My Mortgage Free Mountain - A 7 year expedition to climb to the top

craftingmad

It's my favourite day of the month - Etsy payday so I've managed to add a nice amount into the OP savings pot today

Operation Mortgage Free actions today include:-

1. Etsy payday so £472 added to the OP savings pot
2. Played on Mistplay - creeping slowly towards a £5 Amazon voucher
3. No heating on until 4pm (my blanket was worn with pride)
4. NSD so £5 will be added to the OP pot
5. Meal planned for week and have tried to use what we have for most meals (although have budgeted for a cheeky takeaway for Saturday) 
6. Completed and posted off 6 orders for my business
7. Checked Free postcode lottery (sadly not a winner)
8. Entered a free competition to win a 4 night stay at a luxury holiday village near where I live
9. Completed Nectar survey for 40 points (balance is now £5.92 so adding up quickly)
10. Turned out all lights left on by Hubby and son
11. Completed GFK media survey and used points balance to enter prize draws 

craftingmad

Whoops I've been a little bit lax of late. 
We found out that my husbands work has lost a big contract and therefore will be closing at the end of the year. He will under the agreement reached be able to transfer over to the company who has won the contract but obviously after a certain time a job is not guaranteed and they can get rid of him or change his contract (i.e less money etc) so it sort of knocked us for six for a bit.
However now we are coming to terms with it we are ploughing on (its actually given us a new vigour to get these mortgages payed off) and the mountain trek is back on track!!!

Today I have:-

1. Had a NSD so transferred £5 into the OP savings pot
2. Played on Mistplay and just gained enough to cash out a £5 Amazon voucher (will do this tomorrow)
3. No heating on until 5pm 
4. Meal planned for week and only need a minimal shop so should be under budget for this week
5. Completed 4 orders for my business and got those posted off
6. Contacted Amazon and told them that I would not pay to return an incorrect item as it is the seller's fault and they are arranging for a refund
7. Checked free postcode lottery - not a winner
 

craftingmad

Yay - I'm super proud of myself. I have managed to ignore two emails telling me about craft supplies sales - one was even offering some items at only £1 each (which really is a bargain trust me) but I sat in my craft room and looked at all the untouched supplies I already have and quickly deleted them.
The old me would have probably spent around £200 buying more things to add to my collections  

I'm hoping I can build on this success today by:-

1. Having a NSD so I can transfer another £5 into the OP savings pot Done and transferred
2. Contact Santander and ask why I have received less interest this month than I did last month even though there is more money in the account
3. Contact First Active and ask why our mortgage went up by around £20 each moth this year despite us being on a repayment mortgage Done they say it is because of when interest applied but I said it is not - they are looking into it and in the meantime I have added a £15 per month overpayment to help knock it down further
4. Play on Mistplay and cash out £5 voucher earned - Done although could not cash out as I am now 100 points short (gutted as yesterday the voucher was 100 points less)
5. Go food shopping and stick to list - Done and my budget was £35, I spent £33.33 so under budget and I also picked up a few extra bits which were on offer which will be for dinners next week. Also used Lidl app and I have just earned enough for a bakery item when I visit next week - happy days  
6. Scan shopping bought to gain points on Shop and Scan (ready to upload and gain points on Sat) - Done all scanned ready to upload on Sat
7. Complete a Nectar survey or two - Done two surveys completed - 100 Nectar points earned in total today
8. Make and post off 3 orders for my business - Done 4 orders actually made and posted off
9. Contact Royal Mail and make enquiries as to where a parcel which says delivered actually is (and hopefully be able to claim money back for said missing parcel) - annoyingly Royal Mail have said it shows as delivered and there is nothing they can do - I've diarised to put a claim in after the 10 days from posting is up but not holding my breath  
10. Check free postcode lottery in the hope I might have won. Done but sadly not a winner - I am getting a few pence closer each time to unlocking another chance to win though
11. No heating on until at least 5pm tonight - hoping for later but hubby got cold last night!! - Reached 5pm and heating still not on - it feels very mild today - fingers crossed it might not need to go on all day  
12. List two things on FB marketplace
13. Find two things to unplug to save electric - Done microwave and toasted no turned off and unplugged
14. Transfer £25 into OP savings pot to celebrate no craft spending today (my little reward for not sale shopping!) - Done and transferred
15. Earn some points on swagbucks - Done managed 53 swagbucks and reached my first target and have started filling up my lingo board and got a line but holding out for a higher prize

