My mortgage free mission!!!!!!

frugalfrog

100%

Books arrived today for next exam, straight onto them tonight...

ecoelle

Well done you!

Lois_E

frugalfrog wrote: »

Problem is we cannot afford to pay our bills without me working, I've tried to see if we can get any help from tax credits & as I have earned a lot in 2011/2012 we would only be entitled to £10 per week which is going to do nothing to help. We are short by about £500 working out average income by DH and a extremely tight budget of not spending anything (basically heat/light/food/mortgage).

I think you should look into this again. Unless they have changed the rules, you should be able to get more than you think. If your 2012-13 income is less than your 2011-12 income, and the difference is at least £2500, then your award for 2012-13 will be based on your 2012-13 income, not your 2011-12 income. You can contact them with an estimate of your 2012-13 income and get your TCs adjusted immediately, subject to an adjustment, of course, at the end of the year when you'll have to tell them your actual (rather than estimated) 2012-13 income. There's more detail here.

Hope that helps.

CathT

Yes, definitely look into tax credits, the new calculator will be available in a few days too so you can have an idea of what you're entitlement would be.

frugalfrog

I've had another look at tax credits, taking into account I wont be earning anything (for the moment) and one calculator says we should be entitled to around £2,700 per year! Which is about £225 pm, which is a lot more than £20 Will have to look at the proper HMRC calculator when it gets up an running later this week.

Keep reading these MFW diary's and feeling a little deflated without working our income is around £500 less than expenditure so will be eating into savings. The tax credits will help but still I hate having to worry about money.

However, nearly half way through Level 2 of my course, aiming to book exam by end of month:eek: then get Level 3 done by May/middle June & start advertising for work.

My parents are round all this week, helping me decorate my hall & landing budget style. Basically paining over the existing paper with white emulsion, it is currently a hideous apple green. So will brighten it up. Cant afford to do any "proper" decorating as this would involve spending money! However want to smarten up the house a bit before my daughters 1st birthday, as we are throwing a big party for friends and family.

Anyway off to bed as havent slept great past few days (probably due to late night studying) then my little girls not sleeping great either - teething again I think. Shes still got the cast on but is now managing to roll and nearly comando crawl. Going to on for another week, cant wait to get it off her & get things back to normal.

frugalfrog

Bit of a spend day today! Did the Aldi shopping and spent £55!!! However, we do have an empty fridge and freezer, so had to stock up again. Also friend had her little baby this morning so went out to get a few prezzies. Another friend due in two weeks, so more baby shopping...

Also had a bit of a problem with my stoozing idea for my season ticket. As I am no longer going to need my ticket, I applied for a refund, however, they had problems purchasing the ticket in the first place & the entry never went through. So are only going to charge me the amount for the day I used the ticket. Which means the money I have tied up to pay off my £4000 0% CC, when there is nothing on the credit card. So been through our bills which we pay monthly - car insurance, house ins & my ICB course & put them on the 0% card. No way near £4k but a bit better, just hoping work wont want the season ticket loan back until I finally hand my notice in, in June after my 3 months "extended leave". But because of this, my monthly payments will go down, I will do a new SOA after this w/end so I will know what tax credits we can get.

This diary is really in the wrong place now, my MFW dream in on hold & its a keep my head above water dream at the moment! As soon as we can, I will restart OPing, as still want to get rid of this mortgage!

frugalfrog

Also, just to update on 2nd exam studying (exam 2 out of 5), just finishing lesson 4 out of 6, so should finish studying this by next week, so maybe book exam earlier than I thought! Going to be working in no time

This may all turn out to be a good year after all!

Lois_E

frugalfrog wrote: »

This diary is really in the wrong place now, my MFW dream in on hold & its a keep my head above water dream at the moment! As soon as we can, I will restart OPing, as still want to get rid of this mortgage!

Don't worry about that. You still want to be MF, don't you? Then you are still a MFW, even if your journey is taking a bit of a detour. I'll still be interested to read your diary, anyway!

CathT

I agree with Lois, lots of people have diaries whilst they direct funds into renovations etc rather than OP everything. If it makes you feel better OP £10 a month!

Glad your little girl is on the mend, sounds like it's not holding her back in anyway.

frugalfrog

Thanks eveyone. I may start with a litte OP once I have started earning, but as our figures are in a minus state at the moment I dont think I can justify even £10!

Just checked on HMRC to see it tax credit calculator was updated yet. i was a bit too optimistic, no change yet. I will have to wait after the bank holiday weekend!