Tuesday, 24 September 2013

Look what I have at the bottom of my garden!


Hello Dear Reader,

Those who have been reading Frugal Queen from the start know my journey and how difficult it has been. In 2009, we sold our current house and found a little cottage to downsize into. At the 11th hour, our mortgage provider, or should I say the underwriter, pulled our mortgage with the stony words that we had too much on personal borrowing. I should say so, £45,000 of unsecured debt to be exact. We had to stay put with a massive mortgage and pay off the debts we owed at the same time. We paid that back in less than two years and then went on to over pay our mortgage.

Since then, we have drastically reduced our mortgage to the point that we had secured a good amount of capital to move. Even though our house has lost value, we will be moving to a cottage that on the day we turn the key, we will own almost 50% of it! This time, our mortgage has been agreed and the underwriters have no reason at all to withdraw the offer.

Now, my journey to mortgage freedom is real! 

Now you can all share my new journey to a simpler downsized life. A smaller house and little garden. Other than that, nothing will change. In fact, it will renew my desire to live a simple and frugal life as I will be able to increase the percentage I over pay by as I will have more disposable income. I will also be able to save more and have more financial security.

Thank you to everyone who believed in me and your steadfast support through the dark times as it was your light and hope that got me here today.

Until tomorrow,

Love Froogs xxxxxxxx

132 comments:

  1. That is brilliant :) Well done for getting this far, and fingers crossed it all goes smoothly for you.

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  2. Many congratulations - you deserve this so much! Good luck with the move.

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  3. Woo! Really really pleased for you Froogs :) You have worked so hard to clear your debt and reduce your mortgage. All the best for your new home and i look forward to reading more about your continuing journey to mortgage freedom. Take care xx

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  4. Congratulations Froogs. Can't wait to see the new place and follow the next stage of your journey

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  5. Fantastic news. Many congratulations to you and your DH! Whoo Hoo! Looking forward to sharing your next steps.

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  6. Whoo-hoo - fabulous news. Delurking here to wish you well - I have recently been able to pay off the mortgage after redundancy and early retirement. I was advised not to pay it off "while rates are so low" but the feeling of knowing this place is mine is indescribable.
    Hope everything stays on track

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  7. Such good news. I hope you will find your forever home now.
    Sylvia

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  8. Congratulations, hope it all goes smoothly :]

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  9. Congratulations, Jane, you thoroughly deserve this :)

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  10. That's a very good news ! I'm happy for you, we have been mortgage-free for 3 years now and it's such a change in our lives... Paying quickly our mortgage had been such a burden during the 12 years we had to do it...

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  11. Fab news! Perhaps we can celebrate on Saturday with a coffee and a donut. ;-)

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  12. WooHoo! What lovely news, so pleased for you. Hope it all goes smoothly, and quickly! Looking forward to hearing all about it

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  13. Congratulations on your good news.

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  14. Oh lovely! You both certainly worked hard to present your house so well.

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  15. I'm new to the blog and your long journey but have read a few of your past writings etc so it's wonderful to see your happy 'ending' of one sort and the 'new beginning' of another. Congratulations! You're definitely inspiring me to save to get a deposit and you're definitely inspiring many others too. Hope your new home will be full of many happy memories! :)

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  16. Yay, fantastic news for you both.Looking forward to the journey to the new house.Thanks to your inspiration, we are almost mortgage free and will be downsizing in a couple of years.

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  17. Yay, you sold your house, fantastic news.

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  18. So so happy for your Froogs! What a week you are having. Congrats on your MAD award as well. I really hope your house sale goes through quickly and smoothly. Looking forward to hearing all about your new home x

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  19. Many congratulations Froogs and DH!! A new chapter beckons - and I can't wait to read all about it :) x x x

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  20. THAT IS TOTALLY AMAZZZZZZZING!!!!!!! You must be so relieved. Is there a small part of you that will miss the space you have with this house? Here's to a new chapter in your life. Xxx

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  21. Congratulations. Terrific news. Hope everything is plain sailing from here on in for you both. x

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  22. I'm so pleased for you Jane xxx exciting times ahead, let the fun commence :-)

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  23. Congratulations and good luck with the move.
    Pam in TX

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  24. Oh bloody good show and well done Froogs :))
    Good luck to you - you deserve it xx

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  25. This is such good news, you must be so excited. Cannot wait to find out more details, but for now, fingers crossed for all the horrible red tape. X

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  26. I've never met you in real life but I'm grinning from ear to ear on your behalf. Good luck in the next chapter of your lives FQ and DB x

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  27. That is wonderful news Froogs, I'm sitting here with a huge grin on my face. Thanks for this blog and all the good Karma you put int this world. Much love Penny L in Dorsetxxx

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  28. Fantastic news and in all honesty you kept me going through dark times. I know the light is at the end of the tunnel :D Thank you x

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  29. Really pleased for you. Hope everything goes through without a hitch.

