May Progress Report

Time for another progress report! We're back to focusing on the mortgage payoff.  Our income is less now as my second job has finished. I still do the occasional consult but not having that extra income has definitely slowed down our savings and debt payoff rate. But its nice to work less and I was ready to stop so its all good.

Mortgage

• current balance: $52,627
• down from: $55,380
• total reduction: $2,753

Savings

• current balance: $629,559
• up from: $616,801
• total increase: $12,750

I had my first dose of Astrazenica after work last Friday.  I felt fine that evening, not even sore at the injection site. But mid-morning Saturday my whole arm started to ache, my joints hurt and I felt really tired. Fortunately, it only lasted a couple of days I feel back to normal now.

I'm hoping to catch up with a few friends in June and use up the last of my vouchers from the government on a meal and a movie. I'm also hoping to take some time off at the end of term so I'm counting down the days!

Back to Mortgage Payoff!

I'm ready to get back to smashing out this mortgage payoff! I had been going to wait until the end of next month to get back to it but a few things have happened in the last week that make me want to get the mortgage gone asap. 

I'm starting to hear about some of the changes that might be happening at work next year, changes I won't really like much. I want to be in a position to go part-time and that will be much easier if the mortgage is gone. Two of my good friends at work have told me they are leaving at the end of the year. I will really miss them, we've worked together for about 15 years and my day will not be the same with them gone. 

It's all motivation to keep on with my retirement plan and I won't feel comfortable retiring with a mortgage. 

So it felt very good yesterday to make a nice big payment off the mortgage to bring the balance down to $52,890. My plan now is to just go all out on getting rid of it asap, to stop overthinking things, and Just Do It. I've still got 9 months left at this higher salary, very busy job and it would be great to end that being mortgage free.

Mortgage Milestone!

Even though we've slowed down on the extra mortgage payments temporarily, we're still making steady progress towards its payoff. We've just hit another mortgage milestone with this weeks payment -  the end of Year 25! 

Our new mortgage balance is now $54,345. 

Our next milestone goal is $44,439.

I have to admit not much is happening here with me at the moment other than a lot of work! I was planning to go into the office today, first time ever on a weekend,  but will work at home instead for the morning to try and catch up a bit. Then I'm meeting an old work friend for lunch. I'm really looking forward to catching up with her, we've worked together on and off in different workplaces for the last 16 years and we have a lot of fun together. 

We'll use our government vouchers for our lunch so it won't cost much. The NSW government gave each person $100 in vouchers - two $25 ones for dining in a cafe or restaurant and two $25 ones for visiting any tourist attraction, so museums, events, theme parks. I have until the end of June to use them so I need to plan a visit somewhere in the next few weeks.  It's been a really good strategy to get people out spending again after Covid restrictions eased up, great for small businesses as everyone loves a freebie. 

Still here!

It's halfway through another month this morning and I realised I haven't posted since my last progress report! Time for me to get back to blogging more regularly I think. I'm still here and still plodding along :) 

My main reason for slacking off blogging has been work - which is very busy and the last few weeks I've been bringing work home every night. By the weekend I am just very tired and spend most of it catching up on sleep, doing a bit more work, and getting ready for the week ahead.   From this week I will be down to half staffing so it's not improving any time soon. I'm trying to pace myself so I can last the distance.

Strangely enough, I don't feel as stressed as I did last year. I find myself thinking about being retired often, thinking that this time next year I'll be doing things for the last time. I happily daydream about what it will be like to spend a day sewing or just go for a walk during the day, having the time to shop for bargains and grow a veggie garden.  I'm secretly excited at being only 18 months away from leaving! In my head I've already left.

With the finances - I'm going to keep adding extra to the retirement funds instead of the mortgage until the end of the financial year - (June 30th). Then I will reassess and recalculate. It's looking like the long-awaited restructure at work will happen before the end of the year so I should know more about what's ahead in early July.

Our retirement savings are doing very well and we're basically at a point where we could stop now & coast FIRE. I feel like time is just flying by so fast now!

April Progress Report

 I decided to take a break from blogging & being online as much this last month. The time out has been good and I'm back now with our progress report for April. Here's the numbers:

Mortgage

• current balance $55,380
• down from: $56,678
• total reduction: $1,298

Savings

• current balance $616,801
• up from: $596,502
• total increase: $20,299I

I was pleased to see such a big increase in our retirement savings this month - the combination of extra payments plus a rising market. 

Work

I've been enjoying the change in work. Its less stress but more work. I am a bit tired but I remind myself its only temporary. 

I think that one part of me feeling less stress is knowing that I'm getting closer to my last year of work. I just don't feel as invested in the workplace as I used to and I'm making decisions knowing I won't be a part of this team for very much longer - its given me more objectivity and the ability to keep out of the politics. 

I have had three offers of more consulting work in the last month. I turned down two of them and said yes to one as its just one hour per/fortnight working with a great client. It feels good to be able to be choosy and it gives me confidence that I'll be able to pick up a few hours work here and there if I want it when I retire/semi-retire.

Health

I'm not making any great progress here... I tell myself it will be easier when I'm not working...

Other:  We were able to spend Easter with our family which was wonderful after having to miss Christmas due to covid restrictions. It was so lovely to see everyone and feel that return to 'normal life' after a long year apart. We caught up again yesterday for FIL's 89th birthday. Not a lot is happening apart from that. I do a lot of daydreaming about what I want to get done in the house and garden- it feels like the second half of this five year plan is going much quicker than the first!