For Sunshine and a Sea View .... eventually!

Lexi-lu

Hello Tilly,

Thank you so much. I traded my online shopping addiction for the MFW forum during 2015 and your diary has been a real inspiration to me. I will take your advice and post regularly.

LL

Lexi-lu

Hello Goldiegirl,

Thank you, I love your signature, will keep it in mind to spur me on.

LL

atypicalblonde

Good luck Lexi-lu and welcome

Lexi-lu

Hello atypicalblonde,

Thank you for the welcome, I shall track down your diary and have a read.

LL

Lexi-lu

Hello,

Optimistically looking forward to the New Year and reflecting on this one as it’s almost over

At the start of 2015 I realised that we couldn’t continue to juggle the credit card debt and dip into the overdraft every month forever. I found the MSE site whilst trying to tackle the debt and became addicted to keeping up with the MFW forum; it seemed safe swapping my on-line shopping addiction for it. Part way through 2015 the debts were paid and the overdraft had remained untouched and that should have been it, but I continued reading the forum for the MSE tips and ideas and then continued to MMM, Dave Ramsay, ERE amongst other things and by the end of 2015 I had:

Paid off all of the credit card debts
Stopped using the overdraft
Built up an emergency fund
Increased my pension contributions by £70 per month
Overpaid the mortgage by £6,100

These changes took over 50% of our net income and spending levels will need to remain the same if I want to be MF by the end of 2018.

Lexi-lu

Hello,

I have just opened a S&S ISA online and set up a transaction to purchase £500 of funds. Having had some lovely days out at NT properties over the past couple of weeks and enjoying time visiting friends and family instead of the sales I decided to put the money aside as we have spent very little in comparison to previous years.

LL

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Very good luck on your journey. You have set a hard target but it is a relatively short time to be scrimping in comparison to the years of freedoms ahead. Well done on getting started! You will undoubtedly have ups and downs, but if you keep your eye on the prize I am sure you will succeed.

Lexi-lu

Hello Secret Saving Squirrel,

Thank you for the welcome and encouragement, you have done so well to pay off your mortgage early.

LL

diamondsonly

Hi LL, Just found your diary after you commented on mine. Really looking forward to your journey and motivating each other along the way. We have the same target but our balance is slightly more than yours at the moment.

I have also joined the MFW 2016 challenge that Lomcevak runs and you can set your own targets for the year. I thought this would help me to keep on track monthly whilst still going the MFiT-T4 challenge which is only quarterly updates.

xx

Lexi-lu

A quick update of the week so far ...

Sunday - DH worked the first overtime shift of the year. DD and I baked cakes in the morning and walked "the girls" in the afternoon.

Monday - DH and I went to a NT property as we were both off work, lovely walk. Late afternoon realised my car had a puncture - whilst at the garage being fixed discovered that the tracking is out on the front and 2 new tyres will be required soon:eek:

Tuesday - Everyone back to school/work with packed lunches.

Wednesday - have been enjoying catching up with the MFW diaries.

Feeling very pleased that I have completely avoided the shops so no unnecessary purchases made. Gifts of money that I received for my birthday and Christmas will probably go in the pension fund.:)

LL