Mortgage free ramblings ......

welsh_mummy

Have decided that I needed somewhere where I can put down my ideas, thoughts and ramblings for overpaying our mortgage.

A bit about us - 3 of us in the family, myself (41), my very patient oh (also 41) and our fab DS who is 7. We live in the sunny north east of Scotland and have just renewed our mortgage with a fixed rate of 2.99% for the next 4 years. Currently have just over £26,000 left to pay, with 10 years left on the mortgage and have been overpaying bits and pieces over the last few months but would love to reduce this to be mortgage free by the time we are 45.

My OH works full time and I work part time as a school dinner lady so I am here to take my son to and from school and for the holidays, so have no child care costs to think about each week.

At the moment I do as much as I can to help with the outgoings, especially Christmas and currently do swagbucks and nectarad points to collect points towards Xmas ( managed to get £25 on each site last year, quite chuffed with this as only discovered swagbucks at the end of October).

So today, we have had a NSD as OH away on business trip so just myself and DS, we stayed in our pj's all day. Gave my son a haircut so saved myself £11 so have OP'ed that against the mortgage just now, and with my hubbie away my son requested mac n cheese for dinner (my husband hates it), so made a huge pot that will do us again another night.

Habibiboo

:wave:
Just to say hi, welcome and good luck, sounds like you're making a great start!
Home haircuts is a great way to save cash when the kids are younger, it was our standard approach too (until they got too old and discerning)!
All the best with your MF adventure!

welsh_mummy

Thanks for popping in past habibiboo.

OH still away so just myself and DS to feed, leftovers from the freezer for us both and the last of the carrots from the bottom of the fridge.

Another NSD, luckily my sons school is within walking distance so we usually walk however, the weather has been appalling today so had to take the car otherwise we would have had to swim home lol! Did manage to walk to work and back before the heavens opened and found 6p on my walk so into the change jar it went.

Waiting to get my payslip, went on a course earlier this month and will be paid an extra 6 hours for doing this but not sure if I will get paid this month or next, plus still have to claim for my mileage.

Have a few items that I need to put on ebay but not sure if it will be worth it as it's only clothing and by the time they take their cut not sure if I will be left with much, might try local facebook selling page again to see if they will sell.

Have a great evening everyone x

welsh_mummy

Must get my signature sorted, will wait until the start of the February before doing this as should be in the 25k's.

Quiet few days, still haven't spent anything however, one of our cars had its mot today but failed on some brake problems. Should get it back to tomorrow but not looking forward to the bill, we have a car fund so should be ok for covering the repair costs and mot fee.

We haven't done any major work on our home since before my son was born due to having no spare cash to do any, thankfully OH in a better paid job and I now work part time. So we are waiting for a date for a plasterer to come to skim over 3 ceilings, plus have ordered a new kitchen but got a really good deal, we got 25% off including appliances paid a big deposit onto a 0% credit card with we will clear before deal ends and the remaining balance we have a year to pay off - so roll on the 17th march as I am sick of the doors and drawers falling off every time I open them plus for the first time in my married life we will have a dishwasher which will be a god send with all the running about I do with school and after school activities.

Hope everyone is well and thank you for reading my ramblings xx

Habibiboo

:wave:

I feel for you with the home repairs, WM ~ all these jobs tend to come along at the same time, but sometimes you have to pay out to be able to save a bit. We bit the bullet this autumn and had the rest of our double glazing done and it's really worked - haven't had to have the heating thermostat above 12 yet this winter (although I lit a coal fire early today as it was bally freezing working at my desk)! New front door is also on the list (dire necessity rather than choice at the moment) then that will be the last thing for a while (famous last words)!

A new kitchen's also kind of an investment to make your home worth more so it might mean having to hold back on a few MOPs but could help to up your equity sooner or later! Sounds like you have the financial end of things well under control!

Good luck to you!

welsh_mummy

A new kitchen's also kind of an investment to make your home worth more so it might mean having to hold back on a few MOPs but could help to up your equity sooner or later! Sounds like you have the financial end of things well under control!

Good luck to you![/COLOR][/QUOTE]

Cheers Habibiboo, really excited to get a new kitchen as the one we have is awful, drawer fronts forever falling off and several cupboards doors are just hanging on. We also need a new washing machine so will be getting a new one installed along with the kitchen :j

Very expensive last few days, car repairs a bit more than we thought, we do have a car fund but after paying for the mot and repairs it is pretty much empty. Our second car has its mot next week so fingers crossed it will sail through.

OH back today after his trip away, and he suggested that we cut back a little more this coming month. We have a house full of food and loads of free/cheap places to go to with our son over the weekend (if the weather is decent!)

Did manage to get some leftovers from work that should cover a few meals, will need to reorganise the freezer to fit them in plus see what we have in there.

welsh_mummy

Very productive day, did more clearing out of various cupboards in the kitchen getting rid of stuff that hasnt been used in years! Took everything to the "reuse" container at the local dump for someone else to have.

Also just finished listing 20 items on our local facebook selling page, 2 items already being collected 2mrw so another £9 into the pot . Will be happy if at least half of it goes just to clear some more space in the loft and more money for our OP pot.

Have also done my signature to show the amount we still have outstanding and MFD, so fingers crossed it has worked ok.

Cheap spend day today as well, free chinese at my in laws and only £15 spent on the way home at the supermarket to top up fruit, milk etc for the coming week.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend

Crumpets

Hi Welsh mummy, sounds like you are doing really well with NSD's and eating out of the freezer. it's great to have a dh who is on board with the MFW way of life. Mine is great, he's happy for me to do whatever I like, and when I tell him the mortgage balance he's really chuffed:D

Well done on the fb selling, I haven't had much luck on ours, maybe I just have stuff that no one else wants :rotfl:

Crumpets x

Habibiboo

:wave:
Sounds like you're being kept busy with all the kitchen prepping! I've never tried FB (as I actually hate it with regards to trolls, spam and viruses) for selling, usually use Fleabay - it's free listing there this weekend if you're interested?

Sorry you haven't had the weather for outings this weekend, hope you managed to squeeze something in with your son between the downpours!

Thistlewhistle

Hi Welsh Mummy,

Ooh a brand new diary to follow - welcome!
If you're a welsh mummy and live in NE Scotland, you're a long way from home, Flower!!!
Looking forward to seeing how you go.

Thistle x

welsh_mummy

[QUOTE=

Ooh a brand new diary to follow - welcome!
If you're a welsh mummy and live in NE Scotland, you're a long way from home, Flower!!!
Looking forward to seeing how you go.

Thistle x[/QUOTE]

Hi Thistlewhistle, yes I am a long way from home lol! Have lived in sunny scotland since I was nine.

Have had a busy few days, we have had 3 ceilings scraped and reskimmed, they are back again tomorrow to sand and finish off, but the dust is everywhere! Great local company so will be using them again.

Second car is in for its MOT, needs a wee repair but nothing major thank god.

We are now officially in the £25k zone, new mortgage is now set up and the first payment came out yesterday. The new payments are £21.25 cheaper so made an OP this morning for £25 (I like round figures!).

Just got a message on facebook, someone wanting to buy a wee bag that I bought for a wedding so another £3 for the pot.

Havent spent anything this week so far, but will be picking up the car and will have to pay for the mot and repairs, but have a car fund that will cover this.

Came home from work yesterday with lasagne, enough to do the 3 of us so it is currently in the fridge ready for tomorrows dinner with some garlic bread from the freezer. xx