Mortgage Free in 10 years

megela

Been missing during a few very eventful days.

On Friday we finally got the keys to our new business premises, they're in a pretty bad way, but this was the only way we could afford them. A lot of hard graft needed over the next few months to sort them out - but very exciting times.

On Monday it was my 40th birthday, had some lovely presents including diamond earrings from DH, a breadmaker from friends and a C K1dston bag from mum. The breadmaker made fantastic white bread - need to do some experimenting if anyone has any ideas?

Yesterday we made it to the Olympics. Visited the Olympic Park and had a very quick run round before going to North Greenwich Arena for the gymnastics.

The gymnasts were fantastic but the real success of the Olympics were the volunteers. They were amazing, so positive, helpful and chatty. We met some really lovely friendly people and I'd love to be able to say thank you to all those volunteers who are making the Olympics happen. Without them it simply wouldn't work.

The transport and security were far better than I expected. We didn't meet any overcrowding on tube (maybe we were lucky), and we went straight through security with no queues at both venues. Our troops were amazing although awful to see them just moving the trays around on the airport style scanners. We did see some filling empty seats though so hopefully they are being rewarded this way.

After a really busy few days, hoping to calm down and relax a little over the next 2/3!!!

megela

£10 OPd from Ha1ifax rewards act - love free money!

£677 standard payment has been credited to mortgage, but the interest hasn't been debited yet - usually this is done at the same time(but this is Nwest!!) - so mortgage balance is currently £109196.55. This is not a true picture until interest is added though.

Food shopping was £20 under budget, but we ate out twice last week - a total of £100:eek:. Also £35 spent on wedding present for brother.

1PSOS voucher cashed out for £10 for @mazon, but money is now a little tight due to change in jobs/when wages are paid so will keep this is be overpaid later in month or beg of next month.

Also waiting for £10 voucher from S&S for @rgos, which will probably have to wait to be OPd as above.

misscousinitt

Hi megela

Glad to see you are still chipping away at the mortgage and well done for standing up for yourself on the wages front - go girl!

I know the spending seems more than the OPing some times, but thats the beauty of wanting to be mortgage free - its not absolutely necessary to throw everything at the mortgage. Going well anyway.

Green with envy that you got to see the gymnastics.....

MCI

megela

Interest of £270.02 has now been added to mortgage so balance stands at £109466.57, should be under £109k when end of month OP & standard payment go out next. I take it £1k at a time, with a 3 year longer target of £86k to equal the balance before we re-mortgaged in April 2012.

The bread machine has been working almost non-stop since last week. Makes lovely white bread, pizza dough and fruit bread/cake. DH & girls did not like the cheese & onion bread much although I thought it was delish, and the sweet chocolate bread was revolting. Have left it on a timer today while at work to make a white loaf, but have tried replacing 1/4 of flour with wholemeal. Just love the ease of making my own.

Ordered wall stickers for DD2s bedroom from @mazon - paid with vouchers. One with her name and some butterflies. At least when she grows out of them they can be removed easily. Just waiting for DH to finish floorboards so I can get carpenter to do skirting & windowsill. She's now been in her sisters room for nearly 6 weeks, could do with getting it done now. DH just been so busy at work, don't like to ask him to do it after a 14hour day:(.

megela

Have decided to OP now the £10 1PSOS voucher before I forget about it - hope it doesn't leave me short.

A bit of a cheats OP - £27.38 from Nwests recent much publicised mess, but I'll claim it as an OP! Don;t really understand why they have refunded this amount to my mortgage, it's an offset mortgage with interest worked out daily and added monthly so why a refund? Oh well it's in my favour.

Added in the interest figure to spreadsheet and we've taken off another month - now January 2032 - taken off 3 months within 4months. That's the way I need to go to half the mortgage length. We're on track:T

megela

I seriously think I am loosing it. For the second time in little over a month I have gone out and left the front door wide open.

The first time there was a brand new TV sat in the hallway - we were so lucky.

This time the police have been called and have locked the front door and taken the keys to the station - I am really starting to get worried. I daren't tell my DH about the 2nd time & the kids wrren't with me either.

Perhaps I'm just trying to do too much, although it doesn't feel like it now I'm only doing one job. Or perhaps it's just the stress of trying to get out in the morning.

Got paid £20.20 from helping out at old job this week, and it'll be £40 next week. On a normal month this will be an OP but have just remembered that both kids need new school shoes and I haven't budgetted for it.

Am now taking it easy watching the olympics, DH is working late, girls are on sleepovers so quiet house. DH is collecting takeaway when he comes home so no dinner to cook either. I feel very lazy now.

DawnW

Take care Megela x

megela

Still feeling very 'out of it' today. Can't decide if it's stress or not? Maybe I'm just in a hormonal low, I just keep seeming to do silly things.

DD2s butterfly stickers have arrived - chuffed to bits with them. The butterfly name also arrived, but because I forgot to specify colour it's arrived black. It's a great shape but black writing on a very pale pink wall? A bit annoyed that they didn't e-mail to ask which colour. Think I'll end up ordering it again in silver.

Ordered DD2s bedroom carpet, due to be fitted next friday - £140. Hope carpenter is coming sunday to fit skirting and windowsill.

Dentist tonight for all of us. DH needs top level work done so that's £200 minimum - I have this set aside, plus whatever I need.

Some money will have to be jigged from the boiler savings for DD2s bedroom costs.

misscousinitt

Hi megela

Please try and take things easy.

Take care.

MCI xxx

megela

Thanks MCI & Dawn for your good wishes - feeling better this week.

Have rather lost control of the budget this month.

Dentist - total of £300 (part funded by emergency savings) for us both, school shoes - £65 (not budgeted - how do I forget?) New school uniform £55 - taken from money saved for something else and no longer needed.

Need to raid savings for a new lawn mower (£139), move radiator (£112), DD2 bedroom carpet (£140) & skirting (£80). I rationalise it by putting it down as home improvement. But I usually like to save up for home improvements in a seperate 'pot' before carrying them out. A bit caught by the water leak forcing us to do DD2s bedroom.

Chased insurance company 3 times last week and they finally sent their own workmen round to quote for repairs on friday evening. Apparently I can 'cash settle' for DD2s bedroom as I have already done the work (just as well I wasn't waiting for them). Then I can get their workmen to do kitchen ceiling or cash settle for that and get my own - we'll see what they come up with.

As for the shower room, they can put a note on the claim that there may be a problem in the future but I don't have to claim now or have the work done now. A relief as I don't want the upheaval if it's unnecessary.

DH is off looking after girls next week so he has promised to get DD2 back in her bedroom - she is so excited, although I think it may be partly down to the flatscreen DVD TV he's put up for her (handed down from a family member - just cost £17 for a bracket).

Don't think we'll see her after that!! :rotfl: