Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Just popping in quickly to spur me into money saving! Have just totaled WIOTW figure at £111,230 which is pleasing as I feared it had increased!! Now that is motivating.

Be back later for a read of diaries.

yukkibear

well done Cath, that's great

Alchemilla

Well done. You are doing a phemomenal amount.

norfolkdream

Hi CathT,
I'm a newbie but an oldie, we have spoke in the past on here and I am just reading through members that I remember.
Thought I would pop in and say hi (trying to get my post figure up lol) cant say who I was on here though as had a stalker

CathT

Thanks yukkibear and alchemilla.

Hi Norfolkdream, lovely of you to pop in. I can't figure out who you were so hopefully neither will your stalker. Do you have a diary? I'll pop and have a look.
Just checked mortgage balance on spreadsheet and it's now £97,980! I have drastically reduced OP's as we are having a tough year financially but it looks like £250 a month is coming off balance which is okay considering our repayments.

We unfortunately had a large car repair bill £300 last week but although not engine related it couldn't be left. We have also bought another window and door but as we know we will be here at least a few more years it is definitely worthwhile from a warmth and security point of view!

Therefore, we are continuing with minimal spends, roping in grandparents to help with a couple of hours childcare here and there and trying to food plan and batch cook as much as possible. Haven't given up wine but we all need a treat!

norfolkdream

Hi yes I have a diary One of the reasons to start, so I can carry on posting.

CathT

Have found it Norfolkdream and will be following.

Not an awful lot to update from me really. Keeping spends low and haven't bought anything other than food and petrol all week. Have also sold a drawer set and advertised more items locally. As some items are only worth £2ish I am saving it in a pot to go towards our holiday in a couple of months. We only really need money for petrol and food and a bit of spend. We are staying in a huge house/cottage with friends so planning on a cooked breakfast and packed lunches on a daily basis!

Unfortunately we need to spend yet more money on the house so that work is booked in for a couple of weeks time. It's funny how my budget looks perfectly manageable on paper but then we seem to struggle!

We go onto our new mortgage rate 2.99% fix for 5 years in April so our daily interest will rise slightly so maybe that will give me some extra motivation?

norfolkdream

That holiday sounds nice, have you been with those friends before. I have never been on holiday with anyone else other than the kids. Not sure I am that close to anyone like that which would make me want to spend 24/7 with them haha.

!!!!!! about your house, I know that feeling. One repair emptied all my savings last year. But at least I had them to pay for it.

yukkibear

Holiday sounds nice, I could do with one of those right now

CathT

Wowsers, I've not posted for ages!! Still ploughing away at home improvement expenses on the 0% cards and not a lot happening with the mortgage.

Is it terrible that I am conscious of the number of months left I have of paying shocking nursery costs! Things get cheaper next Jan and even moreso the following September.

Have been spending as much time as possible outside with the children. They are now at the age when I can get jobs done whilst they play. You soon forget the struggle to hang washing on the line when you have a crawling baby who wants to explore the garden unsafely! We have had work done in the garden too, a luxury possibly but necessary for us to be able to enjoy it. Had decking done and will have big patio next week. As it is now the children only have limited space to play on bikes etc and I think it will add to 'saleability' a few years down the line if necessary.