The Journey Begins...

Thriftmaster1973

Thank you Holmes & Bella, not long to go and to say it feels strange is an understatement.

With all the financial turmoil going on right now, everybody moaning and a general feeling of "the calm before the storm" - it seems strange that in around 5 months from now I'm going to be £1371 a month better off!

Thank God I started going at it with all guns blazing, I feel so thankful that I'm nearly "free".

LadyWithAPlan

Thriftmaster1973 said:

Thank you Holmes & Bella, not long to go and to say it feels strange is an understatement.

With all the financial turmoil going on right now, everybody moaning and a general feeling of "the calm before the storm" - it seems strange that in around 5 months from now I'm going to be £1371 a month better off!

Thank God I started going at it with all guns blazing, I feel so thankful that I'm nearly "free".

Well done, great focus!

savingholmes

Great position to be in. Well done for getting yourself there.

Thriftmaster1973

Cost of living is starting to bite this month & an overpayment shortfall is on the cards :-( :-(

Only £1271 X 2 achieved for past two months meaning a £200 shortfall over two months.

I'm disappointed, however (luckily) I have a £1000 one off income payment in October so I will be able to up October's payment by £200 to get back on track.

Not long to go now to touchdown nevertheless.

Thriftmaster1973

Well, another milestone achieved - below £5k!!! Actual mortgage debt for November is £4,932.

Not going to be "mortgage free" by Christmas as hoped but I suppose I can't complain.

Thriftmaster1973

Well, new year & a new start. I failed at getting to the finish line by the end of December 2022. The cost of living crisis & a general squeeze on general living costs are the cause of the failure.

Despite not hitting mortgage free status quite when I wanted does not mean it's all doom & gloom, quite the opposite - as of the beginning of January the total debt remaining is £2,212.

Mortgage free status is imminent within 6 weeks time.

I have given this project my best and would like to thank everybody on the forums who have given me the encouragement and drive to achieve what I have. I was a lurker on the forums since 2010 & I have found the mortgage free forums a great source of information.

I am a single owner and back in 2010 my mortgage debt was £83,000, this was forecast to last until 2035 (25 years) - to have polished this debt off in 12 years gives me a great sense of achievement, I have learnt how to handle money and be thrifty.

When I started this journey many people said I wasn't thinking straight, they asked how the hell would I do it - well I have done it now (nearly) and its been the best decision I have made.

I'm sat in my £240,000 4 bedroom semi still coming to terms that it's all mine! (nearly)

Thank you everyone and good luck in your mortgage free journeys. 

Thriftmaster1973

Am I dreaming?

It's not quite sunk in that on 1st of February 2023 I am at £850 actual mortgage debt. (that's with offset in the overpayment pot account)

I woke up with thoughts of disbelief that in 10 days time (payday) the journey is finished.

It's going to feel very strange not shelling out £1,400 every month.

Bella_Budget

That's brilliant! Congratulations 

Tara66

Well done. You have been utterly focused and that kind if strange I could live with! 

Thriftmaster1973

I'M MORTGAGE FREE!!!! :-)

Well, mortgage neutral at the moment as having to hold back the final payment until March to avoid a £55 fine!!!

After all, £55 is better being kept in my pocket than going towards a mortgage fine! (MSE forums have learnt me well!)

It feels great that finally the long journey has come to an end & I am now an owner in the literal sense.

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement, you have all spurred me on with what has been a difficult and painful journey.

I'm now going to have a cup of tea, do a donation to Turkey/Syria appeal and sit on couch whilst choosing a nice big 65" TV for my wall.

Again, thank you - the feeling is great!!!