Mrs M's Mortgage Free Journey

Mrs_Money_Penny

Well another month gone. Have not been any where other than a couple of trips to the supermarket. Did manage to get a free settee off of Facebook market place. This has gone in the conservatory the cats will enjoy it when the weather improves along with us.
Last month managed to come in cheaper for food for the month. Tonight we have Christmas turkey slices. So Christmas dinner for us. Managed to buy on Boxing Day 2 massive turkeys for £9.80 each. So cooked one and sliced it up. Feeds about 17 people each one. We have had quite a few meals already and still have 5 portions left in the freezer. Did go to Aldi this morning I hadn’t intended going but a friend put on Facebook that her and her husband was struggling and the food bank was shut. So I got 2 decent bags of food enough for a roast and 2 more dinners & lunches. So happy to help her she’s a lovely lady.It such good value in there. It certainly makes me feel grateful for all that I have.
The weather is so cold today haven’t gone above 2 degrees so not been out running.I am sat under a fleece blanket instead. 
Dentist next week that won’t be good need a filling so will be expensive.
Hope everyone is keeping safe. Take care.xx

Mrs_Money_Penny

A few months have gone by since I have written. Now have a Camper van. Van was converted in April. Costs as expected. Been on two trips first one to the Gower weather not so good. Second trip after my 60th Birthday to the New Forest weather wonderful. 
My out door Birthday lunch went well. Hard work before had as I did all the food myself including desert. Did splash out £70 on a special Birthday cake for myself had a cats theme. Models of my current and previous cats.
away next Thursday in the camper van for 3 nights. 
Moneywise  a few spendy months. Few things required for the van. Tow bar fitting in a couple of weeks. Car service paid for. Lent our daughter money for her first car. Hope she passes her test. Nightmare trying to get a test bookings being made available are December. Now I need to have a tooth out and as I’m a terrified of dentists I’m private and have sedation so £480 in a couple of weeks! No savings much this month.
Fixed rate hopefully sorted for our buy to let saving £150 a month. Need to look at one part of our mortgage which ends October about £20k do I pay it off or partly off from savings. Decisions Decisions.
Take care anyone who is reading my ramblings.

Jessy103

Good luck at the dentist 🙂

jimjames

Mrs_Money_Penny said:

Need to look at one part of our mortgage which ends October about £20k do I pay it off or partly off from savings. Decisions Decisions.

If it doesn't leave your savings too low then that's definitely an option. Unlikely you'll get interest rate on savings to be higher than mortgage. I've just switched one part of my mortgage for a similar amount and got it at 1.24% so there are low rates out there. You might even be able to switch now, my rate was ending in November but you could apply 5 months earlier and it takes effect from 3 months before so Sept.

Mrs_Money_Penny

Happy New Year to everyone. Dusts of diary.
Looking back on last year not too much in the house in the way of decorating was achieved. We did however have the camper van fitted out and that all came from savings.
It meant that we had a good few weekend trips and a 2 week holiday touring round Yorkshire. Most enjoyable.
September my husband who does a lot of cycling got hit off his bike by a van. It just came up from behind and hit him. Driver didn’t see him. Fine sunny day. He was told he was very lucky to have the injuries he had. Broken wrist, finger, shoulder and 2 fractured vertebrae in the back. He was discharged from hospital 2 days later in body brace, sling & cast. He still gets paid from work so that’s no worry. He was working from home so really ended up having 6 weeks off. Recovery is slow and he’s getting impatient. He has started a bit of cycling on his turbo in the garage and some walking on my running machine. Going to be getting private physio and gym membership from the other parties insurance. Insurance claim on going.
So no trips in the van from that point and the ones we had booked are moved to this year. Have something to look forward to each month from April.
Success’s from last year I lost 2 1/2 stone in weight. Need to lose another 4lb to get to my lowest weight.

This year need to save to pay off one part of the mortgage which ends end of January 23. Currently at £23,502 what I don’t save will come from my ISA. My husband wants to retire next April 23 so need to clear it. 
The following year end of January 24 the next bit ends. Need to clear that as will both only have our pensions. State pension doesn’t kick in for another 6 years.
So looking at the figures spent last year more spent on fuel the camper van made that difference. The food bill has gone down by £1.5k which is staggering. We now have a Aldi & Lidl in our town, well 2 of each to be exact so that’s helped. I have been cooking from scratch more so will keep this up.
I have been decluttering some cupboards especially when my husband was at home as it gave us something worth while to do. We’re having a new loft hatch fitted in a few weeks with a proper ladder so will hopefully be sorting out the loft. I don’t know half of what we got up there.
Husbands hoping to do the main bathroom this year I need to choose tiles etc.
I will try not to leave it so long for next update.

Mrs_Money_Penny

A late January update. £670 moved to the offset so pleased with that. Unfortunately our daughter had an accident in her car last Thursday. She has whiplash luckily no one else was involved. No reason for her to skid across the road. Front wheels damaged. Heard back from the garage it was towed to beyond economic repair.  So looks like she will have to contact the insurance company. Don’t think her boyfriend has told her yet. She’s already deeply upset about it. Sigh what a worry kids are. I am a born worrier have already lost a couple of pound over this. Silly I know but on a bonus ran my frustration and upset off at the parkrun on Saturday and knocked a minute off.
This month is going well money wise but think it maybe needed for a replacement car. Probably won’t get so much back on the insurance as we paid and cars having gone up in value there may well be a shortfall.

Tahlullah.H

Hello @Mrs_Money_Penny.  I thought I would say hello as you kindly joined me on my diary whilst I attempt to clear my mortgage.  I have ready yours, I really love the fact you only check in twice a year!!

I have a campervan which I love, but was looking at getting one fitted out.  Finding something that meets my needs is proving impossible.  The one I have is fantastic, but time has passed - 3 years and my wants and needs have changed, so trying to get one that fits is just about impossible.  Found one about a month ago, but there was no heating and therefore probably no insulation.  No good if you want to do winter holidays!  So, looking to get one converted.  

I hope that the next time you check in, you have cleared the mortgage and you are out and about in your campervan on your holidays!