Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Managed to get my haircut and currency ordered on Tuesday, I ordered £700 worth (£100 per day), we are in an apartment with a plentiful breakfast provided so won't need much in the way of lunch and will have some drinks and snacky bits in the apartment so hopefully the money will stretch to cover our evening meals.

DGD is really happy with her advent calendar, she couldn't believe it when she opened the first couple of boxes and realised it was full of Mini Br@nds!

Today is my Friday, thank goodness, I have tomorrow off as a lieu day.  The dishwasher engineer is coming to fit the new door, an old school friend is popping in for a coffee and I need to pack for my weekend away, then off to the train station in big town and away we go   Part of me wants the engineer to come nice and early and get it out of the way but another part of me really wants a lie in!!  I have a list of what I need to pack and I have my cash allocated for food/drink/shopping.

Have a great weekend everyone

MvTMM

savingholmes

Enjoy your holidays when they come.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I really thought I had posted last week but it's not here. I must have gotten distracted half way through!

We had a lovely time with DD at the Christmas Markets, lovely food and drink, bought a few bits but didn't go mad, would have bought a lot more if we hadn't been coming home on the train!!  I took DD her advent calendar and she was chuffed to bits, it was pods for her coffee machine and I got it for a bargain price of £10, it was £30 everywhere else.

I've had a really busy time at work and this week is not going to be any different as we need to put everything in place to ensure the resident's all have the best Christmas they can.

We had a very productive weekend, I've wrapped the majority of the gifts and distributed some of them, cards written and a few posted (far fewer than I used to send).  The food delivery is booked for Friday and DH and I finalised the order last night with input from DD.  A couple more dresses sold on Vinted so they have been packaged and sent off, I will be putting holiday mode on soon!  I've also put in a mileage claim at work, only £50 but it will come in handy when it is paid at the end of the month.

DH has brought our suitcases down from the loft ready to pack, I have collected the currency, checked us in, printed off the boarding passes and travel insurance documents (went for an Annual Policy this time), don't think I've missed anything?  I've also emailed our favourite restaurant over there and made reservations for 2 nights during our stay.

We had a lovely big roast last night, apart from one small disaster, the dish of cauliflower cheese broke in the oven so we couldn't eat it and it's DD's favourite!  The leftovers will be going in a chicken pie tonight at DD's request.  I'm not sure of meals for the rest of the week as I don't know which days we have DGD.

Tonight and tomorrow I will try and get the rest of the wrapping done.  We have booked to go and see Wonka on Wednesday night, the latest showing time in the hope there will be less children   I'm hoping to have a relaxed weekend and enjoy some festive time as I have to work on Boxing Day and all of T'wixmas, can't wait to get on the plane and enjoy New Year in the sun

Have a lovely day

MvTMM

savingholmes

New year in the sun sounds lovely.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Very busy time at work, today has flown, all of the Local Authority staff and other agencies seem to be trying to get everything boxed off in time for Christmas.

We didn't have the chicken pie last night as DS and DGD weren't at ours in the end and DH didn't want dinner so DD and I had some pasta and garlic bread from the freezer, chicken pie tonight instead.

I finished all of the wrapping last night and tonight am going to tidy our bedroom.

I dug out the festive bedding for DGD, DS can sort that out for her later.

Have a good night all

MvTMM

savingholmes

Well done on completing the wrapping. I have most of mine left to do. Feels that way anyway.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

@savingholmes, I'm worried that I am so organised, feel like I have forgotten something, I'm usually up to my eyeballs in wrapping paper on Christmas Eve!!

Payday tomorrow but I know its going to be a hectic day so I will update my signature now.  The mortgage will be in the £110k and loan will have dropped below £3k   Savings are a bit down (about £600) but that is because I have used some of my cash savings to purchase the currency, annual travel insurance etc.  All in all, good news to end the year.  I have upped the mortgage overpayments to £350 per month and depending how finances are looking I would like to up them again later in the year.

DD met me from work yesterday and treated me to a C0sta.  We also popped in to Superdrag and I found a few bargains, some of which will be for holiday.  I got 2 x factor 20 clear suntan sprays for 97p each (usually £5.19), 4 x Mitchum Natural Eucalyptus deodrant sticks for £1.12 (usually £3.19) and 4 x Aussie brunette 3 minute miracle £1.12 each (usually £4.99), grand total £12.12 so only slightly more than I would have spent on my suntan lotion alone!  As we were leaving I spotted some of the long hot water bottles with knitted holders, reduced to £2.25 so I bought 3 of those too as Christmas presents (DD earmarked one straight away!).

We had the chicken pie last night with leftover roast potatoes and brussels sprouts from Sunday, it was yummy and everyone cleared their plates.  Cinema tonight so a quick dinner is in order.  Drinks after work tomorrow and then food delivery on Friday, planning for a relaxing festive weekend.

Have a great day

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

So I did this a couple of years ago and it really made me reflect on the good things that had happened during the last year as we head into a new one.  I know I'm a bit early but I anticipate the next few days being very busy and then DH and I are heading off on holiday (a blessing all ready for 2024!).

Positivity and gratitude for what has been and what will be.

A little bit early but soon New Years Eve will be upon us again, I'm not making resolutions as I never keep them!  

I have been looking back over 2023 and whilst there have been some ups and downs we have had an extremely happy, fulfilling year. 

• DH and I managed to have a holiday in the sun to start the year and celebrate our birthdays.
• We had our first Valentine's Day as husband and wife 
• DS and his partner sadly separated but we are fortunate enough to have space for him and DGD to move in and we have been able to help him juggle work with raising her, precious time we wouldn't normally have had.
• I had another girly holiday with my friend in her time-share.
• My parents celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary with a party in our garden and a telegram from the new King and Queen.
• Despite being in their 80s both of my parents are fairly fit and well, Dad has had to surrender his driving licence this year due to sight issues but he has had 2 cataracts operations and hopeful of getting it re-instated, in the meantime mum has picked up the baton and is now driving more and they have upgraded her car.
• We have had a few weekends away including returning to our engagement spot, where we witnessed another engagement taking place.
• We celebrated our first Wedding Anniversary - Paper
• We had the roof repaired and sorted the leaks.
• We finally got all of the patio and pathways replaced, they all match now and it looks so nice.
• We replaced all of the old patio furniture (mismatched and homemade) with a smart new set, a large canter lever parasol and a new, hard topped, gazebo over the hot tub.
• We have redecorated and updated items in several rooms, including the lounge, conservatory, DD's room and our bedroom.
• I fulfilled a dream of seeing Pink in concert
• We have had loads of fun seeing local bands, plays or films in the cinema and attending a local Music festival.
• DD completed her first year at Uni with a First and started her second year by getting a job.
• We have all stayed healthy and have a nice home and food on the table, we are blessed.

2024 is also shaping up to be a great year; our holiday in January and another in March with my friend; some concerts booked (Kaiser Chiefs, Take That, Ministry of Sound and Pink again!) and a couple of weekends away scheduled.  Hopefully DS and his new partner will find a home together for them and the girls.  It will be a time to consolidate and build on what we have, repay debts (loan will finish Dec 24) and build savings so that we can replace the flooring all through.  Lots of things to look forward too

MvTMM

Jessy103

Lovely round-up of the year, wishing you all the best for 2024 🙂

LadyWithAPlan

Loving the round up and how wonderful you can celebrate the new year in the sunshine! 

You sound v organised - I have not done any Xmas wrapping as yet .. it starts tonight