To Freedom...

kirstypark

paid an extra £106 to the mortgage today and along with our regular overpayment we now owe £78k with almost £10,000 in overpayments :j It is definately slowing down now. Really fancy having a cheap week away next month - we haven't been abroad for a year now, unheard off for us that used to fly off every 2 months or so.

Gave up looking for kitchens for the moment, it will have to wait until after the new york trip. We wre going with another 3 couples and they keep texting with stuff they have found to do whilst there "do you want us to get tickets for you so we can go as a group?" and the tickets are always the most expensive seats as "there is no point unless we get the best view" One couple have already upgraded to first class flights, and think they were expecting us to do the same. I understand that we want to make the most of it, but am not bankrupting myself for the sake of a holiday.

decided that our front garden was looking very shabby so we spent a hot weekend digging up around 4 tonnes of grass and making several trips to tip. pulled out several scabby bushes and small trees. Now we have a front garden with just earth, and several pulled muscles. Cannot decide which gravel to lay there, but think it will be the cheapest one!

shangaijimmy

That's not gardening, that's labouring... I got sick of the garden looking shabby and then spending a day getting it tidied up but not having to chance to sit in it. So i dug it all up an laid artificial. Best thing i've ever spent money on. Mrs SJ then look after a few well positioned pots and baskets whilst i sit with tea watching...!

LauraJo

Hello!
Long time no type!
MASSIVE WELL DONE on new job and graduation!!!
I know what you mean about a sh!tty commute having just jacked in my one! Hopefully it'll make things easier for you.
Fab overpayments too!

kirstypark

Hi
lauraJo, i noticed you were back, Do you find saving harder than overpaying? I'm struggling to keep the money in the accounts. good luck with your new job too.

Jimmi - the front garden now has no grass and we have even weeded the embankment at the back which belongs to the railway as the nettles and brambles were threatening to take over our bit. So another 2 trailer loads up to the tip today.

Spent the weekend in St Andrews camping - was great fun, but found some delicious spendy shops and was feeling a bit flush as had a tax rebate, so got carried away. Went to Crail and bought fresh lobster which was cooked for us on the quay, then added spaghetti, cream, chilli flakes, tomatoes and basil for tea. Other campers looked on enviously with their beans on toast - we know how to live!

I did overpay £73.19 today. :T Then bought some tickets to see a band playing in our town later this year :eek: must stop spending...

Having a week off before starting my new job, and going to go camping again tomorrow - first time driving the camper on my own. Will just go quite local so OH can drive down after work and spend the night. Then have my leaving night at the end of the week.

LauraJo

Morning!
In answer to your question - yes I do find it harder to save than OP. Mostly because my OH can't save for toffee!! I guess he's entitled to a bit of spending since he did finally back me but even so....


I think I am now just going to steal money from the account and hope he doesn't notice!! He'll thank me in the long run right?!


What else are you planning with your week off?

kirstypark

well, I enjoyed camping on my own so much that I stayed for 3 nights. Although Mr P joined me in the evenings. was very relaxed and chilled.

Started my new job on monday and it feels like I am on holiday again! very stress free after what my previous job had morphed into. 2 minute commute to work - not bad, eh?

But Mr P needed a holiday so have raided the piggy bank and going on a late deal to Turkey in 3 weeks time. Then we really need to start saving! Mr P is out at his 2nd job tonight so trying to save those wages for holidays. Miss P heading back to uni this weekend so no rent from her for a few months.

Our freind is going through chemo at the moment, but had this week's session cancelled so wants a day out tomorrow - we are planning a day trip with all 8 of our group to cheer her up. I predict a sausage sizzle on the beach!

kirstypark

our barbie on the beach went well - we emptied the camper of all the treats I had tucked away, our freinds enjoyed it. Then the insurance company gave us a new valuation on the camper and reckon it is now worth £9,500. So pleased with that as we bought it for £5000 last year. So some hard work has paid off.

Didn't overpay much this month - just an extra £35 round up as still saving for holidays and boiler and kitchen. Also decided a new bathroom would be nice Finished the front garden with blue slate chippings so it looks good. Balance of mortgage now down to £77k.

kirstypark

back from Turkey this week after a late break and almost ready to start overpaying again, although need to save some for our next trip at end of november. Got a cheque from CPP which will be used to overpay once it clears. Plan is to live quietly for the next 2 months and keep spends down to a minimum. We will see how that goes...

kirstypark

so, as planned, been living very quietly, saving hard for holiday to new york and not done much overpaying on mortgage. But the balance is at 76k so not too bad and trip is all paid for with spending cash sitting waiting to be used. What a change from when i would just stick it all on a card to be paid once home!

OH has had awful dental problems this month - he's been off work and no chance of any extra work or overtime, but it does seem to be getting a bit better.

kirstypark

It's a bit sad to be posting on christmas day, but waiting for the family to wake up and thought about my diary. It's been so neglected! but I'm still on track!

New York holiday was wonderful - we ended up selling our 2nd car and used the cash for spending. So was not stressed and spent what we had without dipping into savings. Decided not to do christmas cheaply this year and have stopped penny pinching this month - but that will change back in January.

Both kids are moving out early feb, bye bye rent money! It does make us wonder if we need our bigger home now, but love the house so much we will try and keep it, but that mortgage needs gone! balance at £76k and it's my 47th birthday today so need to start saving for retirement in exactly 3 years. Let's see what we can do!

But also still need a new kitchen and bathroom in case we do decide to move, so the house would be worth a bit more. So have £5K saved up for that so far.