, a two seater sofa, one armchair and a footstool, all in excellent condition. It cost us £50.00 in fuel for a van we borrowed to collect them and we are really pleased. The kitties are leaving them alone too.

Patio, landscaping & new shed
95% done. The shed was delivered today and will be erected tomorrow. We have not bought any plants yet as we are going away for two weeks and don’t want to come back to dead plants as we have no-one that could come in and water them for us. The garden redesign has cost a fortune but has been worth every penny.

Lose some weight (silver star for 14lbs, gold star for 28lbs)
Mixed results. Let’s just say that I am on for a bronze star.

Try a yoga class
Bottled out on this so far.


Walk 500 miles by 14.11.13
I am still on target. I should complete the 500 miles by end October.


Tilly mentioned that maybe my focus would change as time went on. I thought she may be right. However, other events have just re-emphasised that we are doing the right thing. At the end of last month, a co-worker had a massive stroke, which has been a big shock to us all as he seemed to be a fit person. It just makes me realise how lucky we are. I think we have a better balance. We are still on target to pay off our mortgage 8 years early, but my energies are not all being expended on overpaying all the time.

tjp70

tjp70 wrote: »

1. Achieve OPs of at least £4735.56

2. Decorate lounge

3. New sofas

4. Patio, landscaping & new shed

5. Lose some weight (silver star for 14lbs, gold star for 28lbs)

6. Try a yoga class

7. Walk 500 miles by 14.11.13

And finally, have some fun. 2013 is the year to start having some more fun, happiness and laughter.

Happy New Year!


A new year so I thought I would revisit my targets that I set last year and see what we achieved and what we failed miserably on!


1. The first target was to OP at least £4735.56 which was the amount we OP'd in 2012. During the year, we had a loved one die suddenly so we decided not to exert any further effort into overpaying the mortgage and just to let the standing orders continue to drip feed the balance. We achieved £4005.00 overpaid, so I am very pleased with that.


2. Decorate the lounge - FAIL. A job for the spring.


3. New sofas. Yes, an ebay bargain of £150.00. Money extremely well spent.


4. Patio, landscaping and new shed. Yes and I am so pleased with it. It doesn't look too great at the moment as we have a few fence panels down, but we will get those fixed once these storms stop.


5. Lose some weight. FAIL - the less said about that, the better.


6. Try a yoga class. FAIL


7. Walk 500 miles by 14.11.13. Yes, I did it and the sense of achievement was huge.


Plans for 2014 are more subdued. I would definitely like the lounge decorated. The standing orders will take care of the mortgage. I have joined a savings group and aim to save £10,000 in 2014 largely because DH job doesn't seem that secure.


I am really pleased with our progress in 2013. Okay so there were a few things that didn't get done but I am focusing on the stuff that we did do.

tjp70

Just checked my spreadsheet. 560 days until mortgage free (not that I'm counting) :rotfl:

gallygirl

Good to see you're still around :T, not long to go

tjp70

I'm back to the diary as things are starting to feel a little out of control. The mortgage is dwindling beautifully but other aspects of spending is becoming erratic. Hopefully posting regularly on here will help.

The mortgage currently stands at £37703.31. We are still overpaying by approximately £300.00 each month and the endowments mature next year, so we have just under 500 days to go :T

This weekend has been awful spending wise. As I sit here waiting for the World Cup Final to start, with a tummy full of Chinese take out and a glass of wine in hand, I resolve to start afresh tomorrow.

Enjoy the footie :footie:

tjp70

Meal plan for the week (to stop additional supermarket spending and eating out):

Creamy chicken pasta
Pork mince, peppers & noodles
Spaghetti bolognese
Homemade pizza & wedges
Scampi, oven chips & peas
Steak pie, mash and vegetables
Gammon and cauliflower cheese

tjp70

A good start to the week in every respect except work, which was awful.

Before work, I prepared some cookie dough (oat & raisin) to be cooked at tea time. It was a NSD, I also ate within my calorie allowance and I walked 3 miles with a friend. Tea was gammon, but served with salad as it was too hot to have cauliflower cheese, followed by the cookies.

Hopefully tomorrow will be just as organised, and maybe a better day at work too.

£30.00 OP to the mortgage too

Goldiegirl

Hello there.

I've just seen your diary - you've certainly had your share of upheavals over the last couple of years.

When you suffer a sudden loss like you did, or hear of a friend or relative with a serious illness, it does make you question your plans, and also makes you realise life is so precious

It's a bit of a balancing act to live life to the full in the present but to plan for the future too.

I'm not sure any of us get it right 100% of the time but as long as we are doing our best, that's the main thing.

Welcome back:)