Powers’s mortgage free thread

powerspowers

Yay payday money shuffle! 

New wage has gone through but so has new AVC amount so I’m actually paid slightly less than I was before (well current powers is, future powers has had a pay rise)

I owed T money for our feb break and have moved £200 into savings. I set some new savings goals and have split the £200 across 3 of my 4 pots:

EF 5000 

Hols 1050 /1600 

House 400 /1000 

Car 100 / 600 this is a new pot saving to replace existing car in 4/5 years time. 

The roof quote came back at £620 😳 to sort out chimney lead and repoint chimney and cap one of the chimneys. The boys mum has used the company a few times and recommended them so think we will go with it. I’m thinking we just make the standard OP of £250 which should mean we can pay for the roof from the joint account. 

savingholmes

Future self will be happy. 

Good if you can pay out for the chimney without hardship too. Well done current/past self.

It is a balance isn't it. I am very future focused but am trying to stop myself and ask what's a fun thing I can do today not tomorrow - so I have joy in every day. It's a new habit so still a work in progress...

I've surprisingly enjoyed my meals today. 2 different soups and a chicken stir fry. The latter I wouldn't normally make but I got YS stir fries and a sauce I had in so easy enough to do.

powerspowers

Mini wins today:
returned library books, paid 40p fine and took some more books out 
picked up a prescription 
lunchtime and after work walks 

😀😀

powerspowers

Wins today:
cycled to the plastic free lady
spent some of our wedding money on a 2nd hand kenwood chef 
quick lunchtime walk 

savingholmes

Kenwood chef sounds like a real win. Well done on the exercise too.

edinburgher

Well done on the AVCs - future powers thanks you for your service

powerspowers

Morning wannabes, I’ve been putting off updating my diary cause I’ve got so much to say! As we’ve escaped January, im going to revisit my goals and hopefully give my ramblings some structure. 

* OPs averaging £550pm in order to meet 1&3 yr targets (sub £100k and sub £75k)
January OP was£600 so above my target ✅ February is going to be lower as we’re having roof repairs done today which are £620 😳 

* cash savings at least £6k ✅ I’ve reintroduced my pots and want to stretch and start new longer term savings towards replacement car as well as holidays, house & EF which all have short term targets

* house projects - progress on en suite and garden ✅ definitely making progress on both of these. We’ve cleared some rammle from the garden and have railway sleepers (from our wedding gift money!) ready to build a raised bed for veg. En-suite, T has decided to fit himself as we can’t get a plumber for love or money. We’ve ordered what we want and it’s due to arrive today. Next step is working out where pipes go. I’m glad he has knowledgeable friends in this department as I feel a bit spare!

* keep up eco small steps (cycle first; reducing waste; less red meat; buy 2nd hand). A new addition to the list is shorter showers. ✅ Doing especially well at shopping local and buying 2nd hand - and using the apps to pass stuff on rather than landfill. I’m still keeping up the shorter showers, I even beat the alarm some times. Veggie meals are tricky with the boys, they are a bit sceptical and T reverts to the same favourites. We’ve got a massive pumpkin to eat at the weekend so hopefully can rustle something tasty that they’ll enjoy 🤞new addition to the small steps is do less laundry- It’s the only eco step that requires less effort so should be achievable- although again getting boys to not wash everything they’ve worn for 20 seconds may be a struggle. 

* prioritise balance between work/health/wellbeing. 

This is the long one! I had a wobble earlier in the month and basically my manager told me to take time off. I’m burnt out but in a fairly no drama way. One of the reasons I changed jobs was so I was less of a square peg in a round hole and could focus on what I’m good at. That has gone out the window with being redeployed and I just felt constantly out of my depth. So I’ve been un-redeployed and can focus on just doing my new job, hurrah!! Key is setting up boundaries and not slipping back into old world. Which is difficult as I’ve worked there so long and they are
under incredible pressure still, it’s so hard to put myself first but I need to. Keeping things under regular review with my manager. 

I have managed to keep my balance in terms of exercise, leaving the house and doing stuff at home- it’s just that’s not enough if you are fundamentally in the wrong job! Now I’ve hopefully got the work aspect sorted, I’m going to try to keep those other aspects balanced. New job is also less social so need to make sure I actually see people. 

That’s enough navel gazing. It feels like January has sped away from me but onwards and upwards for February 🚀 

powerspowers

I had a slightly grumpy start to the weekend but I’m feeling better now. I think just a bit easily overwhelmed. 

Good things:
ran parkrun 😀
sorted out the sleepers for the veg patch
acquired doors for diy greenhouse- £0
OH baked
made pumpkin soup 
took boys roller skating
Cleaned bathroom, kitchen and hallway (job well done!)

chilling now 😀 only 3 days at work next week as we go to the Lake District on Wednesday 😀😀

money update-
I’m a bit skint. Took £150 back out of my savings after only just moving it there and now have £82 after bills. Joint account is slightly better but only £187 after bills. Lake D might involve emptying the freezer to come with us 😂 I’m not worried if we have to put a bit on CC and pay off on payday but don’t want to go mad as that’s one of the reasons I’m struggling this month! The other is that we went to the making of Harry Potter last weekend, it was fab and we were fairly money saving but it’s an expensive day out and I’d not budgeted for needing fuel, felt I should cover it as it was Ts birthday treat. 

Ah well, always a balance between living for today and future needs. At least we’re propping up the economy 😂 

Aimingforthegoodlife

Hi PP! Amazing read, congrats on wedding, house move and new job! I love that you have paid attention to your mental health and chatted to your manager, you are smashing your goals and this diary is lovely to read, so much positivity! Oh and congrats on running 10k! I also bought an electric bike- just at the start of this year, but mine is to get me moving, I love that yours meant you could sell your car! Fab!

powerspowers

Thanks goodlife!