Mortgage freedom/FIRE diary

Poppycat1

I've been to three supermarkets today to try and find a dress for me and a shirt for DS2 for the wedding.  It was too hot to travel to the city.  First Sainsbugs, nothing suitable but I did find a long black skirt I like, so I bought that for £10 and also a dress for my sister who couldn't get the correct size in her area.  Next was Te$co, nothing suitable.  Then just popped in to A$da on the way home from collecting some Pret food.  I found a nice dress for £18.00 and a shirt for £12.50 for DS2.  Very happy.  As I was in so many supermarkets I took the opportunity to buy lots of Shopmium and GreenJim items and I'm just waiting for the money to become payable.   All receipts scanned in various apps as well.

A while back I tested a wellbeing app for the NHS and to say thank you they gave me a £25 voucher today.  Luckily I had chosen an Asda one and that paid for my dress and most of DS2 shirt.

My parents are visiting tomorrow and I was lucky enough to get enough food from Pret via Olio to feed all five of us, both main and a sweet.

I'm feeling in a bit of a mess at the moment.  I still have all DS1 stuff from uni in my lounge.  They are going away on Monday for a fortnight so will be able to get straight then.

Bought £500 worth of PB yesterday.  So I now have £1,500 worth.  I also have £1,500 in a separate back account waiting to be able to overpay the 10% at the end of the year.  Just around £5,000 to save until the end of the year.  Plenty of overtime available at work.

I haven't made a decision about reducing the mortgage term yet.  I feel they wont let me reduce it as much as I want.  This would then not save enough to cover the £75 charge.  More pondering I think.

Poppycat1

Sorry it's been a while.  I am still lost without MS Money but I am getting by.  No end of month updates, this is because it would take me too long to go through my bank accounts for the information.

I have bought three dresses, 3 bras and 5 pairs of shoes.  Altogether it cost £125 with the underwear costing the most.  That should do me now until October.

I have been doing a fair bit of extra work and really enjoying it, although the housework is suffering.  Mortgage payment comes out Thursday, one more after that and my mortgage will start with a 7.

Poppycat1

The monthly mortgage payment went out today and now leaves £80,678.59 left to pay with 12 years and 1 month to go.

Pay day tomorrow for 20 hours bank work, I expect it to be around £150 after deductions.  This will go to savings for the mortgage over payment at the beginning of next year.  I''ll soon be half way there.

I had a day off yesterday and I am now on leave until next Thursday.  I am using the time to get ready for my niece's wedding and try and organise our home a bit better.  Since DS2 has been home from uni. there doesn't seem to be enough room for all his belongings.

Not so much Olioing going on because it's only me to feed.

rjbear

Amazing to read your story. 

Poppycat1

Thanks rjbear.  

Today has been spent at home, the washing machine is now finishing it's sixth load.  Lots of blankets, dressing gowns and bedding done.  Lovely sunny blowy weather so lots dried as well.  I have hoovered most rooms with my new to me, via Olio, vacumn cleaner.  It's quite embarressing the amount it collected.  I moved all the furniture and was very thorough.  I rearraged the boys room and gave it a thorough clean and tidy as well.  Lots more room in there now.  Going to try and make the conservatory (lean to) in to a boys den next week with their help hopefully.  It's too cold in the winter in there so it will just be used for the next few months.

Pay went in this evening, £157.  I added the extra to make it £250 and popped it in to the the mortgage overpayment account.  I now have £3,250 towards the £7,870 10% overpayment allowance for next year.  No more income until main pay on the 25th now.

Poppycat1

The wedding was lovely, one downpour but that was during the speeches whilst we were indoors.  The actual wedding was in an old school house that is now used as a hotel.  Unfortunately they cancelled the guests room bookings about a month ago, so had to drive home.  My niece looked beautiful.  Spent about £45 on drinks on the night!  Most of them were soft drinks.

I took DS1 to the hospital for his cast to be removed today and he now has a brace on his leg.  The wounds have healed well.  

I still have two more days after today on leave so am enjoying some time at home.

Poppycat1

I've been naughty and made a little over payment of £28.59, I had to pay the 5% charges but it make me feel better and it took £7 odd off the interest overall.

Took DS2 to BK today, forgotten how expensive it was, £14 odd but it was nice to get away from the computer games for a bit.

We are going to bake some scones and a plum sponge tomorrow and watch a film.  Back to work Thursday.

Poppycat1

I received some back pay of £300 today.  £50 went to (over payment) savings, £20 to (car servicing) savings and I used the rest to pay the credit card early.  I had spent a bit on it recently for the wedding, and didn't want a big chunk going out at the beginning of next month.  So most of my next wages will be able to be added the over payment savings.

We are off to the seaside tomorrow to meet family.  We will take a picnic and probably buy some donuts whilst we are there.  We are taking chairs blankets and games for the kids to play with.  I will try and find my flask.  Looking forward to it.

I have agreed to 9 hours overtime next week and 12.5 the week after.  I'm then on leave for 10 days.  I am hoping to get DS bedroom redecorated in that time.  Overtime is paid weekly so will get it all this month.

Poppycat1

I am still here, plodding along.  Pay day next Wednesday but no payslip yet.  I think I have about £100 extra this month but will have to wait and see.

I hadn't planned to but I took £1,000 of my mortgage over payment money and added to my SIPP.  £250 added by the tax man which was very nice of him.  

I have defrosted the fridge freezer, oh how amazing it feels, lol.  Everything is in order, meat replacements at the bottom, burgers, sausages and a ready meal in the middle and humous on the top.  The fridge bit is clean and tidy as well.  I have also wiped out the pantry cupboard and tidied up in there.  I now have the chest freezer, condiments/cereal/nuts and over flow cupboard left to do.

Olio has been good again, collected vegan cheese x 4, flapjack bar, crudites, strawberries, grapes, bread, tomatoes, stir fry mix, flowers and some apples.  The boys are away so cutting back on what I collect.  My son brought home his air fryer from uni and I love using it.  Vegan sausages cooked in 15 minutes then added to the stir fry mix for dinner.  There are lots more things I can do with it but just haven't looked in to it.  Anyone else got one and do you have any great ideas on how to use it?

Not really done much as far as earning more money but did receive the £50 Populus payout last week.

Poppycat1

The boys are away with with the grandparents until tomorrow.  I have taken the time to do some over time at work, 52.5 hours in total last week 15 of those as over time.  They forgot to lock down the previous weeks over time shift down so have around 32 hours to be paid this Friday.  Also received an email from work to say that for those that work overtime and weekends, they had been under paying us for around two years.  At the end of September they are paying me an extra £500 odd.  The same payday will have our back dated 3% pay rise.  So lots of deductions will come out.

A few weeks ago I received a letter to say I had under paid tax last year of around £250.  So went on to my Gateway account and paid it off.  They didn't want it until next year but thought I would like it out of the way.

Olio has been great recently, got some chocolates, lots of fruit, veg and bread.  In fact because the boys have been away I am going to have to cut back I have so much.  Several people are collecting from me today.  Tesco gave me a whole box of bananas to give away.  Half have been promised.  I done a one off Pret collection yesterday and managed to give it all away apart from a few bits for me.  

I'm going to have a day at home today to try and get some jobs around the house, sheets are in the wash already.  Phone chat with a friend booked for 5 pm.  Going to try and find an alternative to MS money today.