Well I’ve reached the half-way mark of my five year goal to retire. It feels good to see that we are close to being on track with our mortgage payoff and doing better than expected with our retirement savings goal. I’m not sure how this will all end up but I’m just continuing with my original date for the time being and focusing on reducing that mortgage asap.
The last few weeks I’ve not been doing much, just ‘escaping’ by watching TV and taking a break from all thats going on in the world – some days it just feels a bit surreal so I had some time out and feel better for it.
So here’s our progress for the last month:
Mortgage
Savings
Mortgage
- current balance $86,657
- down from: $90,966
- total reduction $4,340
Our half way goal for the mortgage was $83,999 – so we are a little behind, but will catch up with my tax return soon. My second job did not pay me on time this month so that is a significant amount not paid on the mortgage yet.
Savings
- DH: $321,106
- me: $156,209
- total: $477,315
- total increase $12,386
Now that the new financial year has started ( July 1st) I have recommenced my salary sacrifice payments to my retirement fund. Our savings are heading in the right direction again which is good.
Work
I am still working from home for July. I’m finding it much less stressful and feel like I’m more productive as people can’t just drop in for a chat. Yet again our restructure /possible redundancies has been delayed until next year. I think covid has changed the options around work for me and my manager has told me part time work/working from home more could all be on the table in the future. But as this restructure has been going on for years now I’ll just keep plodding along with my five year goals.
Home
I really did not do much at home last month, no painting, no decluttering of the sewing room- just a lot of slacking off!! hopefully this month I do better.
Health
I am sleeping so well! 7- 8 hours a night – instead of 5-6 when I in the office & really busy. No change in my weight and not a lot of exercise, I tend to hibernate in winter and I need to get moving this month.
Other
We have no covid cases here fortunately but panic buying has returned after cases in Melbourne (thousands of miles away!) toilet paper, flour, rice, pasta, paper towel, tissues are all limited again as everyone has started panic buying in case it spreads outside Victoria. We’re still only going out when its essential and DH is back in his office.
My plans for July are mainly getting my taxes done and pottering about the house, working on a few sewing projects.
I feel like any progress is good news. I can't really compare different economies, but we seem to be heading backwards again in the US. too many people just will not wear masks to keep others safe. Ill be working at home for a while, and likely not be in the office more than two days a week once I start back up.
Its very sad watching whats happening in the US at the moment, its a reminder that it wouldn't take much for it to get out of control here as we start opening up again.