We will get this debt down & the savings up

Makingabobor2

Just thought I'd add, I know I was going on about mortgage. That doesn't mean we've forgotten about our other debts, but we know they are all happy to accept F& F settlements on those, so just plodding on with very minimal payments on those until we can make some final settlements with them, even if spread over a few months. 

LittleMissDetermined

I think given your situation with the F&F it’s sensible to be focused on the mortgage, and those 3 and a bit years will fly by I’m sure!

It’s always good to take a step back and refocus with the payments and savings. I’ve had to do it a fair few times and it definitely happens to most on here. Seems like you’ve a good plan.

I’ve noticed the price of groceries have gone crazy lately. It doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

Makingabobor2

Yes @LittleMissDetermined, the grocery prices are just ridiculous now.  Things that used to be normal are now in my "luxury" bracket.  Just went to buy some fruit & veg and somehow managed to spend £12!!!  Yes, I bought some cherries that weren't on my list, but they were only £1.50. Think we need to cut down the portion sizes. DH won't like that....lol

LittleMissDetermined

Makingabobor2 said:

Yes @LittleMissDetermined, the grocery prices are just ridiculous now.  Things that used to be normal are now in my "luxury" bracket.  Just went to buy some fruit & veg and somehow managed to spend £12!!!  Yes, I bought some cherries that weren't on my list, but they were only £1.50. Think we need to cut down the portion sizes. DH won't like that....lol

The thing that confuses me the most is that it's always far more expensive to eat healthily, whilst the unhealthy, processed food is so much cheaper.  And don't even let me started on veg packaging in the supermarkets *rolls eyes* 

Makingabobor2

LittleMissDetermined said:

Makingabobor2 said:

Yes @LittleMissDetermined, the grocery prices are just ridiculous now.  Things that used to be normal are now in my "luxury" bracket.  Just went to buy some fruit & veg and somehow managed to spend £12!!!  Yes, I bought some cherries that weren't on my list, but they were only £1.50. Think we need to cut down the portion sizes. DH won't like that....lol

The thing that confuses me the most is that it's always far more expensive to eat healthily, whilst the unhealthy, processed food is so much cheaper.  And don't even let me started on veg packaging in the supermarkets *rolls eyes* 

I refuse to buy fruit/veg in plastic. I shop at markets or there is a veggie stall at our local garden centre and I go there. Occasionally I will get a few bits in A/di but only the stuff that has no packaging. I have some of those reusable mesh bags and take them with me.  I think "organic" should be normal and we should pay extra if we want nasty chemicals added....but oh no, its the other way round.  I would love to buy organic all the time, but just can't afford to most of the time
I refuse to buy a lot of processed junk though. DH has pie and chips about once a fortnight...used to be weekly, but I'm making him cut down.  Most of our meals are pretty wholesome apart from that....not counting the biscuits obviously....lol

LittleMissDetermined

If we bought biscuits, they wouldn’t last! 😂

We hardly have processed food, mostly I do batch cooking and fill the freezer. Makes it easy for quick meals when needed 

Makingabobor2

LittleMissDetermined said:

If we bought biscuits, they wouldn’t last! 😂

We hardly have processed food, mostly I do batch cooking and fill the freezer. Makes it easy for quick meals when needed 

Yes, I love batch cooking. While I was cooking DH's pie & chips, I made 2 shepherds pies for the freezer. Not putting the oven on just for 1 meal. I just had chips and some veggies...can't be doing with pie.  Need to do a meal plan tomorrow as the freezer is chocka block and don't think I'll need anything next week, we have so much. 

Makingabobor2

Morning followers.
 What a lovely sunny day.  Done my morning stretch routine while watching the birds out the kitchen window.....horrible pigeons trying to scare my tame blackbird away.  He didn't go very far though, he knows he gets a lot of food here.  Once the weather warms up, I will be out on the patio doing my stretches every morning.   Just about to put 1st line of washing out...towels and then a coloured wash in the machine to follow. 

