Natty's Kicking her Mortgage in the Pants Diary

A question about : Natty's Kicking her Mortgage in the Pants Diary

Yesterday whilst posting on another's diary, I realised that 6 years ago - this month - I joined MSE (although lurked for a good year before that).

So all in all, I have been on MSE for a good seven years which should have been time well spent hammering down my mortgage, naughty nattypants! Today is, as they say, the first day of the rest of my life so what better way to start than kicking my mortgage habit into oblivion.

Now, as a six year old MSE-er I know that keeping a diary is the secret to success, so from today I will be more prolific with posting and ensure that I keep up with other's diaries for inspiration, ideas, hints and top tips.

A wee bit about me...I have two children and a dog (my third baby!) living in a house which could easily have its own Sarah Beeney series

My mortgage is currently 110,782.81 and I am currently overpaying by a meagre (compared to some!) 20 per month (cannot find the 'pound' sign on this laptop). My challenge is to increase this amount whenever possible whilst continuing to save pennies for a). emergency fund (1K) and b). security fund (10K) both of which I am a L-O-N-G way off.

My immediate goal is to get my head into E-bay as I have a garage load of bits and pieces so it makes sense to de-clutter and start an overpayment pot immediately, especially as the 'C' word is just round the corner...eeeekkkkk

Will report in again soon

NP

Best answers:

• Hi,
  Good luck I have subscribed to follow you on your MFW journey, I decided that I would attempt to get my mortgage down a bit more this year as we are on interst only and I know that the time is getting closer until it finishes, so the more I can pay now the less I have to worry about later.
• Hello I'm back - two posts in one day!!! The Universe may implode with this unprecedented act.
  Hi especially to Heffi1 it's lovely to know that someone is reading my waffle.
  I was actually here earlier on attempting a post, however my son appeared so I quickly closed the laptop down (he probably thinks I was on a dating site!). Both my kids know about MSE, however I'm not altogether certain that I would like them to know that I have a diary...is that a bad thing?
  I have been thinking about my areas of 'spend' and 'cutback'. In no particular order, the main culprits are;
  Petrol - by Friday I will have swapped my gas-guzzler for a far more economical wee 1L so hopefully will notice an immediate improvement.
  Groceries - this will be the 3rd month of retaining ALL receipts for totalling. Prior to this I estimated my grocery bill to be 300 per month all in (I am too embarrassed to say the actual amount - maybe later).
  Guilty Pleasures - by this I mean chocolate, wine, magazines, crisps and other calorific snacks / non-essential items. I don't go to pubs and have no expensive hobbies, however I know I could cut-back on these 'treats'.
  I am away to count my change jar and will report back with the amount, as this will go towards feeding my mortgage's belly.
  Back soon
  NP
• 13.61 duly transferred via on-line banking to Mortgage belly.
  I have left the coins in the tin as my other goals for Emergency Fund and Security Fund still remain and this tin symbolises that I have 'ready cash' - albeit in coppers and small silver!
  Self-satisfaction coursing through my veins.....is this the start of my addiction?
  I'm away to watch my new favourite programme on C4+1 'Double your House for Half the Money'
  NP
• Ha Ha Mortgage belly I love it
• Yes I do have a diary https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4150273
  I have been a bit slow updating over the weekend, but remedied again, I think I am going to list the last few months grocery spends and see if I can get the number down lower.
• Good Morning Diary!
  Well, I'm off to Glasgow shortly (work thing) and as I am driving through my petrol consumption will take a battering so may have to do a mini refuel before Friday
  I have a bottle of water in my bag to save any unnecessary purchases, however I will no doubt have to purchase some exorbitantly priced sandwich (probably only panninis (sp?) will be on offer at this event!). Actually on second thoughts will take a couple of pieces of fruit from the house and hopefully get away with that
  EVERY PENNY IS MY NEW PRISONER
  Thank you for your diary link Heffi1 - I look forward to reading this later on tonight.
  Ooops - just seen the time, better scoot......
  NP
• Awww - thank you VoucherMan (you sound like a super-hero)
  NP
• Hi Nattypants,
  Indeed plenty of people lurking reading i'm sure
  I have duly subscribed and will be tuned in to see how big the 'belly' gets
  JH xx
• Thank you JanineH
  I am soooo tired after today's trip to Glasgow and not much money saving I'm afraid - bought a baked potato, and fruit returned uneaten
  I was really hoping to read other people's diaries this evening, however I'm afraid I can hardly keep my eyes open.
  I can't believe it's only Wednesday, all day I have been thinking that it's Friday tomorrow and looking forward to the weekend *sigh*
  I will check my on-line banking tomorrow and tot-up where I am on the savings front.
  I'll report back tomorrow for another entry MFW-Diary.
  NP
• Sleep well NP tomorrow is another day and I am sure once you are refreshed it will all make sense and fall into place.
• Good Morning MFW World
  I feel so much better after a good nights (almost interrupted) sleep - my daughter arrived into my bedroom in the early hours of this morning - after being out- to show me her new top and jacket!
  On the banking front I am just about scraping by until pay-day (one week today) which will encourage me to carefully meal plan and more importantly check my cupboard/freezer items before making further unnecessary grocery purchase. Grocery shopping is my biggest downfall and the crazy thing is I absolutely HATE grocery shopping
  This weekend, my intention is to go into my garage and select a few items to eBay (dipping my toes into the water here) with the aim to offset Christmas via Ebay (is this possible?) whilst feeding my big fat mortgage belly with O/Ps
  To anyone reading - have a lovely day and I'll report back soon.
  NP
• Good luck with your journey! I just found, read and enjoyed your diary so far and will subscribe to see how you get on. I hate food shopping too and it drives me nuts that we spend so much money on it...
• Thank you for posting Lulabelle.
  I have made a start reading your diary as I am most impressed (read this as nicely envious) with your overpayments - absolutely fantastic! I am only on page one though so will spend time over the weekend (in between sorting through the garage contents...bleurghhh - think money, think money, think money).
  I am trying to reach the magical 65% LTV (or should that be 35% LTV?) for which I think I am on target - mortgage Ј110,782 - check out the use of the ЈЈЈ signs Voucherman - against house value Ј165,000, so if I have Ј54218 equity in house....actually what does that equate to in terms of %LTV? My tiny wee peanut-sized brain is just not up complex maths at this time of night (or any time really!)
  Can someone help please?
  Not so good
  I spent unnecessarily today on nonsense - nothing major however I really didn't need a mars bar, poppets and matches???? (for candles) bliming H*me B*rga*ins lured me in as I was walking back to my car.
  Although I only spent Ј1.20 the new me is now thinking in terms of a wasted O/P amount. Slowly, yet blindingly clearly, I can see where my spends are being squandered.
  Ah well, hopefully another lesson learned, and I have turned the corner from being unconscious spender to conscious saver
  Night night MFW World
  NP
• Morning NattyPants, i will be joining you on the eb@y stuff this weekend, to see if can see some more family heirlooms, alternatively known as tut in this household
  Maybe use a spending diary for a couple of months to see where you cash goes - it is pretty startling and has shocked us a couple of times
  I also get confused about LTV,I guess we need to think of it as VTL
  Tilly x