Follow the Yellow Brick Road 2023

SandyShores

Thanks Moneyfordreams, debtfreeoneday and savingholmes.  Yes, focussing on the H2B loan and the mortgage is enough for me to handle at the moment.  I'll review again once we get to the point where they're combined.  

SandyShores

Logged into the mortgage account this morning and the £5k OP has now registered - its really good to see it on the screen.  But the end date is still July'39 - I'll log in again and check later in the week - maybe it takes a bit longer to update that part.  Looking at the end date gave me a bit of a wake up call.  There are some uncertainties around future income at the moment and we will know more at the end of the year.  But we have our EF in place and will continue as we are until the Autumn - then when we know more, we can review again, and also look at pension payments too.  We have to remember that we are in a good place and that every step along the road brings us closer to mortgage free. 

joshiesaunt

Some good plans there Sandy Shores.  I have been following your journey on your old thread as we have a similar sized mortgage although mine is just about to start with a 1 at last!  You seem more energised and focussed so I wish you luck. 

SandyShores

Hi joshiesaunt, I appreciate that, yes definitely have more energy to do this now.  Well done for going into the 1's - amazing!  I know that time will come for us.

We should have done this a long time ago, but I don't kick myself over it anymore.  Yes, we had a very spendy time in our 30s and 40s but my final lightbulb moment was almost 9 years ago now.  Six years later and we were debt-free and ready to get back on the property ladder (thanks to hard work but great timing when a couple of PPI claims came through as well as a pension maturing).  We managed to move into our lovely house during covid, but our intentions to overpay like crazy didn't materialise - partly because of covid but partly because we wanted to make the house nice, and we'd spent a lot of years scrimping so needed to blow off some steam.  So here we are with a huge mortgage, and a sharp slope to retirement age, but we are in a good place so we'll make it into a steady (yellow brick) road  

debtfreeoneday

It’s never too late I don’t think to tackle the money. I wish we had done ours sooner. I wish I had been thriftier when younger  but I’m glad I had the wake up call when I did and I just try and I still so much of this in the kids when they save / spend etc. 

savingholmes

You're on the right path now. Your EF is growing and you put a decent chunk into OPs. A great start to the year.

SandyShores

Same here debtfreeoneday my parents didn't ever talk to us about money and we didn't have regular pocket money so there was no learning to save etc.  I've made sure DD is completely aware about finances, but I think there is so much more information available too.  

Thanks savingholmes, you're right it has been a great start to the year.  Its sometimes difficult to see the positives when you are concentrating on paying it all off.  I've just been looking at your thread and looking up cars.  Mine's old and I'm not factoring purchasing a new one yet, but there's plenty of life left in it for my short journeys/occasional use.  

SandyShores

Tiring but full weekend and ready to get back to work tomorrow for a rest!  Had a lovely window shop to start with, and an evening with a friend.  Did a bit of cleaning and might have accidentally broken an item - I need to get DH to have a look for me.  I'm trying not to worry because worrying won't help, but am kicking myself for not being more careful.  It was a bit of a spendy Sunday too, some small bits, but a large item purchased has been planned for a while.  I totally get everyone who says they feel uncomfortable spending, even when its planned and saved for.  Feeling happy about my old car though, its been helpful hearing everyone else's views.  I need to start practicing meditation more regularly and working towards feeling more zen but I'm sure I'll feel a lot better even after just a good nights sleep, ready to start the week.

SandyShores

Not a bad start to the week, and things seem to be going to plan at work.  I'm making sure I take a lunch break and finish at a reasonable time, and its definitely having a good effect.  

KajiKita

Good morning SandyShores and thank you for the link to your thread 😊

I can see why you see similarities between us! 😂 I think we have almost the same mortgage end date?!

Love the idea of working for ‘work-life-finances’ balance through your 7 key areas. I am also in a relatively new job (just a year now) and I still feel a bit like I am faking it by the seat of my pants! 😳 Mild comfort found in having had a very positive PDA from my two bosses but also and more importantly for me, some key members of my team telling me that I am doing a good job and the most ambitious of them telling me they wouldn’t want it! 😂

One thing that has helped me recently, is identifying the things that bring joy or at least satisfaction for little or no spend. So, weeding the garden is free and very satisfying and the process itself brings me joy - being in the fresh air, smelling the scents, hearing the birds, being supervised by my cat! 😉

Reading books - I have become a regular at my local library again. 

Picking up some of the 101 craft kits I have invested in(!) that I can’t bear to let go - like your knitting I have recently picked up my tapestry again and I am loving the colours and the satisfaction of tangible progress (compared to my professional life, which is often like plaiting fog ….). 

It’s even helped shift my perspective on cleaning (which I have an almost physical aversion to) by focusing on how lovely it feels after it’s done …. 😉

KK