FtbDreaming wants to clear £69,700 before Im 40 (2027)

savingholmes

Great news on the perm job offer for you and the HGV qualification for your OH.

Well done on the mortgage - you are heading in the right direction. Speed is a challenge for most of us.

slm6002

Happy new year to you.  I hope 2023 treats you well

FtbDreaming

Happy new year @slm6002 and anybody else reading! 

I took the kids to Disneyland Paris last week for their Xmas present so I have had my financial head in the sand until it was done tbh! We done really well though. We were away Tuesday to Sunday (inc travelling because I drove) and spent £1748 all in and we even had the posh meals etc so we done really well! 

Tonight I have faced the music and updated my spreadsheet for 2023… I have condensed down all of my debts into 3 credit card (2@ 0% and 1@ 4.9%) and obviously still have 18 payments left on the kitchen finance! In total I owe £13384 and one of my 2023 goals is to halve my debt 🫣 it could be doable at a push we will see. 

2021 I spent a lot of money on the kitchen and bathroom (£14,000) and 2022 I spent a lot of money on life… went to several concerts; London; Lake District; Belfast; Disneyland Paris and multiple trips to Leicester and other big days and nights out. So yes I have £13k debt but a lot to show for it so no regrets really! 

2023 is planned as a year of rest and self care. The only thing I have booked so far is a local concert at the end of June which was paid for in November so that should be low cost. I am blooming tired and don’t want to be running around all year! The kids know they’ve had their holiday so that’s not on the cards either. 

Mortgage wise… I’m just rounding down. I haven’t joined a MFW thread this year because I don’t want to unrealistically commit. I’m still living in hope that I’ll pick up momentum in time to meet my target lol! Xxx

Moneyfordreams

 think you have done really well. You have spent years being the breadwinner for the family (and still Are?). You mortgage is low, you are in a new job that is more enjoyable, have some fun with life - That being said, it's good you have taken stock and have decided to rest the spending a bit . I've spent the last 4 years doing my house up on a 0%cc, I'm down to the last £2000 this week. I've only been rounding down too. 2 months to go to snowball those cc payments to the mortgage.   

FtbDreaming

Thanks! Yes I have been the breadwinner for the last 10 year but hoping that’ll change asap 🤞🏻 Just planning my finances as I am now though as I don’t like to count my chickens before they’ve hatched but if they do ever hatch It’ll be a lot easier! 

I love the job to and am smashing that and the weight loss so all in all I’m happy! Just need to pay off that credit and all will be hunky dory to pay down the mortgage then. I don’t really see the point in throwing loads at the mortgage when I still have debt. It just seems counter productive xxx

slm6002

I am really glad that you are doing well at work and the weight loss - wish I had the same luck with that part.  I agree that you need to pay off the debt first and then once that has been sorted you can get going properly with the mortgage.  It sounds like you have had some fun memories made over the last year, but can understand the need for calmness

FtbDreaming

Yes it was a good year for me tbh. But definitely exhausting especially with going to working full time. I think it’s catching up with me now and I just need to chill which is all I plan to do! Xxx

FtbDreaming

Hi! Just popping in as I’m sorting my bills…. Updated the signature. Got down into the next £1000! That’s £10k paid off the initial mortgage amount with deposit! I don't think that’s bad going in 2.5 years with virtually no effort.

Works good. I love the job. It’s hard working 5 days a week which is why I’m not really on here much nowadays. My physical and mental health are the best they’ve been in years! The difference a normal shift pattern makes. 

I’m making good progress paying down all the credit/ finance. I owe £12k from about £21k I spent on the kitchen/ bathroom/ HGV course (please don’t ask about that) and a holiday to Disneyland Paris as well as various other trips.  

I have smashed the £1000 emergency fund and just letting that build further. Both my debit cards are out of the overdraft so I’m in a good position now to build up momentum as the balances go down and hope savings go up. 

I hope everyone is well. I’ll try and catch up on some diaries x

frankersBri

Congratulations - fabulous progress on your financial goals and always great to hear people are thriving mentally/physically too!

Moneyfordreams

That's a great update