Aspirations of Frugality and Fun on the Road to Mortgage Freedom

DedicatedDFW

Hello All :wave:

I have dipped into a few diaries on here over the last few months and am delighted to be able to start my own thread on here now I had a thread on the DFW boards but have been overpaying on the mortgage as well for just over a year now

As soon as i got my mortgage I wanted to overpay and had great plans for this but I was made redundant pretty much the week after getting the keys for our home and the last few years have been a real struggle. Still as much as I would rather that hadn't happened (and the ensuing debt to ensure the mortgage got paid) I have learned alot from the lovely and inspirational people on here and am much more mindful about the money i spend Although i do occasionally trip and buy a pretty dress like i did this week :eek: So i decided now was the time to set up a new diary with my goals now to help me keep the focus - oh and this is also why its aspirations of frugality :rotfl:

Goals for this year will be: - overpay on the mortgage - i need to set a target for this and i'm thinking £5000

Home maintenance / improvements - a mixed bag of things (alot of which should have been done when we moved in but obviously had to be postponed due to lack of money) There are cheaper, and hopefully more easily achievable things like a new gate and the dearer things - new bathroom, windows doors! So i need to write a list and prioratise and work out costs for this.

Savings - all spent paying the mortgage after being made redundant so i'd like to build up a healthy savings pot of £12,000

Health - i want to eat more healthily, exercise more and ideally lose the excess weight

Education - complete degree and decide next steps

Work - get a new job - hopefully will help with the moneyside of things

There is me and my Mr although he is not on board with MFW - he does want to achieve this but money has been tight for us for a long time and he does not see how we can make overpayments or move - which is what i really want to do as the original plan was to be here for 5 years and we've been here longer than that now. The good thing is though that my Mr provides alot of the fun on this journey so whilst i focus on chipping away at the mortgage he makes sure we go on holiday / have days out etc. so i think this does work well

Anyways any advice, support, chat will be appreciated

DedicatedDFW

Mortgage Overpayments Target £5000

Start balance £120,445.77 @ 4.78% apr

Aims:
£2400 - regular overpayments
£600 - cutback from grocery spends
£2000 - cashback, bay of e, carboot
Other
£ = xmas money to be repaid at xmas

24/12/2013 - Paid £10 from funds left over after monthly budget Total paid = £10 = 0.2%

26/12/2013 - Paid £25 half of xmas money received Total paid = £35 = 0.7%

02/01/2014 - Paid £3.21 bay of e profit Total paid = £38.21 = 0.76%

04/01/2014 - Paid £17.50 item refund = £55.71

12/01/2014 - Paid £4.09 bay of e profit Total paid = £59.80 = 1.19%

13/01/2014 - Paid £1.27 cashback Total paid = £61.07 = 1.22%

14/01/2014 - Paid £14.66 bay of e Total paid = £75.73 = 1.51%

14/01/2014 - Paid £8.25 - voucher used when making a purchase for someone else £2.50 & £5.75 1/2 of shed money paid into bank = £83.98 = 1.67%

14/01/2014 - Paid £2.32 bay of e profit Total paid = £86.30 = 1.72%

16/01/2014 - Paid £16.62 bay of e profit Total paid = £102.92 = 2.05%

16/01/2014 - paid £4.82 - used points for purchase for M, repaid in cash, + repaid £3 owed = £107.74 = 2.15%

22/01/2014 - paid £1.55 Amazon sale = £109.29 =2.18%

23/01/2014 - paid £200 regular overpayment = £309.29 = 6.18%

24/01/2014 - paid £13.36 bay of e = £322.65 = 6.45%

25/01/2014 - £51 savings for xmas = maximise money = £373.65 = 7.47%

28/01/2014 - £10.92 bay of e = £384.57 = 7.69%

28/01/2014 - £9.93 bay of e = £394.50 = 7.89%

29/01/2014 - £2.17 bay of e = £396.67 = 7.93%

29/01/2014 - £1.50 survey = £398.17 = 7.96%

30/01/2014 - £2.31 bay of e = £400.48 = 8.00%

31/01/2014 - £3000 stooze = £3400.48 = 68%

31/01/2014 £119,873.73 last interest £487.14 31/12/2012

01/02/2014 - £2.25 bay of e = £3402.73 = 68.05%

03/02/2014 - £2.25 bay of e = £3404.98 = 68.09%

23/02 - £122 regular overpayment = £3526.98 = 70.53%

20/03 - £122 regular overpayment = £3648.98 = 72.98%

19/04 - £122 regular overpayment = £3770.98 = 75.41%

19/05 - £122 regular overpayment = £3892.98 = 77.85%

25/09 - £8 bay of e = £3900.98 = 78.01%

26/09 - £5.97 cb = £3906.95 = 78.14%

27/09 - £34.19 regular amount left = £3941.14 = 78.82%

28/09 - £4.75 bay of e = £3945.89 = 78.91%

29/09 - £1 change = £3946.89 = 78.94%

30/09 - £1 change = £3947.89 = 78.96%

01/10 - £1 change = £3948.89 = 78.97%

02/10 - £6 - 1 change & £5 reward = £3954.89 = 79.10%

03/10 - £1 change = £3955.89 = 79.12%

03/10 - £38 - matching purchases of 2 dresses & jewelry = £3993.89 = 79.88%

04/10 - £16 - £1 change & returning 1 top = £4008.89 = 80.18%

05/10 - £1 change = £4009.89 = 80.19%

06/10 - £31 returned 2 dresses + £1 change = £4040.89 = 80.82%

08/10 - from 07/10 £6.17 - £1 change, £1 saved from lottery, £2.97 silly spend match, £1.20 haggled saving + £1 change today = £4048.06 = 80.96%

