And so it begins: The Pig Vs The Mortgage

woodfired

The post about the house was lovely, good on you for making it a 'proper' home, it sounds fab, especially the pantry. I would LOVE a pantry.

Hope today has gone well.x

pinkypig

chumpy45 wrote: »

Hi PP, so lovely to see you back. I've often thought of you. So sorry to hear about the loss of your dad, but lovely to hear you have such great support from family and friends. :eek: to all the internet stuff, that must have been terrifying for you. Looking forward to see you posting again. Good luck with the new term x

woodfired wrote: »

The post about the house was lovely, good on you for making it a 'proper' home, it sounds fab, especially the pantry. I would LOVE a pantry.

Hope today has gone well.x

Hi ladies, thank you for your kind words, especially about my lovely dad.
It is so good to be back, I feel quite re-energised

pinkypig

Hello :wave:

Life update!!

I’ll be honest, the first half of 2019 was a bit rubbish but it’s true what they say, every cloud (or clouds) has a silver lining - it forced me to do some serious thinking and re-evaluating because it suddenly felt like things weren’t really working terribly well.

I had several months where I just felt like I was in a blur, constantly busy (executor duties, work, kids, home stuff) but achieving very little. Not getting to the destination and not enjoying the journey - it made me realise I was due a serious life overhaul

My goal remains being MF and I’ve been driven to achieve that so I can get some work/life balance. I’ve made massive inroads into in two years ( I’ll do a financial update) but it’s been at a cost as I’ve taken on so many extras to be able to do it. I’ve no regrets as the financial security i have now is priceless but I feel it’s time to slow down a little and enjoy the journey. I’ll still reach the destination, albeit a bit later l, but I’ll get there is robust enough physical and mental health to be able to fully appreciate all it has to offer.

Consequently, I’m pushing my MF date back to August 2021. This still three years ahead of my original date MF date and six years ahead of my original mortgage term. and it will allow me to reduce my OP by £500 per month whilst maintaining my pension AVC payments.

I’m going to use this £500 pm to treat myself to the ultimate indulgence - a four day week :j I’m looking forward to this enormously as it will be a day just for me, to potter, garden, walk, read, cook, have time with family and friends - what ever takes my fancy. It’s also to spend a bit of time with my mum.

It took me a while to work through the fog but it suddenly dawned on me that I was running myself to a standstill to achieve the freedom to buy myself some time when in fact I’ve done enough to buy myself some time now. So this week I begin part time work :j

My other major life update is my no longer single status We’ve known each other for years, since university in fact so there’s been no surprises or things to learn about each other. That said, nothing could have prepared me for the love, support, consideration, patience and kindness I received when I lost my dad which kind of sealed things for me. So there will be no more procrastinating or worrying about the timing or some of the practical issues or the fact that my ex is being a total a**e about it - it’s my time and I’m very happy that it is

I really will get around to some money news soon, I promise!!

Hope everyone has had a good day - happy Monday to you

PP xx

Moneyfordreams

That is a fantastic achievement :T:T:T

Congratulations on your relationship. Meeting life's goals

sofarbehind

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad PP. I'm really glad to hear that some good things have happened for you too - you so deserve it after such a tough time.

The four day week sounds fantastic and you will still be mortgage free very, very soon. I completely agree that you have more than done enough work already to make this your reward. Enjoy every hard earned moment. x

Karmacat

Oh Pinky, what a beautiful post! Good for you for stopping and thinking things through - I really wish I'd done that, or at least done it more deeply, the way you did. And a "new" relationship too life is good.

Cheery_Daff

Oh PP, how lovely! I used to work four days and I LOVED it, it really was the BEST thing, and how fantastic that you are in a position to treat yourself (and lovely to refer to it as 'treating yourself' - it definitely is!) :j :j :j I long to get back to a four day week Very much looking forward to hearing all about yours!

I used to have Fridays off and have three day weekends, but my mum works four days now and has Wednesdays off - so she never has to work more than 2 days in a row :rotfl: How will you organise it?

Lovely to hear about your new relationship too :j

pinkypig

Evening:wave:

Awwww that you all so much for your lovely comments, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them and you.
Joining MFW was the best decision I’ve made, the support and encouragement is just amazing and it has helped me to maintain my focus and my motivation, even when time’s have been tough and I’ve felt that my mse mojo had taken a battering - thank you again, you’re just lovely :A

I’ve survived my first day back at work with actual children. I have some challenges this year (!) but they’ve made a great start - let’s hope they can keep a realistic version of it up :rotfl:

I was awake ridiculously early so I’m going to get an early night tonight, but on the whole I feel ok,

I’m pouring over figures and have my monthly totals but as it’s my mortgage anniversary I’m also doing an annual review. As a result of my extra earnings and taking advantage of the rent a room allowance it’s looking pretty healthy but there are some unknowns to factor in. For instance I’ve got tax on my other earnings (I was paid gross) and on my rental income which will come out of my savings as will some money to pay for my next lot of renovations (loft boarding and bathroom). Even so, it’s coming down nicely and is no longer a figure that scares the heck out of me. I do a financial update soon.

Today’s small steps to health and well-being included;

Took coffee and lunch to work

Drank enough water

Did Boxfit followed by spin :eek: ( spin was was weirdly no more or less exhausting than it usually is!)

Cheap healthy eats ( porridge for breakfast, lol and salad for lunch and jambalaya and salad for dinner.

Tomorrow’s lunches are ready, just need to do snacks

Applied for a business bank account

Did meal plan for next week based on the freezer inventory and the wrote a list )it’s very short :money:)

Rang my mum

Marking up to date and classroom tidy

Emptied all the bins


My short term goals are to get into a good sleep pattern, drink enough water and to exercise most days ( taking care not to aggravate my muscle strain) as I just feel so much better when I do.
Tomorrow is my last day at work before my three day weekend :j ( I opted for Fri Cheery although your mum’s idea is a great one too). I’m so looking forward to it, I can hardly wait

I’m off to watch an episode of Deep Water before bed.

Happy Hump Day to you

PP xx

pinkypig

Evening : wave:

Sorry I’ve been MIA - must get back in the habit!

The weekend was fairly MSE (used freezer food rather than succumbing to fish and chips) but was treated to a pub lunch (which was lovely and felt like a real treat - the beauty of not doing it too often I guess). Other than that it was walking, more walking, hm coffee, hm curry and gifted wine (love those end of term gifts!) and a pint on Sunday lunchtime.

My other main achievements were a spin class, doing DD’s mountain of laundry (so nice to have her back:)), food prepped for the week ahead and had mum round for tea on Sunday.

Today has been a good day although I didn’t sleep very well (awake at 4 am:eek:) so I was amazed that it was! My class are settling in well and the adults are behaving!

Today’s small steps to freedom and wellbeing were;

Did a spin class

Took coffee, lunch and snacks to work

Laundry done and on the airer next to the wood burner (there is a huge pile to put away though)

Made overnight oats (red berry)

Ys sea bream filets (20p :money:), pasta with pesto and olives and salad for dinner, low lentil and mandarin curry for lunch and porridge for breakfast

Drank enough water and ate sensible amounts of healthy snacks

Classroom tidy and marking up to date

Breakfast and lunches ready for tomorrow. Will have lo for dinner as I’m the only one eating at home tomorrow.

Snuggled on the sofa with the wood burner on and scented tea lights lit - very cosy and relaxing - watching the final episode of Deep Water.

Looking forward to an early night

Happy cold, drizzly Monday to you :eek::rotfl:

PP xx

Hazelnutty

I always like to read your updates, Pinky. Enjoy your well-earned early night