Mortgage freedom/FIRE diary

Porridgecat

You seem to be really lucky with Olio, there're odd bits around us but generally it would be a car drive which I feel negates the main purpose so I don't bother.
With the invigilation, when you get closer to the time you'd want to do it I would put together a basic letter and CV and drop it off at all the schools local to you rather than wait for adverts. It'svery seldom our school advertises it's often word of mouth.

Poppycat1

Yes, @Porridgecat I think I must be.  Other people have said they struggle to get much, apart from @Kittenkirst who also seems to do well.  I have been really good today with food that I would normally throw away or Olio items.  This morning I made American style pancakes with a very soft/brown banana instead of egg.  DS2 turned his nose up when he saw the banana but said they tasted amazing.  I have three bananas left so going to make some more, try and squeeze them in the freezer for a quick breakfast on other days.  I made a lasagne (added a layer of mushrooms before a pasta layer to use some up).  There was some sauces left over so I stuffed the four Olio green peppers with the meat (vegan) sauce, topped with white sauce, a sprinkle of vegan cheese and baked it with the lasagne.  I had a pepper with some rice.  I now have seven meals.  DS wont eat the lasagne (mushrooms) although he may try the stuffed peppers.  I think the vegan mince was free or very much reduced but can't remember how I got it., maybe Shopmium.

£1 earned on PA.

I think I need to get out more, woke up this morning and my phone told me it was an hour later than my bedside clock.  Yesterday got a letter to say I'm late filling out the census.  I would normally know about these things.  Good job I wasn't working today.

I have spent a couple of hours this afternoon learning how to make soap.  I bought the caustic soda ages ago to make it but never got around to it.  I think I will try a small batch over the next couple of weeks.  I'm a soap girl not shower gel.

I think I'll see if there is a nice relaxing murder to watch on ITV3 with a cup of tea.

Kittenkirst

Hope you had that relaxing cuppa whilst you watched murder shows Poppycat?
Yes, our Olio has been great recently (since Christmas really) as a lady around the corner has become a food waste hero, although she is now scaling back her collections a bit, and I think more people are using the app around here too so more goes super quickly, which is great.

The lady near us made a facebook group for it to raise awareness and would share on the fab group the first listing each pick up she did, that way people knew to check the app. Seems to have worked well, and we have definitely benefitted from it.

Once we move house I’m planning on signing up at least once a week to be a food hero (will have a bigger fridge to keep items cool in!)- the more people getting involved the better

Poppycat1

I did Kittenkirst, although I waited until 8pm for the Midsomer Murders.  I have signed up to be a food hero but the slots go quickly around here.  Maybe in the warmer weather and people may go away on holidays if allowed, I may get one.   Some times the listings don't go on until after 10 pm which I tend to avoid unless it's really close to me.

Today I had two more of my homemade pancakes for breakfast.  I put around 8 sultanas in each one that I made last night.  I also put a scraping of vegan butter, really good.  Dinner was leftover peppers and rice from yesterday with a Olio Cost a lemon muffin for afters.  Tea was a 3p half baguette with the Olio humous.  Another cheap food day.  The only thing I'm going to need to shop for is soya milk and maybe some crisps in the next two weeks.  I have only spent £64.81 on food in March.  That's me, DS2 and DS2 for a few days.  Doesn't include the cats food.  I think it will be even less in April although diesel will be more with going back to work.

I took out £5.63 from PA with around £4.50 waiting for approval today.

A friend came over for a couple of hours at lunch time and we sat in the garden chatting,  It was lovely and warm.  I really feel my old self coming back.  This afternoon I planted 12 cucumber, 12 tomato and a whole pack (around 50) marigold seeds.  The extra cucumber plants will go to my Mum and Dad if there are any.  I thought if I have too many of the other I can give them away on Olio.  Friend is coming back next week and helping me sort out some stuff in the garden.

First official day back at work tomorrow, 7 am until 12 which is less than half a normal shift, not sure how I will cope with the early mornings.

I brought forward £50 of the £400 overpayment I am going to pay next Wednesday.  According to Microsoft money it has saved me a whole 1p of interest.  

Poppycat1

First day back at work went well.  I didn't sleep very well and had a nap when I got home.  Same hours tomorrow.  My Wellbeing counsellor suggested they discharge me which I agreed to. 

After work I collected a granary loaf and some flatbreads from and Olio member.  I also collect this cute little 1 litre slow cooker, it is probably big enough for two meals.  This is great when I want to make things that DS2 doesn't eat, like anything with mushrooms in.  It's in nearly new condition.

I thought I would put my in/out goings in here for record.  This month has been cheap because I haven't done much, have started using Olio, no diesel, and received a refund on Gas/Elec when I moved supplier.

