Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

We had quite a chilled weekend, it Was DGD's 5th birthday on Friday,  I meet up with an old school friend at a favourite Countryside Coffee Shop on Saturday and visited my parents on Sunday.  Squeezed in gym sessions on Saturday and Monday mornings, Saturday's wasn't great as I forgot my inhaler   but I was back on form on Monday and burned 1040 calories in 30 mins.

Our washing machine went wrong on Thursday evening, we have one of those repair policies but the soonest they could look at it was 18th, then they would have to order the parts and arrange a further visit to carry out the repair, so it would be well in to the New Year before we had a useable machine!  DH got on the internet on Friday, ordered a new machine and it was delivered on Sunday morning, all for a little over what we pay in policies each year!  We don't like sending things to landfill but honestly we couldn't go that long without a machine as we all work and have uniforms etc.  I cancelled the policies and told them why, the service simply isn't worth paying for.  I have had a call today and they will be refunding me all of the payments I have made in respect of the washing machine - result

I'm also waiting for my expenses to be paid, should be on Friday and then early payday the following Friday.

I need to wrap the Christmas presents this week so I can clear the spare room and we can start packing our cases for our holiday.

Nothing else to update

Have a great afternoon all.

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Morning All

It's a little early but wanted to post my round up of the year as the next few weeks are looking busy and we fly out for our holiday on 29th.

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

I have been looking back over 2025 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 again to end one year, start the next and celebrate both of our birthdays.
• Hubby managed to get his Irish passport (EU) so that will make things easier when we hope to retire to the sun. Stepson is trying for his now!
• We had our third Valentine's Day as husband and wife, celebrated at our favourite local restaurant. 
• I had another fabulous girly holiday with my friend in her time-share.
• Despite being in their 80s both of my parents continue to be fairly fit and well, both have been in hospital this year but thankfully nothing too serious, although dad now has a catheter as well as his stoma to contend with.
• We have had a few weekends away including returning to our engagement spot again.
• We celebrated our third Wedding Anniversary - Leather
• Our lovely daughter turned 21, she and I had a fabulous few days in Rome, including a Vespa Tour of the city, we then came home to a surprise party and visit from her Uni friends.
• My step son turned 40 so we had a night away to attend his surprise party.
• The shower room was finally completed and we are really pleased with it.
• I have been to a couple of concerts this year including Stereophonics and comedy nights including Omid Djalili and Lou Sanders.
• After 20 years in my profession I had to re-assess my work commitments and pressures as it was affecting my health, took some time out and changed roles within the same organisation.  Very happy in my new role and currently studying to increase my knowledge.  It also gave me an incentive to start and actually stick to a regular exercise programme.
• We have had loads of fun in pub quizzes, seeing local bands, a few plays and comedy nights in the local theatre and lots of cinema trips.
• DD graduated from Uni, we had a couple of fabulous days celebrating as a family, she is now back at home and planning her next move.
• We have all stayed healthy and have a nice home and food on the table, we are blessed 

2026 is also shaping up to be a great year; we have our usual birthdays holiday in December/January, for 10 nights this time rather than 7 and I am going again with my friend to her timeshare in March; some concerts booked including Kaiser Chiefs and Take That; and a couple of weekends away scheduled to our engagement spot, one  for Valentines and the other for our Anniversary. Lots of things to look forward to. We will need to do some improvements to the house next year, aside from the shower room, that has taken a backseat this year due to all the major events we had going on.  The entrance porch and conservatory both need some work, however I am loathed to touch the conservatory whilst we still have our lovely old Lab as she uses the sofa etc in there (she's not allowed on the one in the lounge) so we will see what happens there.

Have a fabulous weekend all

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

I'm feeling pretty organised but not at all Christmassy.  Cards written and posted, presents wrapped, although a couple still to arrive.  Food organised and delivery booked.  We have even started packing for our holiday!

Moneywise, I've received my expenses and the refund for the Repair Policy.  DH has saved all of the cash we need for Euros and is organising that today.  Early Payday on Friday, I've done my budget to see me through to the end of January.

I was thinking about the fact we have everyone over for Christmas Dinner and how we were going to seat everyone, our table extends so that is ok but we didn't have enough chairs.  I managed to find on line a folding 6 foot long bench, easily seats 4 and was only £21.  I was really sceptical but it had good reviews, its arrived and we are so impressed, it's so sturdy and yet easy to put up and stow away and the perfect height for our table.

Have a great day all

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Hope you are having a good day.

Nice surprise at work today, all staff receiving a Christmas card and £25 gift card, we are a charity and have never had anything in the past, although I have regularly told the SLT that a card at least would show some appreciation, any way this year they have listened!   Oh and a free Christmas Lunch today too.

