Cutting it Fine - the challenge is on!

SandyShores

Hi Couth, thanks for dropping by.  I've been feeling a bit down all day - honestly it puzzles me how you can feel fine then for very little reason feel a bit carp.  Anyway, your post cheered me up, and I went and paid a visit to your diary and it cheered me up even more.  You're very positive, the energy has just buzzed me into life    Our goals are very similar indeed, good luck to you as well.  It will definitely happen for us

couth

Thanks. I try to stay positive (when I'm not miserable ). This year has been hard on all of us, it's been up and down the entire year, somebody even invented a word for it. :-)

Coronacoaster

noun. The ups and downs of a pandemic. One day, you're loving your bubble, doing workouts, baking banana bread and going for long walks and the next you're crying, drinking gin for breakfast and missing people you don't even like.

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Coronacoaster

newgirly

Hi Sandy, just popping in after reading your new to diary to wish you luck, congratulations on your new home 😊

SandyShores

Saturday morning and I'm actually out of my PJs at a reasonable time for a change.  I wonder if that is why my to do list never goes down!!!  I'm just about to walk to the post office - which will be one item off my list, but then I spotted another one that I have to add to the list.  I must be the world's finest procrastinator!

As well as my four long term goals (mortgage paid, running, health etc), I have my ongoing ones which is where I really rely on the MSE challenges (saving for Xmas, feeling a bit more fab, fly-ladying the house and so on).  But its my actual list of things I must do (my to do list) that I'm stalling on - taking stuff to the charity shop, getting access to mortgage online and so on.  To be fair, lockdown hasn't helped, but I must plan some time to get on top of that list as I feel that I'm stalling.

Couth - I love that definition, its definitely how I've been.  I need to keep on with my goals and lists and then I'll be ready to go go go when we finally come out of this.

Newgirly, thank you for popping in.  I never thought we would be in a position to buy such a lovely house, especially as we have messed around and left it so late. 

It just shows you should never give up.  I was able to cash in an old pension at 55 (letter out of the blue), and we had several unexpected PPI payouts (I just sent lots of letters using the templates on MSE) which were really unexpected.  It all coincided with the happy conclusion of our debt-free journey and DH being offered a stable job.  So even though its hard to see where we are going sometimes, I know that I have to keep on because we don't know what goodies the future holds.  I was watching a video this morning on the fb Real Stories site about a lovely 84 year old woman who was living independently although getting to the point where she wanted a property without stairs.  It made me realise that there's no cut-off date and I appreciate everyone's support to keep positive and focused xx

SandyShores

Just popping back to say that I had a look through all my lists earlier and realised that some of the items on my to do list needed to go into my goals.  So I now have the grand total of nine things on the to do list, with one on the crossed off list.

Every day I'm doing little somethings towards my long-term goals - but its those nine things that need to get done to clear the decks.  At least I'm clear what I need to do, now just to plan it in and get them done so I can move onto my long-term goals big time

SandyShores

Decided to face up to the mortgage figures today.  Our starting figure was £309,749.00 and its now £304,262.89 according to the excel calculator.  That means in only six months we've already paid off £5,486.11.  I need to sort out my online account access so that I can get a really accurate figure, but I'm happy with the amount we've already paid off and looking forward to being under £300k soon

It looks like daily interest is £12.28 a day - so I am definitely looking forward to getting that figure down.

Will keep on building up the emergency fund, while slowly paying off the 0% credit card by the end of the 0% period.

Jessy103

Good luck Sandy, will be cheering you on 😀

SandyShores

Thanks Jessy.  Just looking at the overpayments in your signature - that's a really good idea (and you must be pleased with those good amounts).  

I was looking at something called the MSN 60% challenge.  The challenge is to spend 60% of your income on monthly bills/outgoings - and its good to know that's about right for us.  Then you spend 10% each on short-term saving, long-term saving, business and fun.  Our fun allocation is more like 20% as DH and I have 10% allowance each.  I've just started putting 10% into our emergency fund, and this will increase to 20% from next month, then 25% from May 2020.  Pension contributions are mainly funded via PAYE, but DH does earn extras, so from May we will split that income into five and divide between mortgage overpayment, savings, business, pension and DH's personal account (well it keeps him motivated).  It will be satisfying to see the mortgage come down and the savings and pension go up.

Jessy103

Thanks sandy ☺
I took part in the 2020 mortgage free wannabes challenge, it's a good incentive to reach a target. Here's the link for the 2021 one (sorry if you've already seen it) it might be something you're interested in doing 😃

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6221918/2021-mortgage-free-wannabes/p1 

SandyShores

Hi Jessy,  I signed up for MFW 2020 but paid only about £80 so far.  Planning to start some bigger overpayments next year.  Thanks for the pointer to the 2021 challenge - I'd missed it .  Just signed up for £7,000 overpayments next year (gulp)!  Look forward to seeing you there.