So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

themadvix

Greying_Pilgrim said:

tmv - I know I'm being a complete parsnip, but what makes the stove smokeless?  Do you have to buy/burn a certain type of fuel?

Greying X

Not a parsnip at all! The design of the stove makes it smokeless - it’s double walled with holes at the bottom to draw oxygen in… don’t ask me the specifics (too much physics!), but it means there’s a double burn - the smoke particles are burnt rather than being released into the atmosphere. It’s obviously not perfect when it’s getting going or finishing up, but makes a remarkable difference during the main fire session.

Greying_Pilgrim

Ah, gotcha.  We had a wood burning stove (St0vax) that used that technology - 'burn wash' or something it was called.  So you can burn wood on it - like you would a chiminea or a firepit etc.  I wondered if you had to buy special pellets or something.  

Greying X

themadvix

Yes, you can burn wood or get a pellet adapter.... but given the price of anything new from Solo Stove, that would be reliant on finding one secondhand. Mr MV quite likes the idea of pellets as you can calculate how long it'll burn for, but for now, I think wood is fine! I found a place online (Love Logs) that sells small amounts, sustainably produced (and they plant additional trees too) delivered for a similar price to the bags in supermarkets - I'm aware this isn't the cheapest way to buy it, but we don't have room (or the need) for larger quantities and I'm much happier that it's plastic-free and sustainable (and also delivered ).

themadvix

Morning all,

I didn't return last night as I wasn't feeling too good - much better this morning though. We didn't have the planned courgette pasta as a result (just a Glamorgan sausage and chips in the end). I'm out tonight, so I'm not sure what Mr MV will have (likely plain rice or pasta with some veg - he's weird!).

Plans for the end of the year then.

September:

* Insane amounts of work

* Saturday we are going to my Sister's works open day and it's also the allotment society show, which I will pop into; also beers in the evening as the tap room is celebrating it's 5th birthday (with free beer!).

* Cat sitting from Friday for a week.

* We go away on 27th September.

* Currently no other plans, due to likelihood of needing to work some weekends. If there's time, I'd like to get to the gardens at Sandringham (which may or may not involve a Friday night in YHA Sheringham).

Therefore, September should be a relatively cheap month. I've now got an inventory of the freezer (spoiler alert - most of what's in there isn't really edible in its current form - needs jamming etc.), fridge, stores and cupboard, so planning on doing some inventive cooking. May invite parents-in-law for dinner at some point, as we've not seen them in ages. Will be buying some okra as have various spices for either okra fries (may borrow air fryer from Sis or library of things) or gumbo (will also need prawns).

We also need to send out party invitations for our birthday celebrations. I now have the stamps (thanks RM survey) for this, so just need to get invitations printed, addressed and sent.

October:

* Insane amounts of work (mostly SE, but also Cambridge reports which are basically on hold currently)

* Away first week

* Mr MV booked for a marathon on 13th.

* Friends' wedding on 19th - staying overnight, already booked and paid for. Need card, present, Mr MV needs a suit (probably hired).

* 23rd - concert in London, staying overnight (cheap TL as it is at the O2 and the journey home takes all the pleasure out of the night out. Will probably take laptop.

November:

* Lots of work - continuing project from main client, although at a slightly less-involved stage; plus a delayed project from former-UK client (we're both rather glad that's been postponed). Plus Cambridge reports.

* Mr MV's birthday at the end of the month. I have some thoughts, but no firm plans yet (EH, I intend to drop you a message re this)

December:

* Work continues... hopefully a bit quieter?

* Cologne Christmas markets 5-7th

* Cat sitting 14th-21st

* Christmas 😬

Finance-wise, all travel accommodation is paid for and the train to Germany. Funds in holiday pot for some holiday spending, but not as yet enough, although Mr MV will have a substantial contribution to make as of September's payday. This should cover both trips abroad (including the horrific toll fees in France - 200-odd euros). Party room hire is paid, but funds still short for buffet and welcome drink. Other things on our 40 before 40 list will cost - e.g. a skiing/snowboarding lesson (intro) and dinner at the Supper Club (on old Tube train). Actually, most of the rest of the list is low/no cost, so that's good.

So short-term pots to focus on are:

* Mr MV's birthday - I have some in this, but want to treat him as it's a big one

* Party fund

* Snow/ski lesson

* Car insurance (this isn't saved monthly as yet - it's my random contribution to it at the moment)

* Disneyland Paris - Sis and I discussed this further at the weekend and we're going to need to start booking from next month (potentially).

Hopefully the insane amounts of work will help with funding all of the above! I'm quite looking forward to next year where we won't have a party, big birthdays or extraneous (fun) activities to budget for!

Mr MV is going to pay the remainder of the mortgage cc (0%) off in October - he has all the money sitting there. Then we'll just have the final year of the solar to pay for (0%) and have no outstanding liabilities, which will be lovely.

Back soon with today's post.

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Am busy with work for main client (surprise, surprise). We are mastering a new system that has been dumped on us with little notice, which is not ideal given how busy we are currently. However, we're getting there. Aside from work, I need to buy the 40th card mentioned yesterday - planned to get it this morning after cat sitting, but the card shop wasn't open until 10 (thanks Apple maps!). May pop down before it closes - will see how I'm getting on with work. Alternatively I'll do it around my meetings tomorrow.

Out for dinner this evening with one evening class friend (the other has had Covid for over a week - we were meant to go last Tuesday). Should be a nice evening and will be fairly low cost.

