MF by Christmas 2024 - let's do this!

Coxy11

I made the final overpayment this morning of £24,433.93 so mortgage balance now sitting at £38,188.24 which is a lot better than the £260k plus of yesterday morning.

Monthly payments from 10 May now £379.11 instead of £2518.17!! 

The tenants (now owners) popped in this morning to collect our sets of keys. They are very happy as when they started renting from us 3 years ago they had come from living in a bnb due to poor credit and being evicted during Covid. They are friends of DS1. Anyway, we've helped them to get back on their feet, to have their little dog back with them, and to ultimately buy their first home. They were really happy this morning, so a win win.

As soon as DH is back in work we will look to recommence regular overpayments. Until then we will just keep plodding (unless we win the lotto) 

Coxy11

Forgot to say, in veg growing news we have courgettes and garlic on the go and plan to sow some squash next month. Looking forward to seeing how these turn out!

beanielou

Does DH have any irons in the fire?

Coxy11

Nothing atm @beanielou. Can’t see him working for at least 6 months tbh. Luckily we are solvent! Heard yesterday that my role is out of scope for the consultation at my work. Hurrah!

beanielou

So pleased for you. 

Coxy11

Lookilikey payday for DH this week - drew down some savings to balance the books for the month ahead. 

IFC payment for the carpets/flooring came out on Wednesday leaving just the one payment to go. Once that’s gone it’s just the mortgage to pay off. (Just lol…)

DH particularly mopey this week. He had a weekend away with his mates and I’m away on a hen weekend from tomorrow. Not sure the weather is helping his mood as he has some garden projects to keep busy but too wet/cold to get out there. 

Coxy11

May's mortgage payment has left our bank account but isn't yet reflected on the mortgage account, so will need to wait until Monday for that update.

DH currently away on DS1s stag do. I haven't heard from him but there's a £250+ transaction on our credit card from Hooters so I'm very much hoping that wasn't only his bill......!! 

The food budget is looking okay for this month - £192 left. I've arranged an Oc@do delivery for tomorrow evening - cheapo slot. I find I spend less when I'm not wandering around a SM despite having a list. After that there's only one more shop to buy this month. I've sowed some butternut and mixed squash seeds today in the greenhouse. All 6 courgettes are up and looking very healthy, plus we have 3 garlics and some chillies on the go too. It all helps. Next I'll buy some young tomato plants and some plug lettuces - wasn't organised enough to get seeds on the go.

DH and I are seriously considering selling the house and downsizing. This was always going to be the plan in c.3 years time once DS2 has finished uni and is hopefully working, but with DH's job situation it might come about sooner. DS2 has one year left to study.

We would probably get c. £850k-£900k for our house (SE London) and would look to spend no more than £600k (Kent). We would both look to get a part time job in the new area. I am equally terrified and excited about what that could look like. We need to model this and see if it could work. It doesn't help that I'm based in an NHS hospital and see sick people (many times they are younger than me) all day long, so it makes me think why not semi-retire, do some travelling and just have some time for ourselves. Food for thought.

beanielou

A big vote for semi retirement from me. Way too many people I know dying in their fifties & early sixties. Carp diem. 

Coxy11

The Stags returned in one piece. Hooters bill was a 13-way split as the waitress wouldn’t split or accept cash. The grocery budget is looking okay this month and should come in around £70 under budget. Car fuel budget also £20 under budget. We put all on our cashback CC and pay off in full.

DH hurt his back earlier in the week and the weather hasn’t been kind, so he’s out working in the garden today for the first time. He has also registered for Job Seekers allowance this morning. The BAYE scheme with his previous workplace was frozen when he left and we received an 85p credit from the administering company yesterday. DH rang to query this to be told it was a processing error and correct amount should have been £5,389.18 – some error! Unsure when this will come through, but it will be put into our savings to draw from if/when necessary.

We paid the final big wedding expenses earlier this week. DH needs a new shirt and I would like a new lipstick, so we are going to the local mall on Sunday.

I have developed a habit for buying a Co$ta coffee most mornings at work. This comes from my personal spends of which I have £35 left until next payday (Friday). Need to wean myself off this as I can have tea for free from the office supplies. I have not bought any lunch items for at least two weeks as have been bringing food in from home. Pleased with that!

Courgette plants are doing really well and I’m leaving them out during the day to acclimatise them. Nothing up yet from the squash I sowed on Sunday – to be expected but I’m impatient. DH bought two tomato plants and a couple of strips of cut and come again lettuce plants, so they will be potted on this weekend.

Coxy11

Payday today (whoop). Still no sign of the BAYE scheme funds into our bank account. DH also investigate a SAYE scheme that he used to sacrifice £500/month for. He can continue to pay into it until September and then get back the funds with 50% return. Worth doing, so we paid May's contribution yesterday and have lined up payments from June to September.

I spent a few hours in the garden on Sunday clearing space and preparing the beds for the courgettes. Planted out 5 of the 6 as one is particularly slow and only 1/3 of the size. They all got eaten on Wednesday despite us putting down slug pellets. I'm so upset. DH is going to see if there's any left to buy today. Have potted up the tomatoes and staked them. Just need a new trough for the salad leaves - will source this weekend.

Have managed to finish the week bringing all food from home (yay) and only one Co$ta coffee bought this morning because I needed a kick start to my day. I'm interviewing today which is quite challenging!