happihorse's journey to mortgage freedom and contentment…

savingholmes

You really are doing well across the board. 5lb loss after a couple of weeks away is fab. Looking forward to reading about you riding a horse again.

happihorse

savingholmes said:

You really are doing well across the board. 5lb loss after a couple of weeks away is fab. Looking forward to reading about you riding a horse again.

Thanks savingholmes!  I was very pleased with that too.

happihorse

Oh my goodness - I can't believe it is almost 4 weeks since I last updated my diary.  Where has the time gone?!   

So, what has been happening over the last month or so...

Early in the month I had my special friend  come to stay for a week or so which was lovely.  We did lots of nice things together like long walks, chilling in the sunshine, cinema, dinner, etc.  It really was nice and, even thought I was working through most of the week, I had a couple of long weekends and really did chill out.

Since then I have had a couple of family barbeques which were really nice and dinner with another friend.  Those were all quite low budget or free for various reasons.

Still sticking to my exercise plans and walking every day.  In fact, I haven't missed a single day this month and have been twice some days.    

Healthy eating has been a bit hit and miss and I know I could do better if I was more focused and consistent.    I have now lost just over 2 stone so well on the way but need to re-focus now to push on with the next 2 (and beyond)!

Won £25 on Premium Bonds early in the month and money is broadly okay but still frittering more than I should be.  More recently I have spent some time on making a budget and shopping lists which seems to be working.  I have also been using up all of the food I have in the fridge and freezer before buying more but would like to reduce costs a bit more.

I have booked to go riding this weekend (for the first time in nearly 2 years) as I am just about at the weight limit now.  Still have a lot more to lose but will be fantastic to get back riding and will also help with the activity and, in turn, weight loss.

I will be back later in the week for a monthly update but hope anyone reading this has a good week!

savingholmes

Congrats on 2 stone weight loss. Fab news that you have booked to go riding!! Thrilled for you. What a milestone!

happihorse

savingholmes said:

Congrats on 2 stone weight loss. Fab news that you have booked to go riding!! Thrilled for you. What a milestone!

Thanks savingholmes - I seem to be in a good routine now so let's hope it continues!

happihorse

Sadly I didn't make it back here last week as time just ran away with me so will do my usual monthly update in a minute...

Went riding at the weekend and it was fantastic.    I have missed it so much but will be going weekly again now (working up to a longer faster ride).  I did a fairly quiet ride last week but I am so stiff now.    It will take a good few weeks to get ride of the stiffness fully and get riding fit again.

Didn't win anything on the Premium Bonds this month which is to be expected now I only have £20k in there.  

I still need to work on reigning the spending in.    Too much frittering going on and need to cut down now to make sure I can afford to go riding.  Did a bit of batch cooking at the weekend but need to do a meal plan and be stricter with myself about not buying other stuff.  Will also help of the weight loss front too.

Lost another 4.5 pounds last week so was very pleased with that.    I had really pushed hard as I was off riding so want to keep at it.  Still a very long way to go in terms of getting back to a healthy weight but well on the journey now.

savingholmes

Fantastic news re 🐎 riding and weight loss.

happihorse

So, monthly update as follows:

Mortgage:
- Starting balance                                     £289,980.00
- Current outstanding balance                  £260,124.83
- Amount repaid                                        £29,855.17 (10.3%)

Savings                                                     £20,000 (but spent the £800 buffer from current account )

Credit card debt                                        nil (previous month's spending paid off in full)

Really need to work hard on day to day spending - still wasting too much and struggling to maintain the increased pension payment and mortgage overpayment arrangements I have in place so might need to re-access those.

In terms of other goals:

Mortgage free within 10 years – Could still be possible based on current arrangements (plus some small lumps sums from annual bonuses etc) but struggling to maintain this now so might have to re-access (but will try to tighten the pursue strings first)

Getting healthier, fitter and losing weight – really pleased with progress here (but could be more consistent) as I have now lost 2 stone 5.5 pounds in just over 3 months and am walking about 3 miles most days and feeling so much better already

Establishing a better work/life balance – this is much better now and I am managing my time much better along with a fairer distribution of work  

Get back into horse riding – went riding last weekend and will be doing so each week now so I am very happy about this

Being less wasteful (particularly with money but across other areas of my life too) – this is probably the one I am doing least well at so really need to focus here to make sure many of the things above can still happen

Making my new house the home I want it to be – the hedge and vegetables are doing well on the whole so will be looking to start work on the back garden and inside soon although I have been doing little bits at the weekends

savingholmes

Well done re weightloss. You've achieved in 3 months what the average SW person takes a year over. Don't knock yourself.

South_coast

Excellent work getting back on the horse, so pleased for you 😀😀😀