Mortgage free mum

savingholmes

Great stuff. Celebrate the wins along the way and the blessing of having time at home with little ones. Just think you are paying off debt / mortgage at a time a lot of people use as an excuse to increase it. You are already ahead of the curve.

longway2go

Ahhh thanks Savinghomes, really lovely to feel like I have support and know someone reads my ramblings lol

yogavibes

you are doing really well making OP whilst on mat leave. All I did was shop when I was off with my 3 mainly to get me out every day!

longway2go

Thank you. I do have a few annual passes for places which I take the kids to so that we can get out. I try not to let myself go near the shops as for me it's dangerous.

newgirly

Hi longway2go, just wanted to pop in and wish you all the best as I’ve just read your new diary. Trying to tackle it while the kids are young is a very good idea

longway2go

Thank you newgirly. Tbh I do regret not doing something sooner but must now focus on what I can do to make a difference going forward.

longway2go

Hi Everyone,

Been a little quiet lately as not had much money to find for OPs. My older son is now settled into shool and I am enjoying the last of my maternity leave with my youngest. I must say I'm not really looking forward to going back to work in many ways as I will muss my boys terribly but I am looking forward to actually getting a proper pay cheque and some adult chat.

I have made an OP of 220 today, part if me felt I should keep it in the current account to help it a bit but not long until we get paid now and tbh I didn't want it to get swallowed up and waisted so off to the mortgage or had gone.

Balance 158294
Total OP 1537.05
Interest saved 924

Feeling positive, looking forward to getting to my first mini target of 155k and seeing my interest saved figure go above 1k

Onwards and downwards

shopaholicnumber1

You're doing so well longway2go! I have no idea how you've managed to make such big OP's while on mat leave - excellent work! I'll be following your diary with interest x

longway2go

Thank you. I guess I keep my day to day costs down by breastfeeding, cloth nappy and wipes and also helps that my little one has all of my older sons clothes and toys.

We don't eat lots of meat so I thinks that helps. I do have a small dd set up from savings to boost our income during maternity although it is not the level that my income would be.

We do have a second property and the difference in rent and mortgage can sometimes be used although this month we have home improvements to do to that house.

I honestly do question if I should be making the ops at times but tbh if the money stays in the current account we are likely to waste it. I questioned this last payment but as I am getting paid on Friday I decided to make it.

I keep looking at the interest we will save if I need the final push to make the payment and I feel like the snowball effect is starting to build. If I didn't make the ops now I have a real fear I will loose momentum and not use my money wisely like before I went on maternity and I really regret previous choices I have made. I almost feel like I am trying to make up for the decisions I should have made.

I am popping in and out of diaries to keep the motivation but don't get much time to read them in full with the 2 boys and starting my own business.

Fingers crossed the momentum continues as I want to make a noticeable difference on a day to day basis and keep in my mind that my little family will only keep getting more expensive and the uncertainty of the world atm.

I'm currently working on setting up a joint monzo ac with oh so we can understand our spending more and also because we can use pots to separate into weekly spending budgets.

Thank you for taking the time to read.

longway2go

Today I have put together a 6 week meal plan. I am looking to see if this will save money and also time by batch cooking where I can. I am due to return to work next month 3 days a week and currently spend far to much time daily thinking about what to have and going to the shop for top ups where I enviably by extras.

My joint monzo card arrived today so just having a little think about how to set it up to budget spending... Welcoming any thoughts.

Hope you have all had a good day.