Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Just popping in with a quick update as been shattered today. Think I've crashed after two heavy workouts. Didn't actually sleep after work but did rest which definitely helped. Ds gave me two blankets and a teddy bear!

Have still smashed today's fitness and nutrition goals although will power was needed for a period of time.

Dh has done a small top up shop for essentials and he stuck to the list. As tomorrow is the last day of the month with no spends planned or necessary I can update our totals. Will finalise overpayments tomorrow once dh has been paid and I'm sure a tcb payment should arrive by then. Hoping to start May in a strong position and have been trying to set some short term goals which will be updated once finalised.

April spends

Supermarket £204.65
Fuel £193.02

Total £397.67

CathT

Well it's the1st of the month so time for an update. Our supermarket/fuel spends came in over £100 under budget. Feel like we are starting the month strong with no spends so far this month
Overpayments this month a little lower as thought we were switching onto new rate and focus turned to smaller mortgage (higher interest rate). Bizarrely despite switch happening middle of April we don't go onto the new rate until June's payment? Spreadsheet may be slightly out whilst we adjust but I'll update it as soon as I can.


All fitness goals smashed so far this week. Will take my gym stuff with me tomorrow in case I feel like an extra workout after work. Will see how I feel but doing so means I can target certain areas by working them 3 times a week which will help me see some results.



A very small top-up shop is possible tomorrow, we need milk and yoghurts and that's it. I can't see dh being that strict once let loose in the supermarket.....he hasn't been all week :rotfl:

CathT

Good morning, happy Friday!

Have planned all week to have early nights but it hasn't happened. Have got back into reading again and gripped by my latest book. A nice way to pass the time though.

£2.01 Tilly tidy this morning which was £1.80 tcb cashout and then 21p Tilly tidy. It turns out milk and yoghurts are more expensive than I thought, dh spent £8.34 yesterday with our 'proper' food shop needed today. I'm eating very cheaply which is helping.

Have worked out and also written down what extra overpayments needed for larger mortgage to keep us on track for Dec 2027 even though we're not 'officially' overpaying that one at the moment. It's scary to think what we actually overpay between the two mortgages but it's manageable and we are happy with our lifestyle. Being frugal day to day is key for us.

Few spends planned over the weekend and have intentionally sent less to savings/mortgage but will send across if there is any spare before we go on holiday. It's payday for us both whilst we're away so will come home to a very healthy bank account.... until we do the money shuffle.

Updated chart on MFiT and happy to see if included both our mortgages in the figures I provided so at least paying down the smaller one helps with this challenge.

One of my weekend jobs is looking at pension calculators and asking dh to contact his provider to increase his direct debit. I just hope we are doing enough!

shangaijimmy

It's such a tricky question on pensions for are we doing enough. So much info its tough to know where to start. An easy idea is that you for the day you start paying your pension you pay a percentage of your income equivalent to 50% your age, and keep that percentage up for working life. Mrs SJ has done that, so is nicely on track. Although i have paid since 19, i probably lost pace for about 10yrs. So am on catch up and now paying 50% of may age...i hope I am on track now!

CathT

That's a great starting point, thanks Jimmy. My workplace one is just over 9% of income, shame I'm not 18 anymore!

It's definitely an area that needs some research, careful thought and planning and regular reviews.

Woken up to a sunny morning but we had rain overnight and snow on the hills! Hoping it dries up enough to get into the garden and get it summer ready. Also planning the gym, holiday clothes shopping and cleaning the house so I'd best not sit drinking too much coffee this morning.

Joint account looking good, will see if there's any spare for another overpayment after holiday shopping.

Small food shop yesterday and we will just need another top up for school lunch boxes next week. Am hopeful we can stick to £150 supermarket spends target for first 3 weeks of the month, £50 a week should be absolutely do-able. Another booze free Friday for dh, he doesn't have much but he's challenging himself to no more before holiday. I don't miss it and certainly don't need anything that's going to send me to sleep any earlier than I already do!

Right, going to finish my coffee whilst reading a few diaries and get on with my plans for the day. Hope it's warmer and drier where you are, what a difference compared to the last bank holiday.

CathT

May spends

Supermarket £52.71
Fuel £0

Moneyfordreams

does your work top up by 9% Cath?

I pay 12.5%. I'm sure my contributions are matched

CathT

Is like to think so, if yours are matched I guess mine are too. I should probably take some time to understand it. I have an information pack from when I changed roles so hopefully it's up to date information in there.

We have had a wonderfully productive day. I worked super hard in the gym, usually do 6 exercises but did 9 focusing on legs and glutes but did throw in some upper body isolation exercises. Hoping for a fab workout in the morning too but focusing on back. Bought myself a bikini and new dress today and feel confident in both so I'm really happy!!

Went to a local retail park and got most things we need for holiday. Dd has suddenly found her girly side so had lots of requests. She has started playing out with a lovely girl in her class and I think the friendship is really blossoming.

Came home and cut the back lawn, dh dug over the border which was almost fully grown back, we've pulled out all the grass that has grown through the rotten weed membrane from the section of garden we had landscaped years ago. I've also put some weed killer on it ready and will get some membrane tomorrow and put all the stones back. Also line dried two loads of washing, hoovered all of downstairs. We had a few bread rolls potentially going to waste so dh sliced them and made garlic bread to go with dinner. No waste here and it was really tasty.

Had a lovely hot bath and finished my book so looking forward to starting the next one. Have a shelf full of 'must reads' so a quick changeover is a bonus. It's funny how when I'm really into reading I can make time to read.

Hope you all have a wonderful evening.
I think having an extra day in the weekend helps with the positive mindset!

apple_muncher

Definitely agree about the extra day. Not only does it make this weekend longer, but it reduces the time until the next weekend too. Win-win!


Well done on being confident in the dress and bikini. Go you!

CathT

I'm loving all the 4 day weeks at the moment. Going to have a shock when all these bank holidays have passed!

Yesterday was productive, managed to tidy the garden, lay the weed membrane and recover. Planted some wild flower seeds and debating where to plant the other pack. Planted some bedding plants and a courgette. I had no luck last year despite growing marrows in previous years!

Did spend a bit on items for the garden but had kept money in account from payday instead of overpaying it all and leaving us with a pittance. Accounts looking healthy to see us through the next two weeks so hopefully have an excess I can overpay just before payday. However, our 'surplus' money seems to have a habit of disappearing without a trace!

Off to my mums for a roast dinner today and we have leftovers for tomorrow so only a necessary food shop for basics today - famous last words!

Off to the gym in a bit, this will be my 3rd day in a row so not ideal in terms of rest but I'm not feeling fatigued now I'm not in a calorie deficit and have separated upper and lower body. That does mean it's leg day again though.

No plans today other than dinner with family and sorting the house and assessing the holiday situation. May need to bring a suitcase home from my mother's. Hope you all enjoy this wonderful extra day off.