SF's road to mortgage freedom!

DedicatedDFW

Hi SF - quickly popping in to say your plans sound fab :j Where are you going in America ? - i have been to a couple of places there and love it

I just wanted to wish you well with your plans and also second beanie as i hope you will keep your diary going i find your posts really inspirational and make me think about things in a different way too

slowlyfading

DedicatedDFW wrote: »

Hi SF - quickly popping in to say your plans sound fab :j Where are you going in America ? - i have been to a couple of places there and love it

We're going to fly to Toronto, then go to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC - I can't wait :j :j

I just wanted to wish you well with your plans and also second beanie as i hope you will keep your diary going i find your posts really inspirational and make me think about things in a different way too

Really? I often think my posts are really boring thank you xx

Sparkles87

slowlyfading wrote: »

Haha this made me do this as I'm excited too!

Thanks for your thoughts - I'm hoping babies aren't too expensive? not that I know anything! Although, two of DH's cousins have had children this year, so I'm hoping for some hand-me-downs when the time eventually arrives!

I'm not sure about maternity pay - will that be in my contract? Or the staff handbook? I haven't paid much attention to be honest My biggest bug bear is that we're a one car famiy, and a 3-door car at that, so we'll definitely need to upgrade to a bigger car, which will obviously be a big cost. All these things to think about!

I can't wait though Can it be August 2014 already?

They can't be expensive or they can be fairly frugally covered - it all depends on your preferences...for example, the upfront cost of reusable nappies is bigger but they are more economical overall but personally, we decided that it was too much faff. Breastfeeding is obviously much cheaper but not everyone can do it or wants to, and formula isn't cheap. I think they get cheaper, as 6m they start having food, 12m the growing slows a bit, 9m-ish they go to a bigger carseat which can last until 4 years with some.

Could be contract or handbook, definitely worth checking both as SMP is a measly £585 a month! :eek:

Hand-me-downs are great, accept everything - you aren't obligated for them to wear it.

Do you own your car outright? Might be worth selling it and leasing one with the money. It's worked out only £50 more a month and OH is driving around in a brand new car!

slowlyfading

Didn't realise maternity pay is so low :eek: :eek: will definitely check that! And yep, we own our car, so leasing may be an option. There's lots to think about! At least we have at least a year to get our heads round it

slowlyfading

So, it's the start of the month so an update of sorts, as per usual

The mortgage interest has been added, and it's down to £10.28 so slowly going down under the magic £10 a day. Obviously, as this is the last month we're going to do a big OP, that'll slow down considerably in the new year.

The interest has also been paid into my savings accounts which adds up to a whole £5.50 :rotfl: so I won't be retiring off that anytime soon! I've counted my £2 jar, which currently holds £54. We've decided that we're going to use that for spending money for America, but judging by how often I get £2 coins, it won't go very far!

It's a training day today, so it's a nice day off before the hectic end of term which is lovely. I've been into town and bought a couple more christmas presents. I'm really struggling with what to buy the male members of the family - any ideas anyone? I also treated myself to a panini and hot chocolate from costa which was very nice. A man was sat working on a laptop and having a coffee in there, which made me a bit envious. Oh, to have a job where you can just sit in a coffee shop and work! I wonder what he does.

Nothing much else - it's my birthday on Friday and I've asked for some books and some money towards a new laptop. I'm not looking forward to being a year older, but I'm looking forward to what the next year brings

Peonie

Happy birthday for Friday. So far I've bought the men in my family alcohol and er.... alcohol. Another is getting a puppy so he's getting dog stuff.

slowlyfading

Alcohol may be the answer - why are men so difficult to buy for?!

NSD today for us not much else to report - pretty average Tuesday...!

slowlyfading

I love birthdays

DH has bought me a violin! I've said for a long time that I've wanted to learn (despite everything else I already play) and now I have no excuse :rotfl: so I've been looking online for violin lessons - I'm excited

I've also had lots of little bits and bobs, I'm a lucky girl

DH is cooking tea too :j phili-steak-cheese sandwich with onion rings, garlic mushrooms and coleslaw, followed by toblerone cheesecake :drool: :drool: good job it's not like this every day

Sparkles87

Happy birthday SF xx

slowlyfading

Thanks Sparkles

Today has definitely not been a NSD :eek: I've been christmas shopping! I'm almost done, just got to get a couple more bits and pieces for DH and then I am but, it's expensive, and very easy to get carried away!

I'm hoping for a completely NSD week to counter-act spending this weekend - I've got everything planned and don't need anything (think I need to repeat this often this week!)

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not feeling particularly Christmas-y? We're putting our decorations up next weekend when we're both off, so maybe it'll feel like it a bit more then.