The mindful MFW: A healthy, happy journey to a mortgage free life!

wishingthemortgaheaway · 28 August 2017 at 7:41PM

YNAB is 'you need a budget' it's a computer programme & app that digitally envelopes your money.

You put you income for the month in at the top and assign every penny to a pot. (Making every penny have a job)
As you spend money, in whatever form, you log the spend (£30 in tescos from the grocery pot) it then tells you how much money you have left in that pot. You can juggle money around within pots and even assign income to a specific pot.
If you overspend in one pot it reduces your 'amount to budget' in the following month unless you 'cover the overspend' from another pot in the month.

There are some great tutorials on line. It really works for me, it doesn't suit everyone.
Using YNAB I managed to save 15 months worth of outgoings for maternity leave (in 6 months) and save monthly for those big annual bills (including the council tax)

Also.. I'm hoping, when we come to move and have to do the affordability checks, I can just print the relevant reports from YNAB rather than having to trawl bank statements.

museumworker · 28 August 2017 at 8:30PM

Wow! That's an impressive savings rate. I'll have to take a look.

Had a potentially difficult family gathering to mark a sad occasion but it went well. We owe £40 towards catering but an unexpected bonus was enough leftovers for dinner tonight and packed lunches tomorrow.

I've ordered enough half price small baskets to make hampers for mothers, mother in laws, step mum, and siblings in couples this Xmas. There's a half price sale at f0rtnum and mason so now inspired to do a ginger and orange themed hamper for them all. Think can do F&M biscuits and marmalade, waitr0se handwash, bubble bath and handwash with hamper for £10.50. Depending on size will consider adding a posh ginger beer and G&B chocolate when on offer, think will take it to £14 each. That sounds like a nice gift and will be mostly done except possible extras (which will wait for offers) by end of the week. :T

Time to read kids stories

pinkypig · 28 August 2017 at 10:24PM

Hi MW,themed hampers sound lovely:)

museumworker · 29 August 2017 at 11:37AM

Thanks PP! F&M items ordered, will pick up baskets today and buy toiletries later in the week. I LOVE the idea of being Christmas ready months in advance!

WFH today, DS being quite demanding already. Washload on which hope to put on line. I'm feeling pretty exhausted from long work week (7 days!) and an emotional day yesterday.

Oh, and I won a family ticket to a zoo outside London worth £46 :j! We have friends that way so will see if they want to meet us there. Need to check expiry date when they arrive but possibly have enough free family days out now until November/December

.

I've also been picked for a focus group next week which will net £40 in LTS vouchers.

To do today:
* use mindfulness app
* collect baskets
* get library books for DS
* charity shop drop off
* hang laundry out
* 1 more washload
* put laundry away
* leftovers for lunch
* order Xmas books for DS/DD2 via TCB
* text friends who've moved for new addresses
* read comping mag
* social media thanks to blogger as requested
* buy and claim cornettos

wishingthemortgaheaway · 29 August 2017 at 5:52PM

Woohoo to zoo win.
Have you managed to get any work done today with DS around and your to do list? I hope you get to put your feet up at some point.

Poorlittletightgirl · 29 August 2017 at 6:27PM

Hi MW,

Just discovered Shopm!um thanks to your diary, so you should have a nice bonus! Looking forward to my cornettos - Thanks! One of my pregnancy cravings, but I never splash out on the posh one's :rotfl:

museumworker · 29 August 2017 at 9:30PM

wishingthemortgaheaway wrote: »

Woohoo to zoo win.
Have you managed to get any work done today with DS around and your to do list? I hope you get to put your feet up at some point.

Not a huge amount of work done unfortunately but kept on top of emails. Hoping to get in early tomorrow to tie up some urgent tasks before my all day training.

Finally have my feet up, it feels like a long day. Just thinking I broke my no booze rule this weekend, just a couple of glasses for 2 nights but think that's not helping me as I do feel quite drained. We're watching GBBO with a herbal tea, then bed.

Poorlittletightgirl wrote: »

Hi MW,

Just discovered Shopm!um thanks to your diary, so you should have a nice bonus! Looking forward to my cornettos - Thanks! One of my pregnancy cravings, but I never splash out on the posh one's :rotfl:

Oh thanks poor, that's really kind! How many months are you? Enjoy your cornettos. It's so humid you definitely deserve one. Shopmium!um are really quick payers, my tip would be to apply as soon as you buy so you don't misplace the receipt/have to pad down to the cupboard to scan the item like I have!

Claimed three free mini flavoured tunas via Shopmium, the 50p cost of each was covered by my last referral bonus. Will take to work to have as easy lunch with some microwave grains I already have there.

Just changed energy supplier, an estimated £311 saving a year :j.

And now telly! Night all

MW x

Poorlittletightgirl · 29 August 2017 at 9:44PM

Oh thanks poor, that's really kind! How many months are you? Enjoy your cornettos. It's so humid you definitely deserve one. Shopmium!um are really quick payers, my tip would be to apply as soon as you buy so you don't misplace the receipt/have to pad down to the cupboard to scan the item like I have!

Half a pack gone already - oops! 8 months now so not really bothered about eating too much junk food anymore :rotfl: Thanks for the tip about doing it straight away, I realised that tonight when I had to get everything straight back out of the cupboard. But so easy to claim the cashback, think it's my new favourite app!

themadvix · 30 August 2017 at 9:18AM

Nice zoo win! I like the F&M's hamper idea too, might have a look at what they've got.

I'm going to have to investigate Shopm!um.... is it something I need to have out and about with me? I have a Windows phone so no apps available, but do have an old android we use at home for things. Would that work?

museumworker · 30 August 2017 at 9:29AM

Hi Vix, yes, take a look at the F&M site as they have other preserves which apparently have a best before date of mid-2018. If they don't I'll just get a refund. It's free click and collect in London (Piccadilly or St Pancras), otherwise there's a postage charge.

You shouldn't need Shopm!um with you, as long as you check the offer is still valid just before you buy and that you buy exactly the right product - it tells you how long they are due to go on for but worth a quick check anyway. I've had a free salad and cornettos, and cheap/free elderflower cordial, tuna tins and I've only been using it a week. If you have the phone with you, you can scan the item to check validity which is helpful but not essential.

The mindful MFW: A healthy, happy journey to a mortgage free life!

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