The impossible dream

Tahlullah.H

Nearly the end of the month.  Not a lot to report on my 'pay the mortgage down' scheme.  I appear to have come off the boil in relation to money saving and money making.  I am still however,  directing scheduled payments to the mortgage, and I also managed to overpay this month by £200 from my work bonus, so that is a great plus.

To be fair, if I hadn't scheduled the payments, I don't think I would be succeeding at this challenge, but good planning and paying myself first has meant the 'grand aim' is coming to fruition.  So, I will start June owing £13,800, which is better than my planned £14k.

The end of June will be the end of quarter 2, where I have scheduled another £1k payment, so in theory, at the end of June, I should owe £11,300.

This is what I have planned.  If I owe less than this figure at the end of the month, this will be due to unscheduled payments, which would be fantastic.  But I do not plan to 'do without'.  Living life is important.  So, the plan will get me to where I want to be at the end of the year.  Anything else is a bonus.

Really pleased to be where I am at present, considering what was owed on 1 January 2023.  Roll on 1 January 2024!

TallGirl

You are doing so well especially in these difficult times really shows how much a little and often chips away at things. 

savingholmes

You are motoring along. Fantastic.

LeighofMar

Wonderful progress!

Tahlullah.H

Thank you for the positive support TG, savings an Leigh.  I just hope I manage to get to where I want to be at the end of the year.  If I don't, I will manage it by the end of January, but that is the Plan B position.

Had a really spendy weekend, but was really pleased nonetheless.  Home insurance was due and I decided to pay for it in one go rather than pay extra due to the interest charged for choosing manageable monthly payments.  Anyway, happy as I had the money to do it!  The very next day, the dishwasher broke.  One of those things, I've had it for ages and its such a shame.  Anyway, I was able again, to buy a replacement, delivery on Thursday, without resorting to credit.

Fantastic outcome.  The problem being if something else crops up.  Not sure I will have enough money left to make another big purchase like that.  Thank goodness for the emergency pot!  Time to fill it again.

Anyway, I am definitely not watching the pennies recently, I seem to be spending a lot of money.  I need to re-look at budgeting for the next few months, as I know I have some big bills coming my way, which shouldn't impact on the mortgage overpayments.  Take control of the spending!

savingholmes

Ouch to the bills. Underlines the importance of an EF.

Tahlullah.H

There is a film on telly today called 'The impossible dream'.  I may have to watch it.

New neighbours!!  The old ones have finally gone.  Hoping the new ones are reasonable.  Gave them a bottle of wine as a welcome.

A new month awaits.  Last month was absolutely awful in terms of money leaving my accounts and even though I have been paid, I do not have enough money to get me through to the end as I had to spend to cover bills etc.  So, I will have to be careful and fall back on my credit card to get me through.  At least I know I have to, rather than it being a shock.

I know I am owed money in August from Calor, as I am ahead and they always refund, so a bit coming next month.  Otherwise, I may have to consider my PB's for some operating income for the month.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some.  My win was on Omaze, I won £10.00.  I also missed £10 last month, so that was my loss.

On the mortgage front, I am still on track.  All monies paid as expected and I start the month owing £11,300.  I would love to find the extra £300 to get back to my whole numbers, but I am struggling, so perhaps in August?  Anyway, by the end of July, I will be sub £10,000, to be exact, £9,800.

Hopefully, no other appliances will die, and there will be no other large bills that I have snuck up on me.  To be fair, I only got into this pickle because I chose to pay the insurance in a lump sum as opposed to by DD.

Money making, I have all but given up on this.  I think surveys etc are something that comes and goes in waves, and my wave has gone.  I have no interest in this at the moment.  NSD are the norm, but when I do spend, I go large!  And saving coins has just about died out as I no longer operate with cash.  So, many of the things I did in the past have stopped.  But the desire is still there.

6 months to go to mortgage freedom.

LeighofMar

I feel you but you're still doing so great on the mortgage front. It will even out. It's very similar over here. Work is terribly slow at the moment and counting pennies until it starts up again. But at least we have paid off so much of the mortgage that we know it will soon be over and we can breathe again. You got this. 

savingholmes

Sorry finances have been stretching recently. You set yourself a huge target though and are going great guns.

Tahlullah.H

So, mid July and a quick round-up.  Mortgage payments are going ok.  I will have broken the £10k barrier by the end of the month, so really happy about this.  I can see the end and then at the beginning of next year, I can clear the car loan, so all going in the right direction.

Work is good, the new CEO is really great - that is to say, we haven't had a run-in as yet.  But he seems really reasonable and open to suggestions, which is all you want.

Getting ready to go on my summer holiday.  Taking Kitty with me.  Just got a price on a Rabies shot and the Animal Health Certificate - seriously, vets are really taking the pee!  Why on earth does it cost £300 just to fill in some forms and issue a certificate?  And £90 for one injection?  Seriously daylight robbery on their part.  I can understand why so many people prefer to go to Belgium to buy an European Pet Passport which lasts for 3 years.

Anyway, the cost of living is really beginning to bite.  For the first time, it has truly impacted me, with 3 separate people I know asking to borrow money over the last 2 months.  This has never happened before, so I know it must really be bad.  1 repaid as promised, 1 still hasn't repaid, but I doubt I will make a fuss and the 3rd, I sent the money yesterday, so we will see.

Anyway, Calor Gas keep changing my direct debit - 2 months on the trot.  Hopefully, in August, when they do their review, it will settle down.  All other payments on schedule, apart from the big debt that still is outstanding.  Waiting for the bill.  I am certain it will be prohibitive, but nothing I can do about that.

Nothing happening with my Premium Bonds or Omaze.  Pity.

Wedding coming up soon, so need to put money in the wedding account as well as buy my shoes.  I already have a couple of dresses that I am happy to wear, plus a handbag that will do fine.

5 months to mortgage freedom!