I'm going to do a diary too :)

gerbiljo

OOh I just got another £20 in vouchers so I've headed to amazon and spent them with my other 20 :j I love getting my vouchers its like a free treat I've got much free stuff, so pleased I found this forum thank you everyone

Ordered another networking thing to connect the skybox to the bedroom and preordered tangled on 3d sooooo excited, don't have a 3d tv but as a bit of a techno freak its inevitable but I get a digital copy anyway so will save the 3d excitement. So the aim of course is that this is an xmas pressie for my daughter who is disney princess crazy...can't see it some how- how can I hold out!???

Want to take advantage of the bluray offer in the newletter but I can never get the page to load:mad:

Right prewarning this weekend shall be very NON MSE, deep breath...payday tomorrow at least:money:

gerbiljo

I had the misfortune of turning 33 this week:mad:, never been a birthday celebrator but cash birthday presents have flooded in

We have spent an awful lots this weekend as predicted and my hubby and I are going to sit down today and have a serious look at our finances and getting things under control properly. The credit card has worked well but we spend more of course.

This weekend it went wrong when we got an ipad and the credit card was not accepted so it had to go on a debit card which will have consequences for the amount we can pay off the tescos card this month, it ended up that master cards need some higher authorisation in certain stores grrr so it didn't go through. Secondly I got paid less than expected it not sure if this is as I have a bill to pay at work and they have taken the money off or anything else (they did want me to go onto commission based pay but I decided not to sign it incase I got less and my chances of getting more are low so I hope it is not to do with that), fingers crossed it is a mistake...but the last 2 months I've been owed commission and I didn't want it going to the next tax year so not happy if its been forgotten again. Thirdly we went to this fantastic garden centre and spent rather alot... (says quietly) £190, this was not budgeted for though the birthday money will soften the blow (does include a mothers day pressie tho which my sis will go half on

This weeks shopping was £18, we usually use nectar points in ASK but I think its stopping, we did use them yesterday (in ASK) but they'd only let us use one card (we had 3 cards between us) so if its stopping we decided just to have a cheapish weekly shop. Sainsburys sent us a £6 off £30 voucher which beat the £4 off tescos and with nectar points we had a decent shop (even got a cheapy princess colouring set for our daughter xmas and a dress for her) for £18.

Plan is to get the 'worst part' of the foundations finished this month. The good thing is at the end of April we should go into the 50's. Gotta say we've had another stressful period and these times seem to be getting more frequent, the longer we go on though the more 'not' completing our challenge feels not an option. I am feeling more and more anxious at work and less and less confident and I feel like its a slippery slope I will never climb again so the more I feel that I will lose my ability to earn good money and that is a worry I guess. I want to leave my work but I want it to be my choice and am bit scared I will lose it and have it taken away without the option to return. We had a terrible night the other night with our daughter and it gets you wondering whether another baby is the right move, our daughter was so good at night the next one is bound to be awful... Anyway lots to think about. Think may have to look at skipping the mortgage one month to clear the credit card as it seems this is getting my husband down rather alot...

Anyway will update when more money arrives (hubby payday)

Iris_Blue

`Happy "mumble" Birthday! You're still in your prime !

At least you've realised that your spending at the moment its when you don't realise and then you think EEK! How did that happen?

The extension sounds like its coming along nicely.

P.s What was the blu ray offer in the newsletter? I must have missed that and I can't find it mentioned now

CathT

Sorry to hear you're down about work, how long realistically till you can give it up?

Our DD was and still is terrible at night but broodiness was stronger! I may just do things quite differently next time.

de1amo

i have just updated my signature to make me a mfw--i have ummed and arrgh about it for ages but this morning i had a chat with my wife and it led me to believe i need to take the bull by the horns and go for getting free of my mortgage by the time i am 51 in 3 years time.--i reckon i can save a grand a month if i dont fritter which has been happening recently--i bought a new car on a whim which only my wife uses for pottering about the town.-i need motivating and reminding why i am saving!

gerbiljo

Thanks Iris- it was £8.99 free delivery for disney blu rays tho alot have gone, I wanted to get sleeping beauty or cinderella but they have gone, could be tempted by others but where do u stop- I'd be kidding myself they will wait to xmas!!

Realistically (ooh- I try to just think of the MF bit and take it in baby steps) if I get mortgage free dec 2012 then I will still have a couple of loans (one interest free) we can pay these gradually as we could manage but I guess we'd need to finish the extension so I guess my long term plan is to have another baby and completely stop work by sept 2013 so I can be at the school gates for when my daughter starts school. After that I feel the hope of even part time work is going out. I think really my work could be much worse but I think once u get anxious things build up and get worse, I am up and down. If I really wasn't coping I could just chuck it in now but the longer we keep on with this the more I want it... I apologise for the moaning...but I feel when I look back at this I need to realistically see the highs and lows so I realise the achievement. Deep down I am just a terrible spender in a MFW's body!!

de1amo Good luck! My motivation is just to have a better life and I think reducing your monthly outcomings makes for a virtual payrise!! I hope you stay on track and your MF soon

Right anyway gonna check bank now, should have a bit top overpay but gotta be a bit cautious as I'm swapping gas/elect companies and I think I'll owe money also not sure when my first DD will come out for the new company, switch is on the 31st so I can't do my usual immediate max overpayment

Also might do this thing with BT when we pay £5 a month but need £120 upfront...which we don't really need to spend but think is worth it. Might cancel sky this year too, u can still use the satellite for receptions tho can't you- is that right??

Iris_Blue

It isn't moaning. September 2013 isn't that long away. I know it feels it when you want a baby but it isn't that long. I couldn't wait to finish work so I know how you feel. I've been off 18 months now, went back for a week then went off again on holiday/sick and mat leave and its only now that I'm coming down from it all. To be mortgage free and off with a baby is a great goal to have.

gerbiljo

Thank you Iris if I manage it I will feel great, if not I'll feel bad, I always seem to live a life of extremes, least another month down Are you going back to work again? I imagine you'd rather be at home now? I know I would

[Deleted User]

Hey jo
sorry things have been tough at work again-I hear you on the ups and downs and anxiety of course amplifies the "downs" ....
am I right in thinking you could be MF in about 18 months? that is amazing if so...wonder if taking it on a payday by payday basis would be better than the all or nothing either go full pelt for MF-ness or give up work and dont manage it - maybe thats a lot of added pressure on yourself too!
Im not sure that babies work in the way that thier older sibling was good so they wont be! :rotfl: think lack of sleep etc comes with the teritory and if you could do it MF or with low outgoings and less work commitments Im sure it would feel good no matter babies behaviour!
hope this week is a better one

de1amo

de1amo Good luck! My motivation is just to have a better life and I think reducing your monthly outcomings makes for a virtual payrise!! I hope you stay on track and your MF soon


The problem i have with constraining my budget is that i live abroad!- i only actually spend any of my uk income when we need something big like the recently bought car otherwise my soa is very very dull!--i live in Turkey and our budget is totally out of control but we earn well and we just spend it!!--i just cling to the fact i am saving back in the uk!

i have done things like grocery challenge and cut my shopping bill considerably--its quite an eye opener when you write down all the endulgences but we cut our shopping bill in half from then!-people here just dont 'save' and the companies dont compete to offer deals like in the savvy uk!