Knocking years off the mortgage…that’s the goal!

Sammie_1985

Not feeling very MSE at the moment! 

Bought DS3’s final Christmas present today, a TV from curry’s. Picked up a tv bracket for the wall too, hubby will fit that over the Christmas holiday. 

Went and got the car washed afterwards and hubby wanted to show me his new van he’s picking up next week (see really not MSE at the mo!) unfortunately his van is on its way out, he’s a tradie and does a LOT of miles and has definitely got his moneys worth out of, now old, van! He’s spent quite a bit on his van this year and still having problems so it was time to say goodbye. 

New van is £450 a month 😱 for 5 years but no balloon payment at the end and he’s put down a big deposit. Luckily it all gets paid from his business account and he can claim back the VAT. 

Feel like I’m cracking on with the Christmas shopping now and nearing the end. Suppose it won’t be until January that normality finally resumes money wise though! 

Sammie_1985

Mortgage direct debit has come out this morning. Now sitting at £190,332.65. No overpayments made yet as hubby needs to transfer what he wants to pay to me first but not long until we are in the £180’s. 😀 

Sammie_1985

Back from dropping DS2 at uni and then popped to a$di, spent £86.97, which included 4x Buck’s Fizz for Christmas and a bottle of advocaat. Just need to buy some beers and lemonade for Christmas drinks now. We already have 24 cans of fizzy which I am NOT letting anyone crack into no matter how much they protest! 

£300 sent to savings. 

Sammie_1985

Small spend day yesterday - ordered DS1 2 T-shirts for Christmas from B00hoo man. Only need to pick him up a Reece’s chocolate box from B&M on Friday then he’s done. 🎉 
DS2 - still need to order him a voucher for some protein shop but they are out of stock 🙄 fancy shampoo and conditioner he uses (honestly, men sometimes!) and same Reece’s chocolate box and he’s done. 

Ds3 - done 🙌🏼 
Hubby - selection box & Hawkstone beer then done! 

waiting on personalised stickers to arrive then I can start wrapping, trying not to make a lot of plans before school finishes as A- don’t want to spend unnecessary money and B- still need to buy gifts for parents / teachers / sons taxi driver / food shop and wrap everything. Nieces and nephews are at an age where we pop money in a money wallet now (thank god!) and we don’t buy for siblings as we all have multiple children! 

Friday will be a big spend day though as I’m wanting to stock up on dishwasher tabs / washing pods etc whilst at B&M. 

Hoping to overpay £500 to the mortgage today but staying in today and tomorrow so I’m not tempted to spend! Unless we need little things like milk etc….must check fridge. 

Sammie_1985

£500 overpayment sent - mortgage now £189,832.65 and an extra month knocked off taking us to 21yrs 7mths remaining. 

Sammie_1985

I decided to pay another £32.65 off the mortgage to round it down to an even £189,800! 

Overpayments this month are £632.65 (including £100 direct debit overpayment) I probably won’t make anymore payments now until after Christmas or at least once I’ve fully finished Christmas shopping. Pleased with the amount we’ve managed so far though. 

[Deleted User]

Hi Sammie, I have just read your diary and boy you are doing really well on the OP front, seriously well done. Also well done on the Christmas shop you are nailing it and you sound very thoughful in your gift choices. I am book-marking your thread. Good luck on your journey - ohh have you thought about doing an SOA (Statement of affairs) you sound very money savvy so you may not need it but it is a way others can help, they'll chip in with suggestions or ideas, should you want their help. Otherwise as I said before good luck on your jounrney - may it be prosperous and also have a good Christmas and run up.

Sammie_1985

Hi @[Deleted User] thank you so much! We are trying are best but still seems like such a long journey! We can only keep on plodding. 

I have thought about an SOA but with hubby taking a wage and dividends each month our income can vary so not sure how it would work! 

X 

Sammie_1985

Yesterday was a very spendy day! Went to a large retail centre and spent just shy of £200 🫣 everything was needed though whether it was for Christmas or house stock ups (why are dishwasher tablets / washing powder etc sooo expensive!) 
youngest came home with a hole in his school shoes so off into town to replace those tomorrow. I’ve got an am@zon delivery turning up today at some point which finishes off most of the Christmas shopping apart from a few tubs of chocolates for teachers / sons taxi driver. Part of the delivery is bits I ordered for ds1 for his step mums Christmas present, being a 22 year old boy he didn’t have a clue what to get her so I found some bits she will hopefully like and he’ll transfer me the money! 

Not much planned for today, hubby is sorting out his work van so he can pick up the new one next week and I’ll probably just do some house jobs and try to sneak upstairs to organise countless bags of presents hidden everywhere. 

[Deleted User]

Sammie_1985 said:

Hi @[Deleted User] thank you so much! We are trying are best but still seems like such a long journey! We can only keep on plodding. 

I have thought about an SOA but with hubby taking a wage and dividends each month our income can vary so not sure how it would work! 

X 

That makes sense - however it is more about what you spend money on then what your OH makes that is the important part, but I am sure you have gone through everything and cut back where you see fit, but some people have good ideas and it can be useful if you want to see where you stand through someone elses eyes. 

Also I am not on the thread at the moment but I plan to go back have you thought about joining the no spend thread, plus the threads where you try and reach a MOP (Mortgage over payment) goal. Also if you are decluttering could you make money out of the stuff by selling on ebay or vinted or FB? Not that I do this I often feel it is not a good use of my time. But some people make a fortune on it.

These are just ideas and a lot of people have some great ideas on here, if you don't want to do an SOA, how about sharing budegts for each month etc and how well you keep to them. Also do you have excel on the computer you use, I can think of some good spreadsheet ideas, that help keep you on track.

Anyhow I am sure you will do what is right for you. Good luck on your Journey. All the best.