Pay Off Before Lay Off!

Goldiegirl

Mr Goldie is totally onboard with our plans....but he's a bit of a nightmare in food shops.

Each time we need a couple of staple odds and ends, like spuds, he also wants to buy a 'little treat for dessert'. This isn't an occasional thing, it's every time.

This is why online shopping works well, as he can't pick up an extra.

Up until about 5 years ago, we did a weekly shop at the supermarket. We'd always pick up a take away on the way home.

This stopped when we started the online shopping, but next year, I think it's likely we'll do more physical food shopping, as we'll be more likely to shop around where the good prices are.

Mr Goldie is already planning the take aways. I feel like the bad cop, by saying the take aways will be rare, not the norm.

It must be a man thing - they agree with the plans, but not so good on the real practicalities!

Habibiboo

:wave:

Still plodding with work and my updates!

MFW actions:

* NSD (see my previous note about Mr. Hbbb's take on this, bless him)!
* Mortgage owed as of today now that interest payment etc has been taken is £102,354. I declare the SMASH officially over, with full review of original quest as follows:

Habibiboo wrote: »

MFW actions special!

Ok June 1st has arrived and with it is the launch of what I'm calling the 100 Day SMASH (thanks to A*M for giving me the 100 days momentum to add to it and to shape my thinking around).

The aim:

We aim that during these 100 days we will put a total of £3,000 MOPs onto the mortgage. :T Yarp ... 'tis done!

The reasons:

To bring our total owed down to less than 50% LTV which should trigger a slight reduction in the mortgage interest.
Also achieved, less than 50% LTV now and a cheeky 0.10% reduction of the mortgage interest as of 1st August!

To make best use of the extra money earned from uni when it does arrive.

Yup, every darn penny went into the SMASH.

To focus the student money straight into the mortgage and to ensure that I meal plan, cook sensibly etc to give them good, healthy meals but also give us a bit of profit which we can throw straight into the mortgage.

Achieved by the skin of our teeth, I think, as teenage lads do eat quite a bit! But a good process to have re-acquainted myself with as it's given me lots to think about for my next MOP challenge.

Oh and last but not least to tame the mortgage beast a bit so we're well on track for 2014's big aim of getting the mortgage down to 5 figures by the end of the year.

Very happy with this too. Currently beating our 2nd goal of the year to get below £103,000 by September so right on track for that main 2014 goal, so long as we don't let go of the reins over the autumn. Signature duly updated!

>

Silver linings:

* Feeling very motivated to keep on going. Details of my next cunning plan to follow in the next couple of days!

Grey clouds:

Just a mini one in amongst the hurrah moment ... that messy £102+ total is annoying me too, but none of my clients have paid me yet this week so I can't do anything about it!

Daily declutter:

Soooo busy trying to clear work and deal with the students etc but now Mr. Hbbb's back and we are student free for a moment, I'll be getting back to this!

Simple pleasures:

* Store cupboard soup for dinner
* Tomatoes
* I'm about to take 4 days in a row off work in honour of the bank holiday and Mr. Hbbb's safe return from deepest, darkest Yorkshire (and because I'm all in, basically)!
* Lots of family birthdays to look forward to this weekend!
* Lots of lovely support and cheering from MFW sidelines, thank you all!

Hope everyone is OK ... I'm looking forward to snuggling down with your threads over my long, leisurely weekend!

Alchemilla

Happy snuggling!

Watty1

Congratulations on smash.
Gorgeous doggie.
Great catch up.
In haste - must go back to work

ljaneyr

Wooow Hbbb! What an amazing result :T:T:T You should feel so proud of yourselves!

Don't worry about Mr Hbbb's comments re. bread. My OH occasionally puts his foot down when I suggest cutting back on something or other but I know he appreciates the progress. The other day he said something along the lines of "I'm really glad you're so good at saving money, because I find it so boring!" :rotfl:

Goldiegirl wrote: »

It must be a man thing - they agree with the plans, but not so good on the real practicalities!

Totally agree with this - see above

Alchemilla wrote: »

There is a Murphy's law of weddings that says someone who is not the bride or groom will decide it is all about them. I bet you can identify that person Janey.

Enjoy the break Habi.x

If only it were just one person :eek: What am I getting myself into!

hanging_on_in_there...

Agree it's a man thing ...each time oh nips.down the shop, he always adds 2 bottles of wine and a bag of doritos to the list! Ps. Doesn't stop me from drinking it though!
Ooh.... dont mean 2 bottles to myself by the way!!! ;-)
Bo xx

gallygirl

Have a great weekend hbb. Then come back with a picture of Edna Giraffe please

Habibiboo

Alchemilla wrote: »

There is a Murphy's law of weddings that says someone who is not the bride or groom will decide it is all about them. I bet you can identify that person Janey.

Enjoy the break Habi.x

Alchemilla wrote: »

Happy snuggling!

:wave:

Sorry Al, seemed to lose you off the end of my replies yesterday! Break is being enjoyed as we speak although not as much snuggle time as I'd have liked it's been a productive but relaxed kinda day! Hope your weekend's a good one too! x

Habibiboo

:wave:

Thanks GG, Janey and Bo for reassurance about the male end of the quest ... it sounds like our men-folk are all quite similar, which you've summed up very well GG - there's definitely a tendency to be happy with the plans but not helpful with the practicalities!

Similarly, and spookily Janey, Mr. Hbbb says very similar things to me in thanks for taking the lead on the money side of things! Overall I think I was just frustrated yesterday because we had rolls and wraps waiting to be used up the whole time the conversation was being had!

Didn't assume you'd drink two bottles at all there Bo ... the mental image was of you sitting there with his and hers bottles!

Habibiboo

gallygirl wrote: »

Have a great weekend hbb. Then come back with a picture of Edna Giraffe please

:wave:

Thanks GallyGirl! I hadn't forgotten, Mr Hbbb took the camera away on his trip with him and I cant risk taking iPad up to the henhouse as Gladys now thinks she's a falcon and has taken to jumping up onto my arm every time I go up there! I tried to fix that today by turning my back straight to her as my arms were full of hen stuff but she just jumped up onto my shoulder instead! One minute falcon, the next minute parrot, it seems!

I will endeavour to get a pic over the weekend now that the camera's back ... it has to be said Edna Giraffe is looking mighty fine and wearing a veritable feather boa around that long neck of hers, she can't wait to show off to you! x