ATB's £171k quest begins.... NOW!

atypicalblonde

£50 OP made this morning, again to keep momentum flowing. Aim is to make a payment a day during April, to total the magic £3500. Woken up with a grotty headcold and horrible period (sorry if TMI). Will use tiddlers naptime later to formulate proper, sensible OP plans for the month
Happy Easter xx

atypicalblonde

Happy Easter one and all.

Small update for my mad April challenge:
Target - makes OPs of £3,400
OPs made to date - £100
OP about to be made when I have typed this post (from sale of garden furniture - £400 - and remainder out of current account budget for food etc for the month - we have crammed cupboards so I have slashed the food budget to the bone) - £600
Remaining balance to find to OP this month - £2700

It's all just numbers really isn't it DH and I had a long chat last night and he is happy to let me plod on doing whatever it takes to enable us to be MF in 5 years time, so long as he has food in the fridge, a few beers and his beloved old VW to tinker with he's pretty happy

Right, off to make that £600 OP now x

Watty1

For what its worth I view our emergency savings as just that and whilst tipping into them might help overpay - in an emergency I'd just have to up the mortgage again and I'm clear this time once we are mortgage free we are staying so (we were mortgage free before moving to current house).
And MrMM can be addictive reading

atypicalblonde

£701 OP made from earnings this week. Only another £1,999 to go to meet my April target, i.e. £95.20 a day..... x

kitjos

You're doing so well!!!

Cant believe the amount of OP's you're putting away atm! What do you do for a living?! Lol.

Keep it up and 5 years will fly by xx

hildosaver

Incredible what you have achieved in such a short amount of time, well done!

Very inspiring!

atypicalblonde

Thank you very much both of you for your comments

I have previously dabbled with the idea of paying down the mortgage as quickly as possible, but if I'm being honest its failed before because I would think "phew, 5 years, that's such a long time away, there is no way I can stick to such a challenge..." and I gave in. However, my outlook has now changed such a lot. When I look back to where we were five years ago, it really isn't all that long ago and, the main point, our view of finances and how we live our lives hasn't changed.


We are still as frugal now as we were then, the same key things still matter to us which cost very little, so I thought to myself, why not make an extra big push for what is actually a short period of time to achieve the dream? The things that inspire me daily are:
1. The diaries on here, especially Watty and SF;
2. The Not Buying It thread on the Old Style board, especially the first 6 pages or so which sum up my philosophy regarding the money/time balance perfectly.
3. My children.


So here I am sat in the garden in the sun, which is free, having a lovely cup of tea and listening to the birds sing. Life can cost very little really xx


PS - I am self-employed as a bookkeeper and also a qualified will writer x

kitjos

I do the same thing - not much has changed in the world 5 years previous, if we had concentrated back then like we are now, we wouldn't be in this situation of trying to pay off mortgage while having small children.


My maternity leave has started now (baby due in 18 days) - its crippling on statutory maternity pay. I'm already wishing im back at work to earn more! . How we will last till Jan is daunting - limited OP's for us now.


Anyway, enough of my moans! Enjoy your cuppa in the sun, might just go and do the same


xx

atypicalblonde

kitjos wrote: »

My maternity leave has started now (baby due in 18 days) - its crippling on statutory maternity pay. I'm already wishing im back at work to earn more! . How we will last till Jan is daunting - limited OP's for us now.


xx

Oooooh Kitjos I am very excited and pleased for you! You will be absolutely fine, I always found maternity leave to be the ultimate in frugality as for the first couple of months you are too exhausted to go anywhere to spend anything! I also asked friends and family for Aldi nappies, wipes etc and for some lovely home-cooked ready meals for us instead of gifts for our babies, so that saved a few bob inadvertently as well. Babies love fresh air and walks, both of which are free. Is it your first? Mine are 2.5 and 1, their newborn days seem like they were no time at all ago. Good luck you will be fab xx

atypicalblonde

NSD today which is always pleasing, eating from the freezer for dinner rather than having a takeaway. My Soapnuts arrived yesterday, they are great & the laundry smells so fresh and is very clean. Much cheaper than normal laundry liquid or powder & much more Eco friendly.

Still £1,999 to find.... X