The mindful MFW: A healthy, happy journey to a mortgage free life!

museumworker

Downshifterella wrote: »

Well done on all those sums! I wonder if what you'd save in childcare/free time/ time to cook etc/food spends might go towards cancelling out the £520?
I know with 2 of us working full time , there are lots of times we are shelling out for "convenience" because we are time-poor.

Just a thought?

Absolutely up for a headspace challenge . Gonna put one on before bed and try and do 10mibs every day this week to see if makes a difference. There are definitely some practical things I can do to, in terms of getting a bit more organised plus some slightly more difficult conversations to have!

Well done on the kids party! Hope you got a well earned cuppa after that!
X

The headspace challenge is on! Although I fell asleep at 745 last night whilst putting DD2 to bed so currently on 0/7 :rotfl:.

Noticed the accompanying book is 99p on Kindle this month, although I already have it and rate the app higher some people might be interested.

I've done some sums on potential savings and will share those in a minute, you're right there are definite opportunities to make savings and we have also been guilty of buying time by chucking money at things. It's often the time in terms of decision making, so if I can set money saving systems up then hopefully won't have to revisit too often, or at least not all at once.

wishingthemortgaheaway wrote: »

Pleased you've sorted all your calculations out. I'm sure it will all be fine, you seem so good at structuring everything. And it's not like you are losing money, just 'paying it forward'

When are you thinking of reducing your hours, immediately or once hubby's pension bits and bobs go down again? Because some of the £500 ish could be absorbed by that.

Have a restful mindful night.

Wish.

I will apply when back from hols, so imagine maybe by October? I would have two normal pay packets before then. I can't wait til next April to make the changes unfortunately, I've run myself into the ground working full time and the cost to my health and well being is too high.

wishingthemortgaheaway wrote: »

Woo hoo well done.
Sounds like a nice little pot of bonus money.
Are you going to treat yourself?

By treat you mean put into savings, right? Cos I'm totally doing that :rotfl::rotfl:.

Seriously need to make reducing hours and upping OHs pension contributions to crazy levels work, so this will help us reach that goal.

museumworker

Hard sums:

Down £520 my salary - ongoing from October, if agreed can reduce to three days a week
Down £1400 on OH's salary from Sep-Mar, due to increased pension contributions
Plus from Sep extra cost of £150pm for DD1 music schools

Savings made so far = £125pm
£5pm mobile
£12pm broadband
£18pm national lottery
£83pm gym membership
£7pm DD1 group membership

Potential savings = £668pm
£110pm saving on childcare DD2 (guesstimate, not given exact costs yet!)
£85pm saving on DS childcare
£25-£100pm food savings through meal planning
£10pm lunch savings - send OH in with lunch x2 a week
£50pm travel savings - planning to cycle in to work most days
£260pm holiday travel savings (spent £4K this year, hope to get down to £800 next year!)
£8pm savings on insurance (home/travel/car) - hopefully more
£38pm savings on DD1 music lessons (included with extra cost)
£7pm energy (use dryer less, switch deals)

Additional income: (+£340pm)
£100pm from blog/side hustles/comping (more if manage £10 a day challenge)
£240pm child benef!t

So possibly £793 savings a month and £340 additional income = £1133 a month to offset reduced income and additional costs.

Actions
· join make £10 a day challenge when back from holiday
· join Grocery challenge when back from holiday
· register for 30 hours free childcare before holiday DONE
· Call travel insurance to check health conditions included/how much cost Line closed, to do tomorrow
· schedule in negotiations over insurance for September
· redo house swap listing to show new dates and narrow down wishlist countries DONE
· Get Thames Water back to work on leaks

museumworker

Quite impressed with myself. In one month we have already saved £125 pm and have nearly £100 in cashback pending :j! We've identified future savings of over £650pm, I've worked out what I want my work life balance to look like and we've upped OH's pension contributions to 44%. We've decreased our mortgage term by 12 years, then increased it by another 4! And I've managed a few headspaces and packed lunches too :rotfl:!

Thanks guys for reading and posting along. It's really motivating and I appreciate every comment.