 On the subject of washing towels.....Do you put your cleaning cloths in with towels or do them separately?  In the spirit of MSE, I like to put them in together.  I hope that the high temperature wash will stop any "nasties" from transferring from cloths to towels.  But then the OCD/ extra hygenic part of me, says that I should do them separately.  I tried this for a while, but didn't have enough to make up a full wash.  So then I tried keeping them in a bucket under the sink until I had enough....but then every time I opened the cupboard I could smell them....lol.   I remember the days when we were little kids, and my mum used to put all her cleaning cloths in an old galvenised bucket and boil them on top the stove.   She used to have wooden tongs and she would mix it around while it was boiling, then pour it all into the sink to rinse in cold water.  Seems like a H&S nighmare these days. Imagine the bucket getting knocked off, or trying to carry it to the sink to tip the water out and dropping it!! 

Anyway, what's new on the MSE front. Had a bit of a sort out of things and on Saturday I rang the building society to check that any overpayments I make on the mortgage, will actually reduce the term. I had read that some companies, depending on the type of mortgage you have, will only reduce the monthly payment, and not actually the term.  Lovely lady confirmed that yes any overpayments will reduce the term.  So onwards and upwards with this idea and the good thing is there is no limit to how many over payments we can make.  She did ask if we wanted to actually officially reduce the term on a permanent overpayment basis, but I said no, as at the moment it is just odd bits here and there. So we'll keep plodding on and I know that later in the year we will be able to increase the amounts, so I am aiming at knocking off at least 1 year, maybe even more...Official  MFD is June 2026, but it will definitely be well before that.  

P/fc been a bit slow still. Nothing yesterday and Saturday was 4 studies totalling a grand £1.42!!  There does seem to be some very low paying ones lately. Friday was 3 studies totalling £1.73!  I did cash out over £7 yesterday and have just over £10 waiting to be approved.  Still waiting for the £25 from On/pll to arrive in PP and all the others are still plodding along. So overall things are moving in the right direction.

Anyway, I need to get to the washing line and then off for a nice walk later, if the wind doesn't get up too much. It is quite breezy at the moment and forecast to get stronger. Hate walking in the wind. 

Have a good morning everybody. 

LittleMissDetermined

Good morning, it's already very windy here and has been since before I got up.  I don't like walking in the wind either as it makes my eyes run and then my lashes flick tears on my glasses so I can't see haha

In terms of cleaning the cloths, I usually save mine and then just set the machine to half load and add in some laundry disinfectant.  Once I've finished with each one I add a squirt of wash up liquid to it and then pour water from the boiled kettle over it in the sink.  Once dried it doesn't tend to smell and I stash them until I wash them.  My old neighbour used to peg hers on the end of the washing line until there were enough for a wash.  Our towels go through on their own. 

Hope you manage to get a walk in before the wind and enjoy the sunny day
LMD x

Makingabobor2

LittleMissDetermined said:

Good morning, it's already very windy here and has been since before I got up.  I don't like walking in the wind either as it makes my eyes run and then my lashes flick tears on my glasses so I can't see haha

In terms of cleaning the cloths, I usually save mine and then just set the machine to half load and add in some laundry disinfectant.  Once I've finished with each one I add a squirt of wash up liquid to it and then pour water from the boiled kettle over it in the sink.  Once dried it doesn't tend to smell and I stash them until I wash them.  My old neighbour used to peg hers on the end of the washing line until there were enough for a wash.  Our towels go through on their own. 

Hope you manage to get a walk in before the wind and enjoy the sunny day
LMD x

Yes, that does sound more sensible than putting them in with the towels. I must admit I don't like doing it really, even though I use s hot wash...which again I don't want to really as it costs more....  Just can't win can I? LOL    

You sound just like me with the watery eyes thing. Also it seems to make my nose run as well. I suffer a lot with allergies and post nasal drip and its just constant sometimes. DH keeps saying I should wear his motorbike helmet.....lol