Toddling to a mortgage free future

Bargainhunter30

Thanks Miss_Money_Magnet, Casino is going well, I'm not looking at the MB offers at the minute with sport being off.  Profit currently stands at £560 for casino and £683 MB.  It's definitely worth a go.

Bargainhunter30

Well we're still plodding on here. The garden work has stalled now until we can get some sand and topsoil delivered to mix into our existing soil before the grass seed goes down. OH has surpassed himself and built some raised beds for veg. His DIY skills are really improving and I think hes feeling very proud of himself. They look fab and are now half full of old soil, sod, composting waste and manure. Again we will finish them with good topping when we can. Hopefully this will be in time for planting something this year. My green fingers have really developed and I'm loving the mindfulness that comes with gardening.
Food spends are still ridiculously over budget £350 last month, although petrol spends were reduced to nothing. Meal planning is going well, it's just we are all home more to eat. Saving is going well, although I left us a bit short at the end of the month, as OH didnt receive some holiday pay he was meant to and furlough hasn't all been paid. He's also down this month to what I calculated, so we need to look I to that. 

Bargainhunter30

Have taken some time off from diary writing, but time for a quick update.  Been a very busy summer and autumn here.  The garden is almost finished, with the patio being completed last week finally.  Now just a few little bits to finish off, like painting the fence, but think that will have to wait until spring now.  The grass was eventually planted right before the torrential rain fell for weeks on end, so we have growths here and there, but will need re-seeding in spring. Have started getting the veg boxes ready for next year, after growing a few late tomatoes and spinach this year.  Hopefully next year will be more successful with 6 massive boxes.

We’ve done lots of DIY around the house too, including a new bathroom, boiler, redecorating lots of rooms and new windows.  Most of it was needed over the next few years, but this year seems to have been a good time to get it done.  Not much else going on!  We are still waiting for our kitchen doing, which was planned just after the first lockdown started, but dates have got all messed up and we are hoping this will be the last job finished early 2021.

I've just started a new job, which is a bit stressful but hugely enjoying having a challenge and being out of the house a bit more.  I've also received furlough pay from my old job, which I'll still be doing, so finances are looking good ok at the minute.  Just made final OP of the year and paid the full 10% off - just under £5.5k. I really need to up the pension contributions next year but OPing is a bit addictive.  Hopefully I'll be able to do both.  With all the home improvements this year we have spent a fortune, helped by a small inheritance, but they will really improve our life and make the house more energy efficient.  Next year I'm going to try going back to the envelope budgeting system for food and entertainment and not make any big spends.  

Bargainhunter30

Review of 2020 Goals:
Self Care: Not quite gone as planned this year with running club cancelled for the majority of the year and struggling with self motivation.  Myself and OH have started the Body Coach plan, which is going well, except for the Christmas temptation falling in the middle!  I've also had most of my planned nights out and weekend away cancelled, hopefully will reschedule these for next year!!

Quality Family Time: We have spent so much time together this year and although I beat myself up about spending too much time on my phone and not 'doing' enough with the kids, I'm probably being a bit harsh.  The kids love us being around and are also really good at independent play.  They are rarely bored, they can just sometimes get a bit rowdy if we don't interact and engage for a while.

Self development: This was based on my personal education, which is still not going so well. I've struggled for time and also felt it's been a bit too much with the new job.  I will get it finished this year though.

Bargainhunter30

2021 Goals:
After the big spends this year, I really want to focus on budgeting and plan to have a frugal year!  Targets are: 1).Save £600 per month. 2).OP 10% of mortgage. 3).Make £10 per day matched betting.

This year I want to be kind to myself and others.  Life is hard and I have good intentions, so rather than focus on what I haven't achieved, instead I'll focus on what I have accomplished instead.  Ideally I'd like to finish my accounting course, develop a regular exercise routine and eat healthily 90% of the time.  I'd also like to enjoy my home, the area I live in and spending time with my children.  Nothing huge, as long as we are all happy and healthy.  I'm also going to try and be less judgmental, because life isn't a competition and even if I don't understand other peoples choices, I shouldn't let them affect my happiness.

I'll be trying to appreciate the small things and developing new hobbies, like gardening and veg growing.  I'd like to do more reading and limit time using technology.  I may even get round to deleting F@cebook.  I sometimes find it weird that I enjoy reading about the financial status of complete strangers more than following the lives of 'friends' - only something I guess you guys can understand 

Parkyp

Hi, I’ve just read your diary. You seem to have a great work/life balance. Overpaying has your mortgage by that amount is fantastic. Most of your house has been decorated/upgraded well done, you should be well chuffed with yourself. I like your goals For 2021 more about feelings and actions towards yourself and others. Your children will be loving spending all the extra family time together. 

Bargainhunter30

 Thanks @Parkyp. It sometimes takes someone else saying it to realise you are doing well!

£3000 OP made this month as OH finally received his student loan, after changing from part to full time in September. Lockdown has made studying for him easier as he's been furloughed for a good chuck of the year and online lectures have saved us a fortune in petrol and time commuting. Hoping most of his lectures will remain online next semester too. He's only got just over a year left which has flown by, so hopefully he'll have a decent paid job soon!

Not much to report elsewhere financially, we are sticking to budgets and plodding on. Food budget going well. I think healthyish eating and less junk and takeaways makes a big difference.  

Loving the new job and people there. Feel challenged and also have much more energy with no longer working late nights. Exercise is also going well, weather is helping now and out running more. Going to sign up for a half marathon in August to have something to aim for. 

Have been listening to lots of podcasts which are really helping with having a positive attitude.  Home schooling not going so well, but just need to get to Easter then hopefully the end is in sight.

Bluegreen143

Thanks for dropping by my diary! I think your kids are a similar age to mine? A lot of what you’ve said really resonates with me! I deleted my FB a few months ago and it was definitely a good move, but I still spend far too much time on my phone now looking at MSE 😬 like you, I’m aiming to let go of the need for perfection this year!

Wish we were in as good a situation as you with OPs and savings though, well done!!

Bargainhunter30

Hi @Bluegreen143 and thanks. You are doing great. Yes kids similar age, DD is 3. I've tried deleting FB a few times, but justify still keeping it because I use marketplace and a few FB groups. Really need to get rid because I waste so much time looking at nothing! I probably do the same on this forum too, not sure it's a waste of time but definitely obsessive 😂

I think we've been really lucky to buy in an area so cheap and at the right time. Our house value has risen by about £30/40k since we bought 7 years ago. But I guess it's also life choices. We chose to move here rather than buy on the expensive south coast where some family are.