Quest for (mortgage) freedom

eat_that_frog

We went into tier 4 at midnight. Luckily I was organised this year and have already finished with all Xmas shopping for food and presents. I also topped up on diesel for the car whilst I was out food shopping on Friday. So other than collecting the turkey crown from the butcher on Wednesday, I'm now predicting 21 NSDs in a row, for pretty much the duration of lockdown. There is literally nothing open for me to spend money on.

This might be good for my personal finances but I am so concerned about the impact on the wider economy. Last week doing the food shop I counted a few shops closing down on our local high street and I think this is just the start . If my husband and I get through this with our jobs safe and our salaries not cut, we will count ourselves incredibly fortunate. *Touches wood furiously*

In the meantime I'll carry on counting the pennies and chucking them towards the mortgage; it's the only debt we have and getting it as low as possible will make us feel safer.

ruby_eskimo

Tier 4 here too We'd also got everything in other than the veg and a couple of perishable things so also planning on not having to spend much between now and new year.  Also feeling very fortunate that our jobs seem to be ok *touch wood* and have tried to pay it forward by ordering all our Christmas gifts from small independent businesses as well as some theatre tickets for a couple of people for later on next year.  We'll get through this.

eat_that_frog

Sorry to hear you're in tier 4 too @ruby_eskimo. Hoping 2021 is more positive for all of us!

savingholmes

Just popping along to wish you good luck on your journey. £8K paid off already sounds like you've had a running start. Here's to a better 2021!

eat_that_frog

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Ours was very quiet and unusual, but still nice in its own way.

As predicted, it's been easy to not spend anything under tier 4 lockdown - it's the 10th NSD in a row for me. I never was a big shopper before this anyway, but I'm even less of one now; not sure if that's down to Covid or this mortgage overpayment challenge/MSE and Martin Lewis. Possibly all factors combined. 

We received some money for Xmas plus my husband got his end of year bonus. Not a massive amount but hoping to get another OP on the mortgage this week to up my 2020 OP total a bit more, with a few days to spare...

twinklie

I’ve just gained online access to my mortgage and have started with my first OP this month. We’ve not been in a position to until now. 

Exciting to follow your journey. I’m a tiny bit ahead of you in terms of how much we have left to pay on our mortgage, but you’ll leap frog me in no time - we are still building up an emergency fund so putting more money into that right now.

Plus I’m due a restructure at work and I don’t feel very safe OPing too much right now. 

powerspowers

eat_that_frog said:

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. Ours was very quiet and unusual, but still nice in its own way.

As predicted, it's been easy to not spend anything under tier 4 lockdown - it's the 10th NSD in a row for me. I never was a big shopper before this anyway, but I'm even less of one now; not sure if that's down to Covid or this mortgage overpayment challenge/MSE and Martin Lewis. Possibly all factors combined. 

We received some money for Xmas plus my husband got his end of year bonus. Not a massive amount but hoping to get another OP on the mortgage this week to up my 2020 OP total a bit more, with a few days to spare...

We’re similar in that covid means we are spending less money... i work with people in financial crisis so I don’t think my job is going anywhere but it’s something I’m very aware of- might be part of the reason why you are spending less I.e the world feels like it’s falling apart so why go shopping? I flip between that and spending loads as of I’m single handedly saving the economy 😂 maybe a balance is the way to go!
well done on your year of overpayments 🙂

eat_that_frog

I overpayed another chunk off the mortgage yesterday. That takes me a bit closer to my 2020 OP target. When I hit the £225k total outstanding mortgage mark l will celebrate having paid off around a tenth of the mortgage 
 
Only 9 tenths to go    !!!

FtbDreaming

Well done! X

caeler

Well done @eat_that_frog

Great way to end the year and a great way to start the year!!