I really really want to be........mortgage free!

ourcornercottage

AlexLK wrote: »

Good to see you back OOC.

Overpaying something is better than most do.

Rather sad to read about the house as I thought it was your dream place.

Hi All

Thanks for your welcome backs!

I have been getting quotes for the jobs on the house and am just about ready to start. Should be getting the guttering done very soon now hopefully later this month.

Small OP's going through as usual will update further when I update by speadsheet hopefully this week.

I am sad that we may have to move, I totally love my house, where we live, its so beautiful. Its just that the boy comes first! Unfortunately both his GP's arent interested in this kind of helping out so we need to consider his future. Mainstream high school may not work for him so have to have all the options open to ensure that he achieves his potential and has a lovely time too!

ourcornercottage

Okay it's been exactly 3 months and I've logged back in! How strange!

2017 has been a mini write off MFW wise, had a bit of a stressful year some unexpected issues which have required relaxation of the freugal ways so not really any great progress. Have kept the underlying principles in place though.

Some positives.

Still OPing the mortgage by around £200 - £250 per month, every month.
Still saving around £350 per month into short term savings
Still saving around £100 per month into long term savings
Still putting £750 per month into pensions
Still saving £100 per month for mini OCC
Still paying £20 per month into miniOCc pension.
Have lost 2 stone in weight (food costs have gone up though!)
Guttering/fascias have been replaced. (Soakaways are blocked though!)
One large garden border taken out and being prepped for turfing. BF did this so freeeeeee.
We've had a week away abroad and 3 short trips locally in the caravan this year.

Next challenges

To check in here more often.
Get the OP back up to £300 by end of year. (baby steps)
Get the soakaways done (BF should be able to do this)
Next job (for builders) on house is to get the 2 flat roofs done as they are spongy, then the bathrooms.
Start Looking seriously at garden offices.

Annoyances
Had to replace the mower as the other one konked out.
Brought some expensive garden furniture and it's been cloudy since!

All in all with the exception of the OPs it's okay. The guttering cost £3.5k in the end and savings are still looking healthy. Enough in there for the flat roofs anyway without leaving it too tight. Long term savings and pensions growing slowly.

shangaijimmy

Great update and progress. Life gets in the way...i had a 6 month abscence but now back with more vigour and determination than ever!

ourcornercottage

shangaijimmy wrote: »

Great update and progress. Life gets in the way...i had a 6 month abscence but now back with more vigour and determination than ever!

Fantastic, that's what I need! Need to review the bills again, get organised and reboot the MSE ways. MiniOCC away with GPs for a few days next week so that's a good time I'd say!

FloppyDisk

Gosh, those are massive savings numbers for a bad year, how do you plan to change them and be even more MSE?

ourcornercottage

We had no pension, savings or emergency found to speak of 5 years ago so it's really needs must in terms of savings. We are now in the position we should be for savings and still way behind on pensions so we have to soldier on with it. We are 43 and 52 years old and don't want to work til 70 if possible! We also have a house that could do with about £50k of work done on it although when that's done it's probably worth £450-500k looking at recent sales.

We also still have a mortgage of £108k which I'd like to see the back of! Need to work a little on that!

It's a playoff between pension, mortgage and getting the house done. Therefore I'm never happy with progress as there's always more to do!

CathT

Good to see you back OCC, I was actually thinking about you the other day!

ourcornercottage

CathT wrote: »

Good to see you back OCC, I was actually thinking about you the other day!

It's been a tricky 6 months! Needed to not think of money

I'm now catching up on the diaries.

I am being quite MSE this morning as miniocc is at apple summer camp this morning (free) and I'm using their iPads (free)

hiddenshadow

Good to see you back OCC! I agree, well done with the financial progress even if it doesn't feel like it. We all get in a slump sometimes.

ourcornercottage

Mortgage currently £107980.

Aim, in 5 figures by my birthday in march

Very doable.