Mortgage free by the time I'm 40

Leigh-Anne_60

So know what you mean about NSD - there is always something that crops up to spoil the plan! Today for me it was Milk, then DD's breakfast club money!! Will have another go tomorrow ehh;)

LittleBit_2

Grrrr just looked at the bank accounts online, and a place we went to whilst on holiday in Devon has charged us 4 times for entry instead of twice, so they've overcharged us by £22!! Will be ringing the bank in a minute :mad:

setmefree2

LittleBit wrote: »

Grrrr just looked at the bank accounts online, and a place we went to whilst on holiday in Devon has charged us 4 times for entry instead of twice, so they've overcharged us by £22!! Will be ringing the bank in a minute :mad:

That's sooooo annoying I agree :mad:

LittleBit_2

Hi all,

DH put me straight that they didn't actually charge us twice, but we got £20 cashback there. Gutted! Oh well, will learn to keep track of my money better next time.
We are doing well on the live from the freezer and cupboards month. So far I've spend £7.50 on food, and we've lasted almost a week longer than usual already Although we have been having a lot of things 'and chips'. I suppose a couple of weeks of not to healthy eating won't do us any harm, and then I'll be more careful with the food shopping when we do eventually go. I think I'm going to ask for a Breadmaker on Freecycle though as we seem to spend a small fortune on bread, milk and yoghurts.
Other news is that I took back 3 pairs of shorts that I'd bought they boys. I wanted to get a refund, but when I got there I realised that DH had paid on his card so I couldn't get the money back :mad: They wouldn't give me a credit note and said I had to exchange the items there and then. There wasn't really any other clothes we needed, so I used the money to get some half price construction sets and lego type toys to put away for Xmas and Birthdays. I'm not sure if DS1 will be old enough to enjoy them this Xmas, but even if they have to be put away for a couple of years I suppose we have them now.
Whilst I was taking the clothes back I looked in B&M and there were lots of little things I would usually buy, but I am being so determined this month I just marched on past and went straight home :rotfl:
I've also just been to vote and am hoping that I've made the right choice and that they party I've chosen will get in.

LittleBit_2

I've posted a Bumbo for sale on our local Netmums site this morning and someone has just been to pick it up, so that's an easy £10 I've made So I've transferred £10 over to the mortgage account. We are being super tight this month, but am happy I've managaged a little OP now :j

pammyj74

well done on a quick sale, thats the sort I like.

LittleBit_2

Hi all, we're still doing well with our 'us it up' challenge and slowly but surely the freezer is starting to empty. We did go to the supermarket and end up spending £72 :eek: but a lot of that was non food items like 4 new pillows, and nappies and washing powder. We will still need to top up with bread. milk, fruit and veg, but other than that we're doing ok.

We had a cheap weekend as Saturday we didn't do much at all. DH's mum came round in the afternoon so we could get on with some jobs around the house, and get the garden cleared of toys etc before the gardener came today.

Yesterday we went to a local shopping Centre so I could take back some clothes I'd bought with vouchers (that I didn't really like). I had lost my receipt, so had to swap them instead of getting a refund :mad:I got a little jacket from Miss Selfridge, which was the only thing I thought would suit me in the whole shop (it seems you have to be a size 6 to buy things from there!). Then I took a top back to Next too and they let me have a credit note, so I came home with £12 of credit which I'll save for when one of the kids needs something.

Today the kids and I have been to visit a friend who I've known since college, and gone to a stay and play session at her local children's centre, which was free Tomorrow DS1 is at the childminders, and DS2 and I are going to a Parents forum at our children's centre so another freebie, and we will get free coffee and biscuits too :j

Tonight I am going to Ebay some more of the kids old stuff. DH put 2 old ipods, and a stereo on Ebay last week and we've made £150 :j However, I think we will use the money to buy some forks for DH's bike and try to get it back on the road. DH using the car for work every day is really costing us a whole lot more than his bike.

LittleBit_2

Hi well a little update from me.
DHs bike is STILL off the road, but hopefully fixed now, so he's trying to get it MOT'd again next week. It's costing us a fortune with him taking the car to work every day, and also I'm struggling without the car. I have everything crossed that it will get through this time.
Yet again some unbudgeted spending has taken us into our overdraft. £175 for suspension forks for DHs bike. However, he bought them from Ebay and has fitted them himself, and the garage quoted him £400 for them to do it!
Our use it up month is going pretty well, we have had to stock up on fresh things, but we've used loads of the meat we already had, and lots of packets and tins that had been hiding in the back of the cupboard.

I've been doing some sums to work out how much money we will have when I go back to work, and it seems as though after childcare we will be £200 a month better off than we are now (while I'm on SMP) and £700 a month better off than if I wasn't working. If I chose not to go back we would have a £500 a month shortfall :eek: I'm looking at part-time jobs at the moment, but I don't think it would be worth my while, i.e. I'd have to work almost as many hours as I do in my 'proper' job to earn the money we need.

I've also been thinking of doing an Ebay challenge. I have a huge pile of clothes and things in DS2's room that are ready to be Ebayed. I really must make an effort to get them listed, so I'm going to try and list 30 things by Sunday night.

cha97michelle

Good to see how you are doing. I also need to have another ebaying session. Just think, 30 things could be at least £30, or more. That could be a weeks food shop or go off your mortgage.

Sounds though you have been busy working things out. Going back to work is hard and you have my full admiration. If i could manage it we would be a lot more comfortable. How long is it you have left before you go back?

LittleBit_2

I don't go back for quite a while really. If HR approve my request then I will be going back on 2nd November. Then I'll work 3 days which will be the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and my first day off will be November 5th which is DS2's 1st birthday
I'm really not looking forward to it, but needs must unfortunately, and I know once I get back into the swing of things it will be fine. It doesn't stop me looking for something better in the meantime though
Well I've had a busy week and weekend really. Had an appointment with the HV for both boys' development checks and they are both doing brilliantly.
This weekend we have:
Been to Harrogate to scour the charity shops for things I could sell on Ebay. We didn't really find anything, but I did get some lovely books for DS1 for about 50p each, and they are ones that I know he will love.
Picked up a Toy Story bike for DS1 for Xmas. I know it's early, but it was reduced from £45 to £17.50 :j
This morning we went to the car boot sale, and picked up a Toy Story scalextric for £4 that will make up the rest of his Xmas present. I just hope he doesn't 'fall out' with Toy Story before then :rotfl:
We collected a bike trailer that we won on Ebay (for £22) and when we picked up realised it was a 'Spokey Joe' which are £100 new. It needs a clean but otherwise is in brilliant condition, and DS1 loved it when he went for a test drive with DH this afternoon. (We just need to look for a bike seat and helmet for DS2 now as he's too small to go in the trailer at the moment)
We bought 22 items of clothing for DS2 from the car boot sale this morning for the pricely sum of £4 Some of them are good makes too, and are all in the next size up so he should be pretty much sorted for clothes now.
We collected some clothes for DS1 from a girl that lives up the road from me. Her son is about a year older than DS1 and so she often passes clothes and toys down to him.
We took the boys swimming this afternoon and it's free to take them now (have to pay for us though). I think we will take them more often as they both love it. I need to look into getting a Leeds card, as this gives a discount for swimming and other activities nearby.
We have been to the park to let the kids get some fresh air and tire them out, and have a break from all the shopping we've been doing.
Right now I am listing TONS of clothes on Ebay so I can try to get my 100 on before the end of the month.

Tomorrow we are hopefully going for a walk around a local country park, and DH will take DS1 in the trailer. DS2 and I will walk round with the dog.