Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

Thanks TH. Yes, I did get out and get a couple of bits done (Shell garage has the bonus points promotion going at the moment, so made sure to top up to exactly £30 to get bonus! It's not cheapest, but it's the closest and I was going in the opposite direction to the other petrol stations, so decided I'd better make the most of it). Managed to get up to date with all work yesterday, which has left this morning free to concentrate on ticking various other jobs off. Unfortunately most of them are shopping-related, so I think today will be expensive. Still haven't found my notebook but have largely reconstructed list now, so plenty to be getting on with.

Not sure I've remembered everything, but plenty to be going on with. Had a fairly successful trip yesterday - even found some jeans that fit and didn't cost the earth (I have major issues with this!). It was an expensive day, but all was necessary stuff.

TH - I have a drawer full of unused notepads/notebooks etc., many of which I've been given or have acquired. Every time DH goes on a course or conference he seems to come back with more too! I was very pleased the other week when I thought I needed a couple of new A4 notebooks that I managed to shop from home for them

In even better news, finally something shifted on the bay of E (I'm thinking it's because I moaned here!), so that'll be nearly £20 for the pot when I've packed it up and sent it. :T

Excited that my new clothes should arrive this morning I really hope some fit! Have just ordered a bit more of DH's birthday pressie, I won't say what here as he does occasionally read. Think that's almost sorted now. Seem to be haemorrhaging money at the moment!

DH did send me the £90 last night, so I've moved that straight into OP fund so it doesn't get spent. £170 in there now... will be nearly £200 once Ebay money arrives... leaving me with a reasonable amount to top up by to get to £6K by 1 Jan. Which reminds me, must chase a customer for payment or I'll not get paid lots this month!

Am continuing slowly with SBs - I find I can only keep momentum going for a while before I get bored. However, when I'm busy with work (as I have been recently) things slow right down. In good news though, I'm hopeful that I'll be earning a lot from my only referral when my sister goes on maternity leave soon!

Went out for dinner with DH last night as he is away most of this week (and he got in late due to having to catch the train). Went to Caf! R and used combination of Leisure vouchers earned from S&S and 40% off mains voucher - ended up paying £5 cash + tip as they don't give change from LV (annoying, but still a bargainous nice meal out!).

Come Jan when TSB interest plummets to 3% we'll be starting to pay quite a bit more off the mortgage (although I'll continue with my RS until March/April). Was reading ATB's diary yesterday and at some point she made a passing comment about how OPing by £2k/month would mean paying mortgage off in 3 years. I played with our spreadsheet and it's pretty much the same for us. Now, gross, my income is roughly that, but there's no way we could live on just DH's income (and I still have to pay tax etc.), but we're going to enter 2017 with a much stricter attitude to OPing. We've booked a holiday for next year, and a weekend away for a wedding, so that's plenty of expensive fun to be going on with (it's quite nice that the majority of both of those are paid for - just food/spending money for holiday needed), so hopefully will be able to focus well on OPing for some time. I wouldn't say my focus wanes, more that I require a change of scenery every now and then, as I don't get out much, so not making promises for the latter half of next year, although as always, everything will be on a tight budget. I think the aim should be to pay max OPs of 10%, which equates to 10k, so £833/month. I've no idea if this is achievable... but setting ridiculous goals seems to be the way to success around here!

In this new 'strict' state of mind, I've counted the Christmas cards we have (leftovers from last year, 30 bought with my M&S voucher) and we have just enough for this year, assuming some people don't make the cut and if necessary I can make a couple to stretch it! Have also found DH a birthday card from stores and probably one for friend whose birthday is on Thursday too (will check with DH that I'm not being too tight!). Have been asked by family what I'd like for Christmas, so trying to think of things that I need/would end up buying, but which don't seem too boring to get as a present.

Have kept heating bill down today by only having it on for two hours - if I get cold I do some exercise to get the blood pumping! It's working so far! :rotfl: Have also cancelled veg box this week (DH away and plenty in), and moved milk delivery as we're swimming in it, 2 pints were meant to arrive tomorrow and DH is away from tomorrow until Friday.

Friend and I are meeting for dinner on Thurs, was expecting to be going to the usual Indian, but think we'll now being going to pub - am crossing fingers I get a voucher through - it happened last time we went there! Will be a cheap night, either way, we're both money conscious.

PS Ooh, I forgot - had email from TSB - they've paid me 3p cashback from last month's contactless spending! That'll knock years off!

Hi Jess, thanks for stopping by. Treating ourselves is unlikely to be forgotten, don't worry... That's our biggest downfall as we don't do stuff! We'll continue to use S&S for leisure vouchers to get meals out.

I've got loads of Christmas wrapping paper leftover from last year, the year before etc and even keep used stuff (mainly for wrapping Brownie presents!). As we try to avoid plastic I'm currently working my way through 3 rolls of paper tape that I acquired from someone who no longer wanted them! Problem is it limits the wrapping paper I can use!