Hollyboll's Nibbling the Dinosaur: The Only Way (It can be done) is Forwards ...

Hollyboll

Hello .... please can I play too?

It took a while - flickering for months since stumbling across this board and some particularly inspiring diaries (Tilly and GG initially) rather than a moment (low energy stylie) - but my lightbulb has finally gone on. After much expert procrastination, lurking and using current circs as another excuse, having learned it's about the journey rather than being in the perfect place to start, I'd like to start my own diary to help with focus, accountability and support. Right now I’m putting a lot on the W of MFW, and am hoping that will do to let me in …

Couple of things have struck me repeatedly reading so many of your fab diaries:
- It’s about the small things adding up over time, however hard the big / end destination is to see when stuck in the small bits along the way,
- Shamefully I’ve really no idea where my money has frittered over the years ... but also as sadly I’ve no time machine, there's nothing I can do about the past now - have to keep reminding myself of this and focus on what I can change,
- There’s always decisions and balances – about hardcoreness, lilies and loaves (thanks FS ☺), and even about OP mortgages or investing (Ed, thanks ☺) … clearly I have a lot more to learn/start etc, but have to start somewhere and not use this as more procrastination.
I did think about calling this thread ‘De-Ostriching and Finally Starting to Grow Up, Make Some Plans and Not Just Firefight’ but as I hope to see it frequently for a looooooong time to come, thought I’d go for something a bit more positive ☺

For reasons that will become clear(er) I'm staying off numbers for now, but by way of intro:
- I live alone, no DK's … mid 40s which I find almost as cringeing/unbelievable to type as the mortgage stuff :eek:
- in a small but well located flat bought 15 years go
- on a BIG IO mortgage that I have only increased over time :eek::eek:
- without any kind of repayment vehicle or savings plan in place
- generally (see below) on a salary which is decent but nowhere near what was envisaged when I bought.

And BREATHE (remembering these are first world problems) ... On the upside (ish)
- Good equity - around 50%
- Good EF (not sensibly invested but easily accessible, some is stoozed on 0% cards but probably still too much and LBM had me thinking I should use some to start OP’s)
- I also own another property, which I bought mostly accidentally partly thinking I'd like to live there one day. Decent LTV, washes its face with rental (or has - must get my head round tax reforms)
- (Not so good, also on an IO mortgage, also no plan in place, also only extended over the years).



Thanks for reading and hope you'll join me on the journey …
Here we go ….
Hollyboll xx

Hollyboll

SO. If I had to, although no longterm way to ensure income and would mean big changes, I could sell the flat, move and be MF.
Which I need to keep repeating as mantra at the mo ... 2015 so far has gone like this:
- started year thinking about a new job but sector specialist / small so tricky
- got sick - laid lower for months than ever in 25 years of working
- 'twas then I discovered the forums and this board ... cannot believe how many years I have loved and preached MSE from weekly emails but never discovered the community behind them and MFW
- unable to do much else, spent many happy hours reading inspirational diaries, and spent a bit of time setting up new bank accounts, also decided to remortgage.
- Huge shock to find because of changes both to market and my personal circs, my options very limited - big wakeup and lightbulb finally penetrated the sand to my head ...
- Managed to remortgage on good 5 year fix, but without term extension so only10 years left.
- Got a new job and full of determination to start the MFW journey. Plan A = going Hardcore MFW for 10 years could just about wipe mortgage, assuming my salary and interest rates both rise a bit. So definitely do 5 years hardcore and then review plans, hopefully by then with sufficiently reduced amount that I’d have some options re lenders, repayment etc if I wanted to focus elsewhere for next 5 years.
- Lost new job - last in first out, short service so no payout etc.

Hollyboll

After a few weeks of feeling very sorry for myself, I have recognised that the fact that I'm in no position atm to make overpayments or reduce my EF is only the latest in many excuses not to Bite the Bullet, jump in and start a diary. Whilst it’s a ‘challenging’ time in many ways, I do have more time than I do when working, and apart from some focus and virtual support only helping, it’s a great opportunity to start the mindshifting I need to make. So Plan B:
- masses of ideas but need to start somewhere, so first focus on 3 things: Flat, Food and Frittering
- Flat – it was actually the Kondo thread which brought me into the forum when sick earlier in the year. There are many reasons I need (and want) to sort my stupidly cluttered environment, and there are some MSE/MFW ones buried among all the other mountains the paper gremlins have built, the first of which is fleabay.
- Food – although I’d have known it had I considered it, reading others’ diaries (MWC and many others) has really highlighted that the way I’ve eaten for years is neither economic nor nutritious, let alone not particularly delicious, so a lose-lose. Plenty challenges in there, first with what is already in cupboards.
- Frittering. Whilst spending patterns are definitely different atm, I still do need to spend so time to do that diary. Cannot believe how resistant I’ve been to this – I bought a lovely notebook some months ago and not yet started. But I’ve written it here now so I will.
- If I can get to a position where I am happy with my SoA and clear where my money is going, and start earning again, I should be in a position to make some hefty (necessary as so belated) OP’s. Doesn’t feel right to make OP’s at the moment (although this morning saw an idea by newgirly to make a few p each day just to keep focus, which is interesting), but I can put the bits I manage to find / save towards living and keeping EF as good as I can for as long as I can …
- If no prospects at Christmas, review in January. If nothing by March, serious review and Plan C needed.

