Up for a laugh? A 23 year old's guide on how (not) to be mortgage free

Blibble

I did themadvix, thank you! Replied to you this morning; sorry for the delay, but my inbox is as messy as our house at the minute (hint: very messy).

Realised this weekend that I've been pants at MFW-ing this month, so have started to set about trying to get a bit more on track. Haven't done a survey in a week and a half so have changed that, and made some carrot and coriander soup this weekend for lunches which was only 80p for the veggies. Work also has a new employee benefit scheme as they were taken over by a bigger company last year who are now trying to ingratiate themselves with their new employees, and as part of that I can get an ASDA 4% cashback card which I'll need to have a look at before next Saturday's shop Feeling better already!

Blibble

Funny how motivation works - since last post 5 hours ago I've cleared out 8 surveys & tidied the house, as well as wash up from dinner.

Wish I could sticky this at times of having zero gumption for anything!

themadvix

Totally understand the variation in motivation - I think it's a natural thing, but it is incredible how quickly it can change one way or the other. I wonder if there's a method out there for increasing/improving its stickability? I know having a good night's sleep helps me hugely.

Will check out your queries re the spreadsheet - but long to-do list today, so it might not be until tomorrow.

wishingthemortgaheaway

Was it on your diary Blibble that, some months ago, we discussed the best service stations in the country? (The next but isn't going to make sense if it wasn't...)

Today I finally got to visit the m5
Farmshop services. Oh my word it is everything I hoped it would be and so familiar (we are regular visitors to the Cumbrian farm shop services)

Blibble

Not sure if there's a method to it themadvix, but I find it comes and goes in cycles. Not giving up in the down-cycles is the hardest bit of the whole process, I'm finding, but when it's going good it's going great.

It was my diary wishingthemortgageaway, yes! Just searched it online (earning 6SB in the process, I may add!) and have a sneaky feeling they may be owned by the same person / people as the branding is very similar. Looks equally lush though - proper like Pavlov's dog over here looking at the pork pie on there :rotfl:

Trying to unwind my head from the sand again regarding certain areas of spending, and have re-reached the conclusion that I spend far too much on alcohol. I reckon I'm average 4 pints a week in the pub, and a bottle of wine a week, so £15 a week. If I'd cut it down to soft drinks every time, I'd have saved £700 this year :eek: So, decided last night that the middle of a rainy April was as good a time as any to stop, so will see how long this one lasts :A

wishingthemortgaheaway

Ahhh thought so. They are owned by the same people, they have a third set of services too can't remember wheat they are called, but it's Scotland way, I think where the roads to Glasgow & Edinburgh split.

Blibble

We'e hoping to have a trip away in Scotland at some point, so will be sure to look out for it wishingthemortgageaway! Would rather visit UK on holiday than abroad 95% of the time, not out of being super-MSE, but I find exploring Britain more enjoyable than sitting on a beach somewhere with little else to do.

Very proud of myself this evening as haven't had a drink at darts tonight :A Even after being bought one after saying I'm trying to cut it down! Usually would reward myself with a pint for doing something good, but think I'll refrain in this case:rotfl: And only £5 all evening on 2 soft drinks, raffle, and a couple of 20p bets on dominoes after. Very pleased :j

shangaijimmy

I'll just throw a tiny suggestion if you don't mind. In my early days of diary world I found that a daily TT helped for motivation, especially in the mid part of the month when little was happening moneywise. I reckon it adds up to between £15 and £20 a month as an OP (not an insurmountable amount), and i still do it now (85p this morning whilst the kettle was boiling)! Plus it helps with the obsession/addiction/bug!

Well done so far...

shangaijimmy

I'll just throw a tiny suggestion if you don't mind. In my early days of diary world I found that a daily TT helped for motivation, especially in the mid part of the month when little was happening moneywise. I reckon it adds up to between £15 and £20 a month as an OP (not an insurmountable amount), and i still do it now (85p this morning whilst the kettle was boiling)! Plus it helps with the obsession/addiction/bug!

Well done so far...

Blibble

shangaijimmy wrote: »

I'll just throw a tiny suggestion if you don't mind. In my early days of diary world I found that a daily TT helped for motivation, especially in the mid part of the month when little was happening moneywise. I reckon it adds up to between £15 and £20 a month as an OP (not an insurmountable amount), and i still do it now (85p this morning whilst the kettle was boiling)! Plus it helps with the obsession/addiction/bug!

Well done so far...

Thanks shangaijimmy! I did consider it when I first started, but for some reason never got round to it! Do you TT straight into the mortgage (I have online banking, so not an issue) or into a savings account to then OP it one lump sum?

Weather last night was beautiful, but resisted a trip up the beer garden :T Saved some money as well, as the car has been overheating for the last week. Last night it got significantly worse, and I had to pull off at services (not the v. nice farm-shop one ... ) on the way home from work to allow it to cool. Rather than an expensive trip up the garage though, we cracked out the Haynes manual, found the coolant bottle - it was literally down to a few lumpy dregs at the bottom :eek: Quick trip up Halfords, and little Squeak is singing (more like warbling) again :beer: