It's time to attack the mortgage!

macgirl

Thanks Tilly. End of the working week for me, so I'm about to crack open a bottle - chin chin!

skint_spice

You have to start somewhere and surely anything is better than just accepting the standard 20/25 years? I find even if I can't overpay by lots like some on here it's still focussing my mind and stopping me spending quite as much as I usually would I love daffodils personally and they cheer me up no end so what's a bunch of tulips here and there

macgirl

Aww thanks SS

Yes I love Daffys too - a little bunch of happiness for 99p - what's not to love? Yes, you are right, every small OP is a step in the right direction and I am 100% more focused than I was when I was trying to be debt free. It's too easy to compare yourself to others isn't it. Thanks for the encouragement x

yukkibear

Don't feel like a fraud, anything is better than nothing and it's getting into the mindset. We all like spending money. I think even if we knock a couple of months off the term it's money saved for us.

macgirl

Thanks Yukki, that's how I'm feeling today.

Money is tight in the joint account this month due to the boiler/water valve repair at £200, so the regular OP's will have to be increased from March's payment. Still, on our current op we're knocking off £45k in interest alone - so that's something to smile about

After EDF's mistake with our new DD payments, we received a letter today confirming the new lower amount (lower than the previous lowered one, which we received confirmation about 2 days previous - if you can keep up). Happy that it's now £150 and confirmed that we can come off the fixed "Price Protection" as rates are going down, but we'd incur a penalty if we wanted to come off the electricity tariff. I was like "Surely there's a 14 day cooling off period?" She said "No, it's a 12 day cooling off period". So I started to get agitated (Plus I need a wee and remembered that Dave Cameron employs this technique when giving a speech to increase the sense of urgency and gravitas - in this instance it worked well!)

To cut a long story short, it's sorted. Told the plumber about the massive gas bills and he said no way it that due to the faulty valve and defo due to the meter. Finger's crossed we 'll get a rebate then. Hurrah!

Just noticed the time - so better go and collect the children - back later x

Penny_Counter_Girl

I've just joined MSE and have enjoyed reading this thread Macgirl - everyone who has posted here seems nice so I thought I'd add a comment and join in. I'm new to all this - so give me a chance if I make mistakes!

I recently began OP, and should have done this a long time ago as we've had the spare cash to do it - I'm now taking inspiration from all of you, and others on MSE, to shave some time off the outstanding mortgage. Right now, even although it's some time away, I'm visualising what the first month will be like without a mortgage payment - and how good it will feel to no longer have all that hard-earned money siphoned away in interest.

I've always been careful with money and have resolved this year to be even more so in order to OP, and have already found myself making real savings. Got a diary yesterday (which I need for staying organised) for just 49p at Card Factory, half price, and in years gone past would have shelled out anything up to £10. Also planned ahead and bought many birthday/greeting cards for year ahead at cost of around £4.50 - far less than if I picked them up one at a time from pricier outlets as need dictated.

Anyway - looking forward to following you Macgirl and taking inspiration. Thanks for posting!:)

pavlovs_dog

welcome aboard Penny Counter Girl :wave:

Macgirl - don't feel like a fraud, make slow, sustainable changes to your mindset and lifestyle is the only way forward IMHO. Try to do too much, too soon and you'll soon be berating yourself for falling off the wagon. Ultimately, we're only in competition with ourselves, not each other

macgirl

Hello Penny Counter Girl :hello: thanks for reading and for posting your kind comments!

We had a mortgage of £57k on our first house which we lived in for 8 years and had we had our acts together - could have been MF during that time. Instead, I racked up a load of debt. The vast majority of it is now gone (it was more than alot of people's mortgages :o:o) but I've lived and learned to tell the tale.

As PD wisely says (thank you :A) slowly making changes to your spending habits is how you make large changes in your life. Only yesterday, I realised how much more considered my grocery shopping has become. I would often blame lack of time of as excuse to chuck anything and everything into the trolley - only to chuck alot of it in the bin later in the week. All those £20's in the bin!!!! Meal planning has helped tremendously with this, so hopefully I'm back on track with that.


Other habits I had as a DFW were trying to earn extra every month - £10 a day etc - by cashback sites, daily clicks (this is so tedious) and of course ebaying and amazoning books and DVD's. I always had great gusto and reaped the rewards, but then it becomes a chore, so you have to have a break then try something else...

All these tips apply to the MF quest and supplement the cutting back.

Anyway sorry for the ramble, but thanks again for your kind words and do please keep posting!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello,

I think that you should have a treat now and again, after all we all work hard and need to reap some rewards. I find that now I have the end in sight I can be much more frugal than when I still had several years to go. You can't be mean for years without getting depressed and then what's the point!

Enjoy the tulips!

Squirrel:j

macgirl

Hi Squirrel!

Yes you've hit the nail on the head. I do hate meanness and although my Mum's always telling me off for being too generous, I have a dislike of tight-fisted people and find it petty. In reality, of course I didn't have the cash to splash and as my MSE Dad says - You can't have it and spend it.

But a little of what you fancy does more good than harm. Have a nice weekend