That's quite a long list so I better get my b** into gear and get started!!!!
  

craftingmad

Morning Mortgage free wannabes

the list thing worked well for my yesterday and helped to keep me motivated so I think this is the way I might do it from now  
Sadly I've got no orders to work on for my business so today is going to spent trying to change that and doing lots of little things which will hopefully help us to see those balances come down

Today I WILL:-

1. Have a NSD so I can transfer another £5 into the OP savings pot - transferred £5 in OP savings account
   
2. Contact First Active and add an overpayment to the account of £100 per month - DONE OP will be taken from 1st April
3. Play on Mistplay - so close to a £5 voucher (as long as they do not change the goal posts again!!) - DONE edging even closer to claiming that voucher
4. Contact Shop and Scan as had an email saying I am not doing it right (but I'm certain I am as machine is beeping when I scan!) - Done email sent so will see what their reply is - I don't want to lose this money making opportunity as it rewards well for not much work
5. Cash in £10 Amazon voucher from Shop and Scan - DONE £10 now sitting in my Amazon account so £10 transferred into OP savings account
6. Complete a Nectar survey or two - DONE one completed for 60 points and attempted two more 3 points gained
7. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders - DONE - fingers crossed I see some results
8. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders - DONE my fingers are even tighter crossed for some orders very soon  
9. Chase up all previous enquiries for my business and see if I can get some orders - Done - one person got back to me already so looks promising
10. Check free postcode lottery in the hope I might have won. DONE - nota  winner but I live in hope I will be one day
11. No heating on until at least 5pm tonight although I feel cold now so may not be as good as yesterday - DONE no heating on at all so far today and I'm wearing my blanket jumper thing so I'm toasty warm
12. List three things on FB marketplace
13. Find something to unplug to save electric - Done TV in our bedroom unplugged (especially as we hardly ever use it!)
14. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target again) DONE - 55 swagbucks earnt and daily target met for 2nd day in a row
15. Investigate BT packages and see if we can drop down a level to save money each month - DONE changed from all inclusive calls package to 700 minutes included and saving £9 a month. I've set up a direct debit to pay this sum into the OP savings pot each month
16. Enter shop and scan competition
17. Read Martin's latest newsletter and see if I can action anything in there to help me save money - Done - lots of things to action and I have changed the fridge and freezer settings up/down a degree so should help save some pennies over the year
18. Go through the Boost your income thread and find an additional way I could earn some extra pennies - DOONE list made of things I can action to earn more pennies which will turn into pounds. Watch out for tomorrows list 
19. Return broken punch bought from Amazon for a refund - Arranged collection for free today so saving me petrol costs too as don't need to go to post office  
20. Open High interest savings account or ISA

~FlowerPot~

nice list craftingmad, your are going to be busy!

could you pm me a link to your etsy page. i would like to take a look. I have been mulling over setting up a page, i did have a little sideline years ago selling soap, but something different this time!

craftingmad

Thanks Flowerpot. I've sent you a PM x

Here's today's list:-

1. Have a NSD so I can transfer another £5 into the OP savings pot - money transferred in anticipation
2. Apply for booking clerk job at my local village hall (pays £100 a month so this could go straight to OP) - Started application bbut a bit rusty so dedicating more time to it tomorrow
3. Play on Mistplay - so close to a £5 voucher (as long as they do not change the goal posts again!!) - DONE edging closer to a payout
4. Complete a Nectar survey or two - DONE one completed for 20 Nectar points but completed two others but came back as timed out even though 100% completed so not wasting any more time on them today  
5. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders - DONE fingers crossed somebody will love what they see and place an order - I have never been this quiet in my business before and I'm starting to worry a bit now  
6. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders - commented on three so far and will keep commenting when I see them YAY - got an £11 order from one of my comments - every little counts right
7. List 3 items in FB marketplace - must do this today!!! - Yey finally got this done - 3 things listed for a total of £30 - fingers crossed they sell
8. Check free postcode lottery in the hope I might have won
9. No heating on until at least 5pm - DONE - no heating until 7pm  
10. Find something to unplug to save electric - DONE - outside electric cable unplugged  
11. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target again) 
12. Enter shop and scan competition
13. Complete and post off order received yesterday - DONE and also made and posted off order gained today from commenting on a post  
14. Open High interest savings account or ISA
15. Contact SKY and try and haggle price - DONE it may have took nearly an hour and a half but I have walked away with exactly the same package for £33 per month (we were paying £70! so a saving of £37 per month). 've changed the SO to the savings account to add this amount every month from April  
16. Join two new survey sites
17. Play on Playspot to earn more points (3/4 of way to £20 voucher) - Done - 10 points earnt - not much but I suppose every point counts
18. Cash out Airtime Rewards - DONE £10 taken off my mobile bill so added £10 to OP savings pot

