Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

CathT

I lose track if I use a CC to do daily shopping too. I know it works for some people but I am much more careful with cash.

newgirly

Definatly going to start using cash for all spending again, I was also think I could copy someones idea on another thread and try and save £1 a day from it for xmas in a tin (like the sealed pot challenge which became an un-sealed pot earlier this year!)

Great news today, my direct debit was cancelled in time, which means I can start next year not in arrears. I even have £60 left over which I shall spend on extra xmas presents.

I'm hoping to get some money back from my old gas/elec supplier as I have switched and should be, from my calculations around £100 in credit, I might give them a call to see how long it will take.

I am doing quite well with freebies at the moment , 2x films to see on sunday and tues and free ideal home xmas show tickets for next weds that I'm taking my mum to see :money:

newgirly

I can't believe we are almost halfway through nov already, where has this year gone? I normally don't like January very much but I'm quite looking forward to a new year and new targets, how sad is that!

Good news is I logged onto the old gas/elec company and I was £80 in credit, bad news is I went to mr s on friday and spent £120.:eek:
So I've had to have a few nsd's to compensate the difference. I did'nt even buy food really. I got the crackers for xmas day with matching tablecloths/candles/napkins etc. plus nice whiskey and port as presents. Oh and a xmas cake pack with all the ingredients already weighed out which is cheating a bit but at £9.99 worked out cheaper than my usual reciepe and saved a lot of prep time, I love making xmas cake the smell is fantastic, sufice to say I have enjoyed spending the extra on xmas things.:D

I have started knitting again aswell, I thought I would do a large wool blanket to use in the living room as a throw. The wool is £4 a ball and one ball down I have only knitted about 5 inches eek! it does look good though so I may have to keep buying wool and finish it, as it will be the only thing I've started to knit and actually finished, and mse as it will keep me warm when the heating is off.

CathT

newgirly wrote: »

Good news is I logged onto the old gas/elec company and I was £80 in credit, bad news is I went to mr s on friday and spent £120.:eek:
So I've had to have a few nsd's to compensate the difference. I did'nt even buy food really. I got the crackers for xmas day with matching tablecloths/candles/napkins etc. plus nice whiskey and port as presents. Oh and a xmas cake pack with all the ingredients already weighed out which is cheating a bit but at £9.99 worked out cheaper than my usual reciepe and saved a lot of prep time, I love making xmas cake the smell is fantastic, sufice to say I have enjoyed spending the extra on xmas things.:D

I'm sure that if you're in credit when you leave a gas/elec company they have to pay out quite quickly, am sure it's 3 weeks??

I think you'll get quite a lot of enjoyment out of your big shop. Remember to watch out for those 'live well for less' vouchers.

Sepa74

Christmas is all about indulgence and feeling extravagant - in Europe it's a lovely mix of pagan Yule - celebrating the return of the light and deliverance from the dark - and the Christian celebration of Christ's birth and deliverance from sin.

I grew up in a country where the Yule aspects of the celebration made no sense (it's midsummer, for goodness sake, you want to get out of the sun!) and in a secular society, Christ's birth is also peripheral. Christmas is fun, in Australia, but doesn't quite 'fit'. Even though we have modified some traditions - open air carol singing, where the community comes together in the local parks, and sings by candlelight, is one of my favourites (but I love singing!) - it's plain bizarre to be singing about holly and ivy, and sleigh bells through the snow when you're standing outside on a hot summer's evening wearing practically nothing. Hardly anyone in Australia has ever seen real holly, by the way!

Anyway, back to the point... the problem is when we indulge ourselves all year round like it's Christmas, then Christmas loses it's meaning - which like I said, is only partly about Christ's birth - but I don't think too many of us on this board indulge all year round, so that gives us all the more reason to enjoy our celebration!

newgirly

To be honest sepa we are not really religious, but still love xmas. Definatly its nice to indule after a year of being quite restrained!


Right , plan for this week is:

• Order mr t vouchers to buy watch dh wants for xmas
• make sure all presents found and wrapped
• stick to budget
• get myself on a strict diet until I go away friday week
• all washing and ironing up to date
• clean out under my bed (also see find presents!)
• do 1 days work for dh
• do surveys everyday
• wrap up and have heat off when home alone.

CathT

Sounds like an organised and busy day.

newgirly

I wish cath, thats my list for the week you haven't seen how much ironing I have!

newgirly

Why did I write a to do list this week, I don't think anything will get crossed off it.:D

I am off to the xmas ideal home exhibition today with my free mse tickets, which hopefully is full of decorations and mulled wine not builders/loft conversion companies etc. advertising, although I suppose I don't want too much temptation to buy.

I don't think anymore will get paid off the mortgage for the rest of the year as i can't see any extra cash coming our way, dh says he won't be doing any xmas bonus' this year, its a good job we are going to both sets of parents for xmas/boxing day really so I won't have to pay for lots of food just a few extra treats.

We are going away friday week and I don't have any money for that but dh is sorting out some money to eat out, its only an hour or so away so not a lot of petrol and breakfast is included, plus when we went last year we found a really nice traditional pub in the main town that was quite cheap for lunches. We will eat out while we are there as I can't see the point of going away and then trying to save money so much that it spoils your fun. After a years moneysaving a treat is in order.

lulabelle1

Exactly, enjoy your treat, you deserve it!!! Have a great time...