Pay off mortgage and start having even more fun 😁

Mrs_Money_Penny

Good luck with your plan Newgirly. I thought I was hard done by sorting out 4 stockings still. It will be a challenge with the food budget. I am always shocked these days at the prices. I always go to *ldi or * idl but I really don’t know how people do all their shopping in the main supermarket. I’m trying to use up my freezer contents. Only spent £20 last week but this week have quite a list. Meal planning makes a big difference. It’s always hard when you don’t know how many your feeding until the last minute. Good luck will be cheering you on xx

newgirly

Thank MMP, I’ve been basically Lidl for a while now, but after a trip to sainsburys the other day I felt inspired to buy different things we don’t usually have 😂 they did have a good section in the fridge isle of all the value stuff together which I find difficult to locate in Tesco for example, and they do the only Parmesan type hard cheese that’s veggie and cheap. However I do need to have a word with myself as I’ll be blowing the budget in the first week if I keep going there! I don’t even know what I really spend some months so perhaps time to track properly again, you did well only spending £20 last week. 

daisy_1571

Love the list.  Very organised.   Print it out and put it in your purse, on your front door etc etc. 

If the getting out the house is important for you all,  maybe on nice days you could take flasks and enjoy your walk plus a seat outside looking at the trees as they turn gorgeous colours? 

Re boxing day:  everyone will have likely over eaten the day before so probably don't genuinely need another heavy, multi course event on boxing day.  Be up front now that it will be a buffet, or something from the slow cooker then jelly and ice cream or etc etc.  (I remember xmas at chez ng with over £100 spent on cheese etc but I know that doesn't happen these days lol.)  People come to enjoy your home and company,  not just for the food?  If you do want to put on a lavish spread then I would suggest you can't split food money equally between the 3 months as there's bound to be extra fresh stuff you'll need close to the date so budget that in now to keep you on track.

I'm sure you will sort the clothes for your trips.   You've been on so many cruises you know what you like and must have plenty clothes that will be perfect.   I think this might be a danger area for you therefore can only suggest stay away from the shops as thats when you seem to have a wander then the diary entry shows all these spontaneous purchases of things you 'need'😉 

Keep that june 25 date in mind.  Its really getting close now so that makes it easier to focus.  If you're looking 10 years away its easy to get discouraged and think what does it matter but when its really close it gets easier to resist things knowing its only for a short time.  Keep in mind: last Xmas where I host boxing day with a mortgage,  only 3 more cruises (I think???) where I have to plan so frugally as I still have a mortgage, next year it will be the last Xmas where I host frugal Xmas day with a mortgage...... you get the idea

Good luck with your 3 month challenge, you always do so well with them.  Just think, next year will be the last time you have to do one   

Daisy xxx

South_coast

daisy_1571 said:

Keep in mind: last Xmas where I host boxing day with a mortgage,  only 3 more cruises (I think???) where I have to plan so frugally as I still have a mortgage, next year it will be the last Xmas where I host frugal Xmas day with a mortgage...... you get the idea

Good luck with your 3 month challenge, you always do so well with them.  Just think, next year will be the last time you have to do one   

Ooh, love this 😀 

themadvix

Lots of great advice there from Daisy!

newgirly

Hi Daisy, great post thank you 😊

Boxing day food has already been declared by ds2 this year and it fits perfectly with your suggestion, We are eating whatever we fancy that’s easy or maybe having pizza, no formal sit down and dinner and the tv on, if people don’t mind they are welcome 😆 obviously I will still need to actually plan something though as we don’t have a vast amount of spare food ever! 

With the clothes you are very right! It’s only the dawning realisation of how cold it gets there that’s given me a little shock now it’s got closer, I spent the day trying on and sorting through and have almost everything we need now, just snow boots for dh left and another fleece top and trousers for me which I’ve taken a chance and ordered a pair on vinted for £4, fingers crossed as ski trousers are expensive and Aldi don’t sell them until after we have gone 😩 The best thing I could do to help my wardrobe is lose the half a stone I put on last year….

I love that idea of thinking of things as the last before being mortgage free, although it still feels like it might not happen in my head with the way dhs work is, we are still waiting for them to sign the rent contract 😱 first higher payment due in a few days time, dh has said he will give it this month and next for them to pay what they promised/sign and them he’s giving them notice as he’s had enough of how he’s been treated, hopefully they will do as promised and we can pay off this never ending mortgage. 

LadyWithAPlan

I do like Daisy’s think of last time .. I am finally trying to do last push for deposit to finally buy as I have had an expensive summer .. I keep buying things! But thinking last Xmas with a rent payment or what I choose this month to spend on drinks or coffees  (london prices) could be less money I have to borrow at 5% ..
it’s a good reframe  

newgirly

That’s a that’s a scary thought, everything you buy being 5% 😱

Bad news, the rent on the factory has been paid at the lower amount and they still haven’t signed the new contract, they are shutting the central London shop and moving it to west London and apparently keeping more stock at ours in East London so it looks like we are probably staying. Dh is not happy, maybe it’s an oversight but if the are messing him around I think he will give them another month to sort it out and if they do the same next month he will give notice. I think they will pay, but it seems dh has reached the end of a very long tether now….

Time to update the monthly figures, this month will be virtually zero 😩 I’ll go through everything now I think as I’m taking a friend to the doctor who’s back is gone again and she can’t move much, then maybe I’ll get stuff ready to start painting the spare room finally. I’ve got bake off night tonight with dd and hubby coming, we are having a roast dinner without the roast and pie (on offer) instead, but I’ve got a tray of dads homemade stuffing coming, good times! 

newgirly

💙💙💙💙💙💙MONTH 12 OF THE 33 MONTH CHALLENGE💙💙💙💙💙💙

Start balance 1st Oct 2022: £61,452.11

Balance at 5th Oct 2023: £43,104.04

Total reduction since month one £18,348.07

Total reduction for Sept: £ 272.02 😩

A painful month for op’s! These are the reasons for it: 
      

•  Trip to York for dh’s birthday (he paid most but I topped up and got petrol).   

• Deposit for two cruises- one for my 50th in 2025 and one in April next year 

•  Snow boots and thermals for Norway trip next month     

•  Caravan newspaper trip booked for next May in Northumberland 

•  I realised ds2 won’t be paying rent in about three months so have adjusted figures to allow for that, this is the main reason. 

Next month will be another rough one as I intend to pay for the balance on the April cruise as it’s due December so I’ll put it by (£1176) 

So the end of year three month push is still going ahead 😬

• October £560 overpayment / £1176 cruise balance 
• November £1738 op 
• December £1738 op 

Save as much as possible over these months for Norway spending money, current pot is £142.27, I’m also on a lower £450 pm food & petrol budget, juts did a shop last night for some from bits from Iceland, I was shocked at how much dearer stuff  is since last time as I don’t often shop there!  

If we do need more money for food or gas /electric this winter then I will reduce overpayments, I’m hoping with effort I won’t need to though.

I’ve managed to do most of what I planned this month, booking holidays so we can budget, getting the spare room decorated (done) and furniture and pictures sorted (almost done) , I did get through the many birthdays and graduation this month, but I never got round to getting the knitting out as planned as it was either too hot or I was too busy 🙂

daisy_1571

Ooooh, ng you have more willpower than me lol, I'd have that £142 over to mortgage just to get down to the 42s lol.  I'm keeping fingers xd your plans all come together and you even get a bit slack.   It will be amazing once its gone and suddenly all that mental space is freed up to think about other things.  Just think,  no more scrabbling about for money, no more discussions with hubby about what to do this scenario that scenario etc etc. 

Good luck till December 👍 

Daisy xx