Hope is not an Effective Financial Strategy

shangaijimmy

Lippy, Choccie and Sque - i've found the house on the fridge the biggest motivating factor in engaging Mrs SJ into the plan. Its also been good for saying if we carry on like this we'll be at less than 130k by Christmas (conversation last night funnily enough) etc...

The first 18 months it was tough going and we only got to colour in each square every 3-4 months, so in hindsight we probably should have had £500 bricks for added motivation. We're now at the stage that we'll be colouring in pretty much every month as we're knocking approx £910 off the capital every month. My idea for that 10th month when we fall in between is to round it up with a bonus payment (from somewhere, unless it falls in December or January!!)

That just revealed my secret plan! The actual yearly target is £11,000 off capital, but my secret goal was always £12,000!

atypicalblonde

What a great plan! So as of 1.1.16 you will be in the 120s, hurrah! I agree, a picture is a great motivator we have one too but it's very basic xx:)

Luckyinlife

wow great target to hit the 130k mark this year :]

secret plans are always great :] love the house brick idea as well :]

Firegirl

I have such a long way to go I'll need a lot of bricks for colouring!!!

Good luck with your target, you've done well since 2009!

shangaijimmy

ATB - very well put. If we make the 120's by January we'll have a celebratory meal out (2 for £10 naturally...)!

shangaijimmy

Lucky - thanks for the comments though i now have another problem. My secret plan is no longer secret!

Back to the spreadshseets for me. Loads of permutations and a new secret to devise...

shangaijimmy

Sque - what about if you did a mini picture of your roof or garage first? Mini targets with smaller £500 blocks. Lets imagine your roof is a 1/4 of your house/mortgage it gives you some good visual motivation etc...

Then big celebration and you can draw another house with the top floor, then so on and so on.

I wish i'd have broken it up like that at first!

Firegirl

Good idea! What do I want to own first!!!! Kitchen I think.... Real good family space. Actually it's a new build house so u might actually use the floor plan to do it because it's still on the Internet!!!

Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow on my computer when I'm meant to be working:rotfl:

shangaijimmy

I went even better... I got a work experience kid to do mine...

shangaijimmy

Well i got 35 items listed. I listed for 24 hrs figuring i can relist again tonight and try to maximise the 100 free lists! 1 item received a bid within 5 mins and a further 2 through the night, so a good start.

We have got another bag of kids clothes to sift through so i expect i'll list a further 10-15 new items tonight also. Provided they sell and get out of the house the de-clutter gathers apace :j

I did have a mini goal of making an overpayment every week and i was using the Sunday morning FD text alert as motivation. Sadly i failed on week 3! Going to make a current account sweep before payday on Friday and throw that in. I expect it'll be around £4. Then i'll throw my refereeing money in next from next Sunday of £25. Those 2 in a week will make me feel better!

Happy new work week everyone...;)