Want to be a mfw but worried?

Habibiboo

:wave:

Just to say hi and good luck with the snoozing Ally, have just ventured into it this year myself, with the hope of funding Christmas that way so that no Xmas spends will have to come out of monthly pay in the months leading up to it! And in the meantime, the money's going on the mortgage because the interest is higher there than my savings account! I agree it's a bit of a shock to start using "debt" this way, but it can be a useful way of gaining back a little extra!

How frustrating that the card wasn't accepted, are there some retailer restrictions detailed in the T & CS for the card? If not it might be worth rattling an email off to them (cheaper than what's bound to be an 0845 number to call and ask), to avoid having to use the other card if you're trying to get rid of it?

Anyhoo, good luck!

ally18

Habibiboo wrote: »

:wave:

Just to say hi and good luck with the snoozing Ally, have just ventured into it this year myself, with the hope of funding Christmas that way so that no Xmas spends will have to come out of monthly pay in the months leading up to it! And in the meantime, the money's going on the mortgage because the interest is higher there than my savings account! I agree it's a bit of a shock to start using "debt" this way, but it can be a useful way of gaining back a little extra!

How frustrating that the card wasn't accepted, are there some retailer restrictions detailed in the T & CS for the card? If not it might be worth rattling an email off to them (cheaper than what's bound to be an 0845 number to call and ask), to avoid having to use the other card if you're trying to get rid of it?

Anyhoo, good luck!

Many thanks, I may try that and see, as I want to cancel the other one asap. I've only found one retailer so far who would not accept the card and I don't really use them very often but it is a bit worrying when it happens.

ally18

Right, a little annoyed with myself this weekend. I went to a new supermarket because I was sent a voucher to use. I ended up spending £52 and then couldn't use the voucher because I hadn't double checked the valid date on it and I was one day early!!!!!!!!!!!!! How stupid, well not making that mistake again and that has blighted this particular supermarket for me (though not their fault). I spent half my monthly budget in one day!!!

I really have to watch the shopping for this month now. It will be necessities only and eating out the freezer until July. Budget £113/160.

I've spent the emergency fund on stuff for the allotment this week.

Still need to book the boiler service and then pay for car tax at end of month.

£25 left for entertainment for the month. Am going to change over to orange in Sept for the cinema ticket offer as this will help the entertainment fund. I will be paying £7 extra for my phone per month but if I get to use the cinema offer twice a month, I can justify the extra cost.

ally18

Another week gone so a brief update.

Grocery budget at £137/160. Diesel £40/£50. Will use the extra £10 for groceries.

Hm soup x 6 portions made for lunches for the week at a cost of £1.80.
Entertainment fund used up as I took the kids out yesterday for a meal but I did overspend by £25, this will have to come out of the op to mortgage unfortunately.
Boiler service is booked at £70.

ally18

Just made a tilly tidy to m1 as my very first proper overpayment :j
Both SOs for mortgages have now been altered as I will only be making the min payment to m2 from now on. In Oct this should drop quite low and I plan to have this finished at the same time as m1. I have redemption figures to add to both when they are finally paid in full, hence not paying m2 off completely now.

Grocery budget left for the month is £23 which is fine.

Have moved over the cc money to the savings act today so it is now working for me rather than the cc company.

DD1 has asked if she can go to Paris in the Autumn with uni so I have put an act together and am putting what bits I can in there for a contribution to the costs. She also needs a new camera, which I have been saving a contribution towards for a while. This is now in the same pot.
Another act is set up ready for my contribution to a car for dd2 for next year. Phew, I will have acts all over the place at this rate .

Time needed on the allotment this weekend as I have loads of weeds to clear. Going to do some baking too, as well as the usual soup making.

ally18

Overpayment made to m1 today as well as usual payment. I'm now feeling impatient to see this balance going down, can't wait till I get it under 50k.

Grocery budget for Friday is £16 as this is all that is left.

I've been looking at my lounge as I want to re-decorate this in August. Last done 1994 and it is currently navy! Patterned navy carpet, navy and cream striped sofa and cream walls. Heavy chenile navy curtains! I have been saving for a new carpet but would love a new sofa too. I went window shopping at the weekend and the sofa costs are unbelievable. The one I liked would be £1700 which is def out the window! If I have it on 0% credit then my budget is £25 per month so I could have a 3 and a 2 seat sofa with nice high backs instead of crushed cushions! So carpet costs abt £450, paint and paper £60, curtains and blinds £60. Could a wooden coffee table and tv stand be painted black I wonder? I really want new but can't do it. I've seen a gorgeous black marble table which will match my fireplace. My savings stand at £600 at the moment.

ally18

Today I have had my official letter from the mortgage company acknowledging my m2 is under £1000 and they are amending my monthly payment. :j

Enjoying_life_more

ally18 wrote: »

Overpayment made to m1 today as well as usual payment. I'm now feeling impatient to see this balance going down, can't wait till I get it under 50k.

Grocery budget for Friday is £16 as this is all that is left.

I've been looking at my lounge as I want to re-decorate this in August. Last done 1994 and it is currently navy! Patterned navy carpet, navy and cream striped sofa and cream walls. Heavy chenile navy curtains! I have been saving for a new carpet but would love a new sofa too. I went window shopping at the weekend and the sofa costs are unbelievable. The one I liked would be £1700 which is def out the window! If I have it on 0% credit then my budget is £25 per month so I could have a 3 and a 2 seat sofa with nice high backs instead of crushed cushions! So carpet costs abt £450, paint and paper £60, curtains and blinds £60. Could a wooden coffee table and tv stand be painted black I wonder? I really want new but can't do it. I've seen a gorgeous black marble table which will match my fireplace. My savings stand at £600 at the moment.

Hi

I've read through your diary today - you are doing amazing - well done !! and I've subscribed ! just wanted to answer your query about painting wood black - I've done it before and used black spray paint (do them outdoors) the furniture looks amazing and as though it was bought like that - spray paint leaves a much better finish than using a brush.

ally18

Enjoying_life_more wrote: »

Hi

I've read through your diary today - you are doing amazing - well done !! and I've subscribed ! just wanted to answer your query about painting wood black - I've done it before and used black spray paint (do them outdoors) the furniture looks amazing and as though it was bought like that - spray paint leaves a much better finish than using a brush.

Hi, ELM and thanks very much for posting.

What sort of paint did you use exactly, is it matt or gloss and did you have to prepare the wood in any way?

This would be ideal to give me a different look and for not much money.

ally18

Update for end of June.

Boiler has been serviced, saved £10 as it was only 60 and car tax paid for.

I spent the £16 on grocery and blow me, when I took mother shopping Friday, I ended up spending another £33. Why? Because I have decided to follow SW for a few months and needed to buy extra fresh fruit, veg, beans, yoghurts. You know, all the healthy good for you food which is miles more expensive than the processed stuff!
I am trying to get the kids eating more healthily as well hence the large fruit purchase. I haven't bought any biscuits or crisps for lunch packups. I bought them more yoghurts instead.

I made some low sugar choc muffins on Friday as I thought these would be taken for lunches but they have all gone! 24 in one weekend :eek:.