MFW newbie....

SmlSave

Gosh, you've been busy youngone!

Radish72

Nom, Nom, Nom Roast dinner

If setting yourself some spending money each month, helps you stop going on a massive shopping splurge, then I would set yourself a target amount each month that is achievable

I have £200/month in my budget, but I don't think I spend that (although think I have already for November :rotfl:) then the rest goes towards the OP

Courgette

Deleted_User wrote: »

Drumroll please....

my nagging/obsessing has finally paid off!! :rotfl: :rotfl: as I was catching up on all the girly soaps and a weeks worth of casualty and holby city on iplayer last night.... what did I walk into the bedroom to find mrtyo doing?... :eek::eek::eek::eek:








thats right- a budget!! :rotfl:

so he is now figuring out how to up his mortgage payments , and has put a set amount each month into savings .....

on the non MSE front he didnt want the freezer meal Id got out yesterday so I had half and the other half may need to be wasted but I will forgive him just this once!


my brainwashing plan has finally paid off!!! :rotfl:

off to treat him to dinner and Harry Potter this evening to keep his motivation going and so he knows we dont have to give up everything (only the expensive stuff! )

Isn't it so great when that happens :T:T:T My husband casually mentioned that the annual share dividend that came through this month went as an OP to his CC :j:j:j I've said before somewhere in the ramblings on my thread that if you lead a horse to water and leave them there, eventually they will drink! :rotfl:

wynnvegas

Hi TYO,

Really pleased for you that things are looking up on any number of fronts! Glad Mr TYO is getting into the spirit of things now as well - don't push too hard on the daft wummin' programmes though - there's only so much one person can take and kicking off a budget for 2010 seems to be a big step. Between soaps and reality telly, I properly despair about what the masses see fit to watch and if Moyra tried to get me into her stupid telly programmes, she'd be told, in no uncertain terms, where to go! I should note that she retains veto rights to any football matches that she doesn't consider decent big team v big team games so my bravado is limited to forums i know she doesn't read!!

Cheers,

Billy

[Deleted User]

Hehe thanks all!!
Billy- duly noted about the pressure to watch girly tv programmes!! although back in the day when we first started going out (about our 3rd date) he suggested we go and see a rom com at the cinema ...think he was trying to woo me.. no such chance now!! :rotfl: how is MF life treating you?

Smlsave - yep one busy lady , I find here provides a great stage for my random ramblings! :rotfl: hope you and bump okay?

Radish - roast was very yummy! Im totally amazed at how many meals I can get out of it- even if its just a million sandwhiches (okay not exactly a million but u get the idea!) Its funny I never thought of spending money as NOT happening monthly... the danger of having it monthly burning a hole in my pocket vs going on a big splurge becuase I feel deprived... though mrtyo did mention that I had no spends yet on my "list"/budget so perhaps a monthly amount I can play around with a bit is a good idea...!

Courgette- hullo!! :wave: hope you and little one are okay yep it proves your theory right!! great feeling of achievement my ramblings have paid off!

Think I might set the spending money at £150 p/m and see how that does me- I cant imagine I will need anywhere near that much but will allow for it in case so I dont feel deprived (my reaction to deprivation tends to be to eventually go on an OTT splurge of things I dont need!) any extras can go in a money box for maybe big treats like hols or a relaxing break but I will also try and spend it without feeling guilty if I do!

xmas nearly sorted now so *fingers crossed * no other major expenses to account for! (famous last words....)

mbbetter

Great diary!

Its great that you have the OH onboard with a budget. The same has recently happened to mine, except she now thinks she has a better spreadsheet than me (which is probably true!).

You have to have some enjoyment in life so a budget for these sorts of spends makes great sense. Splurges are event better if they are budgeted. On a budget of £150 pm if you spend only £75 for two months you know you can go on a £300 spending run on month 3 - guilt free - and it would feel great!

museumworker

Making great progress, especially with the brainwashing, ahem, I mean, convincing of OH to get on MFW band wagon :rotfl:!

