Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

CathT

Wow, your OP's for the year since May are fantastic! What an achievement.

Maybe the planning for a lower budget will be easier when half-term over and children back at school. The run up to Christmas isn't the easiest time of year to budget either. Keep going, you're doing brilliantly!

newgirly

Thanks guys, I did go to sainsburys today to get some food and spent £29 which was not too bad, I will go through the bank accts later and see if there is any extra pennies that I may not have accounted for, did pick up some brilliant bargins in mr s this morning, its the 1/2 price toy sale, and DS1 wanted some battle hamsters and armour, got 5 lots for £25 , monopoly city for £12.50 and travel cluedo to go in my xmas eve hamper for £2.49. All but the cluedo I will get family to buy for him, so am quite pleased.

newgirly

Xmas, I think is sorted now, I have'nt bought DH a lot , mainly sweets , so may add to that later. I an awful lot to buy for , but did manage to agree a no pressie pact with B&S in law which is a result.

I have no money put by for xmas food, but we will have xmas day at mums (hooray!) and boxing day with the inlaws (oh well!), so I will not go too mad buying twenty different cheeses and half of tescos twiglets. These cut backs do not apply to baileys of course.

I think one of the hardest things is stopping my mum and Dh spending a lot on pressies when I really don't want them to.

DD is asking for cash, she really is turning into a real teenager, but the answer is a definate no to that, santa does'nt bring cash to our house!

I spent a long time on surveys last night, did about four plus onepoll a few, did some daily clicks as well, and have just this minute had a free sample of face cream delivered, I think I will register for more freebies like that, its a nice surprise as I always forget I've registered for them.

I have done a few surveys on topcashback, but they take about 3 months to pay out, and sometimes its hit and miss. Does anyone else do them, as at 75p a go, (DH has an acct as well) , if we did do it everyday, it potentialy could add up to £45 per month. I've only done a handful so far, not sure whether to risk that much time on them or not. I just want to do as many as possible.

Had a very MSE day yesterday, I cooked weezls bean curry for dinner which was quick and VV nice, even DH liked it and had 4 platefuls with rice. that might have to be a regular receipe. I stuck some slightly rubbery swede, onion and carrots in the slow cooker last night to make some soup for lunch today., and will stick the BM on later.

Im off to get dressed and take the dog out as the sun is shining DH is at work and the kids are on games consoles! I shall try and drag all three kids with me, but I think DD won't be that keen as she would have to get dressed for that!

CathT

Yay to the money saving on christmas lunch - I am still waiting to see if I am working or not but will go out with friends if not. Hoping it's not too late to add on!!

I've been thinking about the surveys too. Did 2 this morning but the second one took me ages!! I don't mind doing them if I know they will definitely payout but TCB and QUIDCO are both new to me so have little faith so far! I'm at £20.50 on onepoll but i don't think they add many (or any) at the weekend.

I saw the sainsburys sale too but not had time to have a proper look. DD has soooo much already though and we really are running out of room!

newgirly

I may try and open another halifax acct as they only sent paperwork for our seperate accts through, topcashback says the £50 is only for new customer though, so i doubt if that would track.
I shall use the £10 Per month we currently get to OP. Need to find more ways to get cash as well as survey vouchers, I would like to have a go at the betting, but it just seems so complicated, I have read the guides before, but it didn't sink in too well!

gratefulforhelp_2

newgirly wrote: »

I worked out my new mortgage balance yesterdaay as the dd came out, with the interest at £14.60 per day it was £394.20 in total int.
The monthly (massive!) mortgage payment since we shortened the term is now £1372.64

Ours is £1550 without any overpayment if it makes you feel any better!

pammyj74

Wow your mortgage payments are huge! I wish I could afford to pay that each month.

I was looking at opening a halifax account for the £5 a month thing, I have my mortgage with them. I want to keep my other normal account the same but could I just put £1k in and then take it out again and just keep doing that each month? Or will they notice that?

newgirly

Hi pammy, Ive just been transfering money from current acct to a&l current acct to DH's halifax reward to my halifax reward acct back to my normal current. Phew! been doing this about 6 weeks or so and have had the £5 paid into mine and Dh's halifax accts no problems.
I just make it a weekly routine when he gets paid on a friday, like i've said in the past if my friends knew what I get up to for the sake of a few quid i don't think they would believe it :rotfl:

pammyj74

how long do you keep it in the account for? I'd only have the one account to transfer to so not a big ordeal lol

newgirly

I move it straight away pammy, it seems to be working so far!