I have a dream...to be a MFW

ajmoney

We had a lovely time in Berlin although it wasn't quite what we were expecting/wanting. We have already decided to spend Christmas at home next year but maybe head away for a couple of days before hand. I love holidays but there is nothing better than getting home and sleeping in your own bed

I have obviously not been following the news properly but while away I saw hints that the interest rates may go up at the end of next year after rates in the US going up. I may try and factor this into my money plans for next year although I am still not entirely sure what these will be yet. I think I am going to stop paying into my ISA and send all the money across to my RS account.

I am going to come up with a new to-do list to complete before I head back to work in 2 weeks. I hope that by doing this I will actually do something and not fritter away my time.

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas. We watched The Nutcracker at a theatre in Berlin and then went out for food. We didn't have any presents and didn't miss that part, I have one under the tree which I really should open! We are already planning fun presents for next year, I would much rather give gifts. We are seeing some of Mr AJMs family tomorrow, I am hoping to go to my parents for a day but it might depend on the weather!

ajmoney

I am starting to make my list which will probably grow a lot but if I don't start putting it down here I may forget/conveniently forget so of the things I need to, should and want to do.

Make sure all clothes fit, CS the ones that I don't want and see if any others can be altered.
Sort/organise cupboards in spare rooms
Make a list of Christmas stuff we have ready for next year
Tidy kitchen cupboard
Tidy coffee table
Sort through all paperwork

I am hoping my list will form the basis for organising the house before I hopefully move back up this way in the summer.

ajmoney

Updating my list as I have remembered some other things

Make sure all clothes fit, CS the ones that I don't want and see if any others can be altered.
Sort/organise cupboards in spare rooms
Make a list of Christmas stuff we have ready for next year
Tidy kitchen cupboard
Tidy coffee table
Sort through all paperwork
Sort kitchen unit drawers
Check utility company are giving us the best deal
Look into ordering a smart meter

edinburgher

Hope you're enjoying your Christmas break AJM, sorry the Berlin trip wasn't exactly what you were looking for. Some of my rellies had a pre-Christmas trip there and enjoyed the markets etc. Don't Germans 'do' Christmas on Christmas eve? The actual day (for us) might feel like a bit of an anticlimax.

ajmoney

edinburgher wrote: »

Hope you're enjoying your Christmas break AJM, sorry the Berlin trip wasn't exactly what you were looking for. Some of my rellies had a pre-Christmas trip there and enjoyed the markets etc. Don't Germans 'do' Christmas on Christmas eve? The actual day (for us) might feel like a bit of an anticlimax.

Yes they celebrate on Christmas Eve, we had a good day on both days. We think we have narrowed it down, the hotels we normally go to are smaller and family run whereas where we stayed this time was probably one of the biggest hotels in the city so had no personality. If we go away at this time of year again then we need to go to this kind of place.

Ed, where was it you were buying your light bulbs from and can you give me some links to light fitting websites please? We are looking to replace one of our lights but are struggling to find anything we like.

edinburgher

I'm not particularly imaginative, I'm using the monster that is Am@azon for bulbs - where else can you narrow down a list of xxxxx Chinese LED lightbulbs to the perfect one? Light fittings have been a combination of John Lew1s (public rooms), Amazon (bedrooms) and electrician provided (downlights, couldn't care less as long as the fittings were fire/moisture rated).

Brand wise, I like Phill1ps for their global reach/ability to honour warranties, although Auror@ are also great for cheaper bulbs, like downlights.

ajmoney

We went to an independent lighting shop today and bought the first light we saw, we just need to try and put it up now, it is amazing that we both liked it straight away. I need to take a look for our bedroom though. I also need to buy a lot of bulbs ready for when we need them.

ajmoney

Final payday of the year, I have done the money shuffling that can be done today and will do the rest tomorrow. I have sorted out my mortgage figures and in the last year with standard payments and our OPs we have paid £10577.94 off our mortgage. While this is not a huge amount our £2038.89 OPs will have helped massively I have set a conservative target for the MFW 2016 challenge but am hoping to beat it, especially to counteract any rate rises that mght happen next year. Although Mr AJM doesn't share my enthusiasm or drive for the MF quest it is the point of the year where I let him know how things have gone and just how much money we have managed to shave off our mortgage. While we are changing our tastes towards holidays it might be the time to do something different in our future quest.

I am going to be strict with my spending diary in 2016, not sure yet whether this will be a paper affair or if I will do better to set something up on my phone. I am also going to put my spends into different categories during January to see how to set myself a spending budget. This should only be needed until the summer when I hopefully move nearer home and everything will need to be readjusted again but the more I can work on my spending and reduce things before then to move across to my savings the better.

I am full of optimism for the new year. Although some things work wise haven't quite gone the way I have wanted this year I have had an amazing year all the same, especially with my exercise. I have many challenges in the pipeline for next year and am looking forward to what this may bring.

I am not one for setting resolutions as I would much rather live my life the way I want so I have 2 things I want to live my life by next year. Firstly is to do things that make me happy and the second is to listen to my own head and not listen to other people that may suggest I can't do something. This may sound strange but from an exercise point of view for years I have had other people telling me I can't do things due to an issue I have with my hip but during the last 6 months I have realised I didn't do things not because my body couldn't do them but because other people had convinced me I couldn't do them. If I can bring this across into my financial quest for freedom I will be happy although this will mean working towards savings goals that MF goals but in the meantime I can hope that Mr AJM will come round to my way of thinking.

I hope everyone has a great new year whatever you are doing. We are going to my sister-in-law's for the evening for a quiet famile affair which is the only way we will celebrate as we are not the party animal types. I am looking forward to 2016 and setting the same kind of discipline in my money life that I seem to be managing in my fitness life.

Luckyinlife

10k in OPS is huge you may not think its much but some people i know dont get payed much more than this in a year !!! so amazing work aj :]

Im sure mr aj will come round eventually if not least your on it like sonic :]

Have a nice new year aj

ajmoney

Luckyinlife wrote: »

10k in OPS is huge you may not think its much but some people i know dont get payed much more than this in a year !!! so amazing work aj :]

Im sure mr aj will come round eventually if not least your on it like sonic :]

Have a nice new year aj

I wish, it includes our normal monthly payment which is £1160 :eek: