Getting a mortgage and then becoming mortgage-free!

themadvix

I really enjoy the cat sitting (via catinaflat) - it never feels like work (probably because I'm an introvert and apart from the first meeting I only have to see the cats!). I'd recommend it!
Definitely make sure you've got the savings in place before cutting the cord from work though - a savings buffer offers no small amount of peace of mind.

Kittenkirst

I’ll have a look at catsitter- I had looked at a few but they were unpaid....

Totally agree on the savings- I am stashing cash at the minute also I will have £5.5k of my savings and then £8k loan (from family) as our buffer. The aim is to try not to spend the £8k but it’s there if needed whilst I get my pipeline of sales built up etc.

In mortgage news we’ve had some payouts from surveys (prolific) and I sold some old jewellery making stuffs so we’ve overpaid £143 so far this year which is pretty good considering it’s all from surveys, cashback, sales etc!

themadvix

At cat in a flat you set your own rates (from which they take a cut), but it is a paid gig.

Good overpayments!

debtfreeoneday

Well done on the OPs

Kittenkirst

Hi mortgagefreewannabies!
Sorry for the absences in posting- I have to say I’m struggling with navigating the forums now and couldn’t find my thread for a while. I think I’ve managed to bookmark it so fingers crossed it will be easier next time!

So, in mortgage news we’ve decided to do a £10 a week overpayment challenge for the year, to keep the overpayments ticking but taking the pressure off with the upcoming career change (& salary cuts!). As of Sunday it was the end of week 10 so we should have overpaid £100. 

Happy to say we managed a nice £171.86!

This has been made up of Tilly tidies, cashback apps (for items we would have bought/tried anyways), eBay/Facebook sales and a few survey sites.

I’m still regularly doing surveys/uploading receipts to the following:
-Prolific surveys
-Yougov
-Shoppix
-Receipt hog (just restarted this)
-Pinecone when received
-Quidco/TopCashback when we can

which are all ticking over nicely- yougov I need £1.12 to hit £50 payout yay, and shoppix we are at 10,100 points so only another 48 receipts to go to get £20!

On the home front gorgeous gf started the new job last week so we are adjusting to the new work pattern and her commute (she can lift share part way there on some days and gets the tram the rest of the way), so just trying to find our rhythm which includes making sure she has food for lunches etc as she’s now in the city centre (Nottingham) so may get tempted to eat out daily if we don’t plan well! 

She’s found her first week tiring- all the learning and the commuting- but she seems really happy and after the last few months at her old place (my current) it’s just nice to see her smile when she chats work again! 

The pay increase will definitely help too (£6k more for her first 3 months then goes up another £2k when she passes probation!).

In my work world I am getting myself all set up for the new self employed franchise- busy doing lots of research for events I could have a stand at to promote my business, building up a low key Instagram page (as I’ve not yet told work I’ll be going!).

In prep of this I’ve started stashing money into savings in prep- £800 so far this year with another £350/£400 on payday (15th) and have cancelled my workplace SIP scheme so should be able to save that too (£800 I think after tax).
It does mean that due to savings and some additional (unnecessary!!) spending this month I have £30 until the 13th....need that to last!

wow this turned into a long post, so if you’re still reading- well done . Now my threads bookmarked I will try to update more regularly again as I enjoy doing it and it helps keep me focussed! If you’re on Instagram I have a page over there too for pictures of random frugal things too- mortgagefree73!

Jessy103

Glad to hear gf is happier in her new job and good luck with the new work venture!

debtfreeoneday

Thanks for the shoppix tip - just signed up!

Kittenkirst

debtfreeoneday said:

Thanks for the shoppix tip - just signed up!

We’ve had £10 out of it last year sporadically using it and just creeping up to £20 now...slow burner but super quick to do!

Jessy103 said:

Glad to hear gf is happier in her new job and good luck with the new work venture!

Thanks Jessy :-) 

Tonight I managed to get some little gem lettuce yellow sticker so we had thai style mince cups for dinner- added some bendy veg from the fridge and we had a delicious dinner.

I had an important work meeting today which went okay- I prepped a lot which helped- but the bonus was a free lunch (buffet sandwiches, fruit etc) and there was quite a lot left over so I got to bring some fruit (fresh chopped and whole fruit), bags of crisps and some bottles of water home. So they are all in the grocery store. The girlfriend will take the water bottles to work and leave in her drawer for if she forgets her refillable ones and the fruit and crisps will be perfect for packed lunches :-D 

South_coast

Hopefully everyone washed their hands before moving in on the fruit....

I get £5 from Shoppix roughly every 2 months, but then I have been known to work my way round the shops buying one low-value item in each when I get close to payout - on my days off, when my time is mine to waste, I hasten to add!

Kittenkirst

South_coast said:

Hopefully everyone washed their hands before moving in on the fruit....

I get £5 from Shoppix roughly every 2 months, but then I have been known to work my way round the shops buying one low-value item in each when I get close to payout - on my days off, when my time is mine to waste, I hasten to add!

Yes, it was all individually portioned packed fruit salad, and many of us always have little antibacterial gels in our handbags anyways

Working from home today so all bundled up as it’s pretty chilly! 

Payday for me today- my SIP scheme has also paid out as I’ve closed it ready to leave in two months- so that extra £642 (shares taken a nose dive in the last year) has gone straight to savings (plus £8 to round it up!) and Ive sent £350 as my new job savings stash too. A nice chunky £1000 to savings although strictly speaking only increased it by £358

 Debating pulling my money out of premium bonds as I’ve had £100 in there for quite a few years- I’ve never won anything and that money may as we’ll go in my main savings account? Will do some reading re interest rates but because I’ve got so little in premium bonds I don’t think I’ll ever win a monthly prize...!