Climbing the Mortgage Mountain step by step

savingholmes

Well done on the life admin. I got a final bill from previous provider today so hoping new provider will get sorted soon. They are transferring a credit across at least - but given that it needs to cover 2 months - just hoping it's enough!

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi all

Been MIA due to having taken some Annual Leave, had a lovely time with various family members and a weekend away with OH, ate rather too well and had a bit of a shock when I stood on the scales today so back on the fasting now!  We managed to do some Christmas shopping so fairly well sorted, Asda Christmas food delivery booked, just the cards to write and presents to wrap.

@savingholmes, I'm still waiting to hear from my previous provider, I too had a credit on the account but am feeling apprehensive as to what has happened since payments stopped, I still am unable to set up a DD for my new provider.

Saving pots are still going strong, keeping up the 1p per day challenge, no more UUs but a few things well on their way.  I do need to amend my signature as payday has passed and more repayments have been made.

Foodwise we need to eat from stocks to run things down for Christmas and New Year so I need to menu plan more, we have plenty of supplies to use.  I think a fishpie is in order one night for me and OH (DD isn't keen) and maybe sausage gnocchi and a pie night, will have a look when I get home.

Our advent calendar from Degusta is great, DD was very pleased that day 1 was stroopwaffles, complete with a little warmer for over her mug.  I have also been lucky enough to win a Bodyshop calendar which will give me loads more items to use up for my £1 pot or maybe regift.

Have a great day

MvTMM

savingholmes

Great win. I too need to focus on eating more from the freezer. You have reminded me that I defrosted some chicken but I still need to cook it

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Wet and windy here today so I brought the car to work, making the most of it though, have ordered a Too Good To Go box from Morrisons which I will pick up on the way home and fill up with fuel whilst there.  I might pop in and stock up on the few items that we regularly use but can't get in Lidls.

Another UU last night, more of my L'Occitane Almande bath oil, I really do love the smell of this range and another £1 therefore in the jar.  DD is off on a Christmas shopping trip today and asked me to change £25 from her savings pot, I've used this change to top up my £2 jar and my 1p a day jar.  As she is out I'll use up some stocks from the freezer to make a fish pie for me and OH, that will do us 2 nights and she can have something else tomorrow.

Popped to the parents last night to drop off some deliveries I had for them, then went to see DGD as she had put up her Christmas tree (with help from mummy and daddy!) so when we got home it was a quick dinner, Leek and Spinach pasta from the freezer for me and OH and chicken pie for DD.

Signature updated yesterday, I am eagerly awaiting the beginning of February when my mortgage will drop below the £120k mark.  OH was re-arranging his finances last night, I think I am having an effect on him, he is going to cut up his credit cards to stop the cycle and is aiming to clear everything before the fixed rate mortgage runs off in 4 years (although the mortgage is in my name, he is just thinking of freeing up money as I'm sure interest rates will rise).

Busy day ahead so I'd better crack on.

Have a good day and stay safe in this storm.

MvTMM

savingholmes

Great news that your OH is getting more on board. 

Sounds like you had lovely family time too. Memory making.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Well, my Too Good To Go bag was interesting, they had absolutely no fruit and veg to get rid of so it was all bread and cakes (I never get meat as some people do), a bit of a disappointment really, however, there were some fresh cream, cherry and chocolate muffins that we had for dessert after the fish pie I made and they were lovely.  The fish pie used up odd bits of salmon, pollock and cod from the freezer, peas and the sauce was a packet of hollandaise that I opened a week or so ago thinking it was bread sauce, fresh parsley that I had chucked in the freezer and the end of some goats cheese with herbs in, all topped off with mashed potato and the end of a piece of cheddar.  My breakfast/lunch at work today is a packet of mini danish and a pizza slice also all from the bag.

I did get fuel whilst there and OH is going to take my car for MOT tomorrow, fingers crossed they don't uncover anything that needs doing.

DD came back from her shopping trip, didn't actually buy anything, she quite often has 'shopping' trips like this, she is so good with money and thankfully hasn't inherited the shopaholic gene from either of her parents!  

Have a great day

MvTMM

savingholmes

Well done. I really should sign up for apps like that..

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

Well yesterday was a crazy day at work and I was very late finishing so was grateful to have the remainder of the fish pie for dinner followed by a cream scone also from the TGTG bag, no cooking and limited washing up!

I'm hoping for a calmer day today, but you never know in this job!

A few UUs yesterday; I finally used the last of a tube of face serum which I cut open days ago, it always staggers me how much product is left in a tube when it stops dispensing easily, I have probably had another week's worth out of this one.  I also used a whole bottle of all in one hair colour, shampoo and conditioner, you're supposed to use the normal amount you would of shampoo but I have long, thick blonde hair, used the whole bottle, left it on for 10 mins longer and have ended up with a very subtle lilac tint!  Ah well £2 more in the savings!

With the news over the last couple of days, and the impending tightening of restrictions, I've been trying to find positives in this situation and I've come to the conclusion that, for me, it has really help to focus my mind on what is important, ie health, family and home; nice things are nice to have but nothing can substitute for the loss of even one of those three core areas.  The knock on has been I have lost interest in shopping, I used to love a day in town, mooching around the shops but now it is a necessity rather than a pleasure and very much a ninja style operation; in, get what you need and out again as quickly as possible.   Even online shopping is deminishing, I will put things in my virtual basket and there they stay until they go out of stock.  Don't get me wrong, I have over shopped for years so we are well provisioned with clothes, toiletries and food/drink and don't actually NEED much at all, hence the Clothes Challenge I have set myself and the drive to UU toiletries, all of this I hope will have a positive effect on my finances.  I am lucky, I have a very happy home life (now, sadly not in previous relationships), comfortable home with a nice garden, good job and lovely friends, lockdown was not as hard on me as it was for many people and for that I am grateful but I hope that, for everyone's sake, we are not headed down that road again.

MvTMM

savingholmes

Yes I am concerned we could return to lockdown. Planning to get more decorating paint and artist canvases in just in case so plenty to do.

Me_v_The_Mortgage_Mountain

Hi All

@savingholmes, I think it may be prudent to plan ahead a little, OH and I both are essential workers so have worked right through the lockdowns, not sure if that's a blessing or a curse.  We do have some internal decorating that could be done should movements be restricted again so no excuse to be bored!

Last night I popped to £land on my way home to get some wrapping paper as they have the brown rustic type that we prefer.  I love the traditional looking Christmas colours, red, green, white, silver and gold and most of our decorations are in those colours, odd as I would never go for red or green in day to day life, for decoration or clothing.

We had individual pies, chips and mixed veg last night, all from the freezer and tonight OH has got us a treat, venison steaks, which I am going to serve with a stroganoff style sauce (Brandy, sour cream and mushrooms), mushrooms baked with stilton, dauphinoise potatoes and green beans, really looking forward to that with a nice bottle of wine.  Saturday and Sunday I am challenging myself to create some feasts from what we have in the fridge/freezers and cupboards, I know there are plenty of options and I do really need to make some room.

There's a really good local band on tomorrow night which we are intending to go and see, I'm in two minds with the figures rising but it may be our last chance for a while the way things are going and we are both triple jabbed.

I managed to pick up a Daily Mail today for the £10 Lidl voucher so that will help with the shopping tomorrow, I totally forgot to buy one yesterday, I think its running for the next couple of days if anyone wants one, we should just be doing a small shop but I'll make up the £40 spend with some bits and bobs for Christmas.

Have a great day

MvTMM