Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I hope you had a lovely Coronation weekend.

We had a busy but chilled one.  With the help of DS, we managed to get all of the new slabs moved on Friday evening and then rewarded ourselves with a Kebab.  Saturday we watched the Coronation, I thought it was amazing, a page out of the history books, did our shopping and had a cheese and port night.  Sunday we did some gardening, I rubbed down and sprayed the chimnea that DH picked up off of FBMP with some stove paint, it's come up lovely, then I meet an old friend for a Cream Tea and one of our favourite tearooms out in the countryside then DH and I spent the evening in the hottub.  Yesterday I had to cover a shift at work, whilst I was out DH cleaned the house, shampooed the carpets and had a hot, candle-lit bath and a glass of gin waiting for me.

I've got a short work week this week, I'm off Thursday and Friday, going to concert with DD which means an overnight stay in a city, a few cocktails etc.  Unfortunately the rail strikes have put pay to us being able to get back on Friday or Saturday, luckily DD's friend who is going will drive up and drop us back to my car in Big Town, DD will then stay with us for the weekend and get the train back on Sunday.  She'll also be home the weekend after as she has the chance to work.  DH and I have a week's Annual Leave next week, no great plans, need to do some decorating in the house, conservatory, lounge and our bedroom all need some sort of tidy up even if we don't do a full redec.  The following week I am on Duty so will be working from home.

I've sold some more items on V!nted, got about £85 credit on my account now, despite splurging on my expensive dress!  I don't know whether to leave it there or use it to pay off some of my N3xt balance (I only owe about £200), decisions decisions!  I want to sort out my wardrobe again, put away the winter items, bring out my summer clothes and generally re-organise the space as it could work better but I will need a day to do that and I'm sure it will result in more items to list/donate.  Hopefully I will find the time over the next 2 weeks.

Have a great day

MvTMM

savingholmes

I'd clear your next balance.... Well done on the sales. Impressive. My DD has sold 3 things in the last few days too.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

@savingholmes I think you're right, paying off my Next account makes sense, just leaving it there for a day or two so I can bask in my success!!

I was absolutely exhausted yesterday so easy dinner and an early night were in order.  DGD opted for cheesy spagetti hoops on toast, DS had some of his favourite stuffed pasta and DH and I had steak and stilton pies with sweet potato fries and veg, all of which came from our stocks.  I'm a bit more organised for tonight, sweet and sour pork with brown rice.

I need to pack my bag for my night away tomorrow night, won't need much just a change of clothing and some toiletries, will be nice to spend some time with DD and her best friend.

have a good day

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I can't believe it's been nearly 3 weeks since I checked in!

I've had a really busy time enjoying the wonderful weather.  DD and I had a fab time in Bristol seeing Lucy Spraggan and meeting up with an old friend.  DH and I had a week off, lots of time spent on the garden and also visited DD at her Uni home, a Chinese meal with my parents and fun family time.  DS has built our new patio which we are really pleased with, just need to persuade him to lay the new path to match (and to cover the existing hideous path that has been made with 3 different colours of concrete!!) we have everything we need to do this so no further heavy outlay.  We had hoped to get out on our paddle boards, but when we got down to the beach it was far too choppy, so we went for a Cream Tea instead!  Last week I was on call, which means I could work from home and enjoy snatches of sunshine, plus DGD had an accident at school and ended up with stitches over her eye so she could stay at home with me for a couple of days.  Back in the office today

My finances have taken quite a hit, what with the patio, time with DD etc, plus I've told DS not to pay any rent this month as a thank you for laying the patio, but in a way that is a saving to us as if we had paid someone else to do it I think it would have cost us more, I need to sit down and re-assess on payday.  The transfer of £8,000 from an old pension to my existing one has gone through which simplifies things.  I'm still trying to track down some old share holdings in Tesc0 and N@twest, I don't think they are for great amounts but 'Every Little Helps'!

June is not looking any healthier financially, I am going to see P!nk with DD and one of my best friends, then DH and I have our first Wedding Anniversary and a night away in our favourite picturesque fishing village where he proposed to me.  I do have money saved in my 'pots' so may cash in some of that for spending money, in fairness that is what these pots are for, I just like having my secret stash!!

I did manage to sort out my wardrobe.  DD has always bemoaned the fact that I had a summer and winter wardrobe, swapping them over and packing the out of season items away twice a year.  I have discarded some items and I now have everything I wear in my wardrobe, some items were binned, some donated and some listed on V!nted.  I did pack away my 'occassion dresses' I can get the box out of the airing cupboard if any occasions pop up, there is a box with 4 of my heaviest winter jumpers and another one with about 5 items that I will only wear on holiday.  I also have some household items to list on Facebook as I can't face posting those.

Since sorting my wardrobe I have been taking great pleasure in wearing some of my pretty summer dresses and had a few compliments which was nice.

Must crack on, have a lovely day

MvTMM

savingholmes

The landscaping project sounds like it is really coming along. 

Well done on the decluttering. It adds to wellbeing...

