The mindful MFW: A healthy, happy journey to a mortgage free life!
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museumworker
Posts: 2,240 Forumite
Hi all! Some of you may know me from my last two diaries (museumworkers quest to consign the mortgage to history and Making the Future Happen). A lot DID happen during my last diary, mostly things that threw me off the MFW course, including an unexpected (but much loved) third child and a new full time job! These are both changes for the better, but adjusting to even less time with even more responsibilities unfortunately took its toll on my health and wellbeing as well as our finances.
Anyway, I now feel like I've turned a corner - my health is improving, I'm settled at work, we have local childcare arranged (no more commuting with a toddler and buggy come September!) and we are starting to tackle the mortgage again. Rather selfishly I would like a new diary to mark this new phase as I feel a bit like my old one is, well, if not stained then a bit dog-eared. And who doesn't like the feel of a crisp new diary, all shiny, new and full of hope!
This time my journey to mortgage freedom has to be healthy and happy. I can't let myself get ill again, the whole family suffers. The mindfulness part is more aspiration than reality at the moment! However I've gained so much benefit from the mindfulness work that I have done that I really want to make it an integral part of my life. And I really want to enjoy my time with the kids, aged (nearly) 3, 5 and 14, and nurture my relationship with the very neglected OH. We love to travel and have days out, though usually there's a discount voucher and a packed lunch to hand if you look closely enough! Of course there will be challenges along the way, but if I can build personal resilience and keep a positive outlook I'll be much better placed to deal with them.
I would love it if you read and posted along - words of encouragement, suggestions, comments, questions, observations, witticisms, light ribbing - and the occasional reprimand if I start being self-negligent!
Some facts that always help at the start of a diary:
Mortgage balance at start of MF journey, March 2011: £190,000
Current balance July 2017: £95,979.89
Mortgage rate: 2.39% fixed at Feb 2016 for 5 years.
OPs in 2017 to date: £9,249.16
Total OPs 2011-16: £45k
LTV when house purchased 2008: 83%
Estimated Current LTV: 15%
Old mortgage rate: 5.09%
Old mortgage monthly payment: £1,200
Current mortgage monthly payment: £623.15
Original end date at renewal: February 2036
Current end date with no further OPs: October 2033 [guestimate, will check next time I call]
Target: April 2022 = £1,200 pm OP / £14,400 pa OP :beer:
Stretch target: September 2021 = £1,400 pm OP / £16,800 pa OP
Super stretch target: April 2021 = £1,600 pm OP / £19,200 pa OP :rotfl:
Just realised that means am possibly talking only 4 years or so until we're mortgage free :eek:! Wow, that feels so unreal - but incredibly motivating!!
Lots more to say, but right now we're off to bed. Thanks for reading!
Anyway, I now feel like I've turned a corner - my health is improving, I'm settled at work, we have local childcare arranged (no more commuting with a toddler and buggy come September!) and we are starting to tackle the mortgage again. Rather selfishly I would like a new diary to mark this new phase as I feel a bit like my old one is, well, if not stained then a bit dog-eared. And who doesn't like the feel of a crisp new diary, all shiny, new and full of hope!
This time my journey to mortgage freedom has to be healthy and happy. I can't let myself get ill again, the whole family suffers. The mindfulness part is more aspiration than reality at the moment! However I've gained so much benefit from the mindfulness work that I have done that I really want to make it an integral part of my life. And I really want to enjoy my time with the kids, aged (nearly) 3, 5 and 14, and nurture my relationship with the very neglected OH. We love to travel and have days out, though usually there's a discount voucher and a packed lunch to hand if you look closely enough! Of course there will be challenges along the way, but if I can build personal resilience and keep a positive outlook I'll be much better placed to deal with them.
I would love it if you read and posted along - words of encouragement, suggestions, comments, questions, observations, witticisms, light ribbing - and the occasional reprimand if I start being self-negligent!
Some facts that always help at the start of a diary:
Mortgage balance at start of MF journey, March 2011: £190,000
Current balance July 2017: £95,979.89
Mortgage rate: 2.39% fixed at Feb 2016 for 5 years.
