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

ourcornercottage

Thanks greent and SJ. we have just made it home and miniOCC and his friend are now watching a movie.

Had to overspend a little as miniOCC and friend were 'starving to death' on the way home despite having an adult sized pizza each at lunchtime (they are 6) and snacks at the football. As they were getting tired and a bit fractious we went to macdonalds on the way home. Total spends for day ended up at £37 including the macdonalds.

Football was good we won 2-1 and team looked very good, unless I win tickets we are unlikely to go to another game this season as being a MFW and premier league football are at polar opposites to each other financially.

MiniOCC loved the climbing wall this morning so will have to book that again and I expecially like it cos it's free!

Walked 14000 steps do far today despite having a lazy morning, not planning on doing much more!

ourcornercottage

In some rather fandabbie news I've been nominated in a money bloggers award. in two catagories no less. Best new blog and most innovative blog. If you would be so kind if you wouldn't mind voting for me. Thanks so much

https://www.becleverwithyourcash.com/the-shomos-nominations/

There's also a pro blogging section where you can express your love for MSE!

AlexLK

Well done for the blog nomination. For some reason the link hasn't worked for me??

Only just read your first post, it appears you too have a house that needs work doing to it. Are you DIYing?

CathT

Hi OCC, holidays going well up to now as I have been in work :rotfl: am home for two weeks now though and then it's DH turn :eek: luckily my 2 are quite happy with a trip to the park and we have zoo membership for other days out.

I have 0% cards too amd include them in my WIOTW figure as it feels like the mortgage isn't reducing much but they are coming down nicely. The cards funded home improvements which saved us moving and increasing mortgage by 70k just to gain a bedroom!

Where will I find a link to your blog?

ourcornercottage

Hi AlexLK I tried the link and it appears to work okay although I've just taken out the http prefix so it may work now. If not put clever with your cash in Google.

The house we are part DIYing and part professional. We're not exactly great at DIY but are having a go at a few things, all the garden stuff we are doing ourselves well anything that isn't too dangerous (there are very large trees!) and the final finish we are doing in each room. It's quite a job to be honest but we are getting there one room at a time where there is nothing major needed. Last year we did miniOCCs room rewire the electrics (professional) replace plumbing pipe work and rad (professional) change plasterboard and replaster room (bf and plastering friend) paint and woodwork (bf and carpenter friend) every room needs this. I won't even mention the kitchen and bathrooms!

I know it'd be better to move out and get it done at once but we are saving then getting s job done, saving again and so on and so forth. Last year we did miniOCCs room, this year we have had solar panels, some electrical work (new board and outside lights) the plumbing completely repiped throughout the house new rads and tank. That all required professionals so wiped out house savings. Since then we have been concentrating on the stuff we can do like laying turf in garden and stripping wallpaper.

It's a 4 bed cottage not upgraded since the 1980's (some of the decor is back in fashion!) in 1/4 Acre. We knew when we moved here we were in it for the long haul although it can be extremely difficult to get motivated on getting it done sometimes when there is no end in sight. Can see it being 10years to get it perfect or perhaps never!!!

cathT glad your hols are going well I'd love 2 weeks off I'm really jealous! We too always buy s membership each year it must be a MSE thing! We always use it loads and saves us tons of money.

That's a good idea adding the 0% CC onto the total I'm just getting used to them now and made a bit of a mess up with purchases do I'm switching straight to another 0% card. Need to keep on for spending and 1 for switching, I get that now!!! Once ice completely hit the hang of it After I've paid it off I'm going for a bit of stoozing to gain the interest and may do what you did to get some big jobs done quicker. It's worth considering.

My blog is stretchyourpennies.blogspot.co.uk have a read if you get a chance you might find the odd thing useful :-)

Have s great Sunday everyone :-)

ourcornercottage

What a lovely day today. I do love summer in the UK on a day like today.

MiniOCCs friend left at about 11 so got our grocery shopping in for the week which was £56 not bad as we were running low on a the more expensive things.

After we came home and put everything away we went for a long walk of about 5 miles stopping half way at a church cafe for a scone. 17000 steps in total so far today. Got abused by some tourists for having the cheek to walk down the road we live on. Heaven forbid they had to wait 30 seconds for us to walk past! It was really busy for tourists today totally packed really good for the local economy.

Picked some wild hedgerow plums and they are currently being made into yummy jam.

I have been getting rid of more stuff. A couple of items put up for sale on eBay/Facebook. Some books put outside my house for sale. Some things put in the clothes recycling bag. I also put some courgettes outside my house for sale as I'm courgettes out. Hope a few get sold as I'm asking for only 30p each!

I'm hoping to get my first Halifax reward £5 tomorrow as I should have met all the requirements last month. This will go to an OP

shangaijimmy

Halifax rewards are great proper free money. We've got 3 accounts!! 17000 is a great effort. After Mrs SJ got a fitbit with her new phone ive just invested in a pedometer so we can compete with steps. I'm actually curious as to how many my dog walks are to be honest!

ourcornercottage

A pedometer is a great motivator. My average per day is now 10000 and was 8000 when I got it. I'm now aiming for an average of 11000. It varies so much between work and non work days. On Non work days I will usually do 15-20000 steps. I've got a vivofit and go in the challenges, I'm currently stuck in the 70000 step weekly challenge.

I read online that the average person does around 3000!

I'm very excited for the free money, I get very excited about my small monthly cashback from Santander. Every pound paid off is one less pound to pay interest on is the way I think about it. Many a mickle makes a muckle and all the other cliches I can think of!

MiniOCC is at soccer school next week so will be at work whist BF gets on with the house renovations. Hopefully will make a good start on bedroom 4 tomorrow.

Cream_Tea

Congratulations on your nomination! I will have a poke around the link when I get a chance tomorrow. That is such a fantastic place to find yourself in. Also well done in the increase in footfall, 100 readers a day is brilliant!

CT

ourcornercottage

no halifax reward today, on closer inspection of the t and c it is the second working day of the month so hopefully it should be in tomorrow.

As I havent been spending a great deal there are no tilly tidies to do! as I wanted to do something I have OP'd £20.31 from personal spends account so sent the other 69p to the tidy account!

Am looking at a sun lounger on gumtree for £75 am going to offer them £50 see how that goes.

Sandals on ebay have 7 watchers and no bids as yet but i'm confident of them going on the first attempt.

MiniOCC at soccer school so short days at work for me as BF is working on the house and I dont want to stop him when he starts.

If anyone gets the time if they could vote for me id appreciate it and it does give you the details of some money saving blogs that you might find useful too

https://www.becleverwithyourcash.com/the-shomos-nominations/

Im actually up for 3 sections! im also in the lifestyle and money blog as well as the best new blog and most innovative blog! yay!