Pay off mortgage and start having fun!

ahem_47

NG - I confess I know nothing about cars.

However - if you are going to spend money can you think about getting Eric's brakes upgraded? Spiders apart you are potentially putting yourself at risk and, because you know it, are reluctant to let your kids take to the wheel.

Regards the aloe Vera experience I am just shouting NNNOOOO at my iPad. I think situations that you found yourself in are difficult but you are going to have to learn to say - "sorry, but NNNOOOOO" too.

You are too nice chuck x

AlexLK

newgirly wrote: »

Make the mortgage payments is a given, this was more about the journey to get there

Alex,I fully agree about joys of classic cars , its a much or a personal relashionship, but the sheer size and lack of protection is a no go for me allowing seventeen year old boys to drive it. In theory you may be right, but I still remember driving my dads mg roadster at seventeen, and I did not respect it and had a lot of fun racing round the streets like a loony

My youngest twin is dreaming of an orange vw beetle, after he realised that an e type may be a little over budget for us :rotfl:

Ive got to think "sensible" if I'm going to pay this mortgage off in time though,they may have to stick with a bus pass yet!

I think we'll have to agree to disagree regarding the cars. Personally, I think it's less likely your sons will get themselves into trouble driving a mini and have great fun driving it too but ultimately, it's your decision. The mini will also provide them with some great memories that I doubt they would get with a modern box. From what you say at least one of your children has an interest.

As for having fun 'racing around the streets', did you crash it? If not, didn't we all? They'll do the same in a modern box but at much greater speed.

newgirly wrote: »

Another car dilemma has been thrown into the mix, I popped round mums to collect the boys from their tea night and she said they are selling grans car, I thought they would at some point , but she has agreed she can no longer drive it, which is a surprise.

Its an 08 ford zetec climate ka (red and called poppy!) but its only done 6k miles from new , they are going to sell it for around £2300. Its a good little car and could be used as my daily driver. Although we would still need a bigger car for the family.
I can borrow it for a couple of weeks before deciding what to do, and I know gran would be much happier if it was me that bought it, not sure what to do, if I carry-on like this I will end up with as many cars as Alex

Popped round my friend for dinner with the girls last night as she had arranged an "aloe Vera" sales chat my someone she knows, lasted for a couple of hours then the four of us tried and bought some products. I managed to get a bar of soap for £6, the shampoo was £21 a bottle :eek: we were not expecting it, so it was a little bit of a surprise to say the least! The new sales girl said she knew someone making £16kpm selling aloe products, could this be the answer to all my financial woes I wonder :rotfl:

:rotfl: You'll have to buy a few more yet!

I agree with ahem47 regarding the aloe vera, it's a pyramid selling scheme. Why anyone would pay £6 for a bar of soap is beyond me, let alone a £21 bottle of shampoo?

Alchemilla wrote: »

Let the mini be the kids learner car. No synchromesh in first gear, they can service it themselves.
Many happy hours fixing my morris minor and they are very similar!

Glad someone agrees with me.

Have you a classic car now?

getmore4less

newgirly wrote: »

I managed to get a bar of soap for £6,

you were mugged

another thing to add to the no compromise list.


Sell the mini get the KA if you don't want the kids driving the mini

It's only 7 years and the mortgage is paid off you can get a proper classic with the £1800pm spare

newgirly

I agree re the soap, I had decided to not buy anything, but after two hours and only four of us there , plus being fed dinner I just felt soooo awkward in my defence it was the cheapest item in the whole catalougue :eek:

Get more for less, I shan't tell Eric your comment about getting a " proper classic" when we have more money

Thanks for popping in ahem, hope you are enjoying it out there in the sun I could look into he brakes but I think its a mammouth job switching on a mini and many other things would need to be upgraded to cope.

Dd was free last night due to being off because of the tube strike ,so we quickly booked and went to the local Indian restaurant with my parents and brother too and had a lovely meal, very relieved as at least we have done something to celebrate now.it was expensive and has come out of this months budget , I may possibly reduce the holiday spending money by a bit to even up the budget,we will mostly self cater at centerparcs anyway as its a rip off food wise there.

