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

bugslet

Blibble wrote: »

Quick progress check; latest monthly payment has taken us down under £126k, and with £200 or so OP just made as well we're nigh-on £125.5k this month. OP made up of most of SLC money, bank account reward x2 (as forgot to last month) and £20p/m saving on energy.

First month I've looked at it and felt like we've made a real dent in it :T

Not been by for a while Blibble, bought a house myself since I was last here - good to see you are doing so well with your mortgage:j

shangaijimmy

I put them into an everyday saver and then OP the pot every Sunday. There's no reason why i couldn't just do a straight OP, but it easier for me to keep track of my spreadsheet by doing it on a Sunday. Some days i TT from my phone.

themadvix

Hi Blibble, sorry, I haven't forgotten the spreadsheet issues, but DH is the expert and we've just had a manic week one way and another - I will get back to you, promise!

Re the car. Lumpy coolant doesn't sound good. Was is mayonnaise-like? It shouldn't really run through that much coolant either - you've probably got a leak somewehre. I'd keep an eye on the coolant levels as there may be a leak into/from the engine (esp. with the lumpiness) - i.e. a blown head gasket It might not be, it might be a smaller leak to outside of the engine, which just requires close monitoring of the coolant levels so it doesn't overheat again. Sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news

Blibble

bugslet wrote: »

Not been by for a while Blibble, bought a house myself since I was last here - good to see you are doing so well with your mortgage:j

Welcome back bugslet! How's the new house going? Have you started OP'ing yet or are you waiting until you're a bit more settled?

shangaijimmy wrote: »

I put them into an everyday saver and then OP the pot every Sunday. There's no reason why i couldn't just do a straight OP, but it easier for me to keep track of my spreadsheet by doing it on a Sunday. Some days i TT from my phone.

Think I'll start doing this from next month once pay comes in. I do find the middle of the month drags a tad, so having a weekly check up on a Sunday sounds like a plan. Will report how this goes from the 28th. :money:

themadvix wrote: »

Hi Blibble, sorry, I haven't forgotten the spreadsheet issues, but DH is the expert and we've just had a manic week one way and another - I will get back to you, promise!

Re the car. Lumpy coolant doesn't sound good. Was is mayonnaise-like? It shouldn't really run through that much coolant either - you've probably got a leak somewehre. I'd keep an eye on the coolant levels as there may be a leak into/from the engine (esp. with the lumpiness) - i.e. a blown head gasket It might not be, it might be a smaller leak to outside of the engine, which just requires close monitoring of the coolant levels so it doesn't overheat again. Sorry to be the bearer of potentially bad news

No worries themadvix, really no rush at all as I'm going to have to back-date the spreadsheet anyway. I'm sure a while longer won't hurt! Hope the week's not been unmanagebly manic! The car actually seems fine now, thankfully; the coolant (or what was left) was like a fine layer of lumpy custard. By coincidence I found the invoice from last time it was topped up today - 2 yeas ago! Car's been running best it has for a few months since I topped it up :T

Youthgonewild

Love reading your thread Blibble. Just started my MFW diary although I’ve been OP since last year. Only recently found this forum. It makes sense so overpay right?

Good luck on your journey.

themadvix

If it hadn't been topped up in two years then you're probably okay! Keep an eye on it though as the overheating can itself blow the HG.

Have a great weekend!

Blibble

Youthgonewild wrote: »

Love reading your thread Blibble. Just started my MFW diary although I’ve been OP since last year. Only recently found this forum. It makes sense so overpay right?

Good luck on your journey.

Thanks YouthGoneWild - feels like very tedious ramblings to me, but I'm glad people are getting enjoyment from it!

Last shop done yesterday for the month, and we've sneaked under £50p/m budget (which frankly we should be doing with ease for 2 adults). Petrol is also under budget :j so some cheeky OPs to be made there. Put my new alcohol-free life on hold yesterday as we had a spur-of-the-moment BBQ with some friends, but really don't mind as it's the only weekend of summer we'll likely get this year! I more need to cut out the casual drinking on weekday evenings when I don't *really* want a drink.

Forgot to look at the ASDA cashback card from work yesterday, naughty me! Must do better by next Saturday!

Blibble

Day off work today :j So in the interests of productivity, I've made a wee to-do list -

- Clean out BBQ & put away
- Clean & tidy house (within reason) (including the kitchen floor)
- EBay / Gumtree list from 3rd bedroom (bottom of my list for several months now)
- ASDA cashback card
- Take OH to work & pick up
- Wash the car (2nd bottom on the list for 3 weeks running now)
- Make lunch (mackerel pate sandwiches!) & cook tea for OH and me (to be decided)
- Clean very muddy suede shoes from Friday
- Cancel appt. for car, as have sorted the overheating issue
- Put on a load of washing

Best see how much we can clear off today

Blibble

To do list is largely complete, for a nice change!

Blibble wrote: »

- Clean out BBQ & put away
- Clean & tidy house (within reason) (including the kitchen floor)
- EBay / Gumtree list from 3rd bedroom (bottom of my list for several months now) - Done, and have even managed to flog an old textbook this afternoon for £25 as I live a 5 minute drive from the local university. Hoorah for Facebook!
- ASDA cashback card - Half done. Cashback card is 4% for ASDA, but £1.99 delivery, meaning it'd take on average 4 shops to breakeven. I can load it with a maximum £1000 (which would give me £40 profit) but that seems a big risk so am still deciding on this. On the plus side, did get a £1.14 voucher from ASDA Price Guarantee - really need to do this more.
- Take OH to work & pick up - Will have done in 40 minutes when I pick her up, and don't plan on leaving her to walk home in the rain!
- Wash the car (2nd bottom on the list for 3 weeks running now) - Now officially bottom of to-do list.
- Make lunch (mackerel pate sandwiches!) & cook tea for OH and me (to be decided)
- Clean very muddy suede shoes from Friday Not done. Gonna wreck them if I don't do this soon!
- Cancel appt. for car, as have sorted the overheating issue - Easiest of the lot; done in 45 seconds
- Put on a load of washing I've put the load on, but not put it away yet.

Very pleased to be honest, and I've done £2 worth of PA / OP surveys in between chores. Feel I've earned an evening in front of the tellybox :T

Blibble

Only a quickie - pay-day shuffle done, and £85 OP made from the following -

£25 under budget last month on fuel
£25 from selling one of my old textbooks
£20p/m saving on energy from a couple of months ago
£10p/m saving on broadband from a couple of months ago
£3 bank account rewards
£1.14 ASDA price guarantee voucher (to be used tomorrow)

Whoop-di-doo :money: