Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

newgirly

:j I have made an OP today for the first time in months! Only £82 but a start. I went through everything that had to be paid off in nov/dec, allowed £50 for the kids halloween party, and op'd what was left.

Its a slightly risky move what with xmas so close, but I only have a few presents left and my money should cover it.Plus I get carried away with xmas and what ever money I have I am bound to spend.

The £10 a day is still working for me, but I feel like a bit of a cheat as yesterday I spent £50 on 10 jumpers in matalan sale (£196 worth full price), but that came out of my wages too. The £10 a day only covers food /school dinners and sometimes petrol. Its still a lot less than I would normally spend though.

Tonight I have some girlfriends round for drinks in the log cabin than a curry round the corner, dh is friends with the owners and when he went and booked the table last night for us they sent a bottle of red wine for us to have a glass before we go, how sweet! I am hoping that dh will take pity and give me a bit towards the curry , he said he might.

Today I will spend the day cleaning my filthy house until it is sparkling.:D

newgirly

We had a nice girly night out yesterday, DH paid for 2x bottles of wine on the table for us which was really sweet, but I know he is broke so I am a bit cross with him.:o It came to £44 for five of us and we had lots of food, so it was ridiculously cheap. I gave a bigger tip, but tbh I don't think some of the girls realised that they had knocked some off the bill for us.

Today I have spent money I should'nt have and bought something I wanted but did not need. I have been trying to get xmassy bed clothes for about 3 yrs, I have not managed to find any, but today in primarni I found a flannelette set covered in snowflakes and reindeer which I just had to have. Seen as I put them on on xmas eve and they only stay on for a few days they are a bit MSE as they should last for years and years, and what can be better than opening your pressies in a reindeer covered bed.

Its half term and my week is almost full already, we have the kids halloween party sat night which still needs a lot of preparation, we have had 6 of us decorating the log cabin all afternoon and there is still loads to do (it looks fab though:D) The theme is haunted castle this year, we have wood panelling and stone scene setters , plus lots of evil looking portraits all over. The ceiling is old bed sheets dyed grey and covered in cobwebs, if i can get dd to help I will attempt to post photos when its done.

newgirly

Half term is too hectic, I think the only time we get a break is if we go away. Today my sil has invited herself round with her faimily who are down from up north, I am being naughty and saying the kids have dinner at a mates as I just have so much to catch up on, and it could go on a while otherwise.:o

Yesterday I took them all for a mc d's and we bought a couple of xmas presents for my best friends boys, adorable pj's in primarni with red stripey legs and santa on the bottom, if only my lot were'nt so big I would force them to wear them!

I had a spare hour yesterday and decided to get dd to help me make a copy of Pammy's MFW house made up of squares of £1000 online, of course dd said she would help and then lay in her room which is par for the course, so I made my own on paper which is fab! It has 230 x £1000 squares which is a bit scary, so far we have paid off the chimney, roof and one brick:rotfl: I have it sellotaped inside my kitchen cupboard so I can admire it whenever I want, I showed dh last night and he thought it was absolutely hilarious.

The £10 a day budget is still somehow working although dh has been buying the off loaf round the corner shop which is cheating really, I really feel like I am wishing the year away (except xmas!)as I am so looking forward to a new op challenge next year, and really want to properly start cooking and baking and meal planning, I also bought myself my 2012 diary yesterday, and will start filling that in when its not such a mad house here.

newgirly

My afternoon guests have cancelled as one of the kids has a sick bug, plus my boys' friend has asked them over for the afternoon. So its just me and DD! we are going to finish off decorating the log cabin and then watch a film hooray! I may even copy Michelle and watch harry potter for the 100th time.:D

I have looked at my new homemade house I made yesterday and realised I have coloured in the first brick too soon, however due to me having a bit of extra time today i went through the accounts and found i have a 2x child benefit month that I'd missed before.:j . My CB is £188 and I need £184 to offically colour in that first brick , so it has to be op'd as its fate. My kids have had enough spent this half term anyway as family have given the pocket money and I am paying for a halloween party already, so I don't feel guilty sending it to the mortgage.

cha97michelle

I am only just realising myself that half term is not much quieter than during term time. Life is so manic with kids.

Like you, I am starting to get itchy about what challenge to set myself for next year.

The £10 a day seems like it is something that is working for you. I can't wait to hear if it is possible for the time scale you have set yourself.

mouche

Your OP house sounds great newgirly. I'm waiting a bit before I do that as I've only just started my mortgage. Halloween party sounds fab - can I come?

newgirly

cha97michelle wrote: »

The £10 a day seems like it is something that is working for you. I can't wait to hear if it is possible for the time scale you have set yourself.

I really feel i've have cheated on this as dh has bought odd bits of food (mainly chocolate!) from the local shop, plus the odd bottle of wine. its not really that far off my origional budget at the start of the year of £333 per month for food / petrol /school stuff/clothes anyway.

Money is still getting spent on "luxuries", I'm sure most people would think that a halloween party is a waste of money, but its a choice to spend as little as possible doing what makes us all happy. I would'nt dream of spending that on a night out or a nice xmas outfit, but the party has given us virtually a weeks entertainment , last night we made sweetie trees with halloween chocs, and today I have just bought the twins and 2x friends a 75p pumpkin each to carve this afternoon. its just satisfying doing stuff on a budget.
The weather is rubbish anyway, so staying in is fine!

Dh is not having a great time at work at the moment, his late bosses' wife is possibly going to cause some difficulties, all her husbands family have washed their hands of her already, we may have to buy her out next year, but how much for and when is anyones guess.
I've decided to carry on as planned with the mortgage as worst case scenario we can get a loan to buy her out, and by past experience this could drag on for years.

MSE things today so far are:

• No heating
• visited farm shop-pumpkins £4.99, bought at mr t exp.- 75P
• slow cooking gammon discovered at back of fridge
• bought 7x MASSIVE potatoes for £1.99 for kids lunch
• drying washing on airers

CathT

Hallowe'en party sounds fab and will be lots of fun quality family time.

newgirly

Yesterday was very tiring, 4 boys of 11 all day with no outdoor play as it was raining! They were ok though and we made some great pumpkins. Log cabin is decorated and food and drinks bought for sat. dh thinks i have not bought enough fizzy, I have 30 litres for around 30 kids.

Today I am debating whether to go tothe shopping centre and buy some new socks for us all (exciting!) or just stay in all day, I do know how to live it up.:D My dad and brother are taking the kids to london for the day tomorrow so I don't think it will hurt to have a dull day today.

I am raiding the freezer at the moment as the fridge is so empty, I do need space for party food at the weekend so theres not much point in filling it up, I've been shopping at the local shop day to day which is cheaper than I thought, they do their own cheap brand, so I may try andcut down the big mr t shop even more.

CathT

I think that's plenty of fizzy - a litre each.

I shopped at our weekly market this week and have a fridge and freezer full of meat and a very full fruit bowl. Cost me £15 for the lot. Food prices are out of control and I never stick to budget so it's an area I need to work on. Think I'll be usig my slowcooker a lot!