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  30. Nice one, and one in the eye for the mortgage holder, they're going to get a lot less interest from you.

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  31. Just recently discovered your blog, read almost everything. You really, really deserve it, and I am very happy for you! Greetings from the Netherlands :) You are a great inspiration to all complainypants with an 'underwater' house, claiming they can not do anything about it.

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  32. So pleased for you, your spirit and commitment have seen you through!!! Welldone:)

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  33. That's brilliant news and how exciting to enter the next chapter of your life. You are one step closer to an earlier retirement too. I look forward to your downsizing posts!

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  34. Couldn't be more delighted for you both. Well Done, Looking forward to the next chapter.

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  35. I am thrilled for you - Congratulations!

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  36. Brilliant news! Congratulations!

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  37. Woo hoo! Well done, fab news!

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  38. congrats on the sale of your house, I hope your new home brings you as much joy as ours does - we downsized just over a year ago, best thing ever, Deb M, (qld australia)

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  39. Excellent news, hope you'll be really happy in your new home.

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  40. Fabulous news, hoping for a quick smooth sale for you. Jo

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  41. Congrats! Have you found the new place to move to? Is so please share a picture with us and tell us about it! I am also contemplating a downsize myself... not so easy as a single mom with kids at home, having lost value in my home since buying it as well.. but I am trying to figure out what is best for me at this time and I need a cheaper payment for sure and would like to be a LOT less in debt.

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  42. Congrats! Looking forward to seeing your cottage as you make it your home!

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  43. Congratulations you two! If I lived close I would help you move, but I will be there in spirit.

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  44. So thrilled for you both to read that you have sold the house! Here's to the next part of your journey to financial freedom.

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  45. you must both be on a high! This month is turning out to be great for you, what with this and the award. you deserve them both you work so hard, congratulations. I cant wait to read that you have exchanged and the moving van is on the drive. We are all here along for the ride! Well done, your house is beautiful.

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  46. great news good luck with this new chapter will be watching with great interest as usual

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  47. Brilliant news Froogs, congratulations!

    xx

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  48. Woo-hoo! So pleased for you and looking forward to reading all about the new home. Best of luck to you both. :)

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  49. What excellent news! I am so pleased for you - now you can enjoy planning your new lifestyle and I'm really looking forward to hearing all about it in the blog!


    Jane

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  50. Glad to hear! I am a witness of your adventure and knOw that it is not an easy

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  51. Woo hoo! Well done You!
    I wish you every happiness, health and prosperity in your new home!
    Blessings
    Sandie xxx

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  52. Congratulations and well done Froogs and DB, looking forward to following your journey in your new home - and thank you for sharing so much with us all. God bless. x

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  53. Congratulations and very well done!

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  54. That is fantastic news ! Look forward to your new adventures in your new home :)

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  55. Congratulations! This is wonderful news, and I'm happy for you--and just a tad jealous. Although we own our home free and clear, it is waaaaaaaay too big for us now and I'm hoping to downsize in a year or two. Your success encourages me!

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  56. Proof positive, hard work pays. Congratulations!

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  57. Congratulations Froogs! So happy for you xxxxxx

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  58. Fantastic news! hope this goes smoothly for you!
    Carol in CT

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  59. Congratualations! I am so happy for the two of you! Can't wait to see the new home. :)

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  60. What a triumph!!! Congratulations for the good 'ol US of A!

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  61. Congratulations! Well Done!

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  62. It must be a huge relief and very exciting - all the best going forward!

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  63. YAAAAAAYYYY!! I'm so happy for you I have pressure behind my eyes!!!! You are one incredible woman I look up to. You set your objectives, fasten the belt, put the helmet on, and run that mutha IN!! Every single time. I will try my best to learn from you.

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  64. Delighted for you both xxx

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  65. Congratulations! That is fantastic news

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  66. Congratulations. Wishing you happiness in your new home. X

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  67. That's fantastic news Froogs! I got goosebumps when I saw the 'sold' sign photo. You have both worked so hard to get here...well deserved too. Huge congratulations to you both xxx

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  68. Yay Froogs and DB. This has put a huge grin on my face on a dismal morning. You have worked so hard for this and it is wonderful that you can now enjoy the fruits of your labours. Congratulations.

