360 Months to go?

Grabs39Grabs39 Forumite
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Hi all, I’m a bit of a lurker here, so thought I’d start a diary.  We moved in late May, having sold our first home, and bought our “forever home”.  We’ve taken a 30 year mortgage, but the goal is to pay if off in 22 years, before we’re 50, with a view to retiring early at 60 (in 2052!).  Borrowed 95% on a 5 year fix.  

To break it up a bit I’m looking at the next five years.  Assuming the house value remains the same, we will be at 85% with normal payments in 2025 so paying off another 5% in that time should secure us a better rate at the 80% mark.  That’s a target of £9k in 5 years.

We also need a new bathroom for the new house, so that’s a big expense next month, and aim to have our cash savings back up to £10K by the end of next year, so we will be tightening our belts.

First drop in the ocean; a family wedding has been cancelled, so I’ve got a refund for £70 into the pot.

2025 Running total: £70/£9000
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Replies

  • longway2golongway2go Forumite
    1K Posts
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Name Dropper
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    Lots of luck to you both
    Mortgage Aug 2019 161,000 :eek::eek::eek:Nov 2019 156,500:T Jan 2020 153,122:T, Apr 2020 149,500, Apr2021 139, 675, Oct 2021 136,823, Dec 2021 136,120🙂EF 0/12,000 (0%)😕 (5062.44 was ERC), Jan 2023 128,650. Our Mortgage is never going to be as high as it is today. :jOnwards and downwards to a better life for our family. :jJust keep swimming
  • FtbDreamingFtbDreaming Forumite
    1.1K Posts
    1,000 Posts Third Anniversary Name Dropper
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    Good luck with your journey
    Mortgage started August 2020 £69,700
    Mortgage ends Aug 2050 MFW: Aug 2027 
    Current Balance: £63,450
    MFW2020 #156 £723.13
    MFW2021 #26 £1184.71
    MFW2022 #11 £197.87
    MFW2023 
    Backup/ Neutral fund £920/£1000

    Determined to make it! 
  • jenni_ferjenni_fer Forumite
    527 Posts
    Ninth Anniversary 500 Posts Name Dropper
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    Happy new diary! Good luck!
  • Grabs39Grabs39 Forumite
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    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
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    Last month we managed to drop our debit card spending from around £500 to £250 so we had a bit left over in the current account this month.  Plenty of Aldi beans eaten!  Half’s gone to the savings and half toward the mortgage.

    The new bathroom is now in (except the cabinet that’s delayed by the builders merchant) so our savings is now officially down by £5k.  Hopefully it will serve us well over the years though.

    Running MFW five year target - £195/£9000
  • Grabs39Grabs39 Forumite
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    Unfortunately it's been a bit of an expensive month so nothing really further saved.  Managed to get £50 in the NatWest rewards account (I'm not sure why but I'm not complaining!) so I've split it between Savings and Mortgage.  Up to £220/£9000 with 54 months to go.
  • rugbymadfamilyrugbymadfamily Forumite
    503 Posts
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    Good luck with the diary and hope that the new bathroom looks great! I'm new on here too and find it helpful for making me think about mortgage overpayments etc. Breakin it down into smaller chunks is great, makes it seem more achievable!
    Current mortgage (1 Jun 2022): £289,501 - originally £351,999 got to love London sized mortgages!
    OP Goal 2022 = 3.75% in OPs: £6,975 / £13,200
    Emergency Fund Target: 3 months saved ✅
     
  • Grabs39Grabs39 Forumite
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    Thanks.  The Bathroom is looking great.  It was a lot to have to fork out after moving but hopefully it’ll not need doing again for another 10/15 years!
  • edited 19 January 2021 at 3:21PM
    Grabs39Grabs39 Forumite
    364 Posts
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    edited 19 January 2021 at 3:21PM
    Just a quick update.  I hadn't planned to pay anything extra in December as it's generally an expensive month.

    Unfortuantely on Christmas Eve the back bedroom ceiling sprang a leak.  Turns out the felt flat roof above the upstairs windows was old and cracked.  The roofers replaced the lot on Sunday, though it was £700 it wasn't as expensive as I'd feared.  It also looks like our fence needs replacing - first quote came in today for £550.

    So in short - nothing to add to the overpayments!  Feb and March are the "free" council tax months so I'm determined that our normal council tax amount will go into the pot next month!

    The first Mortgage Statement came today.  We've paid just under £5k since we bought the house, but £3k was interest. :(
  • FiveMoreYearsFiveMoreYears Forumite
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    Good luck with your journey towards becoming mortgage-free, Grabs39.

    The interest figures can often look daunting at first, but it's a good reason for getting into the habit of over-payments right from the start. It WILL come down.

    Good luck!
    Mortgage started: 31st October 2007
    Aim to be mortgage-free: 31st December 2025
  • Grabs39Grabs39 Forumite
    364 Posts
    Tenth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
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    Good luck with your journey towards becoming mortgage-free, Grabs39.

    The interest figures can often look daunting at first, but it's a good reason for getting into the habit of over-payments right from the start. It WILL come down.

    Good luck!
    Thanks, yes I’m trying to use it as motivation!
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