Project Mortgage Neutral Begins

Mrs_Binxtoria

Congratulations on your GCSE result.  I love studying/learning new things even more so if my work would pay for it.

Cornish_mum

Congratulations on your exam result! CM

juliejim

Congratulations on your Psychology result - brilliant. 
Have you decided what you are going to treat yourself?

ajmoney

Today, nearly 4 years after ex and I separated, we filled out the divorce paperwork.  I brought an end to the relationship and somewhere inside I know it was the correct decision but everything feels a little wierd tonight.  I am very grateful that we still get on well and he is a good friend.

ajmoney

juliejim said:

Congratulations on your Psychology result - brilliant. 
Have you decided what you are going to treat yourself?

Rather boring but I might get myself some new trainers as they are expensive and I wear then a lot.  I have had to replace a few things on my car after a service and MOT so the tax rebate is likely to be eaten up by that

ajmoney

Right, enough is enough.  I have reached my heaviest weight ever and the measurements I take monthly are not good either.  My diet this week in particular has been appaling so I need to get back to meal planning (which I don't like), shopping regularly (not keen on this either) and treat my body better.  A friend is not eating out for September and I might try this to a point but part of my socialising is going to the cafe after parkrun so I am not going to stop that.  I will try to limit what I eat when I am there but if it is once a week then I can cope with that.

Not being able to do much exercise with the op recovery is not helping but I hope I can start swimming again soon which will help a lot.

Moneyfordreams

Congrats on the psychology result. And good luck with you health challenge. I find (at least a few times a year) that the first few days are the worst until you get into the zone...

ajmoney

It has been a bad start to the day.  The milk turned over night and the first time I realised was when I tasted my cereal it isn't really even ok for tea.  I need to be out early so am going without and none of the cafes are open early enough Hopefully where I am volunteering this morning will open their cafe early.  I was trying to save money and not use it but I can't go without my morning cup of tea!!!

ajmoney

Finally starting to spend some of the extra money that has come my way.  It is quite bizarre, I really don't seem to like spending money on me, even though it is for things that I need or use a lot...like trainers!  Maybe it is the whole financial climate. 

ajmoney

What a fortnight, it is certainly like none that I have ever experienced before.  I listened to some podcasts yesterday as I feel I need a bit of a mental reset and found a couple of things I am going to try and do.  They are based on what I would want to have achieved, looking back on my life at the end.  The first is, what 3 things can I do this week the will give me a deep feeling of happiness?  The second, what are 3 things that I will want to have done in my life?  The idea is you look at the first 3 and see if they will aid the final 3.  In truth I don't even know how to answer the first 3 and this is what I would like to work towards.

Becoming mortgage free might not be something in reality that I will want to have done at the end of my life but it is important to me to be financially secure.  I have had a look this morning at the projected mortgage total when I remortgage in just under 2 years and when I finish my work contract in 5 years.  I won't be able to save or OP enough to clear everything in 2 years but I can certainly work towards having enough to theoretically clear my mortgage in 5 years, even if I don't actually OP.

My first aim is to save around £5k, the second is around £22k.  I already have just under £32k although I can't guarantee not needing to spend some of this over the next 2-5 years.

Based on my current mothly outgoings, I will need around £12k a year to cover my bills (with no change to my lifestyle) although with the economic climate shifting this may need to be a lot more.  The pension I will draw when I finish my contract is around £9k a year so if I can reduce my mortgage costs this may come into line. 

Plenty for me to consider while I work out what I really want to work towards.