Want to be a mfw but worried?

ally18

Was down to £39 in the bank last night which was needed to cover dds and the fridge was empty! Really didn't want to use credit card and spend anymore and guess what, this morning appears a £5 money off voucher for my local shop if I spend £5, so basically free Talk about appearing at just the right moment!

Toddled off to the shop with the voucher and we managed to have milk and food for today's school packup. I do love these vouchers/coupons. Wish we had more of them like the states as I could quite easily see myself as being a coupon queen.:rotfl:

Alchemilla

I am getting old. The hedge thing sounds likeclast week.

Watty1

I rarely see coupons anywhere these days. Then again I do a lot of online shopping so not sure how one would use them there anyway

ally18

After a weekend of again having some jerk throw eggs at my house purely for fun, I have had enough. I've made an appt to see the mortgage person at the bank and I am going to see if I can afford to move!
This jerk made my life a misery last year and the police can do nothing about it. It's my problem apparently!
I have now got to try and find someone with ladders to clean my brickwork. Don't ever live next to a public right of way, it just is not worth it!

Watty1

That sounds horrible. Good luck with financials ....

ally18

Well, thought I would give a quick post.
Real life has been a bit busy over the last few months but I ended up staying where I am. Basically, I couldn't afford to move so have carried on with the bits of over payments and can now say today that m2 has GONE.

ally18

Hello all,

Just checked online with my mortgage company and m2 has disappeared :j. Now I just have m1 to contend with and that stands at
M1 - £48,930. So happy with this as I got it below 50k as well.

Well since July, things have been busy. DD1 still at uni and enjoying bits of it, it seems. She isn't happy in the house share and plans to go back into halls next year if she can. Her Paris visit was brill so she says and she plans to go to the States next year to teach for 2 months at one of those summer camps. I need to save for this now.
DD2 passed her driving test first time and is happy as Larry with her little Hyundai Getz. She is busy with college and working part time to fund the car. Applications have gone in for uni next year.
DD3 is currently sitting mock GCSEs and very fed up.
I did decorate my lounge back in August and came just in my budget of £600. It was papered, painted, brand new carpet and some lamp shades, bought new throws and new cushions. I kept the sofa and curtains and brought my colour scheme into match them. It looks lovely .
I have also painted the hall with some paint I found in the shed to give that a new lease of life too.

Work wise, it has changed and is quite insecure at present, will just have to sit it out and see how it goes but fortunately my emergency savings are still in place so I will have this as a back up if necessary.

Christmas - I am not at all ready for it and have done no shopping so far, will need to get myself into gear. All throughout the year, I have been doing different things to make up extra money and I have:
1 x £100 T gift cards = 100 - Have swapped this for cash to spend elsewhere
1 x £100 M&S cards = 100 - Dont know yet
M&S vouchers = 38 - Will spend on food
Sainsburys vouchers = 18 - Will spend on food
Topcashback earnings = 109 - Staying in account for savings
Energy save club = 30 - Already spent on my xmas pressie
Stooze interest = 85 - Staying in account for savings
Tesco vouchers = 156 -Already spent 56 on my ham, 2 whole salmon and drinks. Swapped the rest for cash to spend elsewhere.

So, not bad for the year I think, a total of £636, my highest so far. Next year will be less as I may not be saving the £100 with Tesco as I normally do. Though I may change my mind later. I like the £6 interest it gives .

Right so, current grocery budget stands at £107 + £56 for the rest of the month and I don't really need much more as the major items have been bought.(Plus additional £200 cash from above if necessary). I am doing Boxing Day this year and a buffet so I just need the rest of the basics, nibbles, more drink for New Year etc.

Presents - I have the xmas fund saved up throughout the year and the additional from above so can get the girls some additional bits to be wrapped up. They have cash as their main present.

Wow, that's it for now.

jodles16

Hello! Just had a look through your diary, you have done an amazing job over the last three years! Im sorry about the person who has been making life unpleasant and hope it has now stopped! Your daughters all sound like they are doing well, and landlords of students do seem to get away with not caring much!

Jodles

thriftylynny

Well done Ally paying off M2 , i did the same a couple of years ago & kept at it till it was gone , was very hard work tho but i am so pleased i don't have it hanging over my head now & am now managing to bash M1 down quite a bit ! You do so well , i know only too well how much willpower & self sacrifice it takes to keep it all going on your own , lounge sounds lovely btw !

amycool

We bought a Hyundai Getz a few years ago and it's been brilliant (touch wood!). It's coming up to 9 years old but always sails through MOTs and services. Hopefully your daughter's will be the same.

I only know 2 people whose parents bought them a car so I wouldn't feel bad that you don't give your kids everything they want. It sounds like you're doing brilliantly!