Powers’s mortgage free thread

powerspowers

Not been to update my diary for an age so attempting a round up for the end of May. 

overpay mortgage by £2000 ⬇️

Currently at 54% 💪 

Save £6000 towards extension 🏡 
Managed to stay static here/ currently just over £1400

increase long term saving pots 🇮🇸 🚗 
Some progress here, increased both to £800

finish en suite 🚽 
hallelujah we have made inroads! We have water to the bathroom and fitted outside waste pipes, involved T’s climbing friend literally hanging off the side of our loft extension. Toilet is plumbed in and shower is dry fitted. We’ve got a few busy weekends but hoping to pick up tools over the summer.  

mastermind an extension plan 🗺 
Currently on hold 

2 meat free days a week 🥦 
Jan - 4
Feb - 8 🍆🥦🥬🥒🌶🫑🌽🥕
mar- 8 🥦🥬🥒🍅🍆🥑🫑🌽
April - 7 🥦🫑🥑🍆🌽🥕🧄
may -21! I’ve been vegetarian since the middle of May. T and friends have been very supportive it’s still a bit of mental gymnastics when I’m tired and hungry but I’m proud of the change and definitely want to keep it up. 

be able to run 15 miles 🏃‍♀️ 
Run 5k parkrun in less than 35 minutes 🏃‍♀️ 

Best time this year is now 41.26💃 
I managed to get back to run club at the start of the month but now missed 3 sessions due to hols and scout things. Need to head back this week even though it’s going to be warm! 

Have at least one micro adventure a month ⛰ 

2 adventures last month! I had a sneaky car camp in the Peak District before meeting a group to walk up Mam Tor for sunrise 🌄 Second adventure was taking my mum on a random £2 bus adventure- we got 10 buses in 3 days and got to the seaside from the furthest point from the sea! It was nice to spend time with mum and I enjoyed the pace until the last day when I was getting impatient with bus travel!  

Embrace a more varied volunteer role 🙋‍♀️

I’ve done a few bits of scout volunteering this month which I really enjoyed and looking forward to our summer trip. 

Money round up
The joint account took some hammering from hols, especially eating out. We’re back on track now and looking at a more frugal month. I feel like I’ve spent a lot of personal spends on random charity/sponsorship type activities, which I’m pleased to support but also feel should have a line in the budget. I regularly give around £85 a month to different charities and I’d like to round it up to £100pm. 

We’ve had a really busy May and June looking busy too. I’m trying to not get too stressed with things and to try to build in chances to chill out and look after myself. 

I have managed to spend some time in the garden and enjoying spinach, lettuce & radishes. Tomatoes and cucumbers seem to be on a slow gro though! 

Take care wannabes x

savingholmes

Sounds a great balance. Love that you are getting out and about and getting fitter too - and growing your own veg.

It's trying to thunder here... I have some peas and potatoes in flower... Exciting times... The slugs normally get my peas and beans before they get to this point.

powerspowers

Oh dear, I fell off the MFW wagon a bit there! I’ll do a bit of a round up for June & July and try to catch up with diaries. 

overpay mortgage by £2000 ⬇️

Currently at 72% 💪 

Save £6000 towards extension 🏡 
Currently just over £2200. Managed to not raid it for summer holidays which I’m classing as a win 

increase long term saving pots 🇮🇸 🚗 
Some slow progress here, increased both to £850

finish en suite 🚽 
the worlds slowest bathroom project is ticking along slowly. T has fitted the pipes and we’re just boxing in ready for a plasterer to work some magic. 

mastermind an extension plan 🗺 
Currently on hold 

2 meat free days a week 🥦 
Jan - 4
Feb - 8 🍆🥦🥬🥒🌶🫑🌽🥕
mar- 8 🥦🥬🥒🍅🍆🥑🫑🌽
April - 7 🥦🫑🥑🍆🌽🥕🧄
may -21! I’ve been vegetarian since the middle of May.
june-30
july - 31 still keeping up with the vegetarian path. I’ve been tempted a few times when I can’t work out what to eat either at home or when there’s poor options out and about but managed to stay on track. 

be able to run 15 miles 🏃‍♀️ 
Run 5k parkrun in less than 35 minutes 🏃‍♀️ 

Best time this year is now 41.26💃 
I’m back on the wagon with club running, doing a 6 week 5k improvers course to bring my parkrun time down. I’m the slowest in the course so keep ending up at the back with a coach, I’m viewing it as free 1:1 coaching 😆 to be honest, I run so that I’m being outside, exercising and socialising. I’m not too hung up on the times but need a goal otherwise I just stay on the sofa. 

Have at least one micro adventure a month ⛰ 

June adventure- went wild camping and swimming in the Peak District with T. Lots of midges! I loved the swimming and did aim to go again, but it’s been so wet and I’m not 100% comfortable when the rivers are high. 

July- a bit more organised fun, I went weaselling as a reunion for last years trip. It’s a very Derbyshire sport, involving squeezing through rocks on the surface. I’ve also been caving, rock climbing, abseiled off a church and stream walking basically just by being involved as a volunteer and saying “can I have a go?” I’m enjoying testing my body and pushing my limits.  

