Eagerlearners journey to Terminate the mortgage

Thanks Julicorn and beanielou, I am really excited and I can see why a diary is motivating, as you are accountable to yourself and I guess any readers at large tee hee.

Buildings insurance is low yes we got a great deal last year and I have done some little checks as ours renews again in Oct and hoping for similar, maybe a bit higher as I poss need to add a couple of items that may be worth something now.


House
We have had some renovations done recently so this weekend I need to get on with painting. It is already making an incredible difference. We have talked about anything else we might need to do here, would love to do the bathroom again as it's 6 years old now. However we've spent £26k here now, so it's the only thing I would do (estate agent recommended it if we wanted to sell in the next 3-5 years).

Money saving

I am reading OCC diary and she mentioned product testing so I have now signed up to one, hoping for some moisturiser at least.
Have decided no need to check broadband savings etc as we are in contract with Virgin so need to stay put for now.
Avoid using car as will need petrol soon and really want to eeek as close to end of next week as poss to top up, as no funds for petrol left in my category on YNAB so will go over expected spend.

As we are open plan need to look at adding a curtain near our dining room, to keep downstairs warmer in Winter though I want something stylish.

Quidco is showing a few bits to cash out in Sep so this will all go towards the offset acc as well as anything else we can do.

Really hoping the 12 x lots of 20 bin bags I bought yesterday are 'strong' as they stated, will be very happy with those at £0.70p each as I got a discount.

To do:

- Chase college for lodger extra payment of a couple of nights
- Research cost of cat flap as ours lets in lots of cold in the winter in the kitchen due to being damaged and missing 1 flap


I will update at lunch if I can - long day of work ahead but drinks planned with friends for tonight which I am very much looking forward to as have not seen them in a while. We have wine in, so no spend which is fab.

Woop nearly finished and miniEl is heading home, can't wait for a cuddle.
Have just done the weekly shop, and it was spendy but has a few luxury items for BBQs this weekend.
We got things like wine, beer, BBQ treats, toilet roll, store cupboard items, flowers for MIL (well worth it she's been amazing), chocolate, some reduced items, general weekly stuff Inc loads of lovely fruit for £49.67 which I don't think too bad considering students breakfast then meals on weekends too. £239.54 and this will be the months spend, less than usual given how long this month is, no doubt helped by miniEl being at grandparents an few times ha and 1st week of August we were away, so food was from holiday budget.

Have heard from quidco that around £27 is now payable so I may well cash out next week in amazon vouchers to earn a slightly higher amount for the cat flap and some other bits, then transfer that amount to the offset.

As today I got paid I ynabed and have been able to round up overpayment to £100, which feels great knowing it is already lowering our interest. £89,401.58 is the current balance, with interest only being charged now on £83,701.58.
I'd love to round the £5700 to £6000 bare minimum by the end of the year, not necessarily easy with Christmas coming up but we'll see how work goes. The weekly transfers and this diary will no doubt motivate me!


I'll raise some invoices and hoping for a good week next week too so might be able to overpay a bit more. I tend to find weekly motivates me because this is my paycycle, I couldn't wait a month to ynab!

Does anyone here use ynab? I find the zero budget / scarcity style budgeting works best for me and since 2015 to now I know it's completely responsible for our improved finances ( I wish it'd help project forward though)

Hey Julicorn I completely agree and am a total convert, we'll hit our third year in October. When we started we were something like minus £40k net worth and now we're +£13k. It's really motivating. Wow you're overpayments so far look good, well done! Must update my signature but I keep getting an error when I try to, boo.

Mini EL is back and exhausted after a trip to the park and library. Lovely to have him back and we've got a fun weekend planned, I definitely need 3 days off. In good news it may well be my best week this year financially :T really tired but worth it.

Quidco have only goneband confirmed an extra £20 this afternoon that was also only due in September so this is great. I may still make another £100 op at this rate next week and delay the amazon purchases... Oh decisions! :rotfl:

Did a 500 point consumerpulse survey just now, eeking towards the next 10 cash out.

Hubby has arrived and exhausted, thankfully I've got chicken and mushroom pasta made already, using a stretchy roast chicken that's provided many meals so far. Might have some rice pudding and peaches for after yum.