OH and I both have £150 'pocket money', this we can do with as we like - drink ridiculous cocktails, go out for extortionate meals, buy books/DVDs... all with no come back from the other. However, when it is gone, it is gone - and no dipping into the house account for personal spends! TBH, it is rare we spend it all, but there are always months where everything adds up and you end up eeking out the last few quid (like the last 2 for me). It *sounds* like a lot, but I remember when I was spending £50+ on a night out.... three times a week! (my bank did take my bankcard off me after a while!)

What I count as personal spend:
* books/dvds/random charity shop buys for me
* socialising - drinks, eating out, lunch with work, tickets, events
* snacks and drinks outside of food budget/bought lunches
* most of my friend's presents
(not haircuts or clothes budget which come from joint account; if we go out together we'll discuss whether it is pocket money or joint money occasion)

Basically all the frittery stuff which isn't really accounted for in your budget and you'll only notice with a spending diary!

wynnvegas

Hi TYO,

I well remember that type of effort - visiting the cinema to see things like Notting Hill and Titanic spring immediately (and not pleasantly) to mind! I can relate to the effort going downhill over the years as well so you're not alone there!

Moyra is forever watching dreadful stuff like gossipy girls, housewives, brothers and sisters - all of which are dreadful and I only see them in passing. There was an Erica one a wee while ago that was more sanctimonious than a student in St. Andrews and that takes some doing! She'd have much the same to say about my programmes though - I'm getting hassle just now about clogging up the planner with stuff like The Walking Dead, NCIS, Fringe and the like - and that's before the cricket starts tomorrow night!

Mortgage free life has been decidedly dull thus far. I'm expecting big changes to come at the end of the month when we get paid and then on the 8th or so of December when all the bills for the month are gone and we've got a whacking great pile of cash sitting (albeit reserved for stuff). The mortgage free feeling has worn off a wee bit if I'm being perfectly honest but I expect a resurgence of joy on the first of every month when the payments no longer come out! All the new £0's in my signature are annoying me...

Cheers,

Billy

[Deleted User]

Mw
thanks...yep the "persuading" seems to have gone well!
Maybe Ill try the £150 for a while - also like the idea of getting to save it up then go on a (mini) spending spree!! I dont have massively expensive tastes and tend to use vouchers etc for any meals out / invite friends over...plus I have the OS/thrift bug I think so as long as am getting good value and not paying over the odds I shall be pleased

Billy
:rotfl: re: the films- i hope you arent permanently traumatised by them!! (even I feel a bit traumatised by titanic!! )
I can imagine MF being almost a bit of an anticlimax - until as you say , you see the money not going out every month! Im sure your £0's will start building up again soon!

2 days till payday- hurrah!!! will be lovely to have some spending money and I think I deserve to blow it this month!

have my pic of a house in wallet ready to distract me from over/unecessary spending

have eaten most of whats in cupboards and defrosted the fridge/freezer so can go back to mass cooking now (once Ive been shopping that is...otherwise we have beans on toast or beans and pasta tomorrow...for a 2nd night running! :rotfl:)

2nd £10 OP coming out next week...roll on Mortgage Freedom!

[Deleted User]

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!
Got paid- lovely!! have treated myself a bit this weekend but normal frugal service resumes monday!

Batch cooking done- plus enough to take to friend with new baby for her freezer (plus bonus of cuddles with baby!)
Used clubcard vouchers to get some cinema tickets and restaurant vouchers!- figured thats stuff we enjoy doing but then also dont have to use our own spends on for a month or so!
Had friends over and ended up with a lot of extra puddings mmmm... gonna try and palm some off on other people though and not sabotage the healthy eating (*ahem* ) plan ...SAEs for any takers! :rotfl:
Bit of an over spend on food shopping this month £30 or so , but mostly as had a lot of people over for dinner and also some bits n bobs for cooking which should help save money (and encourage pack lunches into work) in the long run!
we also opened up a savings a/c for saving for big things- repairs/emergencies etc.. and if we do well enough maybe a deposit if we decide to get a bigger house at some point!

x