The impossible dream

Tahlullah

Spent a productive couple of hours this morning staring at my spreadsheet and playing with impossible numbers, suggesting how quickly I could pay off the mortgage if I paid x amount per month.

Went on to look at my Excel house from GallyGirl; nothing happening there either.

So, did a quick Tilly Tidy to bring my mortgage up to a whole number, £8.21.

Then looked at my items selling on ebay; still hoping to get £100 to deposit, but not sure because until the fees for ebay have been paid, Paypal fees have been deducted and postage to all purchasers have come out, won't really know how much is mine. I will be happy with £50, but really wanted £100.

Went to the hairdresser and got conned into buying some fancy Paul Mitchell shampoo and conditioner for £21.00. Oh well, I don't do it often. Get conned I mean.

Still reaching for the stars when the moon is brighter and closer to me...

Tahlullah

Just paid my last £100 into my mortgage account, so have met the challenge set by gallygirl to meet £1000 before the end of the year. So chuffed!

My new challenge has been set, which is to reduce the number of bricks in my house. This will take a bit of strategic planning around payments and overpayments. But, I am going to give myself a break for Christmas; my present to myself, and start again in earnest in the new year.

Honestly, I don't know if I will achieve my goal of being mortgage free before I am 51, but I am certainly having fun trying!

newgirly

Well done on hitting that target tallulah :beer: keep up the good work

Tahlullah

Hello anyone who is reading these vague ramblings.

I have just managed to make another £100 overpayment, so over the moon as strategically, my next mortgage payment will mean I can fill in another brick in my excel house.

All good, but general living expenses going up. Assume because of Christmas spends. But not going to improve immediately once the festivities are over because I have my winter sport holiday coming up in Feb.

Does one ever get onto an even keel?

Good and bad in everything.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Evening, it's a long old slog but every penny off means less interest.

Tilly x

Tahlullah

Sometimes you can't see the woods for the trees. We forget why we are doing this and become obsessed with the mechanics of saving money in one form or the other, and we need to step back and remember that this is about paying less interest so more in your pocket with which to enjoy life. Remember, we work to live, not live to work.

Anyhow, haven't found a penny today, so can't add to my Roadkill total. Haven't made an overpayment so can't fill in a brick on my excel house.

But, I have been out collecting wood! Someone has dumped a load from a house they are renovating, so I felt the need to assist in the cleaning up process and took some. I guess that if they wanted to keep it, it should have been in the garden, not on the spare land to the side.

There is too much to collect in one go, plus it really needs cutting up into more managable peices to move. I wonder if it will still be there tomorrow or if anyone else will come along and take it for their open fire / log burner.

I will see what tomorrow brings. This is truely money saving. The more I collect to burn, the less often I have to use the central heating. True wombling!

gallygirl

Tahlullah wrote: »

This is truely money saving. The more I collect to burn, the less often I have to use the central heating. True wombling!

:T:T:T Nice one :T:T:T

Tahlullah

Decided to spend some of my hard earned money on a cat scratch post for Rufus. The hope being that he will suddenly realise that this is what he has been waiting for all his life and didn't realise he couldn't live without. He would instantly gather it to his bosom and refuse to be parted from it, whilst simultaneously averting his cat sharpening tendencies away from the sofa.

Well, no. He does however like the box it came in! There has to be a way of teaching this cat that this is the best thing since sliced bread and that it is the equivalent of having his own nail bar at home. Perhaps a liberal dosing of cat nip spray? He has never shown any interest in the stuff before, but it has to be worth a try. Total waste of money but you have to try.

Anyway, still not fully prepared for Christmas yet. Bought a pair of new tyres a couple of months ago and managed to pick up a big screw, which caused a blowout on the motorway. Over an hours wait for the RAC to send a tow truck; got onward travel and no spare, just a tin of spray. But the tyre was shredded so I had to be recovered. So, now need to buy another tyre. Another £100 down the drain.

Christmas food shopping needs to start in earnest. Will be relatively painless as checked and I have £37 of Nectar points to spend in Sainsburys anf £77 Tesco clubcard points. There is a reason I buy my petrol and food at their shop using their visa card. And this is it!

All in all, spending is still increasing, but coming up with ways to spend less in other areas. Just imagine no RAC cover and needing a new tyre in December, with no other money or way to buy food. Sometimes, you have to stand back and remind yourself how lucky you are, just to have alternatives.

TallGirl

Horrible news about the tyre great that you had cover or it could have been super expensive. Can of spray is just useless in such situation. (Mental note to check if my new car has a spare tyre)

Cats are funny things but I must say mine has always used a scratch pad right from kitten hood.

My two who are four have totally ripped the first one they had so just bought a huge one and they are just getting used to the fact they can now reach up. Mine always use it befor they head outside I think it's to get ready for he kill. Maybe try it it diffenrt places until you find a favorite I don't dare move mine. Also if you do catch him scratching something he shouldn't put him straight onto the scratch pad. Mine are good I must say only does the odd thing on the carpets.

Nice one about the nectar/Tesco points but don't forget you get more points via the other deal. I usually get a magazine subscriptions and the RAC cover is also worth more.

Tahlullah

Cheers for the tip Tall Girl. Will try relocating the post. Perhaps to outside with him attached to it...

Points definitely worth more if spent in other areas, but needs must, if I want a half decent Christmas, which involves Rufus having the opportunity to try and run off with the turkey before it is cooked.

Good news for the day, I have just filled in another brick in my excel house! Just 32 to go, or another 3 and a bit years.

Still on track to pay off before I am 51. Getting ready for my repayment challenge for 2014. I am hoping that at this point next year, I will have 20 bricks to go. If not, I hope I will be able to look back and understand why and perhaps what went wrong, and more importantly, what can I do to rectify the shortfall.