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Thanks to MSE we have....
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EssexHebridean
Posts: 24,424 Forumite
....got our life in better order! I started listening to Martin regularly on Radio Two - thought he seemed like a sensible type but basically ended each time thinking "I can't do that sort of thing though - I'm not organised enough". Ity's amazing how long you can put off getting something done with an argument like that! We've spent the last few years talking about wanting to overpay something on the mortgage - had we done anything about it though. Nah - course not. Then a couple of months ago I was at my best mate's place - got talking to her OH about mortgages, and overpaying, and he mentioned the MSE site and said how good it was. He then showed me his mortgage overpayment calculator spreadsheet, and as I was interested emailed a copy of it over to me along with an instruction to take a look on Martin's site.....
Since then (and thanks due to Martin and also Best mate's OH, Kevin) I've started to turn around our finances considerably. We are now overpaying on the mortgage - not by a vast amount, but the spreadsheet tells me that even on that small amount we've shortened the term by several years. we're about to set up a bit more of an overpayment also which will knock another few years off.
I applied for a Capital One credit card and am now spending everything I previously spent on a debit card on that - 4% cashback coming my way. I already had an Egg Money card but at the moment it's all spending on the Cap One card at the moment until the 4% finishes.
I applied for an Abbey Zero credit card and have moved a small balance across from my Egg Money card to pay off over five months at 0%.
I started checking bank statements thoroughly again - I've always skimmed an eye over them but had got out of the habit of checking in full. Glad I did too - turns out we've been paying someone else's water rates for the past year - that's £600 being returned to us! :T
I now make a shopping list and stick to it when I visit the supermarket. I'm also collecting money off vouchers as and when I see them and making sure I use them for money off my shop. A few years ago I used to do that as routine - funny how you get out of the habit, isn't it! We visit a famers market once a month - this time for the first time ever I've got a list of stuff I want to come away with. Might not stick to that one as rigidly as the supermarket one but at least it gives me something to work on.
I now know what is in my freezer and cupboards. As a result I have been able to reduce my spending - in the supermarket specifically - considerably.
I've joined in the "don't throw food away challenge" on the OS board. I have to admit that I was shocked when I realised just how much stuff I did end up throwing away, and the difference already is amazing - there is so much less going into the kitchen bin and even the fridge looks emptier because I'm actually using what I have not loading it up with more than I need just to throw some of it away.
Finally - for now at least - we've got ourselves a compost bin again. Another of those thingds we had been talking about for ages but not getting around to actually doing....we also have four tomato plants growing as though their lives depend on it on the balcony, some runner beans planted outside, and three courgette plants as well. Not much, but about all we have space for and it'll certainly cut down the veg bill in a few months!
There are lots more targets still to reach - that additional overpay on the mortgage. To set a realistic target for us to be mortgage free. To sort out our energy supplier to be sure we're getting the best deal. To make an application for a council tax rebanding. To switch the TV license from quarterly to monthly DD. To shift my small savings into a higher interest account. Probably lots more - as and when I think of them I might even add them to this thread! More than anything else though this was intended to remind myself how well we've done so far, and also to let others know that no matter how disorganised you think you are, just a few small steps can get you on track to getting your finances on a more even keel.
Since then (and thanks due to Martin and also Best mate's OH, Kevin) I've started to turn around our finances considerably. We are now overpaying on the mortgage - not by a vast amount, but the spreadsheet tells me that even on that small amount we've shortened the term by several years. we're about to set up a bit more of an overpayment also which will knock another few years off.
I applied for a Capital One credit card and am now spending everything I previously spent on a debit card on that - 4% cashback coming my way. I already had an Egg Money card but at the moment it's all spending on the Cap One card at the moment until the 4% finishes.
I applied for an Abbey Zero credit card and have moved a small balance across from my Egg Money card to pay off over five months at 0%.
I started checking bank statements thoroughly again - I've always skimmed an eye over them but had got out of the habit of checking in full. Glad I did too - turns out we've been paying someone else's water rates for the past year - that's £600 being returned to us! :T
I now make a shopping list and stick to it when I visit the supermarket. I'm also collecting money off vouchers as and when I see them and making sure I use them for money off my shop. A few years ago I used to do that as routine - funny how you get out of the habit, isn't it! We visit a famers market once a month - this time for the first time ever I've got a list of stuff I want to come away with. Might not stick to that one as rigidly as the supermarket one but at least it gives me something to work on.
I now know what is in my freezer and cupboards. As a result I have been able to reduce my spending - in the supermarket specifically - considerably.
I've joined in the "don't throw food away challenge" on the OS board. I have to admit that I was shocked when I realised just how much stuff I did end up throwing away, and the difference already is amazing - there is so much less going into the kitchen bin and even the fridge looks emptier because I'm actually using what I have not loading it up with more than I need just to throw some of it away.
Finally - for now at least - we've got ourselves a compost bin again. Another of those thingds we had been talking about for ages but not getting around to actually doing....we also have four tomato plants growing as though their lives depend on it on the balcony, some runner beans planted outside, and three courgette plants as well. Not much, but about all we have space for and it'll certainly cut down the veg bill in a few months!
There are lots more targets still to reach - that additional overpay on the mortgage. To set a realistic target for us to be mortgage free. To sort out our energy supplier to be sure we're getting the best deal. To make an application for a council tax rebanding. To switch the TV license from quarterly to monthly DD. To shift my small savings into a higher interest account. Probably lots more - as and when I think of them I might even add them to this thread! More than anything else though this was intended to remind myself how well we've done so far, and also to let others know that no matter how disorganised you think you are, just a few small steps can get you on track to getting your finances on a more even keel.
🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
£100k barrier broken 1/4/25
SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
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well done - and welcome to MSE
The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese :cool:0
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