Taking the plunge

Jelllibeanz · 9 February 2017 at 2:19PM

I've finally gone and done it.... having lurked and looked for ages, but not done much or set up a profile so here is my first post.

At the end of January I decided I wanted to get back in control of things, including my finances. I've set up spreadsheets, started using my online banking at last (instead of telephoning when worried I was hitting my overdraft limit) and begun to make over payments rather than just the minimum.

I have gone through the over payment calculator and worked out that if I could manage £8000 a year I could be MF by 2023!!! Although I must admit it's one hell of challenge. However, I don't want this to be more like a new years resolution that falls by the wayside...... so please feel free to kick me up the butt occasionally!

Since payday I have managed the following:
£52.51 OP on the mortgage giving me a potential £63 saving on interest alone

just by skimming
£321.50 off the credit cards
£125 off my little one's school journey leaving £120 to pay
£6.26 in sealed pot
And £2850 left in the savings for emergencies

I know that paying off my credit etc is better, but I want the mortgage too. So am focusing on both, with the priority to be the cc and then the mortgage as there is only 1% difference between my loan and the mortgage.

Tomorrow is a planned no spend day - would have liked it to have been today, but petrol and parking were required. And the weekend will be tough with my OH wanting to spend money on swimming, coffee out and other little bits (he really enjoys spending, but has been getting better lately).

Please wish me luck

ch4rly2002 · 9 February 2017 at 3:20PM

Good luck! Sounds like a challenge, but achievable &#55357;&#56898;

Jelllibeanz · 9 February 2017 at 7:14PM

Thank you

I've done a store cupboard check and shouldn't need to spend more than £30 over the next two weeks. Then I can re-evaluate what's left and assign some more.

No spend day tomorrow fingers crossed.

michelle09 · 9 February 2017 at 9:09PM

Good luck! Sounds like you've made a good start. Hopefully you can clear the CC quickly so you just have the mortgage to focus on.

Kittenkirst · 9 February 2017 at 9:53PM

Best of luck jellllibeanz

Jelllibeanz · 11 February 2017 at 4:11PM

Thank you guys.

I have two cc and am hoping to wipe one clean at the end of the month.

Yesterday was a NSD as I had left my purse at home by accident. Thankfully I had some nuts and seeds stashed in my bag for munchies and one of the team kindly bought me lunch. I haven't had time for lunch in ages, so it felt like a proper girly catch up and a treat.

Today we are being careful, admittedly I took Mr J shopping with me - a bad move as he declared he had a bit of a sweet tooth - no s*-* Sherlock! After all he had put 4 chocolate based items in the trolley that weren't on the list whilst I wasn't looking. Might leave him behind next time lol

However, it has been snowing most of the morning and we have agreed not to go swimming today saving us a potential £16 much to the disappointment of the kids. One has spent time with his friends and the other has enjoyed being like an only child for a few hours.

As result I made homemade vegetable soup for lunch, which was very yummy and met with his approval. He is clearing out the fireplace and stocking it up with more fuel in preparation for a snuggly film evening. Upside is that I was given a huge box of chocolates as a late Xmas present from a friend today so those and a glass of wine in front of the fire are gonna make my weekend feel extra special.

Just finished my Tilly Tidying or skimming a nice £9.52 OP and gonna put my feet up for a while.

Jelllibeanz · 12 February 2017 at 9:20PM

The weekend has been productive. I made flapjacks last night whilst doing the dinner and they went down a treat with my 2 DSs. I also went through the cupboards and found some packs of jelly so have made some up and popped fruit in with some too.

I ended up filing in front of the fire and finding a couple of bits to help us along the way..
* Kids swimming cards - saves us £6 each time we take them swimming, so we took them this morning and it has proven my point with Mr J that a family gym membership with swimming is far from economical. He's now happy to pay as we go with the kids cards and the kids are thrilled that they got to go. I on the other hand do not enjoy swimming especially when my eczema is playing up. Was good to see them happy and by the time we got back we were all shattered
* Dobbies membership card - two free coffees/pots of tea once a month great as I am going with my bestie on Thurs am
* A cheque from BG that I received before Xmas for £7.50, but have been hunting high and low for turned up where I least expected. To think it was in one of my safe places
*£3.05 roadkill
* A lottery scratch card I was given as part of my Secret Santa gift that has £10 on it
* A letter from another bank with £2 in an old account

And to top it off I spent some time reading the forums and have decided I am going up to the High St in my lunch break tomorrow to cash some of it and then make a 1% payment on the CC. I have really enjoyed reading some of the threads and am 1/3 through CathyT's MFW posts. Have been reading avidly.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend too x

Allotrope · 12 February 2017 at 9:53PM

Good luck! Where on earth did you find the roadkill...I never find more than a penny!

Jelllibeanz · 12 February 2017 at 10:44PM

Thanks A. There are a were places around the house (bathroom, under the bed and bottom of the washing basket) and even the car!

Allotrope · 13 February 2017 at 1:25AM

I must go through my old handbags....

Jelllibeanz · 13 February 2017 at 7:56AM

I was thinking I ought to do the same. Am sure there are probably a couple of candle or pen pots around my house that still have shrapnel in.

Taking the plunge

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free