Almost Mortgage Free - Just hanging on in there....

hanging_on_in_there...

Oh No! Had started typing my new diary and somehow 'lost' my work - so here is 'take-2!'

I have begun this thread, having read Squirrels 118page/4 year epic, and like so many of you, found so many similarities that it was almost unreal... I have spent the last 3 evenings reading through it all - and at times, reading out posts to OH from Squirrel, and you, her supporters.

Unlike most of your - I am not a teacher! but am involved in staff education within the NHS. I am nearly 59 years old - and had hoped to retire or semi retire next year at aged 60... however the government put paid to that as I find myself, having paid into the state system for some 40 years - now having to wait until age 66 until I can access my state pension.
Unfortunately, I have not been in the NHS long enough to warrant a live-able pension from them... so the only choice left is to be MF! As we are all saying - this then affords us choices!

I would love to semi-retire next year at 60. Drop down my hours (like Squirrel, I would go mad at home - and my dear grandchildren are now all school age, so I have missed out on the pre-school years due to working).

Like many of you, its the politics of the place that get me down more than the work. If we could just get left to get on with what we are paid to do, then life would be so much better/happier. I never used to have the 'Sunday night dreads/sleepless nights' - but things are not nice and certainly not getting any better. Give me a lesser paid job, less responsibility and less hours and I will cope all the better with it and enjoy life a bit more...

So here's to being MF! :rotfl:

We are not big earners and we do like our hols, but we have been endeavouring to pay off our mortgage. I must say that my OH needed a bit of a push in the right direction - as I am better with money than he is - despite him being an accountant (and that fact drives me mad!)
Having said that, we are now within sight of being MF - expected date - January 2015 - on first mortgage anyway. 16months later, the 2nd mortgage should be finished.
If we can bring that forward, then all the better... and that's what we are striving towards...

All my very best to all you MF Wannabe's - here's to a better life!
:T

Goldiegirl

Welcome to the board.

I love reading about people working their way to financial freedom:)

Good luck on your quest

hanging_on_in_there...

Thanks GoldieG!! We're all in it to win it! Good luck in your quest also...
I have quite a bit more reading to catch up with you all...

Just left a chicken broth simmering on stove... Leftover chicken & veg... Smells good! & will taste all the better after work tomorrow!

Have a good night y'all...
Bo xxx

hanging_on_in_there...

We are overpaying on both mortgages. Total payments are £1k/month ...yikes! But we are managing. I have always been able to cook up a meal from nothing ! and will be frugal, but can also be a bit of a spender too, so need to focus on getting balance right. The other day I went to m&s for a mooch, saw some must have shoes, lovely at just £18! Couldnt resist, brought then home and promptly put them in wardrobe, price label intact and still not worn! Such madness needs to be stopped in the quest for MF!

hanging_on_in_there...

Reading through forum members threads and taking inspiration from them! I noticed that those teachers amongst us think of September add a start to the New Year.... So I thought to myself...I could do that! I'm not a teacher as such, but that would fit in nicely with the fact that I'm 60 next Sept (2015)... So still only 58 at mo, well for a few Weeks more anyway...

So here are my 'new years resolutions' to coincide with my 60th in a years time!

1. First mortgage to be paid off in Jan 2015...not easy with Christmas in the way!
2. 2nd mortgage to be paid by 60th birthday...
3. Take flexible retirement and drop from 34 to 20 hrs p/week.
4. Ongoing weight loss needed. Currently 8/28 ... Any tips on how to shed 20lbs before early Oct. 2014 holiday gratefully received!
5. Get hubby on ebay/preloved to sell/ declutter house to raise a few bob...why does it always have to be my job?
6. Exercise to get rid of wine belly.
7. Stop drinking wine to help with 4. & 6. (!)
8. See my grandchildren more!
9. Sell btl. Maybe go for something smaller (or just stash the cash?)
10. Make time for hobbies and friends...

All the above, not necessarily in the right order ...but got one year to achieve them all except weight loss (6weeks only)...so I guess make sure I don't regain by next year!

Got other lists as well, but 'nuff said for now!

Wishing you all the very best in your endevours.
Y'all have a good day
Bo xx

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Hello and thank you for visiting my diary. It was a really mammoth effort to read the whole lot! I hope you skipped the boring bits!

Good luck to you with speeding your way to early repayment. It is never too late to give yourself a few more years of freedoms from work. I know what you mean about the politics and I certainly agree that the workplace has changed hugely over the last ten years. I don't think the competitiveness has improved productivity as it just encourages people to spend time toadying rather than working, so I can see why you want to finish.

All the best,

Squirrel x

hanging_on_in_there...

Thanks for calling in SSS! You're so right about the workplace...the politics, & no one will make a decision! Things are 'escalated up' to infinity and beyond!

Can't wait to get out, or reduce hours... Thinking of starting a little business, and channel what's left of my energy into it... No that's wrong, should say if I put as much effort into that as I do with my current day job, at least will be able to see better results! & no politics! Yay!

hanging_on_in_there...

A bit about us .....
I'm 58 (nearly 59!) and oh is 60. We started out in home ownership in our mid 20s, however were were sold a pension plan policy (aka. An endowment under another name!) it promised to pay our mortgage off with a handsome lump sum when oh was 60... With cash over for us and an annual pension/income.... Sounds to good to be true ? Of course it was! & when the endowment failure scare stories hit the headlines, we converted to a capital and repayment mortgage and thereafter spent alot of years catching up on lost repayment time. Not easy with 2 kids and, being in the north, on small wages sing what we could and learning the hard way of how to stretch half pound of mince...

Here we are, a few house moves later... Proud grandparents of all 6 of them! Still working and now in better paid work (nhs / public sector) and the end is in sight!

Work politics abound and oh job may now be on the line. His face bovvered??!!! Yrs and no. yes because no pension to speak of until state pension in 6 years time. No because he is miserable and hates the job now...

Changes afoot in the nhs mean my job also risky. Face bovvered? Again yes and no. I do like my job... But until these managers get their act together and actually manage the service instead of their own agendas (half of them PTI -promoted to incompetency- the other half fighting a losing
battle and no one, no one capable of making a decent decision and sticking to it). Sorry rant over.... Grrrr....

Where was I, oh yes, our mortgage journey.... We are nearly there! Just hanging on in there for the next few months... Thereafter another 16 months or less, to clear 2nd mortgage.

We count ourselves as fortunate though, we are healthy despite a few scares asking the way... And we have a lovely family (d.in laws could get on better but hey! )

Have a good day y'all... And thanks for listening.
Bo xxx

hanging_on_in_there...

It's bank holiday weekend.... 3 days of freedom! Fruit picking and wine making for us! DIY if it's wet! Anyone else? Be interested to hear what your all up to!!
Have a good one!
Bo xx

Alchemilla

Good luck. It wont help with the wine belly but have you considered brewing your own wine from kits?

hanging_on_in_there...

Alchemilla wrote: »

Good luck. It wont help with the wine belly but have you considered brewing your own wine from kits?

LOL! Yes, we've tried the kits. The white wine we made was beautifully clear and my lips were smacking in anticipation! But... Smelt like paint stripper and tasted like it as well...the red was only marginally better!

...so now we've got a glut of fruit, we thought we'd give the home brew a try to see if we fared any better... Waste not, want not!

But as you say, no good for the wine belly! hopefully I will lose the belly before then whilst waiting for it to brew!

Have a good weekend y'all!