Natty's Kicking her Mortgage in the Pants Diary

nattypants

Yesterday whilst posting on another's diary, I realised that 6 years ago - this month - I joined MSE (although lurked for a good year before that).

So all in all, I have been on MSE for a good seven years which should have been time well spent hammering down my mortgage, naughty nattypants! Today is, as they say, the first day of the rest of my life so what better way to start than kicking my mortgage habit into oblivion.

Now, as a six year old MSE-er I know that keeping a diary is the secret to success, so from today I will be more prolific with posting and ensure that I keep up with other's diaries for inspiration, ideas, hints and top tips.

A wee bit about me...I have two children and a dog (my third baby!) living in a house which could easily have its own Sarah Beeney series;)

My mortgage is currently 110,782.81 and I am currently overpaying by a meagre (compared to some!) 20 per month (cannot find the 'pound' sign on this laptop). My challenge is to increase this amount whenever possible whilst continuing to save pennies for a). emergency fund (1K) and b). security fund (10K) both of which I am a L-O-N-G way off.

My immediate goal is to get my head into E-bay as I have a garage load of bits and pieces so it makes sense to de-clutter and start an overpayment pot immediately, especially as the 'C' word is just round the corner...eeeekkkkk

Will report in again soon

NP:D

Heffi1

Hi,

Good luck I have subscribed to follow you on your MFW journey, I decided that I would attempt to get my mortgage down a bit more this year as we are on interst only and I know that the time is getting closer until it finishes, so the more I can pay now the less I have to worry about later.

nattypants

Hello I'm back - two posts in one day!!! The Universe may implode with this unprecedented act.

Hi especially to Heffi1:lovethoug it's lovely to know that someone is reading my waffle.

I was actually here earlier on attempting a post, however my son appeared so I quickly closed the laptop down (he probably thinks I was on a dating site!). Both my kids know about MSE, however I'm not altogether certain that I would like them to know that I have a diary...is that a bad thing?

I have been thinking about my areas of 'spend' and 'cutback'. In no particular order, the main culprits are;

Petrol - by Friday I will have swapped my gas-guzzler for a far more economical wee 1L so hopefully will notice an immediate improvement.

Groceries - this will be the 3rd month of retaining ALL receipts for totalling. Prior to this I estimated my grocery bill to be 300 per month all in (I am too embarrassed to say the actual amount - maybe later).

Guilty Pleasures - by this I mean chocolate, wine, magazines, crisps and other calorific snacks / non-essential items. I don't go to pubs and have no expensive hobbies, however I know I could cut-back on these 'treats'.

I am away to count my change jar and will report back with the amount, as this will go towards feeding my mortgage's belly.

Back soon

NP:D

Heffi1

nattypants wrote: »

Hello I'm back - two posts in one day!!! The Universe may implode with this unprecedented act.

Hi especially to Heffi1:lovethoug it's lovely to know that someone is reading my waffle.

I was actually here earlier on attempting a post, however my son appeared so I quickly closed the laptop down (he probably thinks I was on a dating site!). Both my kids know about MSE, however I'm not altogether certain that I would like them to know that I have a diary...is that a bad thing?

NP:D

I also post anonymously, we need somewhere to go to get our thoughts out and this is an ideal place. I also like that I can be completely honest on here and no one knows who I am !!

Heffi1

nattypants wrote: »

Groceries - this will be the 3rd month of retaining ALL receipts for totalling. Prior to this I estimated my grocery bill to be 300 per month all in (I am too embarrassed to say the actual amount - maybe later).

Guilty Pleasures - by this I mean chocolate, wine, magazines, crisps and other calorific snacks / non-essential items. I don't go to pubs and have no expensive hobbies, however I know I could cut-back on these 'treats'.

I have recently updated all of my budgets and keep a very detailed spread sheet with pivot tables so I can see exactly where my money goes, a lot goes on petrol about £140 a month and there is nothing i can do about this one, but groceries was an eye opener, I thought it would be a lot less, but it seems I am spending here more than I thought, so have changed to shopping weekly instead of a big monthly shop as I found I was popping to the shop all the time for one thing or another and before I knew it £30 had gone :eek:

nattypants

13.61 duly transferred via on-line banking to Mortgage belly.

I have left the coins in the tin as my other goals for Emergency Fund and Security Fund still remain and this tin symbolises that I have 'ready cash' - albeit in coppers and small silver!

Self-satisfaction coursing through my veins.....is this the start of my addiction?

I'm away to watch my new favourite programme on C4+1 'Double your House for Half the Money'

NP:D

nattypants

Heffi1 wrote: »

I have recently updated all of my budgets and keep a very detailed spread sheet with pivot tables so I can see exactly where my money goes, a lot goes on petrol about £140 a month and there is nothing i can do about this one, but groceries was an eye opener, I thought it would be a lot less, but it seems I am spending here more than I thought, so have changed to shopping weekly instead of a big monthly shop as I found I was popping to the shop all the time for one thing or another and before I knew it £30 had gone :eek:

Your spreadsheet sounds very grand - mine has three basic columns currently; Groceries, Petrol and Fun. I have tried doing large shopping, however at times have shamefully chucked out so much due to out-of-date. Meal planning definitely works, however the kids (late teens) come and go with their own lives and to be honest we rarely eat together so end up with lots of separate meals being cooked. I really do need to scrutinise my grocery receipts further.

PS. Do you have a diary?

NP:D

Heffi1

Ha Ha Mortgage belly I love it

Heffi1

Yes I do have a diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4150273

I have been a bit slow updating over the weekend, but remedied again, I think I am going to list the last few months grocery spends and see if I can get the number down lower.

VoucherMan

nattypants wrote: »

it's lovely to know that someone is reading my waffle.

There'll be plenty of us reading even if no-one comments.

nattypants wrote: »

cannot find the 'pound' sign on this laptop

Usually <shift> & >. It is on my two anyway. If not here's some spares to copy & paste ££££££££££:D

nattypants

Good Morning Diary!

Well, I'm off to Glasgow shortly (work thing) and as I am driving through my petrol consumption will take a battering so may have to do a mini refuel before Friday

I have a bottle of water in my bag to save any unnecessary purchases, however I will no doubt have to purchase some exorbitantly priced sandwich (probably only panninis (sp?) will be on offer at this event!). Actually on second thoughts will take a couple of pieces of fruit from the house and hopefully get away with that:cool:
EVERY PENNY IS MY NEW PRISONER;)

Thank you for your diary link Heffi1 - I look forward to reading this later on tonight.

Ooops - just seen the time, better scoot......

NP:D