Mortgage Free for a better life for me (and the family)

craftingmad

Hi all,


My husband and I have roughly £49k outstanding on our own house. About 5 years ago we threw lots of overpaments at this mortgage in order to decrease it but then decided that it was time to start planning for our old age and went ahead and saved hard for deposits for 3 BTL properties.


Accordingly we now have our own mortgage mentioned above along with three other mortgages each of approx.£80k. The three BTL's are rented out and each rent easily covers the mortgage with a bit left over each month


We were originally intending on saving up to by another BTL but now think that as the prices are rising at the moment in our area that we will be better clearing some of the mortgages as low as we can (preferably to £0 ) as soon as we can.


At the moment things are a little up in the air as we have just been advised that my husband is being made redundant from his current job and probably going to have to relocate to Scotland.


However with this incentive in our mind we have decided to start again our MF journey and see where it takes us.


I am a stay at home mum who makes handmade items to sell at craft fairs etc and am also a facepainter who works as and when bookings come in. However I don't earn a fortune and there is a chance that money may be tight for a few months whilst we adjust to the new job situation.


But theres nothing like a challenge so buckle up and off we go

craftingmad

I've decided that I am going to try and do a little each day to save/earn extra money so here we go with todays efforts:-


1/ Fill car up with petrol using Tesco litre discount (8p per litre running out end of Feb) - DONE saved £2.63
2/ Swagbucks - DONE managed to reach 2nd target for a bonus 9 swagbucks 85/85
3/ No heating until 1.30pm - DONE managed to not turn it on until 3pm
4/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE Two lots listed total amount if sold £14
5/ Buy new wellies and trainers for kids (both got stolen from school!) -DONE - Shopped around and found wellies for £4 cheaper than most shops and trainers for under £18
6/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none available
7/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - None available
8/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE -Not a winner
9/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE 102 deleted
10/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE Jacket potatoes with butter and cheese
11/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale - DONE Made 2 lipbalm butterflies (idea from Pinterest)

craftingmad

I am also trying to spend a minimal amount on craft and use up what is in my stash already so hopefully this will help to boost the money I can add to the overpayment pots So far I have managed 40 days which is already for me

craftingmad

I've just realised I have a very busy day tomorrow so thought I'd make a start on my list for tomorrow as I don't think I'll have much spare time


So for 10th Feb I intend to do the following small things:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 31/30 bonus 3 swagbucks
2/ No heating until 1.30pm - DONE
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE You Gov survey 25 points Nectar canvass 80 points
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE 105 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE Mince & tatties with puff pastry
9/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale - DONE 2 samples made
10/ Get together paperwork required for remortgage to a better rate on a BTL - DONE everything that can be done today
11/ Phone SKy and either cancel some of package or try and get better rate - DONE got free wireless connector to access box sets and catch up and cancelled sports and HD saving £23 pm
12/ Phone Talk Talk and try and get better rate for internet - DONE - 3 months free offered saving £75
13/ NSD (hopefully)
14/ Turn off fairy lights in daughter room once she has woken up to save batteries - DONE

Goldiegirl

Hi, good luck with your quest.

All the little things mount up, so they're all worth doing:)

craftingmad

I've been missing in action for a while but have still been doing little bits here and there to help the mortgage be reduced. However the bad news is that a week ago today I crashed my car and wrote it off I skidded on some mud on the road and ended up flying into a farmers field. The car was totalled but luckily my daughter and I got out with just some bruising, whiplash and shock.
It does mean however that it is going to use £4.5k of our savings as although the insurance will pay out hubby has decided that we need a newer replacement car so we are using some of our savings for this


I am still ploughing ahead with our mortgage free quest though and hoping that the little things will keep adding up.


So here's my list for today 20th Feb:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE - 31/30 3 bonus swagbucks
2/ No heating until 1.30pm -
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale -
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - 50 point YouGov Survey and 40 point Nectar survey
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE - 109 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE - Spag Bol with garlic bread
9/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale -
10/ NSD (hopefully)

craftingmad

Morning all,


My quest to be MF today will be consisting of:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 48/40 bonus swagbucks 3 for meeting 1st target
2/ Turning off all lights kids have left on around the house - DONE
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE - listed a promarker storage wallet for £7
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - You Gov survey 50 points Nectar Survey 40 points
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE - 103 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE - Hot dogs, potato wedges and salad (using up rolls which are best before today and open salad)
9/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale - DONE - Made a wish star and a spa lady
10/ NSD (hopefully) - DONE - Now back from collecting the kids and not going out anymore tonight

craftingmad

After a successful day yesterday here are my efforts for today:-


1/ Swagbucks -
2/ Turning off all lights kids have left on around the house - DONE
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale -
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - You Gov survey 50 points Nectar none
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox -
8/ Plan dinner for tonight -
9/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale -
10/ NSD (hopefully) -

craftingmad

Morning all,


The last few days have been hectic with family life but I have still been doing small bits here and there. However I am keen to get back on track with my lists so here we go:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 78/41 8 bonus swagbucks
2/ No electronic day for kids and me when they get home from school
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE - actually offered items to person who has bought from me before and if she not interested I will put on the selling pages
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - 50 point YouGov survey
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE - 107 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE - Sausages from freezer, Chips already cut and need using and eggs which are use by tomorrow
9/ Make items for mothers day craft fair for school - DONE 39 items made
10/ NSD (hopefully) - DONE -Not going out anymore today so no spending for me

craftingmad

OK today my to do list is:-


1/ Swagbucks - DONE - 41/40 target 3 bonus swagbucks
2/ Cancel gym membership from 1st May saving £48 per month - DONE
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE - 2 paper pads listed for £5
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - None today
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE - 118 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE - Chicken breasts with Bacon (defrosting as I type) with potato lattices and salad which need eating up
9/ Contact insurance company and accept offer and send away documents - DONE Tel call made to accept and paperwork ready to send
10/ Make mother's day cards ready to post off - DONE both made using existing craft stash
11/ Enter 10 competitions - DONE
12/ Check for coupons in free magazines - DONE 3 cut out

craftingmad

Good afternoon.Here's my to do list for today


1/ Swagbucks - DONE 42/40 3 bonus swagbucks
2/ Cancel online scrapbooking membership savings £7.59 pm - DONE
3/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
4/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - 50 point YouGov and 60 point Nectar Survey
5/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
6/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE - 142 deleted
7/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE - Pizza
8/ Charge daughters and my phone at Judo hall tonight - DONE 2 hours of free charging
9/ Enter 10 competitions - DONE -17 comps entered via chat website
10/ Check for new coupons to print /send away for - DONE £1 covent garden soup voucher and Sainsburys vouchers through post today for £6 off £30 shop