Cake arrived yesterday and its a beauty , showed dd and she has been taking lots of photos :rotfl:

Day off today and only housework and washing to do , I shall spend lots of time fine tuning and posting a new plan later

Nearly forgot , I can't remember what cars you have Alex, is it too cheeky to ask for a list?

getmore4less

newgirly wrote: »

so we quickly booked and went to the local Indian restaurant with my parents and brother too and had a lovely meal, very relieved as at least we have done something to celebrate now.it was expensive and has come out of this months budget , I may possibly reduce the holiday spending money by a bit to even up the budget

Don't you have eating out in your budget?

You need to plan over a longer period at least a year.

You can't go 7 years without something in the plan.

Eat out X times a year, then meals like last night just come out of that part of the budget, no need to rob another catagory.

Alchemilla

If you can get disc brakes fitted on a moggy you can get them on a mini its not that big a deal.

Alex I no longer have a moggy. Its a mummy car now for towing the trailer.

Newgirly what is clean eating?

AlexLK

newgirly wrote: »

I agree re the soap, I had decided to not buy anything, but after two hours and only four of us there , plus being fed dinner I just felt soooo awkward in my defence it was the cheapest item in the whole catalougue :eek:

This will be exactly what these people selling this stuff will be hoping for.

newgirly wrote: »

Thanks for popping in ahem, hope you are enjoying it out there in the sun I could look into he brakes but I think its a mammouth job switching on a mini and many other things would need to be upgraded to cope.

Sorry if I've missed something but why do you want to upgrade the brakes on the mini? Change them for new and press your foot a bit harder on the pedal, it should be fine.

newgirly wrote: »

Nearly forgot , I can't remember what cars you have Alex, is it too cheeky to ask for a list?

No, not too cheeky but it's changed since last time as two have gone and one has replaced it but currently we've got: Land Rover Discovery 300TDI, E39 BMW 530i, these are mine and SWMBOs moderns for the winter / work. The current classics are: Triumph GT6 Mk.1, MGB GT and a Daimler Sovereign (Jaguar XJ6) Series 1. I've also got a LR Defender on loan from my mother as my LR is off the road and a new LR Defender on order.

AlexLK

Alchemilla wrote: »

If you can get disc brakes fitted on a moggy you can get them on a mini its not that big a deal.

Alex I no longer have a moggy. Its a mummy car now for towing the trailer.

Newgirly what is clean eating?

That's a pity, Alchemilla. I don't think one car can do everything, my LR is for towing but it'd be a sad day if that was the only car I had.

My guess for the "clean eating" is no processed food.

Alchemilla

I would gladly be car free if it were practical here.

newgirly

The brakes was a suggestion from ahem as I said I didn't want the kids driving the mini.:) nice selection of cars Alex, must be costing shed loads to maintain :eek: I heard they are not going to make any more defenders, is that why you are getting a new one?

The clean eating is eating as least processed as possible, currently quite easy as its summer so lots of fruit and salad anyway, lost a couple of pounds this week with out trying (and had lots of curry last night!)

Budget thoroughly looked at today.:o its going to be tight, I can do it but will have to go back to being properly oldstyle on a day to day basis ,if we still want to
save for Xmas and the odd break.

So after all this is paid for:

Mortgage
Bills
Kids,mine and dhs pocket money
Oyster top up
Yearly car stuff and home ins
Credit cards 0%

Then we will have exactly £750 left pm

So grocery budget has been set at £320 pm (£10 animals pm, £310 us, or £10 a day in a long month, so £2 a day each really.

£80 Xmas savings
£50 birthdays
£70 holidays or nights away
£30 school dinner top ups
£80 petrol (cutting by £20 as will use van at weekends)
£120 float left per month - this will be for clothes \treats\school trips\meals out depending what we need on a monthly basis , I will prioritise as and when needed.

Biggest challenge is the food budget, ive done it before but its hardwork, conversely I put more effort in with less money and we often eat better for it. Started today by sticking the bread maker on for the first time in ages, stole a dozen eggs from mums chickens , scrambled eggs on toast tonight