Expenses - £428.08
£96.00 - CT
£22.95 - Broadband
£48.00 - Water
£42.76 - Gas/Electric - CREDIT
£9.51 - Mobile phone
£2.00 - Bank charges for having account
£10 - Charity
£2 - Chips for DS2
£2.50 - Washing liquid
£64.81 - Food - £15 vouchers and £49.81 cash
0.58 - Paracetmol
£15.55 - Deodorant subscription - should last the rest of the year
£9.04 - Garden - seeds and plants
£147.36 - Mortgage interest
£40.54 - Cat food - Will last 5-6 weeks

Income - wages, maintenance, benefits - £2,285
Extra Income - £62.45
£4.44 - Bank cash back
£20.00 - cash back - £5 - paypal, £10 - Waitross, £5 - Icel@nd
0.60 - Found
£37.41 - PA - May have another £5 ish tomorrow.  This is the most I have ever had from PA

I have earned extra to this but hasn't been paid yet so haven't included it.  Most money left over has gone to the mortgage overpayments.

Kittenkirst

Great news that you have been discharged from your well-being counsellor; I was discharged last month and I found the counselling helped me so much with getting myself back to being myself I hope you have found similar for you

Your expenses are looking super low there!

Poppycat1

Kittenkirst, I am so sorry you have been going through some bad times.  Really glad the well-being counsellor helped and you are getting back to yourself.   It has also helped me talk to the counsellor about things.  Writing it down on here has helped and I have been really open to my family, friends and colleagues this year.  The closest to me know I had 'down' times but not how bad they get.  She told me to try and contact them again but before it gets really bad next time.  My employer is going to help me through and we are going to arrange a reduce working week this coming Winter by taking some leave.

Work went well again and I pushed myself to learn something new.  I'm finding the mask wearing for such long periods a bit of a struggle again.  I did when we first started to wear them but I will get used to it.

PA has been really busy for me this last few days.  I have £6 odd ready to pay out and a similar amount to be reviewed.

To those that used my referral for Echo, have you had any problems with receiving the voucher?  I haven't received mine and my sister hadn't either.  I emailed them yesterday and got this reply "I hope you are well, we are having a few issues with the referral scheme at the moment but we are doing our best to fix these. We would advice contacting us next week if there has been no update."  I will do as they ask and contact them if I don't hear anything.

Apart from PA surveys and work I haven't done that much today.  No Olio collections, eating leftovers and no overpayments.

I going to copy South_coast and set myself a target of extra money/coupons earned.  I think I will set it as £1,500 for the year.  It's a little high because I am going to include some things that only pay once eg, bank cashback for switching, referrals for Echo etc.

I was telling my friend about my plans to investigate the invigilating work and she said she was interested.  So I have told her what I have learned here and she is going to look in to it.  

Poppycat1

I paid £50 off the mortgage yesterday.  It was in lieu of the £100 bonus that the new bank account should pay out soon.  ***

My usual payment came out today, this leaves the balance at £85,597.45, with 13 years left to pay (should be 16 years, 8 months).  I have £2,900 left of the 10% overpayment allowance left for this year.  I think this should be paid by the 25th May 2021.  I will then start saving next years 10%.

This Wednesday I will be able to pay another £400 off which will reduce it by another month.

I spent some money, unusual for me.  £10 on fuel and £7.10 at L!dl.  L!dl shop was pecans that were on offer, 36 bags of crisps (my weakness), bottle of pop and a bulb of garlic.  Only thing I think I need for the rest of the month is soya milk and vegan cheese.  Hoping to use the Echo voucher (Asda) to buy the cheese.

Not much is happening here, my sister came to see me Friday.  I've collected a few things via Olio, posh small rich fruit cake, large Easter egg (box broken), lots of Pret wraps and fruit bowls.

I have tiny little marigold seedlings come up.  Nothing from the tomatoes and cucumber as yet.

***Went back and paid another £50 off later on.

Poppycat1

£350 overpayment made last night.  That leaves £2,500 left of the overpayment allowance for this year.  £85,197.45 left to pay.  Now the term is 12 years and 11 months and not 16 years and 8 months.

One of the £50 overpayments over the Easter weekend has come out of my account but is not showing as coming off the mortgage.  I need to check this out, both accounts with the same bank.

No more overpayments until 25th unless any refunds/extra tax credits/cashback comes my way.  Should be about 7 weeks until this years allowance is paid off.  I can then start saving for next years.

Still doing well with Olio, lots of wraps, baguettes, pastries and fruit and veg being saved.

Second week back at work and I am struggling with the early mornings but feel better for being at work.  2nd vaccination tomorrow.

DancingInTheRain

Just caught up on your posts, still waiting on the Echo voucher @Poppycat
Hope all okay after your vaccination x