A question about : Mortgage Free for a better life for me (and the family)
Hi all,
My husband and I have roughly Ј49k outstanding on our own house. About 5 years ago we threw lots of overpaments at this mortgage in order to decrease it but then decided that it was time to start planning for our old age and went ahead and saved hard for deposits for 3 BTL properties.
Accordingly we now have our own mortgage mentioned above along with three other mortgages each of approx.Ј80k. The three BTL's are rented out and each rent easily covers the mortgage with a bit left over each month
We were originally intending on saving up to by another BTL but now think that as the prices are rising at the moment in our area that we will be better clearing some of the mortgages as low as we can (preferably to Ј0 
) as soon as we can.
At the moment things are a little up in the air as we have just been advised that my husband is being made redundant from his current job and probably going to have to relocate to Scotland.
However with this incentive in our mind we have decided to start again our MF journey and see where it takes us.
I am a stay at home mum who makes handmade items to sell at craft fairs etc and am also a facepainter who works as and when bookings come in. However I don't earn a fortune and there is a chance that money may be tight for a few months whilst we adjust to the new job situation.
But theres nothing like a challenge so buckle up and off we go
Best answers:
- I've decided that I am going to try and do a little each day to save/earn extra money so here we go with todays efforts:-
1/ Fill car up with petrol using Tesco litre discount (8p per litre running out end of Feb) - DONE saved Ј2.63
2/ Swagbucks - DONE managed to reach 2nd target for a bonus 9 swagbucks 85/85
3/ No heating until 1.30pm - DONE managed to not turn it on until 3pm
4/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE Two lots listed total amount if sold Ј14
5/ Buy new wellies and trainers for kids (both got stolen from school!) -DONE - Shopped around and found wellies for Ј4 cheaper than most shops and trainers for under Ј18
6/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none available
7/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - None available
8/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE -Not a winner
9/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE 102 deleted
10/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE Jacket potatoes with butter and cheese
11/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale - DONE Made 2 lipbalm butterflies (idea from Pinterest) - I am also trying to spend a minimal amount on craft and use up what is in my stash already so hopefully this will help to boost the money I can add to the overpayment pots So far I have managed 40 days which is already for me
- I've just realised I have a very busy day tomorrow so thought I'd make a start on my list for tomorrow as I don't think I'll have much spare time
So for 10th Feb I intend to do the following small things:-
1/ Swagbucks - DONE 31/30 bonus 3 swagbucks
2/ No heating until 1.30pm - DONE
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE You Gov survey 25 points Nectar canvass 80 points
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE 105 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE Mince & tatties with puff pastry
9/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale - DONE 2 samples made
10/ Get together paperwork required for remortgage to a better rate on a BTL - DONE everything that can be done today
11/ Phone SKy and either cancel some of package or try and get better rate - DONE got free wireless connector to access box sets and catch up and cancelled sports and HD saving Ј23 pm
12/ Phone Talk Talk and try and get better rate for internet - DONE - 3 months free offered saving Ј75
13/ NSD (hopefully)
14/ Turn off fairy lights in daughter room once she has woken up to save batteries - DONE - Hi, good luck with your quest.
All the little things mount up, so they're all worth doing - I've been missing in action for a while but have still been doing little bits here and there to help the mortgage be reduced. However the bad news is that a week ago today I crashed my car and wrote it off I skidded on some mud on the road and ended up flying into a farmers field. The car was totalled but luckily my daughter and I got out with just some bruising, whiplash and shock.
It does mean however that it is going to use Ј4.5k of our savings as although the insurance will pay out hubby has decided that we need a newer replacement car so we are using some of our savings for this
I am still ploughing ahead with our mortgage free quest though and hoping that the little things will keep adding up.
So here's my list for today 20th Feb:-
1/ Swagbucks - DONE - 31/30 3 bonus swagbucks
2/ No heating until 1.30pm -
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale -
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - 50 point YouGov Survey and 40 point Nectar survey
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE - 109 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE - Spag Bol with garlic bread
9/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale -
10/ NSD (hopefully) - Morning all,
My quest to be MF today will be consisting of:-
1/ Swagbucks - DONE 48/40 bonus swagbucks 3 for meeting 1st target
2/ Turning off all lights kids have left on around the house - DONE
3/ List an item on Facebook for sale - DONE - listed a promarker storage wallet for Ј7
4/ Check mystery shopping jobs in my area - DONE - none close enough to earn
5/ Check for any surveys on Nectar or YouGov - DONE - You Gov survey 50 points Nectar Survey 40 points
6/ Check freepostcode lottery - DONE - not a winner
7/ Get rid of 100 emails from inbox - DONE - 103 deleted
8/ Plan dinner for tonight - DONE - Hot dogs, potato wedges and salad (using up rolls which are best before today and open salad)
9/ Make a couple of samples to show for possible sale - DONE - Made a wish star and a spa lady
10/ NSD (hopefully) - DONE - Now back from collecting the kids and not going out anymore tonight
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