The Piano Diary

savingholmes

Good news about the monthly pay and the ability to repay car quicker. Good too to plan in some ''do nothing'' time - we all need some of that.

glass_half_full

Dear diary and all,
Up early today to go to my piano lesson, which I had to cancel yesterday due to work. I asked my teacher if she would move the lesson to today, which she kindly did, because I want to stay on track. I have my grade 3 exam booked for the end of November, beginning of December and so I need to be ready for that. I think I need to practice as much as I can, ideally one hour per day. I need to be more disciplined about it!
Well first week back is over. Each year when I go back to work from a holiday, increasingly I find myself thinking, this is crazy, can’t keep doing this. Then I adjust and it becomes business as usual again. This morning, for example, I really should be catching up on some stuff from the week which has not got done. But I find myself on here, and why is that? It’s because this is where ‘my head is’ increasingly I am finding myself focused on this journey to financial freedom, and the freedom of choice it will eventually provide. This month I have managed to put aside £800 towards the overpayment on the car loan. When I get paid at the end of September, I should be able put another £1200 so I will send them a cheque for £2000. I remember this feeling from last time I became debt free, it’s hard to be patient because really the big steps come when you get paid. I have been really lucky though with the various bits and pieces of extra work that have come through to enable the overpayments. I need to remember that if all goes to plan we will be debt and mortgage free in 35 months. I have had several car loans longer than that! Just need to stick to the plan and be patient and it will happen.
DS is over at his girlfriends this weekend. He goes back to University in a couple of week’s time. We have been getting on pretty well all things considered over the summer.
The rest of today is reasonable ok, mainly catching up on chores etc. I am going to get some plants to take to work to cheer up the office.
Have a great day all!

savingholmes

Debt free and mortgage free in 35 months sounds amazing. We need to be careful not to wish the time away in between and make the most of now. Enjoy the piano - I was forced to do it years ago so not my idea of fun...

glass_half_full

Dear diary and all,
I have found an extra £200 in the budget and just made a £1,000 overpayment on the car loan which together with the regular payment has taken it down to £8,685. I really want it gone. I looked at the numbers and realised that I could pay it off by the end of the year, this would be a real Christmas present for me. I have a little bit of extra work in October which should make it possible. I originally wanted to pay it off in 12 months so this would be near enough as I bought the car at the end of November. I am putting this down here as a goal, as it then becomes a commitment for me.
I will need to make 4 payments of £2,171 after each payday ie
End September - £2,171
End October - £2,171
End November - £2,171
End December - £2,171
The sooner I get this done the sooner I can start to make a real dent in the Mortgage.

glass_half_full

Dear diary and all,
Went to a quiz night last night with OH and DS, really enjoyed it. DS was good company, glad we are all still getting on after the long summer! He goes back to Uni next weekend. I somehow have carried over 2 days of holiday from last years allowance which I need to take before the end of September. I have decided I am going to take the next two Fridays off. I can do some of the chores and housework so we can both relax properly at the weekend. I can also help DS get his things together for going back. Things are about to get really busy again for both OH and me so this will make things a bit more manageable.
On the money front a slight hiccup has occurred in the form of some dental problems I have developed. Looks like I need to have a wisdom tooth out on one side and then additional work on the other side! Not sure of the total cost yet, but I know the wisdom tooth will be £250 including an x-ray they needed to do. Oh well, there are always bumps in the road! Also, OH and I are tempted by going on a spa half-day to destress. Over the summer we visited Ireland and whilst there we had a massage in the hotel spa. We found it so relaxing, and promised ourselves when it got really busy again we would schedule in a visit to a spa together. Feels a bit decadent, but at the same time maybe a good investment in well-being. We are talking about the last weekend in September for this.
I am working this afternoon, delivering some training. It’s interesting and I enjoy it, but still work though!
Have a great day all!

savingholmes

Enjoy your Fridays off and the spa - sounds gorgeous. Great progress on the money side of things too.

glass_half_full

savingholmes wrote: »

Enjoy your Fridays off and the spa - sounds gorgeous. Great progress on the money side of things too.

Thanks savingholmes! :beer:
I have booked the two Fridays off, its helping with the stress levels! I have also booked the ½ day spa for a week on Saturday. OH was delighted yesterday when I told her. I went to the dentist yesterday, looks like I need a crown so that will cost quite a bit. Luckily the two appointments cross a pay day so I should be able to cashflow this through October and November. It has made paying off the car loan by Christmas target a bit tight, I may need another month, lets see.
Have a great day all.

glass_half_full

Dear diary and all,
Had some good news yesterday, took DS to his driving theory test and he passed! :j This hasn’t been without drama, he failed the first time, didn’t attend the second time (don’t ask!) and this time managed to lose his provisional licence so he had to reorder it which arrived just in time. I was really pleased as he had done quite a lot of revision and practice to be fair.
Today is a day off. I’m doing some housework and getting DS’s stuff ready for his return to Uni tomorrow. OH is rather busy at work so I want her to have a weekend off having to do any cleaning, washing, shopping etc so she can have a proper rest.
We both get paid middle of next week. This month the budget is a bit tight after I got a bit overenthusiastic with the car loan overpayment! At the same time a few unbudgeted expenses came in. I need to build the liquid emergency fund back up again. This happens from time to time when I get impatient and want to see the debt gone.
Lovely day today, have a great day all!

glass_half_full

Dear diary and all,
I have today off as holiday using up my last day of my allowance. Work is busy but I am trying hard to maintain more balance and manage my time better. DS went back to University last weekend, he seemed excited and happy to be going back which was great. We bought him a phone to replace the one he had which was no longer working. We have three SIMS and buy phones outright when they need replacing. Managed to get a really decent one for around £150 new. So glad that we got out of phone contracts a couple of years ago thanks to guidance on this site! We have spent quite a lot in September one way or another and the budget was a bit tight before pay day. I have some money in a longer term savings account, but I need to build the emergency fund back up again. I’m going to do this and make the next overpayment on the car loan at Christmas when I can see how much is available. Still possible to pay it off by Christmas or certainly January.
Today I plan to do some housework and clear a few of the things that need doing. This will clear the decks so we can take tomorrow off from any need to do chores. Maybe go for a run later and I have my piano lesson later on.
Tomorrow is a treat for both of us, going to a half day spa in the afternoon. Really looking forward to it.
Have a great day all!

savingholmes

Glad your spa day has finally come - make the most of it. Sounds like you really deserve it after all your hard work.