It occurred to me that I have not updated this thread for a little while. However, we have been quite busy behind the scenes;)
I cant do any Mystery shopping at the mo due to it affecting the JSA:mad:...with next year's TV licence landing on the doormat (£142.50:() I have sprung into action to find alternatives.
We no longer go shopping once a week. I've found we still spend a similar amount if we shop say, every 8, 9 or even 10 days. This seems to have reduced wastage too as we eat what is there when our favourites have run out:j. This may not last when I return to work but if we get good at it we may be able to miss full weeks:D.
I took my first ever electricity reading yesterday and have decided to monitor use to help with budgeting and cutbacks. I have discovered SMF2's diary and will read for more ideas!!!
I have reduced my mortgage target for 12.12.12 from £145k to £140k. I am tempted to reduce it to £121212 but this will be scarily difficult but alot more fun.....watch this space!!
Thanks to all those who read my diary. I know there are many on here now. I often read others and don't have time to reply. I do, however, hit thanks to say I've read it. Hope you don't mind me lurking in such a manner:o
MFiT - T2 # 64start date: 1.7.09 MFW end date: 31.10.17 Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50% Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10) Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
Today I have been examining my gas and electricity bills. As all the electricity bills were estimated and the gas ones were 6 monthly actuals I wasn't quite sure what consumption figures to use. So I tried a number of combinations. Amazinglly Scottish Power were cheapest accross the board and I discovered £110 cashback on Quidco too. A lovely saving!!
On a more :eek: moment....I did my budget for the year, started restrospectively on 1 December. My budget for the year excluding mortgage is £1,162 per month. Will be a nice challenge and perhaps even better if I can break through the £1,000 mark. Live on £12k a year may seem a bit much but this includes absolutely everything except mortgage. There are no treats included...the challenge is that we have to earn treats by underspending on the monthly budget or use Tesco vouchers for example.
MFiT - T2 # 64start date: 1.7.09 MFW end date: 31.10.17 Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50% Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10) Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
11 days in, and the first overpayment of the year is on its way:j:j
We have overpaid £725.63 and the credit cards are all clear, although a few things done at the weekend do not seem to have been processed yet;)
On another positive note, due to the bad weather we have not been shopping, with a grocery spend of just £21 so far this month. The fridge is looking a little empty though so this may not last long:o
Happy moneysaving everyone.
MFiT - T2 # 64start date: 1.7.09 MFW end date: 31.10.17 Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50% Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10) Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
Time for an update I think as January is almost over.
Most MS news is that the thrifties are now a one car family. As a result, there will be a further £2,500 paid into the overpayment account next week.:j:j
Even better, that means no road tax to buy in Feb:D
Bad news is that DH now wants to replace perfectly working car with better nicer car as we are only going to have one:think: fortunately, we will have to shop around to get what we want at the price we want and that could take a while, especially as I am going to be looking and telling (or not);)
Gas bills are still quite high at around £30 per week, so we really need it to warm up.
I am excitedly waiting for new ops to show on the mortgage account next week.
MFiT - T2 # 64start date: 1.7.09 MFW end date: 31.10.17 Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50% Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10) Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
All in all a good week on the overpayments front. We are now closing in on the £185k mark. :j:j:j
Whilst some extra overpayments come from rearranging savings etc, they are reducing our balance all the same. We've discovered that we won't really benefit from putting these funds in savings due to tax credits implications. We have sufficient rainy day funds in our ISAs and can access £5k of our overpayments, maybe we will do this on 6 April to make use of ISA allowances.
We have managed to reduce our normal monthly payments by about £54, but will overpay by at least this amount so the mortgage is paid off sooner. There is still some way to go to achieve our Oct 2017 target, so if Mr King is reading, please do not put up interest rates for a while.....please??;);)
MFiT - T2 # 64start date: 1.7.09 MFW end date: 31.10.17 Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50% Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10) Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
Replies
It occurred to me that I have not updated this thread for a little while. However, we have been quite busy behind the scenes;)
I cant do any Mystery shopping at the mo due to it affecting the JSA:mad:...with next year's TV licence landing on the doormat (£142.50:() I have sprung into action to find alternatives.
We no longer go shopping once a week. I've found we still spend a similar amount if we shop say, every 8, 9 or even 10 days. This seems to have reduced wastage too as we eat what is there when our favourites have run out:j. This may not last when I return to work but if we get good at it we may be able to miss full weeks:D.
I took my first ever electricity reading yesterday and have decided to monitor use to help with budgeting and cutbacks. I have discovered SMF2's diary and will read for more ideas!!!
I have reduced my mortgage target for 12.12.12 from £145k to £140k. I am tempted to reduce it to £121212 but this will be scarily difficult but alot more fun.....watch this space!!
Thanks to all those who read my diary. I know there are many on here now. I often read others and don't have time to reply. I do, however, hit thanks to say I've read it. Hope you don't mind me lurking in such a manner:o
Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50%
Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10)
Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p
MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
I seem to be having a very moneysaving week!!
Today I have been examining my gas and electricity bills. As all the electricity bills were estimated and the gas ones were 6 monthly actuals I wasn't quite sure what consumption figures to use. So I tried a number of combinations. Amazinglly Scottish Power were cheapest accross the board and I discovered £110 cashback on Quidco too. A lovely saving!!
On a more :eek: moment....I did my budget for the year, started restrospectively on 1 December. My budget for the year excluding mortgage is £1,162 per month. Will be a nice challenge and perhaps even better if I can break through the £1,000 mark. Live on £12k a year may seem a bit much but this includes absolutely everything except mortgage. There are no treats included...the challenge is that we have to earn treats by underspending on the monthly budget or use Tesco vouchers for example.
Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50%
Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10)
Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p
MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
We have overpaid £725.63 and the credit cards are all clear, although a few things done at the weekend do not seem to have been processed yet;)
On another positive note, due to the bad weather we have not been shopping, with a grocery spend of just £21 so far this month. The fridge is looking a little empty though so this may not last long:o
Happy moneysaving everyone.
Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50%
Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10)
Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p
MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
Happy moneysaving all.
Most MS news is that the thrifties are now a one car family. As a result, there will be a further £2,500 paid into the overpayment account next week.:j:j
Even better, that means no road tax to buy in Feb:D
Bad news is that DH now wants to replace perfectly working car with better nicer car as we are only going to have one:think: fortunately, we will have to shop around to get what we want at the price we want and that could take a while, especially as I am going to be looking and telling (or not);)
Gas bills are still quite high at around £30 per week, so we really need it to warm up.
I am excitedly waiting for new ops to show on the mortgage account next week.
Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50%
Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10)
Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p
MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j
Whilst some extra overpayments come from rearranging savings etc, they are reducing our balance all the same. We've discovered that we won't really benefit from putting these funds in savings due to tax credits implications. We have sufficient rainy day funds in our ISAs and can access £5k of our overpayments, maybe we will do this on 6 April to make use of ISA allowances.
We have managed to reduce our normal monthly payments by about £54, but will overpay by at least this amount so the mortgage is paid off sooner. There is still some way to go to achieve our Oct 2017 target, so if Mr King is reading, please do not put up interest rates for a while.....please??;);)
Start balance: £205,746.51 :eek: Month 18/100..paid 13.50%
Current balance: £177,977.07 (updated 18.12.10)
Target 12.12.12: From £194,000 to £140,000:p
MFI-3 reductions: £16,023/£54,000 achieved (29.67%):j