Time for a headspace before bed now

Night all

MW x

greent

Lots achieved in the last few weeks - your positivity and determination is shining through your posts! xx

Courgette

:T:T go mw! You're doing brilliantly!! This place really focuses the mind doesn't it

pinkypig

Hi MW just popping into to say your focus is inspiring👍

Work/life balance is critical to health and happiness and so few are able to get it right so good for you making it a priority.
I always say I have a commute to work. I realise now I have a sedate country drive to work. Anyone who copes with full time work, family and a London commute has my utmost admiration. Having some time here on holiday is an eye opener and I'm tired just observing😂
Good luck with all your plans and I'll look forward to cheering you on as they come to fruition 😁

PP x

museumworker

greent wrote: »

Lots achieved in the last few weeks - your positivity and determination is shining through your posts! xx

Thanks greent, I feel I'm in the right place to start making changes after a few years of not having the energy to go against the stream, so to speak. And I'm finding it really rewarding.

Courgette wrote: »

:T:T go mw! You're doing brilliantly!! This place really focuses the mind doesn't it

Thanks Courgette, you too :T! Really like that we're both back on here again, posting regularly is definitely helping me keep momentum.

pinkypig wrote: »

Hi MW just popping into to say your focus is inspiring��

Work/life balance is critical to health and happiness and so few are able to get it right so good for you making it a priority.
I always say I have a commute to work. I realise now I have a sedate country drive to work. Anyone who copes with full time work, family and a London commute has my utmost admiration. Having some time here on holiday is an eye opener and I'm tired just observing��
Good luck with all your plans and I'll look forward to cheering you on as they come to fruition ��

PP x

Thanks PP! Hope you've enjoyed your London stay. Sorry the weather wasn't better for you. Commuting in London is pretty dire, especially if it's with a buggy (and two kids over the holidays! :eek:) Although yesterday a lady let DD2 hold her kitten on the tube so that was a special journey .

Work/life balance is such an elusive thing, especially if like me you want your cake and to eat it by having a rewarding career too! Being ill was awful and I realised I don't have any other choice but to make my health and wellbeing a priority. Still, that's a life lesson learnt, even if it was the hard way!

museumworker

Lots of lovely messages here today - thanks everyone!

Pretty cream crackered, luckily I have a day off tomorrow so planning a lie in to get some much needed rest.

Had a £9 off Mr T voucher come through post, so booked a delivery for tomorrow with laundry powder, pull ups, lunch items and fruit for weekend, food gifts for house swappers, and some store cupboard basics that will last until we get back. £51 spent, £9 saved and 220 CC points earned.

9p TT, lunch from things brought in yesterday,washing on rack and 1/7 headspace last night

So tired can't keep eyes open. That's my cue guys. Night!

MW x

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Well done on making the decision to reduce your hours while the children are young. You never get that time back again, and while being mf whilst still young is lovely, the children will be teenagers by then and that will be that!

museumworker

Had wonderful lie in and a read of diaries this morning, pure bliss!

Came downstairs and :eek:! The house is a state - and we have to have it ready to houseswap by Sunday! My dreams of a lazy Thursday just evaporated.

I started writing a to do list, and then realised I just had to start doing it!

So far I have:
* picked up DS medication
* Scrubbed bathroom - another 10 mins and will be finished
* two washloads on, one hung out
* cleared clutter from kitchen
* emptied dishwasher and reloaded
* put away Mr T delivery

Still to do today:
[STRIKE]* pick up DD1s prescription and put in[/STRIKE]
* finish cleaning bathroom (including decluttering the spider from the corner! :eek:)
* deep clean kitchen
* clear and clean office
[STRIKE]* buy peg holder[/STRIKE] Done £6.30 arriving tomorrow
* buy 3x succulent plant pots
* sort bedroom
* [STRIKE]2x more loads of laundry
* speak to travel insurance peeps[/STRIKE]
* H$BC actions
* update house manual
[STRIKE]* leave spare keys with neighbour[/STRIKE]
* collect DD2 extra pants from shop

There's actually lots more to do but if I knock some of this off the list, I'll be pleased!