Mortgage free Wart

Worry_Wart

Well, festival done. It was so much fun! We were so lucky with the weather. Didn't spend a huge amount as we took a bottle of aldi gin with us, but I did eat a lot of pizza, ice cream, and onion rings, so that has left a dent in the wallet. And in desperate need of a diet. Sigh.

I've got another holiday next month for the boyf's 30th - a week in Andalusia I've managed to keep a secret from him. I've still got £150 of that left to pay for, and his present will set me back another £200, as well as spending money, so that's going to cut into next month's emergency savings fund. Once that's done though it'll be plain sailing till Christmas.

Had a smart meter for gas/electricity installed today so that should be interesting for monitoring usage.

Also had the best news ever - the person who owns the patch of land in front of my house is looking for someone to use the allotment/greenhouse on it, as the current person they let use it is having health problems. My boyfriend is plant mad and we've been on a waiting list for an allotment for ages, so this is amazing news. It would be free too - they are just happy for someone to make use of it. We're meeting them at the weekend to discuss further, but fingers crossed we get the go ahead.

Worry_Wart

I'm having a bit of a life overhaul at the moment, not just mortgage overpayments. This week I downloaded YNAB to help me not live hand to mouth with my salary, as despite earning a decent wage I never have money from halfway through the month. I'm also on a bit of a detox and a diet, and getting back into running. At the start of the year I was fit and strong and now it's all gone! I need to break my cycles of motivation and annihilation - it gets me nowhere!

Anyway, while I was bored at work during the week I worked out all my grocery spends for the last few months. they are:

May - £336.94
June - £188.17
July - £426.58
August - (when I started to be a bit more money conscious) £122.41
September so far - £156 (including £80 of cat food!! hopefully that'll last them for a while)

So, things are improving on that front.

I'm planning on running three times a week from now till christmas, and I've started the 5:2 diet (did it before, and it works well for me as I work away a lot and it can be difficult dieting on those days). Got 7 kilos to lose, but I'd probably settle for 5 if I get my muscle mass up.

So far my experience of the smart meter has been counter productive to saving energy! I realised how little things cost, and don't feel guilty about having baths anymore. Result! Heating is quite expensive though. I'm looking forward to getting a woodburner next year when I have a bit more cash.

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Apologies, what is YNAB?

Worry_Wart

Hi LGp, it's this http://www.youneedabudget.com/

A software program for managing your finances. I came across it on here on the debt free wannabee board. The principal of it is you make a budget for the money you have, not for projected money, and work from your budget not your bank balance. It also has a nice user interface and app for a smart phone. I've tried budget planners before but this seems much easier to use, and I've been sticking to it for two weeks now (a record!!).

It's not free but they have a free trial if anyone is interested.

Worry_Wart

another payday rolls by... bringing with it some more small chips off the debt. Another couple of hundred quid off the credit card, another month off the mortgage term, and a very small bit into the emergency pot. I can't add much to it this month as it's my boyfriend's 30th and I'm paying for a holiday for us, as well as his presents. Really looking forward to it although wish I'd budgeted a bit better for it!

I'm also on a mission to get my weight down as I've steadily gained a few kilos over summer, with house parties, working away a lot, and generally just enjoying drinking wine and having bbq's and not doing enough exercise. I've started running again so it shouldn't take too long to shift.

Next month I've got a good bonus coming through so will take a good chunk off the mortgage then, and see a good result.

Gosh, October already. It will be Christmas before we know it. Happy days!

newgirly

Hi , just wanted to say welcome and good luck

Worry_Wart

Thank you

edinburgher

Hi there - your student loan isn't one of the lovely 1.5% interest ones like Me and Mrs E have - is it? If so, you're far better off OPing for now :money:

Worry_Wart

Yep! That's the one. I'm not actually overpaying it, I'm just tracking it to see it go down (it was originally 20k so I'm doing well!). Everytime I get a bonus a chunk comes off so hoping to get it paid off next year, finally. It was worth every penny but I'll be happy not to have it hanging around my neck anymore!

edinburgher

You must be getting good bonuses, well done :beer: