Getting a mortgage and then becoming mortgage-free!

ch4rly2002 · 14 March 2017 at 12:14PM

Losing the will to live here... I just typed a loooong reply when my computer blue-screened and restarted

I'll try again

ch4rly2002 · 14 March 2017 at 12:24PM

I know what you mean about the toiletries. DH works away a lot and brings back lots of freebies, which take us ages to get through. At Christmas I did one of those Samaritans shoeboxes and it asks for soap so I put in loads of bars from hotels, and still have enough to last a good chunk of the year.

Regarding Starbucks (and the mega bucks it costs to drink there), have you considered getting a coffee machine and making your own? We have saved a tonne over the years since getting our Nespresso machine. The capsules from Nespresso cost about 30p each, and other brands are making compatible capsules either for less money or to sell their own coffee - Starbucks sell their coffee in Nespresso compatible format now (it used to be for their own machines only which we couldn't use). I even found packs of 10 taylor's coffee capsules for £1 each in the poundshop in Leeds a few weeks ago so they worked out at only 10p each, bargain

We asked a barista at Starbucks which coffee capsule uses the coffee that they put in most of their drinks (it's purple by the way) and when we made it at home we couldn't taste a difference. You can also get syrups and flavoured capsules if you prefer chocolate or vanilla etc. We regularly make a coffee in our thermos type cups and take them out with us. Aldi are currently selling a Nespresso type machine for £49.99, milk frother for £19.99 and capsule holder for £3.99, which seems to be a very good price and Nespresso often reduce their basic models. I know it's a bit of an investment upfront but if you and your lady love Starbucks it might be worth considering.

ch4rly2002 · 14 March 2017 at 12:25PM

Well done on finding the bargains as well, sounds like you god some good deals there

Kittenkirst · 14 March 2017 at 3:04PM

ch4rly2002 wrote: »

Losing the will to live here... I just typed a loooong reply when my computer blue-screened and restarted I'll try again

Ahhh Charley my phone does it sometimes and I want to throw it out the window! Thanks for perservering and reposting

We've contemplated getting a coffee machine but I would need to talk the gf down from gettin a £1k bean to cup model that she thinks is the bees knees! We do have a milk frothed which I use on the weekends for frothy coffee treats and that does hit the spot. Deffo food for thought now that Starbucks do Nespresso capsules.

Kittenkirst · 14 March 2017 at 8:44PM

I wanted to recap on my Goals for 2017:
1) overpay mortgage by £2150 in 2017- we're at £417.62 so far - 19% with a nice chunk of £242 going in once cashback clears and the normal OP takes place
2) rebuild savings to £1750 in 2017- currently at £905.20 52%
3) get rid of credit card once & for all (£940 left on 0%) - £214 left to pay tomorrow and will be gone!
4) have two mini breaks away with my gf- enjoy life & experiences- not planned yet.....

5) run a 10km race - enrolled for one but it's the date of a good friends baby boys christening so will have to give place away. 5km obstacle race booked for 1st April so that's a start!
6) find somewhere to volunteer at- aim for at least 6 volunteering days in 2017 preferably with homeless charity or a mental health charity- not done anything on this one (good intentions and all that) must get on with it!

I've been number crunching and would like to be in the position that I have £5.5k in savings (regular saver, normal easy access & sharesave through work) by the end of the year. I think this is rather ambitious but can be achieved if I am stringent with the budget! I will see how I get on with clearing the CC and the first savings target though before committing to it

Kittenkirst · 14 March 2017 at 8:46PM

Leek and potato soup had been made and scoffed, leftovers cooling on the worktop to then pop into food bags when cold and freeze (they stack like bricks when done this way and popped into one lunch box)

Had a much better day at work today and was at a closer office than I'm based which meant once my face to face meetings finished I drove home and worked from the kitchen...got to do some chores on lunch break and enjoy the sunny afternoon in the kitchen next to the patio doors

I'm off up north tomorrow afternoon after a morning in the office, so hire car has been dropped off already and I've made my lunch before I hit the road. Should be at the hotel for 6pm and will get to have dinner with my gf as she's staying tomorrow too (hoping she fancies Nando's as the company is paying, well for £20 meal allowance at least!)

