£192,737 mortgage!

happydays_70

Roll on 2036...if not before

happydays_70

Feeling positive that I can reduce my mortgage before the 22 years. I am looking for ways to increase my income. The only thing for now is to do lunch duties..this amounts to £60 a month.
I am using quidco for purchases.
I shop at a**I now instead of a**a. This has reduced my food shopping bill by about £60 a month.
The money I am accruing I am putting towards Christmas..don't want it to be financially stressful so have started buying bits.
Reading other mfws' threads has inspired me

happydays_70

Today would have been a NSD but I paid my car tax £130. At least it's done for another 12 months.

happydays_70

Today is a NSD!
I have made loads of small savings with food shop mainly. Unfortunately the reminder that Christmas isn't far away looms.
I got a 16 month 0% credit card to use for extra spending over the Christmas period. This works for me and takes the stress out of worrying about how much I can spend on the kids. I don't go mad but I like to spoil them. They are really good at waiting for things and know they can only have big items at Christmas or for their birthdays.
I've still not made OPs but I am getting better with making a little go far.

Cream_Tea

That's great news reducing your term by nearly 5 years. We just got a fixed term last month and reduced ours. Isn't it a great feeling. Good luck with adding to your income.
I don't know how many presents you buy at Christmas but have you considered any adults you buy for making batches of Christmas chutneys and sauces and giving those as gifts? Glass bottles and jars and cellophane festive bags on Amazon and eBay are reasonably cheap if in bulk. I have gone in with a friend to split the cost and all my adult friends and family are getting a home made chutney, mulling syrup, fudge and truffles. For 8 presents it's cost me £24 for the bottles, jars and festive bags. Then it will be ingredients. Far less than the usual £20+ I would spend per person.
Good luck!

happydays_70

Thanks for the tips..I was going to do mini hampers for close family and just chocs/wine for friends.
DS wants a new bike and DD wants a phone. I am happy with that. They will get Christmas clothes too and stocking fillers. Including food Christmas costs me up to £800 and takes til Easter to pay off if I haven't already got money aside.

happydays_70

Just reading through my posts on this thread. I have been quite good with money and stuck to all the things I said I would do.
The kids had a great Christmas. I have a credit card bill but it's 0%and I will be making £100 payments monthly..will take 9 months.
That bill includes other things not just Christmas by the way.
I have used Quidco wherever possible.
I have done lunch duties at work regularly...this makes a difference..up to £60 per month.
I have reduced my Sky package because I bought a chromecast at Christmas and that reduces the need for sky movies..that reduces my sky by nearly £20 per month.
I have a steep mortgage but I have decided that I need to stay here until the kids are older because it is very convenient for school, work, friends.
I am reading lots of posts about organising and decluttering. My head hurts when I go in my bedroom..it is full of paperwork and clothes in piles:o

happydays_70

Ok, I really am taking smashing this horrendous mortgage seriously.
I made my first OP minutes ago of £98..it rounded it up to £186,300.
I have been on the OP mortgage calculator and if I continue to make this as my minimum OP I will shave several years off. This gives me hope.

happydays_70

I have managed 13 NSDs this month up to now. I am also going to give up having a bottle of wine at the weekend and put that money into my mortgage. Not a lot but it is better than nothing.
I am also trying to make the time in-between food shops last longer.
I also need to stay away from H0m3 Bar8ains!! I love it and spend a fortune in there..defeats the purpose of it's intent.
My mortgage stands at £185,731 today.

happydays_70

To avoid going shopping today I am clearing out the bedrooms. I aim to put some items on ebay. Whatever money this makes will go straight towards my OP.
I am itching to go to the shops though..