The Next Chapter: Our Dream House Fund

lessavyfav · 15 December 2016 at 11:26AM

Right, so another £100 to the emergency fund today taking me 80% of the way there.

I've been checking Rightmove daily, things have really slowed down over the past month or two, so it's hard to get excited. But I'm doing well this month despite it being December — £780 in fact —although I may dip into it by about £30 before next pay. Can't wait for January where I should hopefully have no big expenses and can save even more!

Work is the worst at the moment, I am really counting down the days until the Xmas break..our office doesn't close down between Xmas and the New Year so I'll be working but at least it'll be quiet. I just have to keep thinking about the money I suppose..

lessavyfav · 29 December 2016 at 1:00AM

Another Christmas has been and gone! Managed to do okay with the present shopping, although it's a long stretch till next payday..still 30 days to go.

£180 paid to the CC, so that takes me to less than £2k owed now, I've updated my signature. It's interest free until May 2018, so plenty of time, though I'd like it completely cleared by December 2017. Should be doable!

We have some good news on the deposit front — KS knew he'd be coming into a nice chunk of money as a gift to us from a family member, so that'll take us to over £50k now. We've also decided to lower our budget so that we can put more into doing up a place, which means we'll need less money and we can start looking straight away! I'm so excited to start seeing some places, and finally we're in a realistic position.

But January is going to be super tight for me; not sure I'll survive on what I have left after Oyster topup, lunches, etc, so I'll be setting a few NSD goals. Even if I get as close as possible, I'll be happy. Bring on 2017!

lessavyfav · 29 December 2016 at 5:51PM

So, there's a whole lot of resisting going on right now..

I resisted buying a cute apron in the sales, I've done without one for years and January is not ht month to be doing it.

And before Christmas I ordered some sports leggings at a pretty good price on sale, but am going to send them back as I do already have a few pairs. They're getting a bit worn out but they'll last me for a while I'm sure.

However, I did treat myself to some underwear and a whisk with my M&S voucher from Christmas though :rotfl: I use the term 'treat' lightly as I think my poor underwear drawer is looking tired and it was more of a need. Too much info?

Today was an NSD! Tomorrow I think will be the same. Must keep going. Think of the house, think of the house..

savingwannabe · 29 December 2016 at 8:00PM

Well done you. Keep up the good work. Here's to a thrifty 2017.:j

lessavyfav · 31 December 2016 at 5:17PM

Thanks savingwannabe, and to you too, hope you have a great New Year!

The day isn't over but today will be an NSD, thanks to a friend giving a lift to a party tonight, and we'll be bringing bubbles and cheese that we've already paid for.

I have been thinking about goals for 2017, apart from the obvious one (keep up saving), I'd like to:
- Try one new vegetarian recipe per fortnight
- Eat more vegetarian and vegan meals — for health reasons and to keep grocery costs lower. Eat more organic.
- Keep up pilates twice a week
- Read more!
- Have friends round for dinner more often
- Get a new job that i enjoy and feel like I'm making a worthwhile contribution
- Blog to keep up with my writing

Nothing too crazy there, I'm happy with how things are going. 2016 may have been a shocking year for some (some awful things have happened) but overall, I had a very positive one, getting to marry the love of my life, going to the Maldives and finally getting a job where I am paid a decent amount! Can't wait for 2017

lessavyfav · 2 January 2017 at 1:49PM

Happy New Year everyone!

Running a finer tooth comb through my bank accounts this morning, I've worked out that if I want to save an extra £600 on top of my usual £300, I've got £6.24 a day till next payday for bought lunches/dinners/socialising. That's not much at all, I'll have to have a few NSDs per week. I only have two major events planned this month, one of which will probably be taken out of the joint account since KS will be with me, but I'm determined to not touch the savings or CC. May have to search things to sell on eBay!

Well, off I go to do a top up food shop, and enjoy the rest of the day..4-day work week, must remember this and not be too sad about going back to work tomorrow!

savingwannabe · 2 January 2017 at 4:31PM

Happy New Year LSV. Blimey that's a bit ambitious you must have a bit of fun. How about allowing another £100 for fun? You are only young and must be allowed to enjoy yourself a bit. :j

lessavyfav · 3 January 2017 at 6:32PM

Thanks savingwannabe! Well, it makes me sound very ambitious but I have accounted for Pilates pass and Oyster card top up. And whenever the OH and I go out together, we just pay on out of the joint account. So the £6.24 a day I mentioned is supposed to cover me for socialising and if I buy lunch or coffees at work. It was an NSD for me today so that takes me up to £6.50 per day instead

I have no social plans this week, other than meeting a friend on Saturday at her house, so this helps!

Making a big vat of soup tonight, along with a gnocchi bake made from leftover bits, so that'll be a few lunches and dinner sorted.

24 days till the next payday!

lessavyfav · 9 January 2017 at 7:45PM

Monday's done, I'm already pooped!

We went looking at a couple of houses at the weekend; not quite right (a bit small) but the location is ideal..we just hope some other places will pop up — though based on history, they rarely come do! Must be patient.

I've been good with the money lately, with an NSD today and tomorrow I'll bring my lunch in. Still looking super tight till payday though! About £7.16 per day..hoping I can keep up the momentum! February's looking much more positive :P

lessavyfav · 20 January 2017 at 2:37PM

More than a week since my last journal entry - oops!

Money-wise, doing....o-kay. It was always going to be ambitious, and I'm now down to £27ish in my 'fun' spends account, which is supposed to last me another week. Do-able with a few NSDs thrown in, but just remembered I'm getting my hair done a day before payday, so theoretically I won't have enough in there. Will have to take from my savings and then pay it back.

In good news, I've been offered a new role, which is very exciting! I'm still waiting on the final details of the salary package, but think it will be around what I'm on currently or slightly more. Which I am happy with as my wage is so much better now than it was a couple of years back! The role is a step up in terms of responsibility and really interesting company. Am yet to sign a contract but should know by Monday. Work has been particularly painful for the past couple of months so I don't think resigning will bother me too much - although my boss is a lovely person, I feel bad for him.

Almost reached my emergency fund goal, so I'll have to think about what my next one is; perhaps a joint 3-6 month emergency fund, or maybe new car fund as we'll need one once we move out to the sticks.

7 days till payday, bring it!

The Next Chapter: Our Dream House Fund

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