OPs in 2017 to date: £9,249.16
Total OPs 2011-16: £45k
LTV when house purchased 2008: 83%
Estimated Current LTV: 15%
Old mortgage rate: 5.09%
Old mortgage monthly payment: £1,200
Current mortgage monthly payment: £623.15
Original end date at renewal: February 2036
Current end date with no further OPs: October 2033 [guestimate, will check next time I call]
Target: April 2022 = £1,200 pm OP / £14,400 pa OP :beer:
Stretch target: September 2021 = £1,400 pm OP / £16,800 pa OP
Super stretch target: April 2021 = £1,600 pm OP / £19,200 pa OP :rotfl:
Just realised that means am possibly talking only 4 years or so until we're mortgage free :eek:! Wow, that feels so unreal - but incredibly motivating!!
Lots more to say, but right now we're off to bed. Thanks for reading!
Mortgage [STRIKE]16/03/2011: £190K 01/01/2017: £107,729.65 [/STRIKE] 01/07/2017: £95,979.89
OPs 2011-2016 = £45K 2017 OPs = £9250.20
OPs 2011-2016 = £45K 2017 OPs = £9250.20
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Comments
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Was just about to gently admonish you for a late-ish posting - and then read the last sentence! - hope you're on your way to a good night's sleep xxI am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soulRepaid mtge early (orig 11/25) 01/09 £124616 01/11 £89873 01/13 £52546 01/15 £12133 07/15 £NILNet sales 2024: £200
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I've read some of your previous diaries so I'm quite excited to have rejoined the mfw journey at the point you start a new one.
You deserve a medal for halving your mortgage repayments. Just think how much power all your previous ops have had and will have in the future.
All the best on the next chapter of your diary.Outstanding mortgage: £23,181 (December 19)
MFW 2020 Challenge Member #10 0/£23180 -
Well done on what you have achieved so far, I am also trying to balance life in general and using mindfulness, yoga and tai chi to help keep stress in check.0
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Another one here that has discovered yoga and mindfullness.........though my mission for being mortgage free has gone out the window to be replaced with savings for holidays.
Will watch your journey with interest.Make £10 a Day Feb .....£75.... March... £65......April...£90.....May £20.....June £35.......July £600 -
Happy new diary MW2022 MFW 67 - 33 month challenge to clear mortgage, month 17 completed and and extra 2 knocked off 🙂MFI3 No.120
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Love your first post MW. You have made so much progress with your mortgage since you first started a diary. Will be following this one again with interest. I've just started a bit of mindfulness but am not doing it as well or as often as I should.Apr 2024 - part 1 - £30,337 part 2 - £24,811 Total - £55,148 43 months to go!0
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Was just about to gently admonish you for a late-ish posting - and then read the last sentence! - hope you're on your way to a good night's sleep xx
I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to use the waggly finger emoji during this diary! Admonish is such a great word too . Slept well although felt very drained most of today, it is very humid in London so that probably doesn't help! Hope you've had a good weekend.Mortgage [STRIKE]16/03/2011: £190K 01/01/2017: £107,729.65 [/STRIKE] 01/07/2017: £95,979.89
OPs 2011-2016 = £45K 2017 OPs = £9250.200 -
wishingthemortgaheaway wrote: »I've read some of your previous diaries so I'm quite excited to have rejoined the mfw journey at the point you start a new one.
You deserve a medal for halving your mortgage repayments. Just think how much power all your previous ops have had and will have in the future.
All the best on the next chapter of your diary.
Welcome back Wish! Good to see you back on the MFW boards too. Have subscribed to your diary and look forward to cheering you on.
It was quite an eye opener writing that opening post, I've been a bit hard on myself for not doing too well the last few years but seeing it in black and white made me realise how much progress we HAVE made. We are already talking about what we can do to celebrate mortgage freedom in 4-5 years!Mortgage [STRIKE]16/03/2011: £190K 01/01/2017: £107,729.65 [/STRIKE] 01/07/2017: £95,979.89
OPs 2011-2016 = £45K 2017 OPs = £9250.200 -
louloubelle79 wrote: »Well done on what you have achieved so far, I am also trying to balance life in general and using mindfulness, yoga and tai chi to help keep stress in check.
Thanks louloubelle, congrats on starting your MFW journey. Do you have a diary? All mindfulness and yoga tips gladly accepted. I tried tai chi but haven't got the patience (misss the point). :rotfl:Mortgage [STRIKE]16/03/2011: £190K 01/01/2017: £107,729.65 [/STRIKE] 01/07/2017: £95,979.89
OPs 2011-2016 = £45K 2017 OPs = £9250.200 -
Excellent title for your new diary. Looking forward to following along0
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