So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

northwalesd

Not that much I can add to what everyone else has said. Many, many congratulations on becoming MF, as ours was only a few months ago I can imagine how you're feeling.

Baileys_Babe

Huge congratulations it is a wonderful feeling when you no longer have a mortgage. 🎉🎉 We were mortgage free for about 5 years when we first moved here it gave us such freedom.

maggiem

Many congratulations on being mortgage free. It was a huge relief when we got there but really it was only in the last few years we thought of overpaying. Enjoy the feeling of freedom.

try_harder

Wow ,wow wow !! That is a brilliant result but it was always on the cards ,you have been brilliant throughout ,always consistent and always had your eyes on the prize ,so motivating for others

themadvix

Thank you everyone! It really means so much to have your congratulations as you've shared the trials and tribulations far more than people in real life (except my Mum probably). And I know we will be somewhat selective in who we tell too - it has already felt awkward when I've mentioned it to a couple people (and they were family!).

So today we took the mini to a local, low-key car event, which was nice and then popped into the nearby market town - it ended up being a bit of a spendy day as I took £20 out for food at the event, of which I spent £7 (on a very small veggie sausage and meat burger). We'll keep the cash now for our upcoming camping holiday as I expect we'll need some. Then in the market town we bought (expensive, because they were the only acceptable ones) Fathers' Day cards and a second lunch (£25!).

We've wandered to the allotment this evening and I harvested some overwintered onions and strawberries and watered. It won't be long until courgettes are coming out of our ears (and no doubt there'll be marrows while we're away!) Apart from that we've been chilling and doing holiday planning. Dinner was leftover daal and garlic flatbreads, followed by rhubarb crumble and custard (so very seasonal! 🥵).

Tomorrow we're popping to Wickes, visiting the in-laws in the morning, popping to a camping shop/possibly a fish shop (for pond plant baskets) and then having lunch at my Sister's with Dad and his fiancee. (Did I mention they've set a date - wedding is at the end of November! Weird... but looking forward to it, I think!)

MS things:
* Clicks, HW and comps entered
* Caught up on comps board
* Surveys (I'm about to do these)

Gratitudes:
* Car event was nice, even if food was rather disappointing (it was the Scouts, so not exactly going to complain, but we were still very hungry after eating!)
* Lovely 2nd lunch! 😂
* A bit cooler today - much more lovely!

Have a good evening all!

themadvix

Morning all,

Had a lovely, low-spend day yesterday (£5 on some Magnums as dessert at Sister's and £2 on cat nip, as we're all out - this is a necessity!). Saw MIL who is going to work her magic on the dress I bought on Vinted which currently does not fit. I think she's going to improve it on what it should have been actually! FIL was out, but we left present/card for him and then popped to a camping shop (didn't buy anything, but we wanted to check their tables) and adjacent garden centre (cat nip purchased, but not what we went in for!). Sister's for lunch with Dad and fiancee. Was good to hear about wedding plans and much discussion was had of cruises (they're off on one in Alaska in September and Sis is considering taking Niece on one). Called in at Mum's to pick up roof rack for the Mini on way home, so was nice to see her too. Roof rack fits the Mini perfectly . Watched Grand Prix while comping.

I'm off to the dentist shortly, but in good news, the pain I was having has gone, so hoping it was something caught in a gum and aggravating it, rather than something that needs work (NHS, but even so, a cheap check-up would be nice!). Have three more pieces of work from main client, but have made a really good start on the first one already this morning. They're a nice change from what I've been doing for him recently.

I will probably come back via Costco as I need to do some chicken for the cats so they have some while we're away. I could do with getting down to the allotment at some point soon as I need to plant the second lot of sweetcorn and bean seedlings before we go away (sooner rather than later so they can get acclimatised while I can keep an eye on them). And I need to print packing lists for camping and cruise so I can start getting my head around what I need to pack.

MS things:
* A couple of good PA surveys
* 1P surveys (including the classic question- are you renting/living at home/homeowner - paying off mortgage/homeowner - own outright)!
* Last week we spent about 80p on grid-supplied electricity (exc. SC of course)!

Gratitudes:
* Lovely time with family yesterday
* It's slightly cooler after some rain yesterday
* Feeling calmer now as to-do list feels shorter/work is less piled up

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Morning all,

Well dentist went well yesterday and so just a check-up fee to pay (budgeted for). However, the heat and lack of sleep got to me and the rest of the day ended up being very unproductive work-wise. Mr MV had a similarly unproductive day (we both seemed to get out on the wrong side of bed yesterday, but fortunately weren't grumpy with each other, just the rest of the world!). We did do a bit of gardening in our front garden, which is experiencing a slow transformation. Dinner was as planned - quorn fillets, tenderstem broccoli and mash and we finished the last of the weekend's crumble. 