MS things:

* No R'ford delivery this week - in the interests of using up what we've got and utilising the courgettes to their fullest! I live in hope we'll have some sprouting broccoli soon too - lots of lovely leaves, but no signs of sprouting yet.

* Courgettes are drying nicely in my dehydrator (although it always takes substantially longer than the instructions suggest).

* Clicks and HW

* Maine coon cat sitting finished; just a couple of days off before the next lot starts!

* Back on RM survey main panel and did first posting today - have stamps again at last!

Movement (need to start tracking this again):

* 17 mins yoga

* Cycled to and from cats this morning (via town for the closed card shop too)

Gratitudes:

* Lovely time with my cat sitting charges

* Looking forward to evening out with friend

* Feeling better than yesterday!

Have a lovely afternoon all!

Jessy103

Busy few months there, vix! Some exciting things coming up too x

themadvix

Morning all,

Busy indeed Jess and with the potential to be expensive!

Had a supermarket delivery this morning as suddenly realised we're nearly out of oil. Fortunately it was on offer (making the organic cheaper than non-organic??) so have stocked up on that, plus various bits that were also on offer (possibly because of Organic September, but not sure - and sadly the days of getting 6 months of organic weetabix while they were on offer have long gone). Very little of what I bought was stuff that needs using in a hurry (yoghurt and bananas being the exceptions), so focus will still be on reducing the rest of the stuff in stock. I need milk, because of no R'ford delivery, but will get this over the road as I've got a £1 off my shop voucher plus a 50p off milk voucher for the Coop.

Am still ploughing through work (and main client has just sent me the next two bits to get on with when I'm finished with this troublesome bit). Absolutely grey and miserable here, although not raining as yet. Have a cat sitting key to collect later and will pop to the allotment afterwards for more courgettes (unless it's raining).

Unfortunately I think we need to replace our microwave (is this the new trend, given Cheery is replacing hers?!). Went to wipe underneath the plate this morning and what looked like dried on food is actually bubbled up metal underneath the paintwork. Not keen on that at all. I would like to replace with the same again (it's done 12 years of near daily use) which looks to be about £90. Will see if we can use S&S vouchers and/or Mr MV's work discount scheme.

MS things:

* Coop voucher use for milk

* Clicks and HW

* 1P surveys cleared (£16.77 - will I get to payout by Christmas? Needs more focus!)

* TV survey/RM survey/S&S submitted (and scanned)

Movement:

Did well yesterday with 4 activities recorded on Garmin - yoga, two cycles and a decent walk (into and around town for the latter three). Have yoga'd this morning too. Missed the challenges when F'bit took them away - loving that they're back now!

Gratitudes:

* Lovely sunshine to cycle in yesterday

* A game after dinner

* Walked a different route yesterday and saw something new

Have a lovely day all!

Cat43210

Hi, 

I'd just like to ask.... 

If my partner and I gather up all our savings accounts and spare cash, we should just about be able to pay off our outstanding mortgage next year (mid 2025). It's been a longstanding goal and we'd love to be mortgage free. We have no other debts. 

However I'm a worrier and am very cautious with my money. I like having easily accessible emergency money, and we won't have that safety net for several months after paying off the mortgage.

Is it wise to put all of our eggs in one basket like this? Or would we still benefit if we just paid off most of our mortgage and reduced the term? Or pay most off and reduce our monthly payments?

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

Baileys_Babe

Cat43210 said:

Hi, 

I'd just like to ask.... 

If my partner and I gather up all our savings accounts and spare cash, we should just about be able to pay off our outstanding mortgage next year (mid 2025). It's been a longstanding goal and we'd love to be mortgage free. We have no other debts. 

However I'm a worrier and am very cautious with my money. I like having easily accessible emergency money, and we won't have that safety net for several months after paying off the mortgage.

Is it wise to put all of our eggs in one basket like this? Or would we still benefit if we just paid off most of our mortgage and reduced the term? Or pay most off and reduce our monthly payments?

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

To get the best answers to your question you are best to start your own thread. To do this press on the plus symbol in the red circle.

themadvix

Baileys_Babe said:

Cat43210 said:

Hi, 

I'd just like to ask.... 

If my partner and I gather up all our savings accounts and spare cash, we should just about be able to pay off our outstanding mortgage next year (mid 2025). It's been a longstanding goal and we'd love to be mortgage free. We have no other debts. 

However I'm a worrier and am very cautious with my money. I like having easily accessible emergency money, and we won't have that safety net for several months after paying off the mortgage.

Is it wise to put all of our eggs in one basket like this? Or would we still benefit if we just paid off most of our mortgage and reduced the term? Or pay most off and reduce our monthly payments?

Thanks in advance for any advice. 

To get the best answers to your question you are best to start your own thread. To do this press on the plus symbol in the red circle.

I agree with Baileys Babe - I'm definitely not an expert and you'll get far more advice on your own thread (possibly in the mortgages board rather than just the MFW board). 

That said, I wouldn't use all your savings to pay it off - you need to keep an emergency fund. Paying off the mortgage is a marathon not a sprint and if you're that close to the end, a few extra months isn't going to make much difference. I'd pay off as much as you can without leaving yourselves without an emergency fund (assuming you are paying into a pension sensibly already) - you'll save on the interest on this money and reduce the term - and then it'll only be a few months until your home is entirely your own.