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Payday today so I have updated my signature.  As predicted my savings took a pounding again last month but we do have a lovely new patio to show for it.  I need to adjust my mindset a little that it is ok to spend on some things!

DH is in a quandary, his car is quite old but he bought it with some money left to him, so quite sentimental, its in good condition, reasonable mileage and very practical and comfortable.  He has had little done to it over the years but this last year has had a few issues and now it seems the clutch is going, does he pay to get it fixed or sell it and cut his loses?  My car is also old, low miles for the age but a small convertible so although lots of fun and I love it, it's not suitable for family outings and is far from practical so we can't just rely on that one.

Grocery shopping tonight and then our last evening with the house to ourselves for about the next 3 months as DD returns from Uni this weekend for the summer. 

Still loads of decluttering to do, the conservatory looks a bit like a junk shop, plus we need to decorate in there following the leaky roof palaver.  Normally these things would be dumped out of sight in the spare room but of course DS and DGD are in there now.  Hopefully I will list the items on Facebook over the next couple of days.

Have a good weekend.

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Thank goodness it's Friday, its felt like a long week rather than a short one!

We're picking up DD tomorrow, have had to ask to borrow my Dad's car due to issues with DH's, I'm on Dad's insurance anyway so that's not an issue but I am feeling a bit stressed as I hate city driving anyway and dad is very particular about his car so I won't relax until we are safely back home.  I think we might treat her to the buffet Chinese which she hasn't been to despite it being opposite her flat, as when she goes back in September she will be living in a different part of the city.

I'm making a butternut squash and spinach curry tonight, I can already hear DS and DGD moaning, it's far too healthy for their tastes!  The last 2 nights we have had a homemade Roasted Mediterranean Veg and Mozzarella Roule which was yummy, again no way they would eat that, it certainly makes my job a bit harder feeding them as they are so fussy and I have to think of what they will/will not eat, whilst still working to a budget.

Have a great weekend.

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Hope you've had a great weekend?  

We picked up DD from Uni on Saturday, borrowed Dad's car, all went well, we had an easy run there and back, I had expected the motorway to be really busy as it is a holiday area but we struck lucky.  The car was rammed, despite us bringing back loads of her belongings a couple of weeks ago!  She is now sorting through everything and re-organising her room at home, some items are being stashed in the garage until she needs them again in September.  She was due to start back at her old job today but, despite her working a shift for them a couple of weeks back, none of the paperwork has been done and the manager is now off, very frustrating.

Yesterday we finally managed to get out on the paddleboards, it was a really sunny day, quite still, the sea was lovely and warm and calm, we paddled further than we have before but I still didn't manage to stand up!!  We are hoping to get back out again on Tuesday after work but have to juggle work, DGD and tides!

I made the Butternut Squash and Spinach curry on Friday, it was really yummy, I knew DS and DGD would turn their noses up so picked up a couple of YS cook in the bag chickens, £3 each, on the way home, one went in the freezer and the other straight in the oven for their dinner, the leftovers went into a hoisin noodle dish for DH, DD and I on Saturday.  Yesterday we had smashed avocado and poached eggs for breakfast, had stilton chips on the seafront after our paddleboarding session.  I'm not sure what to cook tonight but I will try and prep enough so that tomorrow's dinner is quick and easy in case we do manage to get on the boards.

I've got a couple of items to post today from V!nted sales, need to list some more and poss reduce other items, really want to get the conservatory sorted and redecorated.  Nothing much planned this weekend so hopefully have a sort out.

I really need to get to the Bank this week to change up some coins from my pots, this will be spending money then for P!nk next week.

Have a good day

MvTMM

savingholmes

Enjoy the concert - I'd love to go and see her but not sure I'd cope.

Good luck whatever the decision on the cars. Always hard to make a choice as you only know if you were right when you've already spent the money.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Been a stressful couple of days.  DD due to start work tomorrow but none of the paperwork done so they have been trying to rush that through for her (payroll, DBS etc).

My Dad has had his driving licence revoked for medical reasons, he is obviously upset so I am trying to sort things out to take the pressure off of them, mum can drive but only really around our town, not further afield so they will need help for medical appointments in Big Town etc.   I have sorted out his car insurance, that is now in Mum's name with me as a named driver still.  I was going to apply for PIP but due to them being over State pension age I need to apply for Attendance Allowance and if successful Carers Allowance.  I'm going to look at Blue Badges for assist with parking.  I'm also going to approach my work re Dependants Leave to take them to appointments etc.  Have I missed anything?  More for me to juggle on top of helping DS with DGD, my sister doesn't work and has 2 adult daughters but no offers of help from her.

We went out on the boards last night, needed to burn off some frustrations!  The sea was really choppy, we probably shouldn't have gone out but we stayed in the shallows and it was good balance practice even if we didn't actually get to paddle very far, we laughed our heads off and were buzzing when we came out.

Oh and I've bagged up £200 in change for the concert which I'll try and get to the Bank.  I still have another £200 in my pots

Have a great evening

MvTMM