Here I go....

numptyknownothing

Hello
I have been reading lots of other peoples stories with much admiration for their dedication for some time but seemed to think I couldn't be in this gang. Well I am not as organised as some and not as dedicated as others but have decided to make a declaration. So here goes:

I want to be mortgage free in 10 years - actually I want to be MF in 8yrs but don't want to over egg my pudding. There I've set it out in black and white. I'm not savvy enough to work out how to put my SOA in the bottom bit so here it is.

Lucky enough to have no other debts at present.
This mortgage started Apr 2007 £162,000 fixed for 5yrs due to finish Apr 2027.
Jan 2012 £136302.98 outstanding.
May 2012 reverted to BOE int rate +2% Happy Days! 15yrs left.
(Eureka moment and now overpaying!!!:T)
Aug 2012 £130,461.44
May 2015 - endowment due to pay out hoping to pay off £35,000.
MFW by 2021 please and thank you.:D

Lois_E

Hi numpty and welcome to MFW :wave:

I am neither organised nor dedicated either, although I am a spreadsheet addict, which gives me an illusion of organisation for a while until I remember that my house is still full of clutter and I still haven't decided what to cook tonight for my kids. There are all sorts of people in here - just post away in your diary and you'll fit right in.

Even if you don't want to post a proper SOA, do tell us a little bit about yourself so we can get to know you a bit. Of course, only include things you're comfortable sharing on a public forum, but some things you might consider telling us about are:
Are you doing this on your own? If you have a partner, is s/he on board with the MFW thing? What are your spending temptation weaknesses? Are you trying to sort your life out in any other respect at the same time - the most common two around here are house clutter and body weight. Is this your forever home or will you be looking to move in a while?

Good luck and enjoy the journey without wishing your life away.

numptyknownothing

Thank you so much for the welcome and advice xx

Well there is always a story and I'm sure mine is not much different to anyone else. Yes too much clutter and too much weight. I have a DH but he is not really as interested as I am to get the mortgage cleared. I'm a 44 yr old and my husband reached the magical 50 last year. I've had a couple of minor health issues this year and have had a bit of a wobble as to where we are now and where we might be in the next few years. I have a stepdaughter (not sure on the abbreviation for that one!) who we would like to see more of but distance is an issue. We both work full time and work shifts so money is ok but can vary greatly every month.

Weaknesses are too many to mention. I work away quite a bit so when I'm home like us to have treats to make up for my absenses. Never really thought of it like that but its true. Mostly take-away type treats not big purchases. The only problem with that is my waist goes up and the DH stays the same. We have been doing our house up. Its a 1930's semi and I would like it to be our forever home but think 1 more move might be necessary. We still have the kitchen to do but have most of the other big jobs done now. Not bad for 5yrs here and managing to start OP. We're doing better than I thought!!

I have been in a bit of a fog for a few years but have decided that this year things are going to change. I have started OP and have made sure I have spent money on me every month. This might horrify some but I need to get my house in order in many more departments other than just the mortgage. Now that I have started I know there will be no stopping me and the loft and shed are just waited to be raided.... but one step at a time.

numptyknownothing

My next mission - I have been told I have very little core stability - well that's just posh speak for I've put on weight and got a weak back. So it has been suggested I learn the front crawl (free style - in posh speak) but it turns out its not free at all! As I work shifts, I can't attend normal lessons so have been told it will cost £395 for a course of 10 private lessons. So I have been on the web and found a good video. I might still need a couple of lessons to help with the breathing but I should be able to practice the basics by myself. So I didn't spend but did I save £395? Before I would just have not bothered to learn but now I feel a bit more motivated to go and try the exercises I saw to see if I think I could manage without the lessons. This only relates to MF as it shows a change in my mind set to get things done. As I say one step at a time. - And I worked out the signature thing as well.

gallygirl

:wave: Just popped in to say hello :wave:.

Good luck in everything, as you've identified, you need a balance of overpaying and treats. It's all about getting what you want for as little as possible .

Let us know how the swimming goes. I need to stop swimming like a girl, with my head out of the water .

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Hi and welcome,

You don't have to be organised, 100% dedicated or almost mortgage free to be a MFW! But a declaration and a thread is a good place to start. Don't be daunted, just focus on one thing at a time till you get the hang of it.

Mr MRN wasn't interested at all at first... still not interested if it takes any effort from him now! But slowly at the beginning he began to see that frugal living and overpayments were making me happy and he liked that.

numptyknownothing wrote: »

I work away quite a bit so when I'm home like us to have treats to make up for my absenses.

I think there's lots of ways to have treats that don't cost and this could be your starting point... tell us what kind of treats you like to buy when you're not away on business and I bet you'll get some ideas on how to have them at low/no cost at all!

beth111

Didn't want to read and run. Welcome and good luck!!

numptyknownothing

Thank you all xx Got a bit worried reading a couple of others this morning - MF in 2yrs and OP thousands every week!! Really thought I was punching above my weight. I then read your comments and a couple of other diaries and got things back into prospective. We are all on the same MFW mission - phew.

DH is very relaxed about everything. Sometimes I want to set fire to his backside and other times its just what I need. So the MFW is my mission. I think he thinks its just another passing fad. [STRIKE]I hope not.[/STRIKE] ITS NOT.

Swimming will start when I can get to a pool. I'm sitting at home hoping the phone won't ring!! Then at 3pm I'm free until 3pm tomorrow. If I do not hear from work, I am going to find a swimming pool and see if I can start my teach myself swimming mission. Currently I do a very good impression of a turtle with my neck extended so far above my shoulders my face and hair never get wet. Apparently thats not quite right. Right now though, another cup of tea. One step at a time.:)

gallygirl

numptyknownothing wrote: »

Currently I do a very good impression of a turtle with my neck extended so far above my shoulders my face and hair never get wet. Apparently thats not quite right.

It is if you're a turtle. Right style, wrong animal, that's all . A bit like right weight, wrong height .

Lois_E

numptyknownothing wrote: »

Thank you all xx Got a bit worried reading a couple of others this morning - MF in 2yrs and OP thousands every week!! Really thought I was punching above my weight. I then read your comments and a couple of other diaries and got things back into prospective. We are all on the same MFW mission - phew.

DH is very relaxed about everything. Sometimes I want to set fire to his backside and other times its just what I need. So the MFW is my mission. I think he thinks its just another passing fad. [STRIKE]I hope not.[/STRIKE] ITS NOT.

Swimming will start when I can get to a pool. I'm sitting at home hoping the phone won't ring!! Then at 3pm I'm free until 3pm tomorrow. If I do not hear from work, I am going to find a swimming pool and see if I can start my teach myself swimming mission. Currently I do a very good impression of a turtle with my neck extended so far above my shoulders my face and hair never get wet. Apparently thats not quite right. Right now though, another cup of tea. One step at a time.:)

I'm like you - I'm impressed by the people who can make really big OPs or aim to be MF in a few years, but I also need to know there are other long-haulers like me. If you want to read diaries of other people facing a really long journey to MF-dom, try mine (which is here) and also Sepa, QB Wolf, Peonie, Pavlovs_dog and Mortgage free by 50. I'm sure there are others too, if you look for them.

numptyknownothing

Yes, It will be a long haul and I'm flush with the newbie feeling. I just need to keep the ball rolling. 50mins and then I'm off the hook from work and will be out the door with swimsuit in hand. I would put it on but am a bit too big now to have that - oh no, forgot my underwear - feeling! Well I might laugh but it would frighten everone else and if I get banned on my first outing I will not reach my goal.

Gallygirl - you're right about not being right height, but if I was 12ft I'd never get trousers to fit. See we are never happy!