Woke up to rain here this morning, which is very welcome for the garden, allotment, ponds and water butt. It's stopped now and due to brighten up this afternoon which is also good as my jeans were on the line (and nicely dry - I just didn't have the energy get them in yesterday). I slept much better last night, so hopefully my energy will last a bit better today (especially as we're doing evening class in person - last night I was falling asleep at 9pm, today I'll need to be driving!). Have finished a piece for my main client and done another little bit for UK client. Have 'popped in' and checked on Cambridge too (basically I'm the inbox monitor for them).

This afternoon, I'd like to get another bit of work back to main client and get down to the allotment - there's plants to go in and strawberries/currants that need picking. I need to get on top of things there ready for when we're away. I have printed out my 'packing lists' for both holidays and started to work out what applies to which. I need to buy a couple of bits for the cruise still, but there's also still time for that. I've also sorted Mr MV's anniversary card (and I know what I'm doing for a present).

MS things:
* Clicks, comps and HW done
* 1P surveys
* PA survey
* We've closed our Santa joint a/c as we'd no longer receive enough cashback to cover the account fee (and we only had it for the mortgage anyway!)

Gratitudes:
* Better sleep
* Rain!
* Lots of birds in our front garden

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Morning all,

Well it's been an interesting morning so far. The energy efficiency survey man rang (as I was emptying the Dyson over the outside bin, of course! 🥵) to say he'd be with me at 9am and could I put the heating on please.... Had to put the thermostat up to 27 to get it to kick in of course. This is for a £30 focus group fee, where I'll also get a report on the thermal efficiency of the house (worth £125), so it seemed like a win-win. Man turned up, all going well (melting, especially after running round hoovering and giving bathrooms a quick once-over), then Dad arrives. I had forgotten about survey man when I told him it was fine to come round but I had at least remembered to tell him that I had a work meeting at 11.30. Survey man and Dad (and heating 🥵) overlap for about 15 minutes and then Dad and I have a cuppa and a catch up (complete with escaped cat in front garden as he'd gone out through the kitchen window!). Meeting done too, but barely any of my work done. At least the house is clean and tidy!

So, for the rest of the day, I need to get the last piece of work done for my main client. Not sure whether he'll send more, but I've only got Friday and Monday to get it done as I'm out tomorrow (and Monday I need to do invoicing). I've also got a small job for US client (new project, so that's hopeful) and Olio tonight. If I get done sooner rather than later with work (although I've got another meeting at 2pm), I will either pop down to the allotment and pick some more currants or get the camping stuff out and start packing/planning... We've bought a roof rack for the Mini, but we're still going to have to be economical, I think!

I did manage to get to allotment yesterday and planted french beans, picked strawbs and some red currants (a big job, it's going to be done in stages) and pulled a couple more onions. Evening class, in person, was lovely last night, as was the drive home is daylight (just) and the fox who ran across a safe distance in front of me.

Dad brought round his camping stove, so I think we've now borrowed all the bits we need for our holiday. There seems little point in us buying some of it when it's just languishing in other people's garages/sheds, and I hope they know the reverse is true too (although I suspect the mindset is more 'just go and buy it' 🙄)

MS things:
* Clicks, comps and HW - 40p on HW today
* Lunch will be a bulgur wheat and chickpea salad - I made this the other day (mostly made up tbh) and it was lovely, so I've made it again. There'll be more than enough to take some for my packed lunch tomorrow (tea and cake will definitely be eaten as ex-Brownies friends and I are off to an NT place, but at least we're saving the cost of lunch as well).
* HG fruit (currants are for the freezer for now, but strawbs will be enjoyed tonight)
* Used Lakeland voucher for free postage on order and went through TCB - I've ordered (with my birthday money) a small ice cream maker. All the bought stuff has a lot of carp in it (ultraprocessed), so this is the healthier (?) option!

Gratitudes:
* Lovely evening class last night - so nice to see people in person (would really like to get back to this more often - the teacher is willing too)
* Mr Fox scurrying across in front of me
* Nice to see Dad this morning
* Clean and tidy house! 😂

Have a good afternoon all!

Karmacat

That's a lot of juggling! Well done you for coping with it, sounds like you barely turned a hair  

themadvix

Thanks KC... it was just a bit mad... and there's Dad standing asking 'what's going on?' and I didn't want to explain in front of the guy as I'm not sure if he was aware I wasn't paying for the survey etc.