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  69. Félicitations, chère Jane ! I can't wait to see the new house on your blog !xxx

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  70. As one door closes, another one opens - let your new venture begin!

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  71. As one door closes, another one opens - good luck with your new adventure!

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  72. Great news! I'm so pleased that everything is working out this time : )

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  73. Well done on the house sale, I look forward to moving to your new home with you ;)

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  74. Well done! I'm so happy for you!
    You deserve it!

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  75. Well done! You totally deserve this XX

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  76. Excellent news, I'm so excited for both of you.

    We are now in a similar position, as we own 50% of our new place too and are hoping to throw every available penny at our brand new mortgage to get it paid off in the next three or so years.

    We can cheer each other on through Blogworld.

    Congratulations :-)

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  77. That's great news - well done! wishing you the best of luck with the whole moving process.

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  78. thats fantastic news , looking forward to seeing your new home. xxx

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  79. Congratulations! I am so happy for you. Looking forward to joining in on your new journey.

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  80. Congratulations. I am so excited for you.

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  81. Fabulous news, Fingers crossed all goes smoothly, Thank you for sharing with us, you have worked so hard to make this happen ENJOY xx

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  82. Many congratulations to you both. I was so hoping your house would sell quickly. Now for a new chapter. Xxxxx

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  83. fabulous news. I shall keep fingers crossed that exchange is quick and trouble free, and that your move is too.

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  84. Sooo exciting....have you a place in mind yet? And how fast do you have to vacate?

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  85. So pleased to see that photo today. Fingers crossed for a smooth, quick transaction

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  86. Congratulations, looking forward to seeing the new house, keep giving us you tips, I would be list without them, recipes are brilliant, I have been making you faggots for ages, they are lush. And your meatballs thanks for a smashing blog,

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  87. Congratulations Froogs and Dearly Beloved you must be absolutely thrilled all your hard work and diligence has at long last paid off......

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  88. Congratulations to you both! The hard work is paying off. I look forward to following the next stage of your journey.

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  89. Fab news. Good luck with the move. Looking forward to reading about your new home.

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  90. Congratulations - hope the rest of the move goes nice and smoothly! x

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  91. Happy news! I can attest to the wonders of being done with mortgages in one's 40's! Your enterprising hard work has truly paid off for you. Some thing tells me you have the timeline for this mortgage all worked out.

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  92. Congratulations! A new adventure for you and yours. We look forward to walking it with you.

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  93. Congratulations, and best wishes for happiness in your new home x

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  94. oh my such a blessing. Congrats!!! All of your hard work and determination has certainly paid off. I can't wait to see your new home!!

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  95. How exciting! I look forward to following the next part of your journey Froogs :)

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  96. Yay! The day finally came - well done Froogs, got there in the end!

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  97. Congratulations, you deserve this - you are so inspiring to many and thank you for this - cant wait to see the new house and how it all develops in the new chapter of your lives xx

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  98. Oh, I almost shot up of the sofa when I saw that sign. Well done to you both and wishing you lots of joy in your new home. You are inspirational to so many and I have loved following your adventures into frugal living. You have set me off on my own adventures too. Good luck in your new home x.

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  99. WoooHooo, way to go Froogs. I really admire you in so many ways and I'm looking froward to the next chapter.
    Thank you for a wonderful blog and congratulations on the house sale and the award...what a week :0)
    Jacquie x

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  100. Well done froogs, you deserve it. Pictures of the new house in due course I hope.

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  101. Jane I am SO happy for you and your husband!!! This is awesome news!!!

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  102. Well done you. Here's to the next chapter of your life.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  103. What wonderful news, I am so happy for you! You are a fantastic inspiration to me and I am thrilled that your dreams are coming true. :)
    I look forward to hearing all the news about your move and wish you good wishes in your new home x

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  104. Congratulations, you must be so thrilled x

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  105. Great news, all the very best of luck to you. You'll be living the dream very shortly! Congratulations.

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  106. Fantastic! Looking forward to reading about your new life in your new house. x

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  107. congratulations! and good luck with your move.

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  108. I knew you could do it. Way to go! Next celebration is when the new place is totally paid off. :-)

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  109. Congratulations - can't wait to see the new place xo

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  110. Hey congrats. I am very happy for you x

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  111. Congratulations ! Here's to a new page turning, for a "new" beginning in a new place.

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  112. Wonderful news and so inspiring!!

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  113. Oh, wow, I've not been looking at many blogs recently, I've been spending too much time on the computer. That's such excellent news, you've been wanting this for so long. Just had a quick flick through and seen how much weight you've lost too, that's great.

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