The "Grand Plan" - Phase One well underway!

StuartGMC

EssexHebridean wrote: »

So hopeful in fact that I reckon I can not only meet the planned payoff date of February, but I'm certain I can beat that by paying off in - at the worst - January, but hopefully even December! It'd be lovely to get it sorted before Christmas.....:D

Excellent news on the even earlier repayment, well done

EssexHebridean

Home contents insurance is due for renewal next month so I decided to do a bit of digging about this evening and see what deal I could find. Ended up sorting out a premium a fair bit cheaper than last years and with accidental damage cover added. Paid in one go on the Capital One card so some cashback coming via that, and assuming it tracks OK another £68 in cashback from Quidco.

It's addictive this money saving lark, isn't it!!

StuartGMC

Thanks for the note about Quidco; I've been with TopCashBack for a short while but couldn't see Next on there recently but Quidco list them so I've registered and will browse their retailers and rates to compare the two services.

Thanks

EssexHebridean

I've been impressed with Quidco so far Stuart that's for sure - even more so since that £68 from the insurance has already validated! Been using it a month or so - there is £151 showing as either tracked, validated (both in some cases) or ready for payment. Only had one thing so far which has not tracked and that I have put a ticket in for so finger crossed. I looked at TopCashBack but found Quidco far easier to use.

slowlyfading

I normally just lurk on this board, as I'm no where near to having a mortgage myself, but just thought i'd say you're doing really well, its all very impressive! x

EssexHebridean

Thanks SF! Have faith - you'll get there one day....then you'll spend the next 15 years fighting to pay the thing off ten years early! Our attack on that particular beast is yet to start, although this "first phase" is going well enough that our overpayments on the mortgage itself should be able to increase somewhat earlier than we'd planned.

greenbee

EssexHebridean wrote: »

What's the saving for swapping to online billing? I tried to find out from their website but couldn't see anywhere that it told you what you'd save!

You're right. I'm sure there was a discount when I signed up, but things may have changed. Still, at least they plant a tree for you!

EssexHebridean

Well we recieved our 4 free low energy bulbs from British gas today so we now have low-energy bulbs everywhere possible - all the table lamps, the hallway and the spare room. Other lights are either on Dimmers, or are the reflector or candle style ones - although I know you can get bulbs to fit we're not quite there yet - the kitchen fitting has four lamps, and we'd have to change them all over together so that might take some saving up for!

I have now recieved the cheques for both my competition win at Speedway the other week and the closing of my NS&I Investment account too. I'm going to pop along to the Building society in a bit to pay those in through the machine. I have £30 from the pig to go in too so that'll be over £400 in total.

The Tesco account has built up a surplus again so I shall have to withdraw some of that to pay across. Seems like the ISA will be looking fairly healthy soon!

slowlyfading

looks like you're doing great!

EssexHebridean

Thanks sf - I did slightly better than the £400 I was definitely paying in in the end as I was able to withdraw another £100 from the Tesco Clubcard account and pay that in too! :j

When that lot gets transferred over the balance in the ISA will be £2400 - leaving a balance of £1235.33 to find by the revised target date of December. £247 a month.

I've also just had a happy thought - I'm now aiming to pay the loan off two months earlier than the settlement date I have been working on, meaning that the figure I'm working on will actually come down slightly. A quick calculation suggests it will knock an additional £130 off the final figure to be paid. Nearer the time I will contact Northern Rock to get an exact figure for settlement.