Good Afternoon All

So much has changed since my last diary, I felt now was the right time to start a new one. Linkie to the old one is here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5171678 if anyone wants a look-see!

A little about me for those who haven't 'met' me before. I am married to a fabulous DH, who runs his own business. There are major peaks and troughs to that, some months we are brassic and others we feel quite flush. It is a precarious balance at times, and we have to deal with constant late payers, tax bills etc, but on the whole it is worth it. DH job is very physically demanding though, and he works away all week.

We have two kiddies - DD is 4 and DS is 2. They are my world

Our outstanding mortgage as at today's date is bang on £141,900. When I began my old diary at the start of last year it was £171k, so we have done pretty well thusfar However, my income is greatly reduced now as I no longer work - I am officially a home-maker, and that is how it will stay for the foreseeable.

To clear our mortgage before we are 40 (i.e. 9 years time) is the grand plan. I would ideally like to do it in half that time, but 9 years is do-able and requires monthly OPs of £750.

I now have a spreadsheet (thank you hiddenshadow) and an obsession with only having 000 at the end of the mortgage (thank you A Frayed Knot!), and most importantly a frugal mind-set. We need to make each penny do the work of 3, whilst remembering to have some fun on the way.

The first target is to get into the 30s by Christmas... wish me luck, come along for the ride (but make sure you bring tea and biccies!)

ATB xx