Hollyboll

Over the last couple of weeks I have:
- written, edited, summoned up courage, and then lost as no autosave my opening diary entries
- Bitten the fleabay bullet. Having previously only bought I got started selling earlier in the year, but since then have been tripping over couple large boxes and time to go. So determined to get my 20 listed in October. Which I did - in each one ticking ‘automatically relist if not sold’ as this used to be free. Realised it isn’t any longer, so went back and unticked, kicking myself for wasting last few months’ allowances.
- On Friday I got and accepted a fleabay offer for 100 free listings if do by tomorrow. Don’t quite have 100 things to list but this is a great opportunity to eat this particular toe of the dinosaur.
- So yesterday I thought I’d just knock this off in a couple of hours. Spent the WHOLE DAY on it. And not yet finished. It feels sooooo labour intensive, for what seem just little bits of cash. I am not enjoying this (stamps foot, :wall:)
- On the upside, I had been holding off diary partly ‘cos I thought I can’t be a real MFW if I am not making OP’s atm and don't have a clear plan / timescale / date etc. But if I spend my weekend on fleabay, does that qualify me for entry to MFW? … hoping I can play too ….

So plan for today is:
- finish writing descriptions for last few things
- go out for a short walk to avoid fleabay cabin fever
- take pictures of everything listed yesterday and today, so can publish them all this evening
- Do actually have to do a couple of other things, cannot believe how much of my weekend this is taking … but hopefully feel a lot better once fleabay well and truly in train …

Happy Sundays all!
Hollyboll

gallygirl

After much expert procrastination, lurking and using current circs as another excuse, having learned it's about the journey rather than being in the perfect place to start,

:hello::hello: Hollybol :hello::hello:

An Irishman was once asked for directions and said 'Well you don't want to start from here' .

As you've realised, you are where you are and no amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth will change the past - however you can change the present and future so well done on starting :T

As one accidental house purchaser to another :kisses3:

I suppose the one thing you haven't covered us what your long term plans are? When would you like to retire and where to? If you sold the BTL now would it clear your own mortgage - and vice versa? What are the different mortgage rates - tax wise at present you're better off (when you can) overlaying your own mortgage to keep tax relief on your BTL - the tax changes may alter thus as you've already alluded to. What are your pension arrangements like? Financially you may well be better investing in an S&S ISA than oping mortgage - however with both being IO I can see you might not want to go down that route - worth considering though. Plus utilise all 5& 6% savings accounts as they may well be better than your mortgage rates - you can 'count them' as reducing your mortgage.

Great to have you in board, here's to an upturn in your fortunes and health :beer:

gallygirl

And I will amend all the stupid autocorrects when I'm on a proper computer!!!!!!

newgirly

Yay Hollyboll you have a diary :j

Totally agree with GG , making the start is the important part, if you wait for the perfect cirumstances it may never happen.

Well done listing all that on fleabay, I rarely do it as I always think "who will want that" but I guess thats the wrong attitude Do you have any other plans for making a bit extra for op's I could do with a bit of inspiration?

I look forward to keeping up with your your diary, I'm on IO too and we also spent from the equity as the house went up in value, so you are not the only one

All the best , newgirl

ali-t

Hi Hollyboll, just think all that time listing on ebay meant you weren't spending money - keep looking for the silver linings. I have spent half my day cleaning up white goods to sell for a family member. Hoping for generous commission from them lol.

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Hollybol, great to see you have started a diary and believe me, it will HELP hugely.

I think selling stuff on eb@y, whilst not necessarily raking in much cash - although some stuff seems to sell for ridiculous amounts - it focuses the mind on where money has been spent in the past and how much of it was considered vs random. I know this was a big wake up call for me/us. Although it takes an age to list, you are most definitely setting yourself up for sensible purchases from now on.

Have a good time on your journey and I truly wish you all the best.

Best wishes, Tilly x x

Goldiegirl

Hello, Hollyboll

I started ebaying in 2009, and started de cluttering my house, selling as much as I could on the bay.

I finished this June, so it takes a while, and I wasn't even that cluttered.

It is very labour intensive, but it's surprising what some things sell for.

But careful of the fees though, they're a killer!

greent

Hi Hollyboll


Great to see you have a diary As a long-term ebayer and fellow KM-er I can honestly say that they go reasonably nicely hand-in-hand. As you KM stuff, decide if it's ebay-able. Possibly batch list (so all items finish together) - and try and make use of the free listings. Ebay send me 100 free listings every 2-3 weeks - there's no way I use them all, but I do re-list unsold items when I have these - I don't have much stuff to ebay right now (having done a load of it) and used to try and use my 'new' 20 free listings each month for previously unlisted items - and then could re-list all unsolds whenever they sent me a 100 free listings They keep sending me free listings with reduced final value fees at the mo - which is lovely, as fees on there can be a killer


KM-ing also tends to mean that any future purchases are considered - so saves you money in that you don't buy something 'just because' or 'it'll do'!


I used to put all my extra/ free money on OPs - so ebay sales, cashback, surveys (very few - I was never a fan) (although my cashback I take as amazon (or M&S) and then spend (usually on books for extra school reading for children!) and then OP-ed the increased figure)


I'm still doing similar now, but all my extra/ free money is going to my 'Florida Fund' for next year's holiday.


And hindsight is a wonderful thing. As your diary title says - the only way is forwards - and it can be done!


xx