A question about : Janey's Journey to Becoming a MFW
After reading so many great and inspirational diaries on here, I have finally decided to start my own! I have dithered over whether to start a MFW diary since I got the mortgage 16 months ago, because we won't actually be able to overpay anything for a few more years yet. But after receiving a gentle push in the right direction from Lois_E, Pearla*Merle, gallygirl and Goldiegirl, I am finally getting on with it 
Our mortgage currently stands at Ј96,839.00 but will have nearly Ј500 interest added in a week or two 
However, before we can overpay, we need to save up to extend and completely renovate our house. My current estimate for the work and target to save is around Ј20,000 but this will probably change when we get drawings and planning.
My main aim with this diary is to keep track of our progress. We have achieved so much in the last few years with saving a deposit, buying a house and getting engaged. I am, and always have been, a saver whereas my OH is definitely not! So I now have total control of our money (at his request) 
Anyway, I'm looking forward to chatting with you all, so please say hello if you're reading 
I will try to post regularly to help keep me motivated!
Janey x
Best answers:
- Hello have you any idea how long it will take you to save for the renovations or will there be a wedding happening at the same time?
- Hi skint_spice!
Renovation savings are currently on hold while we save for a wedding which I hope will not be too expensive. We had a slight moment of madness and booked flights for a holiday in August which we had been talking about for the last few years. It's proving to be a very expensive holiday as we are driving around and staying in a few different places, but we are viewing it as our last chance before starting a family! Once that is paid for we will throw everything at the wedding fund then return to focus on the renovation fund. It all seems very expensive - So, time for some figures
Emergency fund: Ј2400 of Ј9000
Renovation fund: Ј4304 of Ј20,000
Holiday fund: 69% This will become the wedding fund when full!
I also have a small Baby fund which I add to now and then from my personal account but this goal seems a long way away. I'm very impatient and the savings seem to grow really slowly when you keep looking at them! - Yay, Janey! So glad to see your diary up & running. Good luck with all your saving, having a diary is so motivating, I'm sure you'll be hitting the Ј20k mark before you know it.
Can't wait to hear all the wedding chatter
I used to have a small baby fund too, or rather it was a Montessori school fund, but it got raided when we moved, hopefully I can restart it soon!
PS. You might like to check out newgirly's diary as well (she's just been renovating) - Hi Pearla, thanks for dropping by! My 'Baby fund' will also probably get raided or turned into something else before too long!
So far this week I've done a lot of cleaning and decluttering so trying to take it a bit easier today
Todays list:
Update budget
Menu plan for next week
TЈsco grocery order
Book travel insurance
Book airport parkingUsed Ј30 of Tesco clubcard vouchers to get Ј60 off the total cost
Hire car excess insurance Booked through Top C@shback at 25%
Clear out car Car parked quite far away, will do it tomorrow if I manage to park closer
Walk dog Walking to the beach after dinner with OH
Currently decluttering some TV from the sky box - Yay! You've started your diary. Well done.
When's the wedding going to be? Do you have an actual date for it yet? - Hi Lois!
Starting a diary isn't nearly as difficult as thinking about starting one so thanks for the advice We don't have a date as such, it's taken a while to come to terms with the fact that I've got to be centre of attention for a day, not something I enjoy It has to be school holidays because of my job so we're thinking about next February half-term. We've got a couple of ideas for venues but I want it to be quite informal - no bridesmaids or speeches!
I've had quite a productive day so far. I've nearly completed my list and also managed to put flea stuff on the dog, book an extremely bargainous hire car for the second week of our holiday, applied for a new passport and sat in the sun with a book for an hour Now having a quiet cuppa
Also a NSD
Edit: not sure it counts as a NSD with all that spending on the credit card - Hello Janey. Welcome and good luck.
- Thanks Alchemilla, I may need that good luck
Wow, I'm really on a roll today. Just booked a hotel near the airport for the night before our flight for Ј37 with 12% cashback through Јco and 200 nectar points. Also everything I have booked today has been on the TЈsco credit card so earning clubcard points too!
Looking forward to a lie-in and arriving at the airport relaxed and on time, instead of the usual stressed, tired and late after a 6 hour drive through relentless roadworks! - Hello, glad you started the diary.
Sounds like you have an exciting time ahead of you, so will look forward to hearing all about it - Wow. Hotel sounds a bargain.
- Hi Janey, really pleased you've started your own diary. You will get support, advice and much laughter
I wish you well with your plans.
Best wishes Tilly x - Hi Tilly and Goldiegirl and thanks for dropping in!
I'm subscribing to everyone's diaries but reckon I've got weeks of catching up ahead of me
Just in from a nice 2.3 mile walk and the sky is lovely and clear, hope the sunny weather hangs around for a bit! - Afternoon all!
- hung up washing to dry without using tumble dryer
- Mr T delivery put away by moi (i.e. all in the correct cupboards, unlike when OH does it)
- Ј6 spent on a pilates class
- e0n direct debit increased from Ј61 to Ј75
- filled up car at Mr T with 8p off per litre
- Morning everyone
I'm feeling a bit off this morning. It's been an emotional week, but I have crossed a lot of items off of my never ending 'to do' list. I'm probably just tired
Anyway, I can't cope without the previously mentioned list so am off to write one. It will include 'organise wedding' ... maybe that needs to be broken down into more manageable steps
On the MFW front: - I'm hoping for a NSD
- Feeling tempted to re-jig my budget again, but think I need to let the current one settle first!
- After a slow start this morning, today has been very productive
- 2 loads of washing dried outside without use of tumble dryer
- Passport forms printed, just waiting for OH's photo
- Picked up after dog in garden (thank goodness she's small!)
- Filled garden waste bin ready for collection next week
- 2 trips to the dump getting rid of general building waste/carp that had accumulated by the back door
- Dog walked - 2.5 miles by the sea
- Have been given a mahoosive bag of dog food! Enough for a year or more for our small dog
- Not a NSD, succumbed to pasties for lunch
- Sounds like you got a lot done. The dog walking and the pasties sound good
I don't feel like I've done very much today. The sun is trying to shine and we're just about to go out for a walk if I can wake OH up. He had to work earlier and is now snoozing on the sofa!
Hope you are all enjoying your Saturday
It's sunny
Have a lovely day everyone
I'm now relaxing with a cuppa and the last slice of cake. Just got the vacuuming to do and then we're going to look at wedding venues
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