Juggling mum/work life, whilst looking after my future self, both financially & healthily

missymoo81

Ah thank you @greenbee  that’s a really good idea! I’m not sure about an app, but I can definitely take photos of the receipt as I’m eating the food! As I have to upload it on the computer anyway so would end up taking a photo of it just later on which is when I realise I’ve lost it! 

missymoo81

Just opened my mortgage statement for the year! Still owe £223,000 and 18 years left. This makes me feel sick, and have paid £5000 worth of interest in a year. By the time the mortgage rate is up next year we will have £213,000 left on it and 17 years. But will have a much higher interest rate. Not sure how we will cope with this. Does anyone else feel like they work so hard for their money and the bills
just seemingly never end. Where there are other people at my age that are already looking towards retirement  and their house in France and their mortgage is up in 2 years (BIL) . I can’t work this hard for the next 18 years! ‘Sigh’. 

missymoo81

Ok feeling a little sorry for myself, this happens when I spend too much time on my own. And with OH and the children not here, I’ve been on my own since Thursday. So trying to be positive in actions if not in mindset. I have cleaned the kitchen, DW is on and WM is on clean. Have emptied the bin and swept the floor. I still need to mow the grass and sort the washing.

I’ve decided to do positive steps each day to move myself forward to where I want my life to be. So we know I need more money, so I’m going to go through my clothes and list some items on Vinted. I can do this.

jwil

Easier said than done I know, but there is no point in comparing yourself to others.  And someone your age retiring in the next few years and clearing a mortgage is not the norm.

The first few years of the mortgage are always the hardest, and it doesn't seem like you are making much progress, but you are. And as time goes on the proportion you pay towards capital will increase and interest will reduce.

I always feel like I am working just to pay the bills, but the more we do the sooner we can get to our preferred lifestyles.  It's a good idea to do small actions towards it each day.

Grumpelstiltskin

Missy if you use this website it tells you the cheapest fuel prices in your area.

www.petrolprices.com

Problem is at the moment prices can be changing daily.

Spendless

Re the meals with family members needing/wanting meat. I said the following on another diary recently. Some dishes are so 'every day' that people dont think about them being veggie. Examples are
Jacket potatoes with cheese/beans/coleslaw
Musroom/cheese/Spanish omelettes
Egg chips and beans
Cheese n Onion Quiche

Sides if appropriate of veg/salad/chips/wedges.

Re work related eating. Someone once told me the way they got out of debt was to 'never let work cost them money' obviously commuting costs cant be helped but if there was a way to take stuff from home such as packed lunches they did.

Working away - my husband does this every week. Do you get any say in where you stay? DH stops in a chain where they provide a breakfast but as he often doesnt fancy eating first thing he takes one of their grab and go bags and has the contents for lunch. With the receipts taking a pic is a great idea for the originals find something dedicated to keep them all in. If you look round your house youll find something suitable even if its just an envelope.



Good luck. Ive been in and out of work for the last few years. I know how soul destroying it can be. 

BadBookkeeper

With regards to your mortgage it’s great your thinking ahead but my advice would be to write your priority list with what you need to do right now, so maybe 
pay off overdraft
Save emergency fund
over pay mortgage 

if you try to do everything right now it will overwhelm you.  Maybe take a look how much your mortgage may increase using today’s rates so you are prepared but have time to sort out how to absorb the difference.  As an example, Our gas & electric is £120 a month cheaper than it was so I know I have that as a buffer ‘At the moment’ but I’m saving it towards any increase we may need for our mortgage in 18 months time.  Have your energy bills come down?  Could that be reallocated to your mortgage maybe? 

missymoo81

Grumpelstiltskin said:

Missy if you use this website it tells you the cheapest fuel prices in your area.

www.petrolprices.com

Problem is at the moment prices can be changing daily.

Ah thank you so much! I forgot about this. I drive past 2 on the way to work so I will look which is cheaper, if not there are super market ones that I might go to. 

missymoo81

Thanks @jwil no I know. I don’t tend to compare myself with others, and know how fortunate I am to have a house in the first place. It’s just hard when it’s rammed down your throat a little by BIL. 

@Spendless I appreciate your working away thoughts. I don’t get to choose hotel and it’s not including breakfast, it’s rare, so I will just see what I can manage next week. With regards to veggie meals, you’re right I just need to change OH and Roos thoughts, they think it’s not a meal without meat.

@BadBookkeeper thank you! You’re right I am absolutely following that plan. Paying of OD, then save an emergency fund then look at mortgage. It’s just because the letter came through that I thought about it. 

@debtfreewannabe321 diary and researching it I’ve learned that best loan to value for me for interest rates is 60%. So I need to save another £3000 by next June to get it to that amount. Obv after OD and emergency fund.  Of course house prices may change as will interest rates but it’s a good plan. 

Gas and electric is absolutely what I need to change along with phone contracts. I was supposed to be doing it last weekend but my brain couldn’t cope with it. It’s like self sabotage…. I  didn’t manage to list on Vinted either. But positives, I’ve made myself lunches for the week. Ive got all of the clothes out to list and I’ve done all the washing, and I feel more in control moneywise. I need to get to grips with work this week to free up brain space for the rest. 

I went into the gym this morning but only did weights as was really struggling with heat and mindset. Need to pick up children today and OH also comes home. 

mumtoomany

Morning @missymoo81, sorry to hear the news that your job is at risk, it must be worrying for you. I have a suggestion for you. You need to save an emergency fund and pay back the overdraft. Why not look at how much you would receive, as a family, if the very worst was to happen and you both lost your jobs at the same time. (you are speaking to someone for whom this has happened twice, all be it the first time we were made redundant a week apart!) Look at your budget now. What would you cut out, what would have to be reduced, what would have to change? Try to live on nearer to that amount for the next month and fill those savings up. 

Hope this is useful. I can suggest lots of small ways to save the pennies if it would be helpful, hugs, mumtoomany.xxx