LJ's Mortgage free road to early retirement

LouiseJ

When I handed over the cash for my first ever overpayment I was suddenly overwhelmed with the need to tell the cashier my life story and my plans to pay off my mortgage.

She just smilled and nodded politely as if I was lacking in the brain department.

Do feel as though I'm a bit of a fraud though as the first £9545 is Credit Card debt that I put on the mortgage, this is under a different mortgage account number so I am allocating the overpayments to that account first.

Thanks for the words of encouragement everyone.

Little_Mama

Well done LousieJ!

Every little helps. If I were you and my mortgage co allowed overpayments smaller than £500 (grrrr Abbey!) I'd be down as soon as I had a little extra to go in. Especially if you are being charged daily interest.

Good luck with your quest.

LM

setmefree2

Well done Louisej...:money::j:beer:

LouiseJ

I feel a bit down this morning as I am really tired with all the hours I have taken on. I know I shouldn't complain but its either feast or famine with me. This was my day yesterday.

7.00am wake, make packed lunches for 4, get kids up, make breakfast, wash up.
8.30am Take boys to school (6 miles away & no bus).
9.00am -12.00pm Teaching
12.00pm Lunch & dentist appiontment
1.00pm - 3.00pm Teaching
3.15pm Pick up boys from school
3.30pm - 5.30 prepare & eat dinner prepare paperwork for evening class
5.30pm Set of to teach evening class
6.00pm - 8.00pm Teaching
8.30pm - I can finally sit down! Still had to put away dishes, iron clothes for tomorrow, do some class prep. Watched 2 episodes of 24 series 3 Box setwith OH & Boys
10.45pm Fell into bed, asleep before head hits pillow!

This is now my daily routine until July:eek: I have Wednesday mornings off at the moment but start work at 12.30pm.

Thank goodness I can sometimes look at this site at work or I would be totally lost.

LouiseJ

I have felt really tired this week as I have been trying to burn the candle at both ends. I have decided that its time to share out the chores in the house more fairly so I have asked to hold a family meeting tomorrow to work out a routine that includes everyone in the family and not just me!

Having now found out which classes are running I have worked out that my average earnings plus other income will be around £2010 per month which is great as I can really start overpaying. I have decided to up my overpayments from £310 to £500 per month while my earnings are at this level and also use up all my cash isa allowance for this year.

I wont be able to keep the overpayments at this level forever as come July I will be jobless again and I need to set aside some money for then but in the meantime thats what I have decided to do.

Kaz2904

Well done so far LJ!
Would it be worth doing a meal plan with familial involvement that takes yours and everyone elses working/schooling into account?
If there's only an hour or so with you all together then you could have a crockpot meal maybe?
Wish you well with the house work sharing- doesn't work in our house all that well!

LouiseJ

Thanks for the response Kaz. I was getting a bit lonely here!

I do weekly meal plans already which helps me keep the shopping budget down for my grocery challenge.

I try to keep to meals that we all like and as OH is in from work at just after 5pm we can usually all eat together most nights with the exception of OH being late in which case I leave his meal in the oven keeping warm.

I always make a pudding for dessert as that tends to stop any snacking later.

Last weeks meal plan was

Sun - Roast Chicken dinner, ginger sponge
Mon - Curry from leftover Chicken, ginger sponge
Tues - Steak Pie & Chips, Ice cream & HM biscuit
Weds - Pork Chops & Pots & peas, Treacle Sponge
Thurs - Rump Steak, chips, peas, Treacle Sponge
Fri - Spicy Chicken, Rice, Ice Cream & HM Biscuit
Sat - Sausages, Mash & onion gravy, Lemon Sponge

We all have breakfast of either cereal or toast and during the week we have packed lunches for work & school. Luch on a weekend is either a bacon/sausage sarnie or soup.

All the food I buy I try to plan around any special offers or reduced items that I have found (rump steak last week reduced to £1.20 for 2 large steaks). The spong pudding takes minutes to make and costs around 75p and is big enough to last for two days servings.

LouiseJ

Sent another £165 to overpay mortgage yesterday morning "YEY" then last night when going to night class the exhaust on the car started blowing and OH says he doesnt think it will last a week!!!

Can you bl**dy beleive it !!!!

Little_Mama

A similar thing happened to us last year....started making the odd overpayment, very proud of ourselves then two cam belts later:eek: we weren't feeling quite so chuffed with ourselves.

Just make sure you get it fixed in an MSE way.

LM

and well done on that overpayment.

LouiseJ

Just went to garage at Lunch time and they managed to do a quick fix for only £10 by putting a new bracket on and some sealing stuff

Anyway good news is that mechanic said it should last a few months more and it will be £110 which I don't think is two bad for a full middle and back section of exhaust. I will get it fixed in March after my first decent pay.

Our Tumble Drier went before Christmas, Its been a good one (12 years Old) but I have decided not to replace it at all and I am managing with clothes airers and washing line, it just takes a little more planning but saves in electric (A LOT)!