Mortgage free mum

longway2go

I just wrote a massive post and lost it!

So today I have been very busy. I had help with the boys so decided to batch cook. I have never done this before as I wasn't too sure on how to freeze and reheat food and worried about space in my freezer but decided to go for it.

I went to 2 supermarkets to get everything I needed and it cost about 140. This includes most eve meals for the next 6 weeks and the other bits. I will need to do very small top ups for milk, bread, salad and a little veg but will not spend anywhere near what I normally do. I won't be in the supermarket so much so won't be tempted to buy what I don't need and won't be relying on more expensive shops. Atm it works out about 23 a week and estimate 10 per week for top ups. What do other people spend?

I then batch cooked 11 meals, have 3 marinating which will be cooked tomorrow along with another 3 more and then frooze down my chicken into the portion sizes needed and cut into. Chunks or strips depending on what they will be used for.

My feet are killing as I have only sat down to feed my son and self today but I feel this will save money and time. I hate the stress of what to eat every evening and then rushing to the shop as I amissing an ingredient or 2. Hopefully it will also help me loose a bit of weight at the same time and maybe reduce my outgoing to my slimming group.

In other news I get paid tomorrow... This is very exciting as I have not had a proper pay cheque in so long. I think it will be my full pay as they are now paying me holiday pay and I am no longer classed as being on maternity.

Once I know how much I am paid I will work out a budget for this month which will include an overpayment.

Tomorrow I need to cancel my gym membership because I am not using it and although not a great expense a waste of money which could be used towards the mortgage.

Hope you have all had a good day.

shopaholicnumber1

Well done longway2go! Batch cooking is an excellent idea -its something I plan to do once I've eaten up all the lo portions filling my freezer. Enjoy this time with your little one(s) - they grow up so quickly! And keep up the OP's - you are doing amazingly well! x

longway2go

Work didn't pay me, an error at their end which after a few ohine calls has been rectified and money in my account.

Went into town today to get some bits for my sons birthday and Christmas.

I have been having a look at what we have for Christmas so far and have managed to get everything we need for our oldest, not started in youngest yet as been concentraing on his birthday.

We have got 8 presents plus my sons so really pleased. We also know what we are getting for 4 more and then have my youngest son plus 7 other presents to find and buy. We may also need to get stuff for 2 couples but need to have a chat with the as I think we may just get for each others kids.

Need to set up my monzo joint account now we have our cards and work out a budget for this month. It is my hubbh and sons birthdays and hubbh wants to go away for a few days so I may just get the accounts looking respectful this month and get christmas sorted so that next month I am ready to smash the ops with hubby's blessing.

My to do list:
Tax return
Cancel gym
Look at life ins to see if I'm overpaying
Review gas/electric

And to help budget:
Choose and book santa
Choose and book panto
Complete Xmas shopping

I'm stuck o what to buy mine and hubby's dad who are in 60s and young at heart. Any ideas appreciated.

longway2go

I haven't posted for a while so thought I would pop in with an update. I have been paid and have decided I need to do a few account bits so won't be able to make the full 1k op I was aiming for this month which is a bit gutting. Looking at figures I am going to aim for 350 (347 is the amount of interest paid this month so want to cover this).

Tax return submitted and rebate of 81.20 due.

We have had to pay out for some work on the other house this month so no spare money from rent towards the mortgage.

Monzo account has been an eye opener in relation to where money drifts to during the month. Atm we don't plan for birthdays, Christmas or car spends. We have good and bad months so going to start by making some pots for these on monzo and working out an annual budget and what needs to be paid to each every month.

Progress
*Santa booked

To do:
*Life insurance, review costs
*Canx gym
*Move swimming dd
*Review gas/electric
*Research and book panto
*Finish Christmas shopping
*Create monzo pots and work out how much to allocate to each monthly.
*website updates

Current balance 157712.15 of I hadn't of made ops it would be 159258.70.

longway2go

Hi all,

I decided to make an OP of 212.15 today and will make another a bit later in the month when some money hits our account. The sum of both will be the amount of interest paid this month. Its nice to know my full mortgage payment is therefore going towards reducing the balance. I think that will be my min aim each month. The payment today has saved us 126 in interest.

Back to work next week and little DS has a cold so staying in snuggled today which means no spending from my side although oh will be picking up a few bits.

Getting used to monzo and think long term it could work nicely for us. I have set up pots for my weekly spending which I move to the main account each Monday and also set up a Christmas, car and birthdays pot.

I need to:
Review life ins costs
Canx gym
Move swimming dd
Review gas/electric
Research and book panto
Finish Xmas shopping
Website updates
Work out monzo pot allocation amounts

I know the above is repetitive but if I don't do it I will forget and don't get much time with the 2 small people in the house.

I have now broken the 1000 barrier and saved 1050 in interest. I am half way to my mini target of 155k as my balance is 157500 and own 2/16ths of the virtual living room so things are going quite nicely.

Onwards and downwards

shopaholicnumber1

Well done you on still managing to make OPs! Have no idea how you do it but keep at it! Enjoy your last week at home

longway2go

Thank you.

I have just cancelled my gym membership so that will save 16.99 a month.

longway2go

Evening,

Today I have had a good sort out sold 2 items on fb which will give us a small top up for next weeks spending and with both oh and ds birthday will come in handy.

I have sorted out toys and going to top up my sons birthday gifts with bits that my older son had and loved when he was 1. We have so many toys in this house I definitely don't need to buy more.

I have also moved a swimming direct debit to get my accounts a bit straighter.

Considering looking at ynab but not sure if I have enough head space with everything going on atm and don't want to waste my trial.

I am finding that batch cooking is helping me spend loads more time with my boys and the after school and before tea time is so much easier and enjoyable for all so money aside I will definitely be doing that again.

Looking forward to making another op a bit later in the month. I need to keep focused and posting to keep the journey going I think.

Onwards and downwards

longway2go

Today I am £10 up from the fb sales. I have paid to see a show with the boys in December which cost £42. It's one of the things I won't give up as I think it's important to enjoy the time with them and having experiences like this. Next year I plan to create a pot for Christmas experiences to pay for santa and panto but spread the cost over the year. Thanks to monzo I am starting to see how money just went from the account.

I have collected 24 Christmas books from charity shops and family and today wrapped a few up to be used as a book advent calendar for the boys. A few years ago I paid for one of these from a book seller and tbh the books were not even age appropriate. I think I will reuse these going forward but may change a couple each year.

My car is going to the garage tomorrow so praying that won't cost 2 much but needs to be done before I go back to work.

Tonight we have a chickpea, sweet potato and spinach curry which was part of my batch cooking and looking forward to that.

shopaholicnumber1

Nice idea on the Advent Book Calendar - far better than the cheap nasty chocolates :T And totally agree that creating special memories is worth a bit of a spend OPing is so addictive but getting rid of the mortgage isn't a sprint and you have to live along the way