Aiming for Mortgage Free!

caeler

rugbymadfamily said:

Have been setting some goals for lockdown, main one this time round is eat less and exercise more lol. Plus a few little projects for the house which will give me something to keep me occupied so that I don't go crazy. Want to sew some cushions (have all the material - just need to do it!) and hopefully get some decorating done, but that will depend on work load....it could get pretty busy again. At least with lockdown this time, we know a bit more what to expect so can prepare better for it!

I'm doing the same! I'm determined not to gain back the weight I gained during the first lockdown so exercise is on my list.  I've been quite anxious about another lockdown but if I'm focused on chores I think I'll be fine.  I plan to make some Christmas Bunting to possibly give away as gifts for Christmas.  

rugbymadfamily

Ohhh I love Christmas bunting, made some last year. I used quarter packs from that well known Hobby store, which is actually quite an expensive way to do it. My local sewing store has some Christmas fabric in a variety of patterns so could buy a metre each of multiple fabrics.....now to get to the fabric shop by tomorrow to get it sorted!

I don't know if you normally meal plan, but what I have done on my weekly meal plan is add my exercise for the day and I use that as my plan so I know for example that on Friday I am having spag bol and I am doing a 5km run! I find having it written down means I am more likely to do it, whereas if in my head I just need to do a 5km run...it never gets done!

caeler

I use these guys for fabric: https://ohsewcrafty.co.uk/ I went mental on Xmas fabric a few years ago so haven’t brought in a while.  Good prices. 
I meal plan but I don’t match to my running. I probably should as I run out energy before I should! 

rugbymadfamily

Thanks for the recommendation, that's a great website! Just ordered a few bits....had to rein myself in or would have spent a fortune lol!

rugbymadfamily

Got out for a good meal last night, really enjoyed ourselves and supported a lovely local pub. Just hoping they will be able to re-open after this all ends. But that's the entertainment budget mostly gone for the month lol.

Some more MB profits so managed to get another £70 OP 😊 Have exceeded my target for the year so pleased with that but keeping up the OPs using my MB so it's not coming from my budget. Still working on the EF, its building and looking forward to 2021 when we can really target those OPs!

rugbymadfamily

And that payment took us into the £325s.....feels so good making the little OPs.....until I remember quite how big the balance is 😂

mark55man

well done - every little helps.  you'll thank yourself in 20 years (or less) when suddenly (!) you don't have a mortgage to pay years before it would otherwise be the case - don't forget to look at other savings and investments and make sure you have the balance that is right for you 

QueenJess

rugbymadfamily said:

And that payment took us into the £325s.....feels so good making the little OPs.....until I remember quite how big the balance is 😂

No matter the size of the balance, getting below each £25k segment, £50k segment and £100k segment is always exciting! I know when mine are coming and look forward to seeing it in black and white 🙂.  At least the balance is only ever going down!

rugbymadfamily

Thanks both. So true, every bit helps keep it heading in the right direction, the final repayment date has already moved forward by one month even though we only started the OPs in Sept so that's a real positive. Now to aim for the next small target of sub £320k (should be April 21 by my calcs), then will be on track for sub £300k in April 2022. Let's see how it goes!

@mark55man thanks yes, other investments have started thinking on. We both have pensions (husbands is public sector so he pays in a much higher % think its over 10% but should be a good outcome), I pay 6% and employer contributes that + 2%. Think will try up mine to 7% or 8% next year if we get any form of payrise. Then thinking of starting a small LISA for each of us, just to have something else aside from the pension. But this isn't an area I've though much about yet so if you have any other advice or things to think about please let me know!

Grabs39

We’re similar in that my wife’s a teacher so we get a good pension from her.  I pay into a DC work scheme plus a small AVC but I’m going to look into a LISA next year too, to add a bit to the “early” (60 in 32 years time!) retirement fund!