Walking With Grandmpa [my father and grand-daughter]

Walking With Grandmpa [my father and grand-daughter]
"I like walking with granpa his steps are short like mine." (dedicated to my dad who passed 4/1/10)

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Cutting corners to pay off mortgage

I have been racking my brains for ways to save money since Jim's heart attack. It still surprises me when I say that word! I just never in a million years would have thought this could happen at 48. As far as saving here and there I started a "working to be debt free" and made a few changes and this has helped pay off a few bits here and there, but now I'm talking "we had a scare" and this is our mortgage. If Jim would have been off for a time we would have been in serious trouble very quickly, so this is my goal...shorten our home mortgage! The pay off is in 8 years but I would like to knock this in half (or as close to this as we can manage) I realize the next few years will be a lot harder....but just thinking about our home being clear makes me breath easier. I have started a home journal, this along with my blog (I hope) will keep me accountable with no backsliding! I will list the ways I have been saving in the past and what I will be learning in the future as I go along. I did end the year correctly (my opinion) the presents were made by me and this saved a few bucks :) looking through our clothing I don't see us needing any clothes, if we do I'll go to the thrift shop.....I'm limiting my grocery shopping to twice a month, getting rid of one car, this will save monthly on insurance that I can then apply to loan. The house phone has to stay (neighbors are 3\4 mile away) and I never know when an emergency may come up with mom.....cell phones can go but I have to wait until our contract is up! I dropped our dish down to basic, this dropped our cost from $103 a month to $54, I would just as soon get rid of the TV but this is about the only thing my mom does so I would never do that. Does anyone have any ideas on saving that I can apply to our lives? I thought about making items and selling on eBay or etsy.....the extra money I make has to be limited to what I can do at home because I am mom's caregiver and I can't \wont leave her alone.
The mister and I had a stand off yesterday he was in the road and just did not feel like moving......what do you do when a 1800 pound bull is not willing to "play nice".....I decided to wait and it only took him about 10 minutes to get bored :) this is also an area we can put a chunk on our mortgage! Since we have finally gotten the 14 head we wanted the calves that will be born next month.......(I will not get attached!!!) Can be sold in the fall.



10 comments:

  1. I just love your blog and I think I understand what you are going through. I am sure you already follow this blog but if not it is one I recommend for you to help with your situation, Take care, Carol http://www.frugalqueen.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! No I have never been to her blog but after reading a bit I know I will be going back there a lot so I started following. Hope you have a good day!! :)
      Kim

      Delete
  2. Sounds like you are headed in the right direction. We are also on a goal to be rid of our mortgage and have been steadily chopping it down. We totally gave up our tv but neither of us watched it. I did call on our phone bill to see if there was anything else that could be done to reduce the bill for our landline and internet service. They were nice enough to cut $25 per month off the bill for one year. I will take I it. I also checked around and saved about $350 by changing insurance carriers for our house and vehicle. That is about all I can cut unless we stop eating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a great idea about the phone I'll call tomorrow I think I will also check around on our insurance

      Delete
  3. You are certainly thinking clearly and doing the right things. My thoughts and prayers are with you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I tried to make some money by selling clothes I no longer needed on ebay. I found that it wasn't worth the trouble. I didn't really make any money. I try to save on my electricity bill by keeping the house a little chilly during the winter. What about grocery shopping with coupons and specials? I used to do that and it helped.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you owe anything on credit cards, call the companies and request a reduction in the interest rate. It's amazing what you can get sometimes when you just ask.

      Delete
    2. I will try that I have one :) hope when I get the Sunday paper there are lots of coupons!! I am so hoping this helps at least it makes me feel better that I am trying!

      Delete
  5. We're trying to get our mortgage down as well in any which way! Ours is over a much longer period though. If you come up with any ideas let me know! Every over payment on the mortgage knocks months off the total term so its a good incentive

    ReplyDelete

Please leave a comment, would love to hear from you :)