Payday tomorrow so all the shuffling of money will start. Had a quick check on the grocery budget and worked out that since 1st Jan to today we have spent £15.06 a week which is fab, and very much helped out by the free toilet paper & milk from the parents shop!

I've spent some time updating my app and thinkin about the next set of goals for me to aim for which I've managed to cross post with this one...whoops!

Kittenkirst · 15 March 2017 at 6:59PM

Not long arrived in Manchester following a bit of a rubbish drive...company sat nav I borrowed had me driving all around Manchester in rush hour....but I'm here now so can relax, phew! I failed in preparation as had pasta, pesto,broccoli & mozzarella made for lunch but couldn't eat that as I drove so I bought a subway sandwich

it tasted lovely and stopped the hunger pangs but I should plan better next time!

Cashback has cleared- so that's £130 from Sky & £22.50 from car insurance I've swiftly swept that over as on OP just now- that £152.50 is 7% of my yearly target so is a nice big lump sum :T :T

Pay day today so preliminary money shuffles completed with £800 sent mortgage & bills account ready for the month. Also the Credit card final balance of £214.31 now paid

I'm holding back on the jumping for joy until I find the last statement & confirm it's all cleared in full, either way it's a good step in the right direction.

Off out for dinner tonight- debating going into central Manchester or staying around here (there's a few pubs, a nandos etc), will see how tired I feel in an hour or so and go from there!

Kittenkirst · 17 March 2017 at 2:47PM

Finally back home after a long but fun few days, Wednesday was an evening out paid for by the company (definitely a perk of working away) and then yesterday went to see gf's family for a birthday meal which her uncle kindly paid for which was unexpected but very very lovely. Went to a fab little pizza place so I'm still pretty full today

Small spends of lunch at work yesterday as didn't want to have to store food at hotel in case it went funny, and then a card and birthday chocs for the cousin who's birthday it was.

Despite lots of travel no frothy coffees were purchased so I've made up with it today when working from home with a cafetière of fresh coffee and frothy milk

yum!

Just reconciling my accounts spreadsheet and seem to have a miscalculation somewhere (£6.27 difference somewhere) in Feb so am working through my account statement to check it all off as is bugging me a lot!

Front and back door mats have finally arrived from our offcuts of carpet so £17 spent on those but they look fab at the front & back doors.

Hairdressers tomorrow to spend my valentines gift of £50 voucher for colouring- going for a flame red and a different cut to normal as fancy a change. As a friend recommended the salon I'm also getting 25% off the whole price so feeling like an indulgent yet not too speedy treat :A

gallygirl · 17 March 2017 at 8:13PM

Kittenkirst wrote: »

Just reconciling my accounts spreadsheet and seem to have a miscalculation somewhere (£6.27 difference somewhere) in Feb so am working through my account statement to check it all off as is bugging me a lot!

Bung in a balancing item for £6.27

.

Save

Kittenkirst · 17 March 2017 at 10:23PM

Ha ha good shout Gallygirl, I managed to reconcile it in the end and luckily I'd undercounted rather than over

Some groceries bought this evening for £14.28 so the remaining 72p has been swept to the mortgage....we made a beautiful Kung Pao chicken with lots of veggies added alongside rice- was just delicious but we had to buy a few items specially (we'll make sure we recreate it to use up the ingredients!) including £6 on rice wine. We googled alternatives and so then looked at Dry Sherry which was just as pricey!

Now chilling watching Sten Lees Lucky man which I'm really enjoying...I do love a bit of James Nesbitt, such a great actor!

Getting a mortgage and then becoming mortgage-free!

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