Hurdler's Race to be Mortgage-Free

Hurdler

Just done a little financial housekeeping - got persuaded (I really don't know how) to open a Monthly savings account when I went in for a financial review after I started my new job - but having squirelled away my emergency fund and my car/expenses fund (and topped up all other piggy banks) it really made NO sense to be throwing £250 a month into yet another savings account, especially when I am paying at least that into my pension fund (having left a final salary scheme and not qualifying for employee contributions until a year into my new job).

That £250 is better put to living/mortgage I feel.

I closed an empty account after making sure no more dividends were going to land in there.

Will do the update to Vernon when I get a mo- but he is looking a bit more healthy now with about £1600 to go towards next month's culling of the mortgage target.

[STRIKE]I feel like I should ring the Woolwich to find out what my monthly payments will be next month... but sometimes even the most simple questions can send them into a tail spin![/STRIKE]
Who am I kidding... I rang them... payments go down from £470 to £443.71 in March!

Hurdler

Sorry I haven't been round much these last few weeks!
Been on my placement for Journo school in a real local newspaper - things are tiring and I have a classmate doing his at the Independent so evenings have been spent either writing up articles or doing shorthand!

Anyway - just a quick update - my monthly payment came off my total (updated sig) so most definitely will be leaving the £100K+ club next month.

In other news...I have LOVED this placement.
I have absolutely NO doubt in my mind this is what I WANT to do.

I got another piece published on the Huffington Post too about Battersea Dogs Home and their latest appeal.

Right - law notes beckon....

misscousinitt

Good to see you Hurdler and well done on the OP and the stint in Journo school.

Its great when you find something you really want to do, so satisfying.

MCI

Hurdler

Well that super duper tax adjustment was a one off but the new adjusted amount is still a bit more than I was getting before so all helps.

I am also going to do my transfers tonight when I get home so that my savings accounts connected to my piggy banks are all up to date - for once!

But for now - diesel-chewing schlep to Watford beckons ...

Hurdler

OMG - I can't believe I am about to fess this!
I was out last night so that I had a couple of my cards in my smaller purse. Home at midnight, and had to get the Audi car to the garage for 7:30 am (!)...
So I remembered at the last minute to go get a Visa card, just in case they didn't take Amex.

I got there just after 7:30 and they suggested I pop to Starbucks round the corner ... so there I was queuing. And rummaging in my bag (I remembered to bring my shorthand... my purse...? Not so much!)

I had to go back and tell the guy that I had left my purse at home, just as the car had been collected to go!

They were so nice - they made me a cuppa and gave me biscuits while I had to sit there and wait!!!!

I have to get the brake service fluid and a couple of tyres done in a couple of weeks and they were laughing saying that they will send a reminder... including one to bring money!

What-a-Clutz

Hurdler

Hi all... things have been massively hectic, and a MASSIVE drinks session after school yesterday was... inadvisable!

BUT BIG NEWS!!!!

I am now UNDER £100K



Vernon's yummy money in his tummy:



I feel quite emotional... I know I am just barely under 6 figures but psychologically it feels great!

I managed to open my Nationwide MySave account... it's a bit fiddly but it looked to be one of the better ones in the MSE roundup... so that's OK!

I should have done a stack of revision and shorthand today but it's taken me most of today to do my finances... But it is a necessary evil!

One nice thing I noticed... my car fund has earned a fair bit of interest which should be enough to cover the Brake Fluid Service and 2 new tyres... (I miss Fleet Management!!!)

I have also decided that I am going to further simplify my accounts come the new ISA season.

New Tax Year - Big hurdler sweepout!!!

Anyway... I suppose I had better try and write up yesterday's notes from Journo School before Dancing on Ice and training to soak up all that alcohol last night with my other MSE plans - eating my way through the freezer!

Oh and my inch-loss scheme has started again - this time with a couple of friends and we're all three going to try and lose a stone each by the end of May.
I have been shamefully lax... so time to be healthy!

Lois_E

Woohoo! :j :j

gallygirl

Hey, I'd be celebrating if I was you too, well done :j

Hurdler

Oh Gallygirl ... I want to celebrate and was considering a yummy risotto... but after last night, the thought of opening a bottle of wine is actually make me feel a bit queasy! I made myself pancakes and took a couple of paracetemol this morning before heading to Mr T for the grocery run... and then had an hour's kip! But I just have that gnawing feeling now.

I am probably going to do myself a veggie pie and some steamed veg in a bid to make myself feel a bit more Sunday dinner-y!

I have been sat in my home-office all day today - but ... I DID discover a nifty place to put cuttings up from my placement... so over the next week or so - expect a link to all my pieces since starting on the course!

misscousinitt

Well done on the mortgage balance, thats great news...bet it feels like a weight off.

MCI