Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

@Jessy103 Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you too
@LadyWithAPlan I'm worryingly organised, makes me think I have forgotten something! Merry Christmas

Had drinkies after work, only intended to have 1 or 2 and then do the normal weekly shop, ended up staying and having about 4 pints of spiced apple cider so no shopping done will try and grab some bread on the way home as the Christmas delivery is arriving later.  Oh and I still haven't tidied our bedroom!

We went to see Wonka on Wednesday night with DD, it was great, lots of little nods to the original (Gene Wilder) film.  There have been some great films out lately, we are going to see Aquaman next week, again with DD and then One Life after our holiday, Ferrari looks good too. Our new independent local cinema is only £4 a ticket and walking distance from home, before we had an hours drive each way and tickets were about £15/£16 each, so we are supporting the new one as much as possible.

Right, let's get this week finished and the festivities can begin.

MvTMM

LadyWithAPlan

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain said:

Hi All
@LadyWithAPlan I'm worryingly organised, makes me think I have forgotten something! Merry Christmas



Right, let's get this week finished and the festivities can begin.

MvTMM

I'd be worried too Merry Xmas!
Your new local cinema sounds great!

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Hope you've all had a great Christmas, I'm back at work this evening but yesterday was lovely and we have had a nice relaxed morning today.  Turned out I hadn't forgotten anything   The food delivery came on Thursday night, a few strange substitutions but I knew they were coming so picked up a couple of bits and pieces on my way home from work and returned the subs.

DGD didn't wake us up until 7.50 which I was more than happy with, she was thrilled with her presents, especially her new bike from Daddy.  The lunch turned out great, even my experimental ham cooked in mulled wine, and there is loads leftover so we had bubble n squeak and cold meats for lunch today.

DH had a Christmas bonus (I don't get one as we are a charity) of £100 so that has gone in the holiday fund along with £100 from my parents.  DH was very happy with the bits and pieces I got him, he likes practical pressies so t-shirts and shorts for our holiday as he has got paint over most of his whilst decorating   I had lots of smellies, chocolates and alcohol so I'm happy

Whilst at work this afternoon I've logged in to my Union website and used the free Will service, I do have a couple of slightly out of the norm requests but I don't think they should be an issue, I've been meaning to redo my Will since our wedding, just one of those jobs I've not got round too.  DS needs to do his too so I've told him about the free service.

Enjoy the rest of the festive season all

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Bear with me, budgeting ramblings incoming.......

2024 I want to be a year of consolidation and really grasping my spending/debts/savings by the horns.  The plan is....

• I have increased my payments to the mortgage by £100pm, hope to increase them further later in the year once I have a better grasp of my debts.
• Historically I spend far too much on clothes, accessories and toiletries, I am getting better, I have stopped buying from N3xt which was my nemesis, it was far too easy to put things on my account but since they stopped the free returns I have stopped using them.  I have plenty of everything so this year I will be strict, I can buy items on Vinted with the money I generate from selling on there (have just used £10 to buy some lovely T0mmy Hilf!ger boots to match a bag DS got me for Christmas) plus I have £50pm budget in a separate account to buy items i actually NEED but I am hoping to let this build up, see how much I can save!
• Rent money from DS £300pm take as cash and save in cashpot, I don't know how much longer he will be staying with us so don't want to get used to this money within my budget.
• Open a new Christmas regular saver account with YBS, 10 months at £300, I didn't use this for Christmas, it paid for our holiday this year and topped up some savings, it just meant that the money was accessible in an emergency but not easy to fritter.  The 2 months (December and November) without payments freed up money for Christmas/holiday spends.
• Carry on with Topcashback and my pots, this contributed to Christmas/holiday spends.
• Pay Council tax over 10 months, the 2 'free' months then provide holiday money for my girly holiday.
• Be more aware of our grocery spending, try to meal plan more.  We are pretty good and shop to a list when we do the weekly shop but I do pop in to local shops on my way home sometimes and with DS and DGD around meal planning is more difficult.  We have lots of food in the freezers and cupboards and I need to make use of that before buying more.
• Shop around for all insurances and use cashback sites where possible.

Basically minimise my spending so that I can save and also afford treats such as concerts and holidays, as my signature says 'Don't fritter on little things save it for the big things!'

I need to make good use of all of the lovely items I do already have.  I have some gorgeous smellies for pampering sessions, including some gifted to me for Christmas, DH got me my absolute favourite Hammam items from Rituals.  I plan to rethink how I put clothes together, try altering and tailoring items to change how they look or fit and mix up my accessories more.  Shop from home, that's my motto this year!

Have a great day 

MvTMM

savingholmes

Fantastic round up and plans. I find them really nice to look back on too - as sometimes when we are in the middle of things it feels like we aren't progressing - but when we take stock we can see lots of positives. 

Happy New Year.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

savingholmes said:

Fantastic round up and plans. I find them really nice to look back on too - as sometimes when we are in the middle of things it feels like we aren't progressing - but when we take stock we can see lots of positives. 

@savingholmes, That is exactly the reason I did my round up, its made me realise just how much we have achieved this year and reminded me of all the fun we had along the way.

Had a fun evening last night.  I got home from work and organised my packing then went for a nice soak in the bath, was lying there relaxing when an alarm went off on my phone, we were due in the cinema in 10 minutes!!  Luckily our cinema is only a 2 minute drive away and I knew there would be loads of adverts and trailers before the film started.  Jumped out of the bath, threw on some clothes, grabbed DD (DH declined) and made it in time to see the trailers and all of the film, got nachos and cider, had the whole place to ourselves so sat happily munching and commentating on the film as we we had no one to disturb!

I've been blitzing the office at work, don't usually have time but it looks so much nicer now and smells fresh, much nicer environment to be in.

Right better crack on, 2 days left before I have a week off and a lot to do in that time.

Have a lovely day

MvTMM

savingholmes

Sounds a fantastic cinema trip

LadyWithAPlan

I also love to use this time of year to review and start forecasting.

Shopping from home and selling on vinted are also my plans for 2024..

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

My last day at work before our holiday

We packed our cases last night and despite the fact that I have clearly packed too many clothes, we are still way under our weight allowance each and have room in our cases to bring back some goodies should we wish.  My parents have given me a lovely new carry on bag as a birthday present, DKNY, perfect size and shape and has the slip at the back to go over the suitcase handle.  We are able to do the Twilight check in so will just have hand luggage in the airport hotel overnight but will make things less stressful the morning of the flight.  We have our clear bags with toiletries in and another one each for electricals to simplify things at security, I'm even wearing my slip on trainers for that reason!  I am so excited now, can't wait to feel the heat as we step off the plane.

DH is doing a minimal grocery shop today, just topping up bread, milk etc for the kids whilst we are away, there is plenty of food in the house, if they can be bothered to cook it!  We have packed coffee, tea bags and sweeteners, will get some other basics when we arrive at the hotel, the breakfasts are so good there we won't need much and will eat out for dinner.

I probably wont post again until I get back to work so have a very happy New Year everyone   

MvTMM

Jessy103

Happy New year and have a lovely time! x