That should keep me busy but if I think of anything else I shall add them to my list  

craftingmad

Morning Mortgage Free wannabes. 
The sun is shining here today so I'm feeling motivated to keep doing those little things which really seem to be helping to make a difference.
Today's To Do list is:-

1. Have a NSD so I can transfer another £5 into the OP savings pot - DONE £5 transferred into OP savings pot
2. Finish applying for booking clerk job at my local village hall
3. Play on Mistplay - so close to a £5 voucher (as long as they do not change the goal posts again!!) - DONE edging closer to a payout 
4. Empty email inbox as run out of storage and really do not want to have to pay monthly for more (bought myself some time with a free trial for 30 days but need to do this!)
5. Complete a Nectar survey or two
6. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders 
7. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders like I did yresterday 
8. List an item on FB marketplace 
9. Check free postcode lottery in the hope I might have won and check yesterday's first thing as missed it - Checked yesterdays and not a winner
10. No heating on all day - DONE
11. Find a small way to save electric - DONE Unplugged mobile phone as soon as charged  
12. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target again) 
13. Enter 3 competitions
14. Make and post off order received late last night - DONE
15. Open High interest savings account or ISA 
16. Join two new survey sites
17. Play on Playspot to earn more points (3/4 of way to £20 voucher) - DONE 3 points earned
18. Set up new mobile as current one getting really bad and this should help me be able to earn quicker by having more apps etc
19. Make a list of things to stock up on in Asda before Blue Light Discount ends at end of month - DONE
20. Check credit file using £1.50 free offer on Quidco

  

craftingmad

Well unfortunately I didn't achieve much yesterday because of a dodgy internet connection. I'm still struggling today but hoping it will be fixed by Wednesday next week. After spending what felt like all day on the phone yesterday, BT (who are my landline company not internet) offered me a £15 on my bill so I will add this amount to the overpayment pot today  

No NSD for me today as taking son into town and popping in on our local jumble sale in the hope to pick up some bargains but hopefully I will still make a little progress towards our big goal

Today I HOPE to:-

1. Pay in £15 from BT credit and £27 from refund for faulty item which I decided I do not need to replace into savings pot - DONE  
2. Finish applying for booking clerk job at my local village hall
3. Play on Mistplay - so close to a £5 voucher (as long as they do not change the goal posts again!!) - DONE edging closer to a payout 
4. Empty email inbox as run out of storage and really do not want to have to pay monthly for more (bought myself some time with a free trial for 30 days but need to do this!)
5. Complete a Nectar survey or two
6. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders 
7. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders like I did yresterday 
8. List an item on FB marketplace 
9. Check free postcode lottery in the hope I might have won and check yesterday's first thing as missed it 
10. No heating on all day - DONE
11. Find a small way to save electric - DONE hardly any gadget use due to lack of internet
12. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target again) 
13. Enter 3 competitions
14. Open High interest savings account or ISA 
15. Join two new survey sites
16. Play on Playspot to earn more points (3/4 of way to £20 voucher) - DONE 10 points earned 
17. Set up new mobile as current one getting really bad and this should help me be able to earn quicker by having more apps 
18. Check credit file using £1.50 free offer on Quidco
19. Have a nose around local jumble sale and see if I can pick up any bargains - DONE picked up a brand new with tags tshirt for son for £1 and a cook book for daughter for 50p
20. Submit scans and receipts to shop and scan for the week - DONE
21. Scan any shopping bought today for Shop and Scan - DONE
22. Go through a small shelf in my craft room and choose some things to destash - DONE small pile to add to other craft supplies ready to list when I get a bit more
23. Tidy some more of the spare room and find some items to sell - DONE - found a thomas train set to sell and built a track to take photos

 

craftingmad

I'm feeling pretty tired today as hubby and I went to London yesterday to see Michael Buble. Not very moneysaving but it was a lovely day and we really enjoyed it. Going to spend most of the day sleeping I think as we cancelled the hotel we were going to stay in (got a full refund) as had to get son up for school this morning (he's 16 and not great at getting up!!) so did not get in until around 3am and then up again at 6.30am. Approach me with caution today  