I submitted my first Module for my course last Thursday, it was due by the following Monday, hoping to get the next one boxed off in the coming week so I don't have to think about it over Christmas and my holiday.

Payday tomorrow so I will update my signature now as I think I'll be too busy tomorrow to catch up.

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

We have been paid early for Christmas and aside from putting money into my Euros travel account, I won't be touching it til the end of the month.  DD is going to pay her 'rent' on the usual day and DH not being paid til 29th anyway so everything else is normal.

DH picked up the physical Euros yesterday but I still need to print off all of our paperwork, travel insurance etc.

Work is busy but trying to get everything boxed off before my holidays, at least I have none of the stress of previous years and I don't have to be oncall or cover shifts.

Have a lovely day all

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Happy New Year to you all.

Christmas went well, apart from poor mum having the flu and being bed bound.  The bench was really good, ideal from what we wanted and now one of my friends wants one!

We had a lovely holiday, weather wasn't as good as we have enjoyed previous years but even the days that were cloudy were still warm and we got out and about exploring, we even ventured on the local bus to the Capital!  Our budget worked well, brought home about 100 physical euros and had 450 left in my travel account, will try and save all of that for my next trip.

I think we are getting paid again next Friday so will update signature etc but not touch it until my normal payday on 31st, I'm really going to try hard this year to minimise all spending, even food.

Hubby had a nice bonus for Christmas from his boss, £50 cash and £200 vouchers, it all helps.

Following the excesses of Christmas, New Year and our birthdays, DD suggested that we all try a low carb and sugar  health plan, basically cutting out processed foods.  We have bought loads of Fruit, veg and grains and trying different recipes from the internet, DH and I are quite enjoying it, however DD is already moaning like crazy!!   I'm already 5lbs down, drinking loads of water and feeling less bloated, seem to be sleeping better too.

Have a lovely day all

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Lovely sunny day here today and not too cold.

Main MSE news is that I have opened another Xmas Saver account with YBS, saving £150pm for 10 months, matures beginning of November, don't panic, I don't use this all for Xmas, I just find this style of saving works for me, our birthdays fall around New Year and we are always on holiday then so the break in saving on those months is welcome and we start saving again on our return.

I went to our local cinema with friends last night, saw Song Sung Blue, what a great film and an incredible story, definitely an emotional roller coaster!

So glad it's Friday it has seemed like a long week after 3 weeks away from the office, bring on the weekend.

Have a good one

MvTMM

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Well we got paid today, which is a week early, so I will update my signature in a moment.  I've popped the £250 that would have been a Council Tax payment to one side as spending money for my next holiday, will do the same next month, I do love paying Council Tax over the 10 months as it feels like free money in February and March!

Food shopping has been quite high this month, I think mainly due to our new low carb eating plan, we have been trying out different recipes, but now that we have the ingredients it should even out again.  I have to say I am really enjoying the low carb diet at the moment and do feel better for it.  I have lost half a stone and DH has lost 5lbs and the best news is my Blood Pressure has returned to the normal range after being stage 3 hypertensive in April.

We have been invited to a friends wedding, it sounds gorgeous and very posh, but it's this March and bearing in mind the venue, transport, at least one overnight stay, outfits and gifts I think we would be looking at £1500, which we just can't do at such short notice, if it had been next year we could have planned for it, so sadly we have had to decline.

Have a lovely weekend

MvTMM

beanielou

Sad about the wedding but the right decision I think. 

Humdinger1

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain said:

Hi All

Well we got paid today, which is a week early, so I will update my signature in a moment.  I've popped the £250 that would have been a Council Tax payment to one side as spending money for my next holiday, will do the same next month, I do love paying Council Tax over the 10 months as it feels like free money in February and March!

Food shopping has been quite high this month, I think mainly due to our new low carb eating plan, we have been trying out different recipes, but now that we have the ingredients it should even out again.  I have to say I am really enjoying the low carb diet at the moment and do feel better for it.  I have lost half a stone and DH has lost 5lbs and the best news is my Blood Pressure has returned to the normal range after being stage 3 hypertensive in April.

We have been invited to a friends wedding, it sounds gorgeous and very posh, but it's this March and bearing in mind the venue, transport, at least one overnight stay, outfits and gifts I think we would be looking at £1500, which we just can't do at such short notice, if it had been next year we could have planned for it, so sadly we have had to decline.

Have a lovely weekend

MvTMM

£1500 at less than 2 months' notice!! Not wanting to be a spoilsport, but i tremble to think what state their finances may be in!! And those of many around them.  Yes, as @beanielou says, the right decision.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx