The impossible dream

savingholmes

It's great discipline though. You strike me as the kind of person that needs to throw everything at the debt / mortgage while you are still motivated (like me) and that way it balances those periods where you lose motivation.

Tahlullah.H

Absolutely Savings.  If I don't do it now, then it may never happen, so make hay whilst the sun shines!  I am absolutely positive that I will lose motivation at some point.  It's just the way it is, but at least I can say that I did what I could, when I could.  The loss of motivation is usually connected to some external issues and something that I usually have no control about.  But, have a job, have income, have bits of spare money from being really careful where I spend - or not - then I should be ok.  The thing that will stop my overpaying on the mortgage, will be the cost of house improvements or repairs.  I will need to do them, then I will get depressed that I can't afford to do everything, then I will wonder where I went wrong in life why I didn't marry a billionaire, etc and the next thing, I will be depressed and not do any MS until I feel better about life.

I hope you aren't as depressive as I am!!

savingholmes

Sounds very like me. We will get through to the other side one day. At the end of 2016 we owed closer to £70K on CCs and car loans now we are down to less than £17K but it feels a slog at the moment. (We gave back a car and reclaimed PPI and packaged bank accounts which all helped).

Tahlullah.H

I think that is an amazing level of debt-busting over a very short period of time Savings.  You should be proud of yourself.  At the rate you have been going, it should be gone soon and you can begin to focus on what comes next in your life.  You are doing great.  Don't ever doubt your ability to succeed.

savingholmes

Thanks Tahlullah. We all just have to keep reminding ourselves how far we've come. It always feels impossible and never-ending until it's done. One day it will be done. I hope you love your new balcony - as much as I'm loving my purple slate - and slate style patio circle

Tahlullah.H

So, I received an unexpected windfall as well today.  Not as much as Savings, but appreciated none the less.  Must be the month for it!

Paid my visa bill and the last payment on my holiday, so that if they cancel, I can get a refund.  Also paid a bit into my car loan, so all is good.  Not sure what to do with my windfall.  I may just keep it as my emergency fund for as and when I need something, rather than ploughing it into another debt, of one sort or the other.  Sometimes, you have to try and enjoy your money.  Christmas seems like a good opportunity to do it without guilt, especially when not spending money that could be allocated for something else.

To be fair, payday this month will be early on Thursday and I think my surplus money will not stretch that far until next payday at the end of January, so I should enjoy this windfall!

savingholmes

Glad you had a windfall. Sounds like it was a decent chunk. I just wish we'd been debt free so I could have enjoyed more of it without guilt. We did splash out on a takeaway but that's about it. 

Moneyfordreams

congrats on the windfall - my sister got a long forgotten about PPI yesterday. enjoy the extra while you can  

Tahlullah.H

My windfall still has not arrived.  Not sure when they are planning to send the cheque.  It would be great if it arrived after Christmas, in that long walk to the next pay day because someone thought it was a good idea to pay us early in December.

I am hoping I will also get a bit of money from HSBC for their substandard service.  I am with First Direct and feel that they offer a great service, but you never know.

I fixed my mortgage interest rate for next March onwards.  A really high rate compared to other mortgages, but you have to pay to enjoy the Offset facilities.  I think it's worth it to have access to low interest borrowing if I need it.

All presents bought and posted.  Just one more shop before Christmas to get some snacks for the holiday as well as cat food and cat litter.  The excitement of it all!

I am hoping to make one more payment into the mortgage before the end of the year, perhaps £50 to make it a nice round number to start 2021.  My food budget is underspent, so I may manage it, depending on how much I buy on Saturday.  All positive.

savingholmes

Hope your windfall arrives soon. It would be good if you manage to make your money stretch for an OP. At the same time it is Xmas so be kind to yourself whichever way it goes.