Our internet is still dodgy but an engineer is scheduled for Wednesday so hopefully it will all be sorted out soon

Today I HOPE to:-

1. Finish applying for booking clerk job at my local village hall
2. Wait in for lady collecting something from FB marketplace (£10 sale) and keep fingers tightly crossed she turns up - DONE £10 and money paid into OP savings pot
3. Renew library books to avoid overdue fines - DONE
4. Play on Mistplay - so close to a £5 voucher (as long as they do not change the goal posts again!!) - DONE - still not quite there but getting closer
   
5. Empty email inbox as run out of storage and really do not want to have to pay monthly for more (bought myself some time with a free trial for 30 days but need to do this!) - 300 emails deleted but lots more to go!
6. Complete a Nectar survey or two - tried 2 and completed both but says inellegible on final screen so given up for today - I'm too tired!
7. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders 
8. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders like I did yesterday 
9. List an item on FB marketplace 
10. Check free postcode lottery in the hope I might have won and check yesterday's first thing as missed it - DONE not a winner
11. Minimal heating on (had to turn it on briefly this morning as school uniform not quite dry and it was freezing)  - DONE turned on again for an hour this evening as really cold but other than that I just wore my blanket jumper  
12. Find a small way to save electric - DONE - printer turned off when not in use  
13. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target again) 
14. Enter 3 competitions - DONE actually entered 7 competitions to win various different craft supplies so fingers crossed  
15. Open High interest savings account or ISA 
16. Join two new survey sites
17. Play on Playspot to earn more points (3/4 of way to £20 voucher) - DONE 3 points earned (ok I know its not much but is still something which is edging me closer to a payout)
18. Set up new mobile as current one getting really bad and this should help me be able to earn quicker by having more apps 
19. Check credit file using £1.50 free offer on Quidco
20. Stock up on essentials at Asda to get Blue Light discount before it stops at end of month - DONE spent £156 but that includes two pairs of jeans for hunny as he split his yesterday, 4 large boxes of washing powder, 4 fabric conditioners, toothpaste, deodorant and loads of pasta sauces plus my weekly shopping. Also used the reward card and gained an extra into my reward pot (won't declare this until I cash in and use the coupon though)
21. Scan any shopping bought today for Shop and Scan - DONE
22. Transfer £100 into account from money saved yesterday (hotel and we had a cheap dinner costing £20 for both of us when we had budgeted more) and money saved from Blue light discount - DONE transferred £143 in total - £100 from hotel saving, £15 saved from meal yesterday, £10 for the FB sale and £18 from blue light savings  

craftingmad

Really not feeling like doing anything today so it's a bit of a struggle to get my bottom into gear but I am determined that I will at least make small progress today.

So here is my optimistic list for today:-

1. Finish applying for booking clerk job at my local village hall - Application letter and CV done just need to deliver it tomorrow
2. Complete order received from Etsy store and post off - Proof sent to customer - now just waiting for their approval before printing and posting
3. NSD - DONE almost £5 transferred in readiness to the OP savings post
4. Meal plan for the week using everything I already have - DONE no more shopping required
5. Play on Mistplay - so close to a £5 voucher (as long as they do not change the goal posts again!!) - DONE - still not quite there but getting closer 
   
6. Empty email inbox as run out of storage and really do not want to have to pay monthly for more (bought myself some time with a free trial for 30 days but need to do this!) - 200 deleted still loads more to go
7. Complete a Nectar survey or two 
8. Register Nectar card found in a drawer and transfer points to other Nectar account - DONE sort of - card now registered to me (it has 130 points apparently) but cannot transfer until 30 days is up so will have to wait for that part   
9. Post in 3 FB groups promoting my business with a hope I will get some more orders 
10. Comment on In search of posts on FB in the hope I get some orders like I did yesterday 
11. List an item on FB marketplace 
12. Check free postcode lottery in the hope I might have won - DONE nota  winner today  
13. Minimal heating on (it was freezing this morning so have had on for two hours already)  - DONE turned on at 6pm for 3 hours as it was so cold today
14. Find a small way to save electric - DONE - lights turned off which son left on
15. Earn some points on swagbucks (hoping to reach daily target again) 
16. Enter 3 competitions
17. Open High interest savings account or ISA 
18. Join two new survey sites
19. Play on Playspot to earn more points (3/4 of way to £20 voucher) 
20. Set up new mobile as current one getting really bad and this should help me be able to earn quicker by having more apps 
21. Check credit file using £1.50 free offer on Quidco