The Piano Diary

caeler

Congratulations! Wonderful news! 

South_coast

I just spotted your name on the MF Roll of Honour and was like whaaaatt....😀😀😀! Congratulations!!! Who knew a couple of months would turn into a couple of days 🤣! 

I'm so pleased for you. Well done, and congratulations on your anniversary too 😍

glass_half_full

@savingholmes, @caeler, @South_coast thanks so much for your kind words!

I feel so lucky. 

Went out this evening with OH and we raised a glass or two!

AgathaSquirrel

I always enjoy reading your diary but hadn’t expected either update! Bit of a rollercoaster read.
I’m so pleased for you. Off to read your mortgage free roll of honour post now.

Moneyfordreams

Many congratulations 

Frith

Congratulations! 

glass_half_full

Thanks @AgathaSquirrel, @Moneyfordreams and @Frith !

glass_half_full

Dear diary and all,

Its real! I have kept checking the online mortgage site and it has kept showing a balance until this morning. I think I must be on some kind of watch list for ‘people who surely don’t need to log in to their mortgage account that many times do they?’ I have moved across the final 7 marbles from one jar to another and so I have my empty jar too to stare at.

OH and I have of course been talking about what we do next. I think we may loosen the purse strings just a little in the coming months. We may pay for a bit more here and there to help us with this and that. We may have a few more meals out and trips away. It will also be nice to be able to help DS and his girlfriend out in various ways if we need to.

The main thing we will do is to divert the mortgage payment and former OP to pensions and savings towards the financial freedom goal. I think the key here is to balance things out. I remember when we became debt free I did a new budget which included more discretionary spend. I don’t think we will be changing too much, the MSE habits are pretty ingrained now.

According to my retirement planning spreadsheet, it should be possible to get there in 3-4 years. I’m quite a fan of simplicity. Probably I will increase payments into my workplace pension and keep it that simple.

I think I will keep this diary going as a way of working out my thoughts etc, seems to have worked for me so far in helping me to think things through.

We have a nice weekend ahead, some friends visiting so out for a meal this evening and then out and about tomorrow.

caeler

That’s the best bit!! I framed the confirmation letter I got from the mortgage company!! 🥰 I’m 3 months post paying it off and it’s still sinking in! 

South_coast

I screnshotted mine as well - I've still got it! And the text they sent me to confirm it was closed 🤣!

I'm glad you'll be sticking around, I'm looking forward to hear about the retirement journey 😀