Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

debtfreeoneday

I quite like the idea of online classes with no video. Certainly until I got my confidence up a bit. 

Fortune_Smiles

Hi SS

well done on the mortgage reduction.  It's amazing how quickly it comes down when you're making overpayments.  I remember ticking off the first of the 100 boxes on my house chart.  Now we're up to 34 ticked boxes after 4 years.  Won't be long before you're catching up with us 😁

Keep up the good work

Fortune x

SandyShores

Thank you Fortune, really appreciate the encouragement.  I must draw up a 100 box chart and I like that your mortgage neutral figure is higher (I'm assuming that one includes your savings).

DfOD, I put off attending the classes for ages 'cos I couldn't bear the thought of having the video on.  So glad I joined and gave it a go.  

More progress on the house today and a thoroughly relaxing weekend, actually seeing family and friends (all socially distanced of course).  Just not looking forward to going into work tomorrow.  I know its a good steady job but I'm not feeling the work, the manager or the way the team is led.  I just need to keep on looking for the next thing - and my experience is that these things that cause us to be unsettled, mean that we're motivated to find something better.  Fingers crossed

Fortune_Smiles

Yes - the mortgage neutral figure includes savings.  We're on a fixed rate until next year so are limited to 10% overpayments until then.  You can buy fancy mortgage progress charts but I made a simple one myself.  You're welcome to use it if you'd like.

Fortune x

SandyShores

oooh, lovely, thank you Fortune.  I think I'm going to use it as an equity chart rather than a mortgage chart - because we have H2B.  So I'll shade the final 20% in for H2B, and then start colouring the others in - 8 so far.  And I can shade in pencil the emergency fund for my mortgage neutral project.  I'm a very visual person so this will give me a lovely picture of where we are and the progress we are making.

In my previous money saving, I realised I had been constantly spending on making things just perfect rather than making the most of things.  So I'm slightly concerned that we are doing the garden building, then we are going to add a shed as well and part of me is thinking and re-thinking is this really what we should be doing.  But we don't spend on cars, holidays and things these days, so making our home comfortable and our refuge is really important.  And spending on large things will definitely stop then (and there won't be anything else to do!).  I'm looking forward to having somewhere to store the garden things and have a little haven just for me.

savingholmes

Sheds add value to a home if you don't have one already. 

SandyShores

Thanks Savingholmes, I feel its the right thing to do, but just feeling cautious that we aren't spending for the sake of it.  But it will make our lives more comfortable, there's a nice spot for it, it will be useful and a bit of an investment as well by the sounds of it.  

SandyShores

Feeling a bit more confident about the investment we are putting into our home at the moment.  Reviewed the finances and we will be back to building up the emergency fund again by the end of September.  So, less than six months and we'll be moving in the right direction again in terms of hard cash. 

SandyShores

Managed to get a load of studying out of the way today and submitted an assignment.  Feels good to be making progress.

Have some more work to do later, filling in a couple of applications.  Part of me wonders whether it would be better just to give up and have my weekends to myself, doing fun things (or nothing at all).  But really I know that I prefer learning and would love to get a more rewarding job.  The hobbies and exercise will take priority soon. my 

Fortune, I've just put my MSExcel skills to the test and drew a house out of a rectangle and triangle.  Then added 100 squares and I've managed to colour them all in as I wanted to.  My little green squares are looking okay at the bottom, and will soon be moving through the pink ones (mortgage) and H2B ones in orange.  Funny how a little drawing puts it all in perspective.  I've got my target visualised now

Fortune_Smiles

Sounds very creative SS.  I have my chart pinned up in the kitchen - feels great when you get to colour in a new square.  Happy Excel-ing!

Fortune x