Excited to try and be mortgage free

chumpy45

Hi CathT, thanks for popping by. Haha, yes three at Uni at the same time is a little challenging. Will reduce to one in September, but there is still DS4 to follow! Think we will be able to up the OPs once they have all graduated :rotfl: Wish we had discovered MSE years ago as you have, so that the mortgage was paid off before they reached Uni age. Never mind, better late than never.

greent

Sounds like you got a good deal on the Yankee candle sets - and using points means they were free, of course, so even better!

x

chumpy45

Hi GreenT, yes was really chuffed with the candles. Found some more reduced in Tesco - it must be candle discount season!

All quiet here, no great financial announcements unfortunately, but still plugging away with TTs. I TTd 43p from my current account to my ISA, then the ISA was only 31p short of the next ten pounds, so I was then tempted to pay some more over which would of course have meant another TT to the current account! Had to stop myself before I emptied the account, but it's just so tempting :rotfl: Have had NSDs Mon-Wed. Went out with the girls for a meal and drinks on Thursday, but one of our party was able to use a massive staff discount and we only paid £11 each :T A lovely night of laughter and catch up. Must try and do it a little more this year. We've made it to Friday - Happy weekend everyone.

chumpy45

Wow, where are the days going? At least we are hurtling towards pay day. Current account is looking a little sad at the moment. We have had a spendy weekend providing support to DS1 and DS2 at their respective universities. Luckily both are only around one hour from home albeit it in different towns. They are both approaching finals and becoming a little stressed for different reasons. One due to impending assignments and one due to a relationship finishing (great timing !). We have taken both DSs out for a meal and some TLC and reassurance that the end is in sight. This meant the current account took a little bit of a bashing but of course don't begrudge a penny if the DSs feel a little better. Apart from this weekend, I have been keeping up with as many NSDs as possible. Taking lunch to work as always and trying to increase the walking to save on petrol. Walking to work is not always feasible as I often have so much to carry!

DH is now on fifth week of no work, the joys of the self employed. He has various contracts "promised" but they never really seem to materialise. There is money in his company so we are very lucky that we do not need to panic quite yet. I am trying to remain optimistic, but our OP plans may be scuppered temporarily. It's a lovely sunny morning and I have pegged the towels out on the line and can see them blowing in the wind as I type - it's making me feel very springlike. Right, must go and help DS4 with french homework now. Have a good week everyone.

greent

Know what you mean on SE/ no employment - OH had 11.5 months without any before his current contract! :eek

Definitely bad timing re ending of relationship - never easy, but just adds to the stress at an already hard time for your DS. Hope both he and the other one manage the next few months ok x

chumpy45

Thanks GreenT, DSs are hanging on in there. I also remember reading about your DHs period of unemployment on your diary! Never good. Still no news - hopefully next week.

Have finally joined OnePoll. I thought you had to be invited but then realised you could just sign up. A missed opportunity. Never mind better late than never. Only joined yesterday and already up to £5.80 lol. Will be mortgage free in no time.

Planning to study spreadsheet again over the weekend and see what else can be cut out of budget given there is little money coming in :eek: What you might describe as a spanner in the MFW works :rotfl: I am sure it will be fine. Happy Friday everyone.

chumpy45

A beautiful bright, sunny day perfect for line drying all the laundry. Well it would be if the washing machine hadn't decided to pack up :mad: Luckily mum lives round the corner so have been backwards and forwards this morning. Double luckily, I did keep the washing machine insurance going (even though I had discussed cancelling it only this week - did I somehow jinx the machine ??) Have to wait until Wednesday for a repair. May be seeing a lot more of mum lol. Found 10p on the floor, so added it to my coin counting jar. Bought a couple of items in the Debenhams sale, then decided I really didn't "need" them, so returned them one hour later !! That's the way to do it :rotfl:

chumpy45

Have finally managed to sort out my online login for the Teachers' Pensions and am beginning to wish I hadn't :eek: Although I have always contributed to employers' pension schemes, I had a long break whilst bringing up the DSs when I didn't work. My current projections in the TP are pitiful and at 55 I am feeling very worried. I would have to sacrifice about 50% of my salary as AVCs to have anything worthwhile, and that is just not feasible atm. I feel very annoyed, as I have always been aware of the need to pay into a pension and done so whenever I can. However, better late than never I guess. At least I can make some plans - well I will plan now and then put them into place once DH has is gainfully employed again! Job tonight is to read through the various funds available (how am I supposed to make that decision :eek:) At my age the advice is to invest in something slightly less risky, but I feel I probably need something a little more risky in order to make inroads and achieve a worthwhile pot! In other more exciting news, I found 20p on the floor at work, and a colleague bought me a coffee :T Now, on to page 2 of the fund advice ........

chumpy45

Huzzah, hiphip and hooray - I have broken up for the Easter Holiday:easter_ba Yes, I have lots of marking and some preparation to do, but I can relaaaaaaaaaaaax :T NSD day today as teaching away from the main campus and there are no facilities so temptation is avoided. DS1 is home for the hols, DS2 finishing an assignment and hopefully back towards the end of next week. Am continuing to review pension AVCs having been reading about FI on other diaries and really want to get this sorted out. Batch cooking planned to do over the holidays, as well as meal planning to ensure money stretched as far as possible. Probably won't be doing much in the way of activities given DH's current lack of employment, but we live next door to a beautiful country park and it will just be lovely being all together and having some relaxing times. Pay day tomorrow, and will ring mortgage provider early next week to get latest balance. Spreadsheet time is beckoning :j

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Have a great break, chumpy. I finish tomorrow lunchtime, so just one more get up!