Eagerlearners journey to Terminate the mortgage

wishingthemortgaheaway

Have found your diary EL,
40k net worth is brilliant. We probably just about work out even if we combine my savings & inheritance (what's left of it) and the money hubby squirrels away.
(And a pension for your 7 year old)

You will be mortgage free before we blink. Keep going.

Wish.

EagerLearner

Thanks so much Wishing for saying hello, your diary has been such an inspiration, every bit helps and the support on here and tips make such a difference.

I just wrote a huge post and pressed the wrong button in error and lost it all baaah...

We don't count our home in net worth so that we can say current worth is simply our own efforts if that makes sense. I'm thinking we are at £13k plus £190k ish woo.

Speaking of miniEl got his pension statement Saturday and it's nearly £500 which is crazy because it doesn't feel n like we've been doing it that long but I guess even 20 quid adds up. It's up by £35 so time will tell, and that 8th wonder of the world compounding ha (plus of course an extra £6.25 a month from the govt helps).

Must eat better today, too much good food and drink last couple of days but great fun with friends.


Money-saving

- Just did consumer pulse and got 2000 points woo hoo, so I'll definitely cash out this week.
- Expecting an NSD today
- Watched a great movie on Netflix called Glass Castle and had a glass of wine each. Brilliant movie so touching and incredible acting, based on a true story, highly recommend.
- Lost a bid on a fleabay auction so annoying, BidNip doesn't seem to work anymore agh. It went for under £3 in the end, at least I know not to use BidNip anymore but need to find an alternative.

Grizzly day so some house stuff planned and prepping for the week.

What's everyone up to?

starnac

I've never got on with YNAB EL. I find it a lot of hard work for not much. Is there a secret to using it that I'm missing?

zcrat41

I'm a ynab fan. The thing it does for me is make me pay attention to my budget. Basically an expensive spreadsheet!

EagerLearner

Hi Starnac, it's a different kind of budgeting I must admit. I won my copy on one of their intro sessions, so I am not on the new fandangled version. BUT, I guess for me it was a mindset change - every pound that comes in needs to be budgeted for and 'pre' spent. I guess it makes you then think you are poor, vs ooo what's in the bank to spend. It takes a little while to set up, as do most things, but after that is no effort at all aside from telling it when/what you spent money on.

If you want to give it another go I am happy to help you out on PM? They also have an amazing FB group where the fans help out hugely, as well as brilliant live tutorials too.

I love YNAB and doubt I would use anything else now... As Zcrat41 says, it makes you really pay attention to your budget.

In MSE news:

- Yesterday sold a dvd box set on fleabay for £9.99, will post today. This will go to o/p fund.
- One more invoice paid so can YNAB this later, part for o/p
- Will cash out £10 on Consumer Pulse today, goes on Argos at Xmas usually
- Should be an NSD unless I cave for a couple more decorating items, which to be fair after such intense working lately I feel is deserved, at least they benefit the house (compared to clothes, booze etc)
- Should get paid for another couple invoices today, this is in cash which is annoying as need to go to bank but hey ho it'll allow me to YNAB ha
- MiniEL sold some of his toys yesterday, I was very proud to see him with his sales spiel bless him, he's happy today

Dinner is from the freezer, spag bol tonight, and some more decorating planned after a few hours work today. Hopefully miniEL will be patient with me.

Need to get some ideas for living room decor for next month as I want to allow £30 to really focus on it. Prob won't get much but maybe some blinds and something small. We have spent so long focusing on the 'main' work to be done + then overpayments, I would like to budget something to slowly improve decor.

pinkypig

Happy New diary - you've made an amazing start:j. I'll be following with interest - the very best of luck to you

PP xx

starnac

Thanks for the YNAB offer EL but I'm not sure I can justify paying for what is basically a spreadsheet I know quite a few people who really make it work for them though. I just don't think it's for me

EagerLearner

Completely Starnac - I don't see it as a spreadsheet, more an accountability partner that cost me nothing and saves me thousands a year. Enter their competitions ;-) Don't write it off on cost, in case you can win it - or try the free trial again, costs nowt and you may get it this time... def pays for itself. Squeak - that's me off my soapbox ha.

Pinkypig welcome & thanks for stopping by! I feel like we have done well - the next 3 months will be about saving for Christmas and staying in the same or better position financially whilst doing so - I do like a challenge ha.

Moneysaving things so far:

- Doh, the money I earned from ebay has been absorbed by an unexpected work cost. I will still transfer it across to the o/p pile though when I YNAB later.
- Tesco have now confirmed by cc whoo hoo, so hopefully that £40 will show on £co in the next few weeks as tracked.
- Need to pay some cash in of which a small amount will be YNAb-able


Not working today aside from a few hours, so trying to entertain little one and get a few productive things done with the rest of the day. House looks a mess due to decorating and general laziness over weekend, plus 3 loads of washing to sort too bah.

Hope everyone is having a good day so far.

wishingthemortgaheaway

Ynab has saved me hundreds and hundreds of pounds. I made the swap to the new subscription version reluctantly. (Something went a bit bonkers with the syncing) but don't regret it.
I have a little ynab category where I save monthly for the next subscription. Feels like it costs me nothing when I do pay it (on my rewards cc which is paid
Off monthly)

starnac

I've just signed up for the free trial. How does it work? I've put in all my figures in the budgeted bit and my bank balances but I don't get how I log the bills as they come out? Am I being thick?