Mortgage freedom..Shala_moo's attempt at a diary..

shala_moo

Afternoon, wet Sunday here so I've been trying to get some online Xmas shopping done :T:T

Managed to get most of it with vouchers, so some good savings, also bought a new lamp for the living room, the last one broke a while back(it was 20 years old :eek:) and we've been struggling without one..

• Order from V*ry - spend over £60 get £30 back voucher - 2 xmas presents and lamp bought for £31.20, free delivery due to using click and collect and I don't have to wait in for it :j
• Amaz*n purchases - 5 presents - cost all covered by survey vouchers, free delivery as >£20
• standard xmas present of PJ's ordered from Debenhams last night as I noticed it was 40% off plus 10% discount voucher used - free delivery to store
• novelty toilet roll present (don't ask:p) from Eb*y was <£5 for 2, Hong Kong supplier so up to a 4 week wait.. £5 each from UK supplier though

Other money savings things this week - I finally decided to open a S&S ISA on Thursday.. it scares me a bit as i'm picking my own investments and some of them are higher risk :eek: but I've only put in a small amount compared to some so I won't be destitute if it all goes horribly wrong - I hope!

Also many, many lines played on the Euromillions for Tuesday we have quite a large syndicate at work and we had some winnings to use up so *fingers crossed*

In work news, the redundancy situation is now over, they had enough volunteers once again so no need for it to go to compulsory :T I imagine it'll happen again in 2-3 years...

xx

Goldiegirl

Phew, that's a relief about redundancy.


I'll also be dipping my toe into S&S ISA, but not for a couple of months, as I'm currently getting ourselves a couple more higher interest bank accounts. My S&S ISA will be a long term thing, so I hope I won't get too freaked out if it drops in the short term! :eek:

beanielou

Good news on the redundancy situation.

in_need_of_direction

That stay of execution will really allow you to hammer the mortgage hard so even if it happens in three years, you'll be in a much better place.

shala_moo

Thanks all, I definitely want to be in a better place next time the VR's come round.. That way I can make a decision to take the money and run or stay for another few years till the next one.

Currently going through our benefits picking procedure at the moment so going to up my pension payments too, that way if I choose early retirement/VR there will be more in the pot.

My pension pot isn't that great as I've only had it for 9 years:o but it's a final salary pension so better than it could have if I'd had to go on a defined contributions scheme!

Goldie, my S&S ISA has dropped I'm trying not to check it too much as the prices fluctuate wildly over the day. In hindsight, I wished I'd have opened it in May when my sister was first going on at me, she's made a fortune on one of the shares, it would have been enough to pay off a third of my mortgage but hindsight is a wonderful thing and if we all had it, we'd all be rich!!

Day off today for me :j off to town to fetch the Xmas pressies I ordered. There's a coat in the sale as well that I really like.. It's dark duck egg blue :eek: I usually only wear black, so not sure whether to get it or not.. :think:

Have a great day xxx

Luckyinlife

First thing get the coat if you like it nice to have a change :]

i wouldn't worry about the S&S isa thing to much sometimes things happen you cant control really id also check it ever few weeks unless your looking for a spike to sell at :]

Im also trying to get some x-mas shopping done today

beanielou

HOPE that you got the coat.

shala_moo

:wave:

I did get the coat Beanie and Lucky, thank you... unfortunately i had to take it back as there was a massive pull in the material they've ordered me another to collect tomorrow :j it cost me £35 in the end - half price sale and vouchers :T - not bad for a winter coat.

Debenh*ms got my xmas order wrong so I've had to go back and change that, I've had to re-order some of it at full price but the lady said she'd refund the difference to the sale price originally paid :T

I'm trying not to check on the shares Lucky, but there's an app on my phone that tracks them :rotfl: the share prices are creeping back up thankfully, but they did drop dramatically at the start of the week :eek: i'll get bored of looking soon :rotfl: it'll be another 5-10 years till they're sold anyway..

Forgot it was payday today, busy day running round the shops and catching up with friends, need to go and do a bit of money shuffling. :T

5 weeks till Xmas day :santa2:

shala_moo

Nov Monthly figures
Outstanding Mortgage £137,791.27
Family Loan £0 :j:j:j:j
Savings pot - £17,897.62
Approx. Monthly interest saved and OP'd £70.89
New end date - Aug 2028

Total Debt as present moment £119,893.65 -1,478.36:T

Happy with this for November, the family loan is completely paid off so we no longer have other debts, just the mortgage :T:T

I've left the balance for the S&S ISA in with my re-named savings pot as I haven't lost it all yet even with the dip in share prices :eek: it doesn't count towards the offset though so our monthly interest OP'd has come down and the term increased again

Never mind, it's all towards the longer plan!

Other money news

• fireplace arrived - it looks lovely :T cost £400 from Eb*y as opposed to £800-900 that we saw in the local fireplace centre - just realised I forgot to go through TCB to get cashback though
• lovely coat had to be taken back (twice!) there was massive pulls in the material both times so I decided it wasn't worth the money, £35 saved
• spent £20 on xmas decorations - the fireplace looks bare without them

Right off to watch Walking Dead... xx

beanielou

Hurrah for only the mortgage :j :j :j