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Mortgage Free Plod
Ms_Potato_Head
Posts: 93 Forumite
Hello MFWs
I'm de-lurking after living vicariously through you all for a very long time. I've exchanged on my first house today! So now I'm a MFW too.
My context: I'm a divorced, single mum (1DS). We'll be moving into a little 2-bed house with our moggy. I've taken out a 95% repayment mortgage over 27 years, which takes me to what I expect will be SP age for my generation.
As well as plodding towards financial independence (and, with a following wind, early retirement), I like to enjoy the simple things: family and friends, crafty hobbies, reading and having a walk in the fresh air.
Welcome to all who stop by.
MPHx
I'm de-lurking after living vicariously through you all for a very long time. I've exchanged on my first house today! So now I'm a MFW too.
My context: I'm a divorced, single mum (1DS). We'll be moving into a little 2-bed house with our moggy. I've taken out a 95% repayment mortgage over 27 years, which takes me to what I expect will be SP age for my generation.
As well as plodding towards financial independence (and, with a following wind, early retirement), I like to enjoy the simple things: family and friends, crafty hobbies, reading and having a walk in the fresh air.
Welcome to all who stop by.
MPHx
MFW: Journey started Nov 2025. Due to finish Nov 2053.
OPs: £10
DC Pension pot to target: 22.2%
Mrs SD's 2026 Declutter challenge: 🏅
12
Comments
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Congratulations on exchanging today! When is your completion date? Good luck with your journey. 😀🏡Mortgage July 2019 - £240,000
💫Term Remaining (Without Overpayments) - 23yrs 5 Months🏡Mortgage Now - £187,000
💫Term Remaining (With Overpayments) - 21yrs 1 Month
🗓️253/360 Monthly Payments Remaining
💷MFW 2026 #4 - £1753.46/£7000
💰EF - £5307/£100003 -
Happy shiny new diary.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger.
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan. 21 months left.3 -
Congratulations on your new home! I look forward to following along.
2025 mortgage OPs - £100
2026 mortgage OPs - £30/£1200
Total mortgage OPs so far - £130
3 -
Good luck 💜Credit card 1700
Overdraft 210
2026 EF 100/3000
All I want is a weather forecast saying there'll be more weather.3 -
Thank you for the lovely warm welcome 😊
Completion date is 18th November, but won't be moving in straightaway. I have an overlap with my rented place so I can move across without too much stress.MFW: Journey started Nov 2025. Due to finish Nov 2053.
OPs: £10
DC Pension pot to target: 22.2%
Mrs SD's 2026 Declutter challenge: 🏅
3 -
Congratulations on your new home and good luck with becoming mortgage free!MFW 2021 #76 £5,145
MFW 2022 #27 £5,300
MFW 2023 #27 £2,000
MFW 2024 #27 £6,055
MFW 2025 #27 £5,075
MFW 2026 #27 0/£10002 -
Good luck on your journey I look forward to seeing how you go. Enjoy your new home when you finally get the keys. XXGoal 1: Apply for benefits.
Goal 2: Get a lodger.
Goal 3: Get a regular routine in place.
Goal 4: On outcome of benefits plan finances.
Goal 5: Save EF if possible.2 -
Thanks @powerspowers and @CrazyBee787 😊
I went "shopping" in my mum's loft yesterday. I now have pots and pans, cutlery, crockery, glasses and even a lovely wall hanging. The kitchen in my rental is fully equipped, so I would have had to buy all that stuff. And Mum is happy because she's decluttered!MFW: Journey started Nov 2025. Due to finish Nov 2053.
OPs: £10
DC Pension pot to target: 22.2%
Mrs SD's 2026 Declutter challenge: 🏅
5 -
It's all gone quiet re: completion. I'm taking that as a sign there are no issues and everything is still on for the 18th, not that the solicitor has ran off with my money. It wouldn't get them very far.
This weekend I'll get my current house clean and tidy for when I hand the notice in next week. I've enjoyed the low rent and not being responsible for maintenance/repairs. I never felt in the proverbial rent 'rrap'. However, after modelling various retirement options this way and that it became very clear to me that, for my circumstances and low appetite for risk, I really do need to pay off a mortgage if I'm ever going to retire.
My retirement planning falls roughly into 4 buckets:
1. Accommodation- pay off a mortgage
2. Fixed costs- SP and a small DB pot from a previous employer
3. Variable costs- DC pot I pay into now
4. Emergencies- cash ISAMFW: Journey started Nov 2025. Due to finish Nov 2053.
OPs: £10
DC Pension pot to target: 22.2%
Mrs SD's 2026 Declutter challenge: 🏅
2 -
Completed!
We completed as scheduled on Tuesday. The house is as sweet and lovely as I remember, I'm sure we'll be very happy there.
We'll Iactually move in about a month. I handed my notice in on the rented house, after getting it presentable at the weekend (just dont look in any cupboards or drawers). After all the rounds of decluttering I've done, I'm amazed I have any belongings left at all, and yet I filled 2 bin bags for either charity or the tip? I must accumulate as quickly as I declutter 😳MFW: Journey started Nov 2025. Due to finish Nov 2053.
OPs: £10
DC Pension pot to target: 22.2%
Mrs SD's 2026 Declutter challenge: 🏅
8
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