We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Starting Afresh Back Home
Options
Comments
-
I would say keep it all in cash. I know it's exciting to think about being mortgage free but it does make one get tunnel vision to a certain extent.
You and OH should definitely think of the money as being for the deposit but keeping it in cash you'll find there's a bit more flexibility if there's some total and utter disaster (long period of ill health, car has to be scrapped, tree falls on the house and insurance company drags their feet about paying out for repairs) in the future.
If everything is wrapped up in the house then you may have to go into debt for pay for emergencies and then face the extra paperwork of trying to remortgage to release equity etc. This money is separate from an emergency fund (like my maternity leave savings were) but can be accessed put to a very expensive emergency if necessary."You won't bloom until you're planted" - Graffiti spotted in Newcastle.
Always try to be nice, but never fail to be kind - Doctor Who
Total mortgage overpayments 2017 - 2024 - £8945.62!2 -
Also, you’ll need cash to actually make a purchase, so definitely worth having a good chunk available - solicitors, survey etc plus stamp duty.
With the quilt- until it falls apart? Definitely depends on quality though. I was quite surprised at you needing new bath mats the other month - ours are 12 years old and still going strong. We are using a duvet that Mr MV’s mum gave us lightly used 10 years ago and it’s not good quality and I would love to replace it but will buy something high quality and keep for a long time when we finally get a bigger bed - there’s no point buying a new one now. When it needs washing, we use our sleeping bags for a couple of nights!Mortgage free 16/06/2023! £132,500 cleared in 11 years, 3 months and 7 days
'Now is no time to think of what you do not have. Think of what you can do with what there is.' Ernest Hemingway3 -
Definitely keep some cash. It's surprising how expensive moving is sometimes.. you forget all the little things like moving vans, having to buy some new furniture because it doesn't fit, DIY etc.I keep quilts until they fall apart as well. I would love to replace mine with a better quality one, but will wait until I have to. I have one of those 4+4 togs, so I know come the warmer months I can wash a duvet, then when it's dry swap it out for the other one.I have two sets of sheets, duvet covers and pillowslips for the bed and one set fell apart after 10 years, although the other set is still going after 11 years. I'm sure they will fall apart quite soon. It was quite dramatic as I was putting the duvet in the cover and my hand just went right through! It must have got quite thin over the years!2025 decluttering: 3,819🌟🥉🌟💐🏅🏅🌟🥈🏅🌟🏅💐💎🌟🏅🏆🌟🏅
2025 use up challenge: 322🥉🥈🥇💎🏆
Big kitchen declutter challenge 98/150
2025 decluttering goals I Use up Challenge: 🥉365 🥈750 🥇1,000 💎2,000 🏆 3,000 👑 8,000 I 🥉12 🥈26 🥇52 💎 100 🏆 250 👑 5002 -
Thank you for the comments. You are of course right about keeping it in cash just in case and for moving fees. When DH has paid the car off, he will still have around £6k left in savings, so it's a good start. I am getting very tunnel visioned with paying off the mortgage, I think it's because I'm getting desperate to move. I bought this little bungalow because its all I could afford on my own at the time but now I'm starting to resent it and everything it doesn't have, when instead I should appreciate the fact that we have own little place when other people aren't so lucky!
Re the quilt and bath mat, maybe I'm buying replacements too soon then! They should really start sticking labels on the front of these things saying 'This bathmat will last you 10 years', 'This quilt will last you 20 years' and of course 'This "insert item here" will see you out!' 🤣 (my parents bought a new divan bed last month and my mum said 'it will see us out' 🤣)Mortgage Balance as of July 2025 £14,900.
Starting Mortgage Balance (June 2019) £72,000.
Aiming to be mortgage free by my 40th birthday, June 2026!4 -
Another Monday done and dusted. I'm working from home this week while I'm still recovering, which I have to say is really nice. I seem to get so much more done when I'm not around other people! Today I tackled the ladder inspection records from the past 2 years as it's going from a paper to a software system ("how exciting!" i hear you say! 🤣). Felt very accomplished when I finished it though 🙂 That and the car went in for an MOT today so DH had taken the doggy hammock and blankets off the backseat, so I was able to get those washed and dried when having a break from work.
Unfortunately, I did have to miss my usual Monday cleaning job, but on the plus side, I got a call from a potential new cleaning customer who I am going to see on Saturday. I will also pop in and see one of my other customers for a cuppa, as she called today to see how I was. I think my visits are a bit of company for her as well because at 90 odd she doesn't get out as much, so we always have a little chat when I'm there, she wants to show me her new mobility scooter!
New duvet arrived today, but I haven't opened it yet. Also, DHs kindle for his birthday, which I have wrapped up ready. I did get the jubilee clips for the WM but they were too big. I'd measured the circumference and turns out they go on the diameter 🤦♀️, so I've ordered some smaller ones.
I was able to take the dogs on two little walks today which was really nice, so im definitely healing and in less pain 😀Mortgage Balance as of July 2025 £14,900.
Starting Mortgage Balance (June 2019) £72,000.
Aiming to be mortgage free by my 40th birthday, June 2026!8 -
Glad you are getting better jessy 😊
As for the advice, I’d say it’s more sensible to keep the cash as the others have said, however if it was me I’d probably want it off the mortgage too 😆MFW 67 - Finally mortgage free! 💙😁2 -
Thanks NG x
I've been for another dressing change today. My stomach is now healed enough not to need a dressing anymore, which is great. My boob still has a dressing on but I've been told to take it off at night and then given replacement dressings to put on during the day. My leg, which had the deepest burn still has a dressing on, I can shower, then take it off wait for for the burn to dry and then put a new dressing straight back on. Overall good news, I just have to go back again next Wednesday, which I'm hoping will be the last time and I will be discharged🤞
I'm still working from home and will be next week as well, because although I'm healing well, I'm still at risk of infection. I know beyond doubt its the right thing to do because DH came home today saying someone had covid over the weekend and has come back in the office today. If i were to catch something like that, it would lower my immune system and make an even bigger risk of infection, so I'm stopping home!
We did have a chippy tea tonight to make me feel better/celebrate me getting better which I know isn't very MSE but it was yummy and the cheapest takeaway.
One of my lovely cleaning customers bought me a bunch of flowers to wish me well, which was very sweet of her ❤️
Mortgage Balance as of July 2025 £14,900.
Starting Mortgage Balance (June 2019) £72,000.
Aiming to be mortgage free by my 40th birthday, June 2026!6 -
How lovely to get flowersI am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.3 -
Aw, that's very thoughtful of her, how lovely.
Glad you're healing well. I think of you every time I fill my hot water bottle now (although apparently it hasn't yet stopped me putting boiling water in the darn thing! 🤦♀️)3 -
Oh cheery! Please do! I hate the thought of this happening to anyone else 😔Mortgage Balance as of July 2025 £14,900.
Starting Mortgage Balance (June 2019) £72,000.
Aiming to be mortgage free by my 40th birthday, June 2026!4
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.1K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244.1K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.1K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177K Life & Family
- 257.4K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards