Louba's MF Challenge

Louba

Thanks Getmoreforless. The short answer is no this isn't the best place for the money but........I bought at the beginning of last year just before the market fell so there is a high risks that if I sell now all my equity will be swallowed up and having moved away, started a new job and renovated the new place I was hoping to sell once things were moving a bit quicker aside from the financial element of it.
As a buy to let it totally sucks as it was bought as a long term home and not for letting And now for the confession - it is very close to my dream place so there is also a little bit of sentimentality about it, I also like the security of knowing that if everything fall apart with the new job, etc I still have my place to go back to although as time goes on I'm thinking less about that and more about getting a fab new home where I am now.

For the moment the rent on it is paying the mortgage on the new place so on a month to month basis my costs are the same ...... not ideal but it keps us on track for the short term.

Louba

A quick update on today's challenges: both done! Well apart from one packet for Amaz*n which I found on my desk after I'd posted the rest so I'll catch that one tomorrow

Tommorrow's challenge: ones I've managed to put off for ages!

1 - Cancel Which subscription - I got a free membership then couldn't find the papers with all the details on to cancel it when I moved so I'm paying a monthly fee and not using it - it has to go :rolleyes:
2 - put details of breakdown cover in the car and in my phone - no use having it if I can't contact them in an emergency.........
3 - work out a meal plan for the next two weeks, trying to use up some of the tins that came from OH's flat. Any ideas on how to make tinned minced beef and onions a bit more tasty? Thought about adding some stuff to it and making it into a mince beef pie...

Managed to pick up two more presents on the internet, hopefully the postal strike won't result in them being lost.

L

evab_2

Well done on all your progress so far, you sound really motivated! Best wishes

Louba

Thanks Evab! I'm terrible for being hugely motivated at the start of something then losing interest but I'm hoping that having made a commitment on here to do this will spur me on - the enthusiasm and support from everyone on these boards really helps

Todays progress: - Which is cancelled - I resisted the offer to take it for another month free as I could put money on it that I'd forget to cancel again.
Breakdown cover details are in the car and my phone just incase, hopefully they won't need used
Meal plan is half done...........

I've done out a master list of shopping so I can list everything I've got so I only buy what I need and can plan meals around it.

I'm not sure that I will be able to keep this level of organisation up but I guess it helps me get started then I can see what works for me. Does anyone else do this for shopping and is there a trick to making it work? Do you update things when you use them or do a weekly check? Sorry lots of questions!

Task for the weekend:
1 - complete the master shopping list, think Oh will think I've gone nuts!
2 - complete meal plans around the list
3 - start a control journal - any tips on what to include and how best to use this would be very gratefully received
4 - update savings figures and savings plan to include provisions made for expenses like car servicing etc and interest awards.

Happy Friday all!
L

Louba

Control journal is now started - I've listed out important and useful numbers, birthdays, other key dates like car services and MOTs and have put space for insurance policy numbers and things..........sure there are other things that should go in but I've drawn a blank!

Another CD went on Amaz*n last night - for buttons but its all going the right way.

OH is currently putting a window ledge on the kitchen window - the joiner who did the kitchen took it off because he hadn't bargained for the fridge door hitting off it meaning you couldn't get into the fridge or freezer....... Then he just left it like that and dissappeared! OH has found an old bit of window ledge to use so it will be an MSE fix It will look so much better and cut out the drafts when it is done.

Just need to tackle those figures again........

evab_2

We do a menu every week, we check through the cupboards, fridge and freezer to see what we can use the next week. We also have a book which we've written all our favourite meals so we can choose what we fancy.

Louba

Thanks Evab I've started making a big list of stuff in the cupboard and freezer - I thought I could get it doen while OH was out but hadn't finished by the time he got back................it gave him a good laught anyway! Not sure if that was the list making or the fact that I was crawling around the kitchen floor I think about half done and decided to have a wee rest as sticking my head in the cupboards is making me dizzy! On the upside there is loads more in there than I thought.

Another cd went on Amaz*n, yay, just need to pack the stuff up. And I got £9 of vouchers form my M&S card, woo. Once the Amaz*n money comes in I'll move it and an amount equal to the M&S and Amex cash back to savings :A between everything it should be about £190 :T

Louba

A quick update on the weekend's task

1 - complete the master shopping list - mostly done
2 - complete meal plans around the list - yay - two and a bit weeks done
3 - start a control journal - yup done but its a work in progress
4 - update savings figures and savings plan to include provisions made for expenses like car servicing etc and interest awards. - Arg didn't quite get round to this


Didn't feel like I had achieved much today until I came to write it down. OH and I took his very elderly aunt out for lunch. She's 92 and very frail but still amazingly sharp and independant.
OH fitted the kitchen window ledge and I made a token contribution by sanding and painting it. Looks so much better and all done for no cost as we had the ledge and the paint and OH os very handy with some plaster and a saw :T

I've made an apple pie with the cooking apples OH mistakenly bought......I couldn't bear to waste them but I've never made apple pie before so who knows what it will taste like. And...........for some reason I had a total brain malfunction and put icing sugar in the pastry dough It seems ok but I guess I'll find out when we eat it.
As the oven was on anyway....I've also made a batch of scone and cooked a chicken. I had planned to make chicken stock and soup too but I think I'm all out of steam.

For Monday's challenge:
1 - make chicken soup if not finished tonight........
2 - Call Amex and ask if they will send me a cheque for the cash back sitting on my card
3 - call bank and unlock switch card - had a total mental block and locked it out today, numpty!
4 - update numbers

Fingers crossed
L

Kittikins

Yay, hello Louba, you've got a shiny, exciting new diary

You've given me an idea - set up a spreadsheet of insurance renewal dates etc etc. I know which roughly month things are due but not the dates, and in order to do comparisons/work out best cashback etc, it might be handy.....

I think (don't quote me) that Am*x apply the cashback once a year (maybe November or the anniversary month of when you took the card out) to your card balance as opposed to sending you a cheque.....hope I'm wrong though for your sake!

bungrefurb

hey louba you seem so organised!! I wish i was only half as good. Good luck on your quest xx