Countdown to Freedom

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning MacG, it is so sad to hear about friends being ill isn't it. However he is in fine spirits and is so busy with appointments that theres not much time to think.

The running and walking is going ok. I am off today with DD to have a jog but this will be the longest I have managed, so not sure how much will be walking vs jogging!

Well done on your PR yesterday, sounds like it went well. Hope all Ok with you and enjoy the week.

Best wishes Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Afternoon, well the kettle bell work was interesting. I ache in places I didn't even know I had but I can see the benefit. Blinking hard slog though

On the money front, lodgers money has arrived so that has whizzed off to OP pot. The bank account we use normally is getting very low in funds but I am paid in just a week, so am hoping not to transfer.

I am at that twiddling thumb stage again now until I am paid, but I am only two weeks away from switching :j:j:j

Kids are both off school and what a difference. One is having lunch with friends and then movies and shopping and the other has gone for a huge bike ride. The days of requiring entertaining have gone and it feels both good and sad at he same time.

Right off back to my mails.

Best wishes Tilly x

Penny_Counter_Girl

Hi Tilly - hope you don't ache too badly from those nasty kettle bells ...

Was interested in your comment about 'thumb twiddling' waiting to make your OP. I've found other MFWs say similar things, and it's got me thinking ever since I began to OP in recent months. I wonder if the very good decision to OP leads us, at least in part, to start wishing our days away as we anticipate payday and the OP? Seems also that some people here experience almost a deflation after the OP has been made, and they have to wait another month to do it again. I have sympathy with this, because I sense it a little in myself too. But, given how long it takes to pay off a mortgage whether you're OPing or not, I just hope we don't all end up calendar-watching instead of enjoying life - I think it is a danger! Of course, I'm not accusing anyone of doing that or not enjoying life. Just that, we always look forward to getting paid anyway, but OPing presents a double whammy of sorts. And when the mortgage is still 6 figures (as mine is), I see how easy it can be to get down about the debt not reducing faster, even when making big OPs.

How we punish ourselves, whether we are doing good or not!:rotfl:

Hope you enjoy your peaceful house with the kids gone - and of course enjoy it when they come back again.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi PCG, I absolutely understand your comments and I can see that the desire to OP could end up negatively impacting the enjoyment and living of your life. However, I know in our case, with us both earning good salaries, we have spent with recklessness really and, I may be repeating an earlier post so apologies, what I truly have learnt, is that you don't need loads of cash to enjoy yourself.

Riding with the kids, running with DD, watching a movie together, making gifts together etc cost little and create many memories and anchors for the kids. As I have travelled so much with my career, it is great to be in a role where I am at home more - still mad hours, but I am physically with them more. These little things have made a big difference. I would not want to go back to pre Diary Days where money disappeared overnight but I promise, we will not let OPing take over our fun. The kids are growing before my eyes now, far quicker than when they were small, as the changes now are towards independence and adulthood. I don't want to miss the time we have with DD until she goes to Uni - in fact it makes me feel quite sad as its only 2-3 years now, which will go in a flash.

So regardless of the size of our mortgages here's to enjoying the journey too - I may well enjoy it more when the Spansh bank is well and truly out of the picture.

Best wishes Tilly x

Penny_Counter_Girl

You are absolutely right about not needing lots of cash to enjoy life, and I really see what you mean in your post. I've never been a reckless spender, but I have been careless in the past with unnecessary purchases. After a long time in education getting my qualifications, it was such a relief to begin earning a good salary, that there was a danger of falling into the habit of spending more than was necessary, just because I could. Although I never overspent or got into debt, I wasn't always making the most of my hard earned cash. And so now that I've begun to be far more careful, and really think very carefully about purchases, it does become hard not to think about how nice it will be to send all that money to the OP!

Following your diary, and others on here, has really opened my eyes to the long term benefits of OPing - and making sure my money works for me and not others.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi PCG, your last comment really is spot on - I do believe it is about using our money more wisely and really making it work in ur favour. I do wish I had learnt the lesson years ago, but better late than never

Have a good night - I am just waiting for my last call to start and then after that my peace will be shattered!

Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Evening, where is the week going? Wednesday evening already and what a week it has been. Mega busy at work but have completed my planning so am kicking off deployment - brings more complications but that's what I love fortunately. Nothing like getting your teeth stuck into something.

Couple of social events already this week but both low spends.

Annual mortgage statement arrived from the Spanish bank - last payment on Tuesday next week and then WE ARE FREE. The statement shows £305k, as of December, outstanding but by Wedesnday next week it will be £299k offset to £285k YAY.

I can feel my shackles being removed as I type.......

On the home front, we have bought a sofa, a carpet cleaner and a steam floor cleaner - all I need is a new iron to feel like a cherished wife! Only joking. All items definitely required and will save us money in the long run. The sofa is just to make us more comfortable - I don't think this will save money at all, unless it's so comfy we don't want to go out anywhere......

Hope everyone's having a good week.

Roll on Tuesday. If I was drinking I would be getting the fizzy stuff out to celebrate, but will have to make do with lemonade.

Enjoy the rest of the week, Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

:j:jMY WASHING IS ON THE LINE, BLOWING AROUND MERRILY IN THE SUN :j:j

katsu

I very much envy your ability to work from home and hang your washing out Tilly.

Great moneysaving and very satisfying to look at.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Oooooooohhhhhhh nnnnnooooooo - I got my dates mixed up, I get paid next week and then pay final payment on the 28th and switch same day - I thought that was next week:eek:

Oh well I have just under two weeks to go - will we ever be rid of the Spanish bank:(