09/10 - £4, £1 change, £3 savings voucher used = £4052.06 = 81.04%

10/10 - £3, £1 change, £1 lottry, £1 sale = £4055.06 = 81.10%

stooze app for £3000 cost of £96 repay at least £65 month earned / saved interest £47.40

Home Achievements 2014

Jan

3 x new oven dishes - ceramic, durable & guaranteed - 1/2 price £8

new cutlery set 1/3 off £12

new sturdy front door mat special offer £2

boiler serviced £50

new tea towels - free, voucher used

Feb

Conifers cut back

Ordered free oven gloves will look better in kitchen than old ones too

DedicatedDFW

House jobs needed in no particular order and jotted down as i remember them Budgets are the amounts i think i need to budget to spend

1, new gate, step, lock etc. too damaged to repair budget £100 Target 3

2, loft in sig needed for storage budget £300 TARGET REACHED £300

3, new gutters in sig - essential and urgent budget £500 Target 1 TARGET

4, new vent cover - internal i'd like a wooden / wood look one can't find - hate the one we have budget £8

5, new windows at front old and needs replacing budget £1500 MUST CHECK:~ what grade are they? (want A) want with trickle vents, + ledges what insurance / guarantee (quote was 10yrs with last place & £1425 without plastering)

6, new windows at rear old and needs replacing budget £1200

7, new front door old and needs replacing budget £1000

8, new back door old and needs replacing budget £1000

9, dining table and chairs (got none :eek:) budget £800

10, new fridge freezer - needs replacing budget £300

11, Shed - needed for essential storage budget £500 Think shed metal woodvale or wood will metal last longer but be louder

12, paving for patio area - i'd like indian slate or something similar budget £500 Target 4

13, sign - needed and never had - am tired of asking people to move budget £15

14, new bathroom - essential, cancelled after redundancy several years ago budget £8000

15, new internal doors throughout budget £2000

16, new flooring living room budget £1000

17, plastering living room, landing, hall, stairs budget £400

18, bannister and fittings for this budget £60

19, fire budget £100

20, suite budget £3000

21, tv unit budget £200

22, vacuum budget £350

gallygirl

Good luck, will be great to make some real progress now everything is back on track :T

DedicatedDFW

I have quite alot to achieve today / this weekend as i am working up until christmas and don't want to be up until midnight making sure we have the food we need and that the house is clean and tidy etc. so that i can relax on xmas day and boxing day

I also want to do quite a bit of studying for the same reason

Today then i want to write the food shopping list as i need a few ingredients for some recipes and don't really want to miss anything or buy anything that i already have in or can take a pinch from someone else I also want to check the food we have in and plan most of the meals around this I need to find a hummus recipe as well

I want to get all the washing done and the handwashing as well.

I want to finish decluttering the wardrobe - i've done most of it and have started a little pile ready for the bay of e - anything extra i make now will be paid 50% to mortgage 25% to each of the urgent jobs of loft and shed - our house is tiny and having these will make a massive difference to us -(we do have a loft but no proper access). Although i may need to revise this so i can pay extra to savings each month...

I have bought all my xmas presents and want to wrap these this weekend too.

Also want to go for a big walk with my Mr

Wrap parcel to return

Complete paperwork and put in bag ready to post

Check letter received

I do like lists - i always find i achieve more when i've popped everything down

DedicatedDFW

gallygirl wrote: »

Good luck, will be great to make some real progress now everything is back on track :T

Thanks for stopping by GG - yes i'm really looking forward to seeing the balance and the daily interest drop I have popped into your thread before and am in awe of your spreadsheets to keep track of everything - i think this may be something i need to look into as i now only get an annual statement from the mortgage company and no internet access to check my balance / info.

brizzledfw

Found you and have subscribed!

Good to hear your plans..always very sensible and thoughtful, as ever

Have a great Xmas and do relax. You DESERVE it!

slowlyfading

Good luck with this journey

Alchemilla

Welcome and good luck, Dedicated.

DedicatedDFW

Ooh thanks for the stopping by brizzle, sf and alchemilla :wave:

MS things today have been: - lunch for the 2 of us for 30p - i do love reduced items :smileyhea Tea will work out at about 42p each as well - reduced meat and veg and enough to make a portion for today and another for the 2 of us which i will freeze :T - Not all my meals are this bargainous mind but just reminding myself of the savings that have become a habit now

Also started a survey which will net me a tidy profit :T

In list news - decided to get up early and study so i'm not distracted by my mr - one of the reasons i want a bigger house is so i can have a spare room which i can use as my study too :cool:

BUT - i've got the important letter sorted out and also the paperwork :j:j:j - very happy with this as it was becoming a bit of a mammoth task

I've also cleaned and tidied all the upstairs :T

Done all the hand washing :T

Got the last lot of washing drying :T

Been for a big walk with my man :T

Most of shopping list written - just ingredients for 1 more recipe to do

So i seem to have left: - cleaning all the downstairs

wrapping all xmas presents + the parcel to post

Studying as mentioned

And decluttering of wardrobe to finish off

I think today i'll try and do the wrapping and the wardrobe declutter

Tomorrow will be cleaning and studying day then - will see how i go on today

EchoDelta

Wow Dedicated you sound so busy and motivated! Good luck with it all. Hope that the studying is going well.