our forever patch challenge

sammy70

This past week has been exhausting!

We have managed to get the two gazebos delivered, and built, just one roof of shingles to complete. Work as ground to a halt due to yet more snow, im absolutely fed up of rain, mud, snow and cold!!!!

So another weeks delay in opening, as still lots of little time consuming jobs to do as well as roof to complete once this latest lousy spell of weather has passed.

On a positive note, ive used some savings to cover a large overpayment meaning today the mortgage balance is £80,900, a massive reduction from £89,671.13 on the first of February , so a reduction of £8771.13 this month !!

If only i could do that every month!

sammy70

Right- After seeing recent news around interest rates lowering on savings to virtually nowt, and premium bond prize rates dropping again, cost of living going up, general uncertainty in the world, hubby and i have after lots of debates bit the bullet and- cashed in all our p,bonds/savings barring 3 month emergency funds, and PAID OFF OUR MORTGAGE IN FULL!!!!! yey !!

I feel a massive relief. We are in our mid fifties now, and though i enjoyed the security of our built up savings, i think being mortgage free means we can now move forward on saving for and completing the many works we want to complete on this house, and our budget now changes to savings for retirement/house projects/emergency funds all free of paying hundreds in interest .

WE ARE COMPLETELY DEBT FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!

South_coast

OMG, THAT'S INCREDIBLE 🎉🎉🎉!!! Oh, I am so, so pleased for you, very well done 😀

Do you think you'll continue to post on here? There are plenty of post-MFWs, and I for one love hearing about your country life 🩷

Hettyhound

OMG!!!!!!!! It was reading your diary all those years ago that made me start mine ❤️. Enjoy that feeling, I’m hoping to be there next year so thank you 😀

sammy70

Thanks south-coast and Hettyhound! im still in a daze with it happening so quickly! its a lovely feeling owing nothing to anyone!

i think i will still post as we now are saving for the many projects on this house, and i love the company! x

beanielou

Fantastic news for you.

Chili81

Congratulations! I've also been following for a while and I also love hearing about your cafe and country life.

What a massive achievement. Well done

Jessy103

Congratulations Sammy! What fantastic news. I'm really happy for you 🎉🍾🎉

sammy70

the strange thing about paying your mortgage off early, is that its not something you can share with others around you, as people seem to treat you differently, some even resentful or so it seems..

What do others think about this? what do you guys think? do you tell others, or keep it to yourself? at the moment hubby and i have kept it to ourselves..

South_coast

I have told my Mum and my BF, plus recently fessed up to my sister when she asked me a direct question about my mortgage. So, yeah, not very many people in almost 5 years! I think sadly there is the perception that it can't possibly be down to knuckling down and choosing to OP the mortgage over spending on other things, and there must be something you're keeping back about how you suddenly became "rich" enough to pay it off. There's also the inevitable comparison game, which makes people feel resentful that they're not in the same position.

It's a shame, because we know from here how inspiring it is when other people share their stories 🙁!