Saving £100k for mortgage, living a simple life

earthgirl

I had another personal light bulb moment in April of thisyear, and I realised that I had paid off the current mortgage, but I had kindof burnt out. My priorities in my head(my family, our health and happiness followed by our future financial needs)were just not being translated into my daily actions. I was focusing too muchon finance and I was very unhealthy – working 6 days a week, some days for 12hours, and I had a little one to look after and then got pregnant with mysecond. So I have taken a break of a month or so, and learnt a lot!

We have still paid off our current mortgage, and are goingto stay here for as long as possible. We have saved £34,740 since May lastyear. We need to save approximately another £100,000 for another mortgage in the next 8 years for amove before first little one starts secondary.

I am enjoying living a lot more simply. I have learnt that Ijust can’t work all the time – I have to draw a line and enjoy time with myfamily, not squeeze it in for 10 mins here and there. I have learnt that thereis joy and happiness to be found in the most simplest of things (playing in thegarden, picking flowers with lo…list is truly endless!) and that being healthyis not really that hard. BUT not working and channelling funds towards these thingsis more expensive, hence my new diary!!

I am focusing on the 4 important things mentioned above, buttrying to get some balance. I have cut down to 3 ½ extra private tuitionsessions per week. I have started to really focus on managing my time at work,automating tasks and setting priorities. This has allowed me to be lessstressed, spend quality time with lo during the week and weekends, and havetime for household tasks and a bit of me time too!

I have started to grow more in the garden again, which loloves! I have also started shopping in local markets, which was actually moreexpensive, but I have now found that my local farmers market is very reasonablypriced.

My challenges:

I would like to:

1. Continue to spend plenty of time with family, andtry to do something simple but nice each week together. This has been so lovelyof late.

2. Ensure we have a healthy diet, but try to mealplan more, and rein in these spends by cooking from the garden, and cookingvegetarian meals too (the meat seems to be my main expense)

3. Before I buy, think do I really need it, could Irefuse to buy it, and could I reuse something else instead?

4. Channel this money saving into our savingsaccounts, which I have set up for this financial year.

Some general good things that have been happening – I havebeen baking more, and so have not had the expense of buying sweet things hereand there. We have been eating and drinking so much healthier, the pregnancy isgoing well, and we are due to have another little boy on the 25thSeptember!

newgirly

:hello: Hi earthgirl, great to see you back and congratulations on the baby.

Paying off your mortgage is such a masssive acheivement, and then to go on and save up nearly 35k after :T

It sounds like you are doing the right thing by cutting back a bit while the lo is young, you are in a good position being mf and its time that goes so quickly, plus having a bit more time does mean you can plan more/cook more and be a bit more frugal than before.

Have you had a look at any frugal blogs, as they often have good ideas and fit in with cooking/gardening etc. anyway best of luck! x

ammonite

Congrats on the pregnancy! Like newgirly says - what a massive achievement! Well done you!

I think a healthy balance of being frugal and being happy and treating myself occasionally seems to work for me. I pretty much only buy things that are on offer or have a discount code & rarely if ever treat myself to something full price. I'd prefer to save up

Good luck with this next stage

[Deleted User]

Hey earthgirl
lovely to see you back and congrats on your next little one being due!
I think balance is something I definitely find hard to strike- I tend to be quite all or nothing so can understand the need for a break to re-focus!
You have achieved great things in being MF and in saving up so much since that time so dont underestimate that!

Love the idea of baking and growing more of your own food - am there on the baking, just not attempted growing anything as no real outside space!

cb4fwh

I had a similar light bulb moment 5 or so years ago - diagnosed with cancer at 27 made me realise that there is alot more to life than grafting for your employer day in day out because everyone else that you work with is doing the same thing!

I am now happily self-employed & love every minute of knowing that only I am reaping the rewards of my efforts!

Friends & family are now priority 1, and work is definitely priority 2!

Like you, I also have a veg patch at the bottom of the garden - nothing better than eating your own potatoes! I eat organic these days & never buy anything unless I need it!

I am currently saving towards the move to my dream house in the country, and like you need to save around 100k. If all goes to plan, we should be there in a couple of years!

flippin36

Having a disabled child made me think very differently about how we live. Material things just aren't on his radar. Its our time and care he needs and wants - which we can give freely. Good luck with your simple lifestyle and your financial goal x.

greent

Hello again, Earthie You've already heard my views on getting a balance and that it's important - and these early years with the Earthlets will pass soooo quickly. Lovely to hear you've slowed down xx

Gillybean

Hi earthgirl, congrats on the pregnancy!

I kind of feel the way you do and we're hoping to be in the same position in the next 3 years. Pay off the mortgage, sit tight and save till we're ready to find our forever home.

We've gradually cut our outgoings over the years as being MF was our priority, and I'm sure there's more we could do.

Keep us posted on how you're getting on.

earthgirl

Thanks and thanks for the welcome back.

I have missed you all, my virtual friends x

viola_brandywine

Welcome back earthgirl! Your new plan looks good.

summerday

Welcome back Earthgirl! I've missed your posts (even though I've been rubbish at posting myself!) Glad all is well on your pregnancy, how exciting to have another little boy soon. My baby is nearly 5 months now, such magical times, time is flying too fast...

Love the sound of your plan. You've inspired me to grow more in the garden and bake more, too. We eat lots of veggie meals. Do you like Quorn? Lidl often do it on special offer. The BBC Good Food website has nice veggie recipes on too.

Thanks for inspiring me yet again, with your lovely balanced lifestyle plan this time. Take care and keep us posted.xx