Embrace a more varied volunteer role 🙋‍♀️

I’ve helped at various scout & guide activities recently and signed up for another international adventure next year with T and the boys. I’m enjoying sharing my experiences without the commitment of a weekly meeting. 

Money round up
Short term savings have taken a battering. We had a weekend in London as our family holiday, it was good to do something different to camping and give the boys those experiences. I’m glad we only did 48hours though for the sake of wallets! Planning a frugal August although I do need some bits for Italy at the end of the month. 

Overall, we’ve had a really busy few months. Plus work and studying had taken me some interesting places. I’m ready for a bit of a rest this month. 

savingholmes

Those activities sound amazing well done. 

Congrats on the diet change too.

You sound like things are heading in a direction you are comfortable with.

powerspowers

New parkrun best time this year is 38:20 😀 

savingholmes

Congratulations. How far is that?

powerspowers

Happy New Year! I well and truly fell off the diary wagon last year. I’m not promising to get back on it but it’s that time of year to reflect and think what next year will bring. I’ve just woken up from a NY afternoon slumber (too many late nights and too much booze) and will turn to last years goals rather than getting off the sofa! 

overpay mortgage by £2000 ⬇️ 

✅ achieved in December, although I got my tracking in a mess and had to stump up £65 at the end of the year 😱 

Save £6000 towards extension 🏡 
🍋 we saved £2400 plus £700 that went towards a short term conservatory make over. Savings were hampered by the cost of food so always dipping into the savings pot at the end of the month and probably too many treats! 

increase long term saving pots 🇮🇸 🚗 
✅ ✅ £1200 each towards big holiday & eventual car replacement. 

finish en suite 🚽 
🍋 no progress here since September!!! 

mastermind an extension plan 🗺 
Sort of ✅. Much umming and ahhing here. We decided to do a short term self insulation job which we started just before Christmas. We need to finish the cladding but it is so much warmer (not building regs warm but much improved and makes the space useable.) long term plan is still extension but I think possibly 3-5 years time. So the plan became put off to another year!! 

Run 15 miles and sub 35 minute parkrun time (5k) 🍋🍊
I’ve not been brilliant at running this year and haven’t been to running club since the clocks changed. I did go the other day and enjoyed it so should restart. 

Longest run was 8.6km (5.3miles)
Best parkrun time this year was 38:20 
Both improvements on 2022! 

Have at least one micro adventure a month ⛰ 

August- wild camped in the Peak District with someone from my womens walking group
September- went on a walking course in Scotland and walked my first Monroe
October- wild camped
November- went on a random
adventure run, very muddy! 
December- wild camped in the snow ⛄️ 

Embrace a more varied volunteer role 🙋‍♀️

I’ve taken on some new challenges for next year, enjoying sharing what I know and feeling a useful member of the team. I’m also figuring out what I don’t want to do! 

Money round up

A good year money wise. Obviously everything’s gone up but we’ve managed to weather it. We had a wobble with T just avoiding redundancy but it was nice to feel like we’d be able to cope and not stretched too thin, it definitely validated the decision to not buy the biggest house we could afford on paper. We’ve managed to save and overpay the mortgage but not as much in previous years. We’ve also had a good share of adventures, weekends away and invested in good kit to allow us & the boys to make the most of opportunities offered to us. 

I’ve had some wobbles this year but managed to stabilise myself- I’ve started a creative journal which has really helped me to process things. Next year is going to be challenging work wise but I know I’m in the right place and up for the job! I’m aiming to have my phd application in by December which if successful would be fully funded starting Sept 2025. 

Personal goals are to prioritise feeling connected, getting outside and building my fitness. 

savingholmes

Woohoo on potential for a fully funded PHD that sounds amazing.

Well done on the park run time - and all the many things you've achieved in year. This has been a tricky time for many so to have saved rather than eroded savings is a big plus.

Best of luck for 2024 and Happy New Year!

powerspowers

Goals for 2024

Save £3600 to overpay mortgage in December 🏡 I’ve set up a £250pm standing order so the mission is to find £600 additional this year. 

Save £1000 for summer holiday with the boys🚂 

Increase long term savings pots by £600 each 🇮🇸 🚗 

improve my fitness by exercising 3x a week 🏃‍♀️ 🚲 

Adventure wishlist
⛰🏕 hike and wild camp lasting 2 nights
🚴🏕 cycle camp with boys
🚴 cycle Northumberland coastal route
🏔 adventure with mum
🏃‍♀️ run edale skyline

House jobs
🚽 finish en suite
🏠 finish conservatory ceiling
🏡 clear up front of house
👷‍♀️sand kitchen worktops
🔨 Lay patio

Money jobs
💷 change to a more ethical bank
💷 increase charitable donations to £150pm

powerspowers

savingholmes said:

Woohoo on potential for a fully funded PHD that sounds amazing.

Well done on the park run time - and all the many things you've achieved in year. This has been a tricky time for many so to have saved rather than eroded savings is a big plus.

Best of luck for 2024 and Happy New Year!

Thanks SH!