Twenty-something's aim to be mortgage free

wh_em

Aims for Dec 2020/April 2021
1. Emergency fund -   £2000/£4000 No change
2. Mortgage OPs - £152.53/£1000 No change 
3. Family member loan - £600 £700/£1000 
4. Mrs wh_em loan - £251.49/£7500 No change
5. LISA contributions - £915.02  £1490.00/£4000 

Competsoph

@wh_em nice to hear from you!

I think breaking things up into little jobs really helps to make progress. I myself have felt a little overwhelmed recently with jobs and so this month my priority's are to make a one job list every day, and stick to it. I feel so much more accomplished now with completing that intended one task than completing 14 tasks but feeling guilty about the 15th that I never go time to finish! Some sort of simple complicated psychology!
I really wish I could work from home, i'd just be in my dressing gown all the time. This would be much more comfortable than my tunics and tight banded trousers! A girl can dream..
I see little changes in the finances too which is also positive. You're getting there! Have a good week. 

wh_em

Aw thanks for your support about the finances...we are getting there, slowly but surely!
You're totally right and when you're buying a house that to-do list is especially overwhelming! Hahaha, after week two of wearing trackie bottoms I had to start wearing jeans because I felt like such a slob wearing trackies while "at work", having a shower and then putting the same ones back on again! Maybe I might do dress-down fridays and wear my dressing gown all day! Just hope I'm not on a zoom call!

ruby_eskimo

Glad to hear you're doing better wh_em.  I aim to do three tasks a day at work and three tasks a day at home to just take the pressure off.  Although that being said, apparently I'm doing way more than they're expecting me to do at work so feel like I can slack off a little bit from time to time.  I'm going through phases of getting "dressed up" for work (actually wearing work clothes and doing hair and a little bit of makeup) and then there are days like today where I just about managed to shower and throw on some leggings and a hoodie

wh_em

Hi all
Long time no speak! Work has been incredibly hectic - I took on some more work which meant my work load doubled overnight so there's been very little down time to scroll through MSE. I hope everyone is well. I've been in a bit of a hole mentally, I have to say - this year has really been quite a tough one and I think I'll be glad to see the back of it, just like many other people.

Anyway, onto the finances.... I've been paying 15% into my pension, my company add on a tiny 3% BUT it's better than nothing and means I'm putting away roughly £400 a month into my pension, so the figures are starting to climb. According to my spreadsheet at my current savings rate I can retire at 59 - that's not to be sniffed at, eh?!

I've been trying to put aside 25% of my pay each week into my LISA but its been a big ask I have to say. I think I'm just about managing it.

Financials aside I've been trying to fill my life up with things that I enjoy, trying to meet new people and also do a bit of exercise. So on the weekend I don't open my laptop, I read, potter in the garden, see friends and family and I took up bouldering 2 weeks ago, I've been to two sessions and made a couple of friends. I've also started geocaching! Which is completely nerdy but its nice to get out of the house and go for a walk with a purpose and it helps me discover a bit more of my city that I otherwise wouldn't have.

I'm hoping everyone is doing well considering the current climate. I wish you all good health and stable long term jobs!

Have a good one

wh_em

Aims for Dec 2020/April 2021
1. Emergency fund -   £2000/£4000 No change
2. Mortgage OPs - £152.53/£1000 No change 
3. Family member loan -  £700/£1000 No change 
4. Mrs wh_em loan - £251.49/£7500 No change
5. LISA contributions - £1490.00  £1840/£4000 - almost at the halfway mark!

ruby_eskimo

Sorry to hear work has been hectic but sounds like you have a good routine going on and making significant contributions to the pension is always good!  Don't worry Geocaching isn't that nerdy, I do it all the time...or maybe it is and I don't realise just how much of a nerd I am!

wh_em

Hello!

Long time no speak, where do I begin?

This year started off with a lot of promise, new flat, new job, freshly engaged - however in the almost 6 months I had without a job in the summer and being left to my own devices took its toll. I was forced to confront things about myself that I had ignored for over 20 years, amongst these moments of clarity I realised that Mrs wh_em was not right for me. We have called an end to our engagement, she has moved back to her parents and we're in the process of selling our beautiful flat.
It's weird how you can convince yourself of all sorts of things if you have a job and a life intense enough to focus on. Once my 60 hour working week was taken away I managed to take a long hard look at the life that I was making with somebody and I had realised I was making a huge mistake. I tried to cling to it as best I could, tried to bury my head in the sand with all sorts of lies but it comes out in the end. 

In the two-ish months that its been over between us I have never felt more alive. The only thing that could possibly make me feel better is if covid-19 disappeared and I could actually get out and about and explore the new city that I'm in.

Inevitably it means that my steps towards being mortgage-free have been halted. Technically I will be mortgage free some time next year....but that's because I'll have sold this place and will probably be renting for a spell, haha.

All the best, will post the usual numbers update shortly.

wh_em

Aims for Dec 2020/April 2021
1. Emergency fund -   £2000/£4000 No change
2. Mortgage OPs - £152.53/£1000 No change 
3. Family member loan -  £1000/£1000 complete! 
4. Mrs wh_em loan - £251.49 £765.01/£7500 It's time to get serious about clearing this one, although will probably have to wait until we sell the place first.
5. LISA contributions - £1840   £2165/£4000 - over halfway, have had to scale back these payments so I can save a little general funds pot.

South_coast

Oh no, so sorry to hear your news and that you're having to sell because of it. Having said that, it does sound like it was really the right decision for you, however tough it was to reach. Best of luck with the sale and moving on to the next phase! x