Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

It will happen once your renovations settle down. We used to have a scary amount on 0% cards from home improvements. I wasn't keen on overpaying the smaller mortgage as was so desperate to reduce the months on the larger one but I've really found my enthusiasm for it. It definitely helps that around £100 overpayment knocks a month off!

53p Tilly tidy, we do have £3.80 in tcb but I have a feeling they are holding that back for the £5 membership. Also need to check if b*g@s tracks properly as missing out on £100 if it doesn't.

35 points on youg0v yesterday and I'm not getting many surveys at the moment. Don't think I'll bother again after the next payout.

Christmas lists written yesterday, dd has put some unrealistic items (Mac book, latest I-phone etc) but most of it is do-able. Im also hoping some of it can come from the Mr S double up in a couple of weeks.

No great plans today, probably a family walk after lunch and a roast dinner later. The weather is surprisingly fine and dry here so making the most of it. Hoping to finish my book today so clearly a fairly relaxing day is planned!

CathT

Well that was a Sunday well spent.

Took clothes back to Mr S and did a quick top up shop. Also had a quick look at what we might be able to get off the childrens' Christmas lists on the double up offer. It's not looking like a lot so will try and spend wisely.

Had a lovely family walk in the area surrounding our local NT property. Ground a bit soggy in places but the puppy didn't seem to mind!

Finished my book and read several chapters of my new one. Uniforms and some work clothes ironed to give us a head start on the week. Roast dinner made by Dh and enjoyed by us all. I'm really hoping this has set us up for a relaxing week (once we get all the extra curricular activities out of the way at the beginning of the week).

November spends

Supermarket £56.84
Fuel

CathT

Quick update from me.....

£2.80 in tcb this morning so requested and overpaid it. I've just gone to overpay a 12p Tilly tidy and the money transfer to mortgage accounts has gone! I'm with FD and no idea where it's gone as I've checked on the main website and the app. Hopefully it's just a glitch as it's a bit annoying.

Just watched a lovely firework display for free from the bedroom window. Puppy has been pretty good with them and mostly not bothered which is a relief.

Small top up shop today of £9.12 and £30 on fuel. Spends a little high for this stage of the month so hopefully balance it out over the next few days.

November spends

Supermarket £65.96
Fuel £30

CathT

Still can't overpay the mortgage, however the efforts continue and 52p transferred. I'll keep a note and ring up at the end of the week to make an overpayment. Not as much fun or as motivating but end result is the same.

Have had another quote for roof repair rather than replacement of the damaged pieces, it's £60 with a provisional date booked up so fingers crossed.

£4.20 on a school event for ds but otherwise it's been a no spend day

CathT

The overpayments are set up again so transferred all my pending tilly tidies and spreadsheet updated, also saves me a phonecall to them.


£15.32 on food shopping, also stocked up on dog food as had a £6 off £40 at Mr S. We have one for the next few weeks so will definitely use them to our advantage. Such a shame the wine isn't a similar price to @ldi


November spends


Supermarket £81.28
Fuel £30

CathT

Mini food shop for wine plus a few essentials - £12.52 spent so not too bad. £7.99 spent on a new dog bed, puppy is currently sitting in his old one!

89p Tilly tidy today and am hoping we can knock near enough another month off with Tilly tidies.

Definitely turned colder after all that dreadful rain yesterday and we have sleet forecast for tomorrow. Typical as I may have to make an appearance and take dd to football!

This weekend I really must start my Christmas shopping. I've been saying this for the last few weekends now but I'm serious this time!

November spends

Supermarket £93.80
Fuel £30

CathT

This weekend is about organisation partly helped by some snowfall yesterday which meant we didn't venture far. I have cleared the breakfast bar again as it just attracts 'stuff' mainly ipads/post/school letters and stuff that generally doesn't have a home! I've also moved some other things round and cleared the windowsill as I'm mindful that some of the Christmas decorations need to be placed slightly higher up this year. I have quite a few hand crafted items I don't fancy being in reach of the puppy!

Another top up shop and I popped to the local garage for fresh eggs (£2 for a dozen is a bargain and they are delicious). Today should be a no spend day so time will tell. Budgets looking good as we enter the single
Figure countdown to payday.

Also made a note of Christmas presents to buy and although a few items on their list are totally overpriced and unnecessary I am going to get them. This is mainly because I am not getting dd an I-phone 11 or MacBook she has requested!! Ds has put a drone and an electric scooter so since they're not having the silly requests I'll get as much of the reasonable ones as I can. So some research done to maximise savings and will get Cashback where I can.

Dd is 11 now so she is having an old phone of ours and we've organised a pay monthly sim. I've held off as long as I can as I can't believe they have phones so young these days but my general understanding is once
They're in high school they seem to 'need' one.

We had sorted out some
Of ds lego and gave that to his younger cousin yesterday who was over the moon. Was just nice to see it go to a good home.

91p Tilly tidy this morning to set us up for the day.

November spends

Supermarket £108.22
Fuel £30

CathT

Managing to do some online Christmas shopping today means it's been productive but spendy. However I've now got the realistic 'must haves' off their lists. Have a rough idea of what to get in the nectar double up and am feeling slightly less stressed. So glad I set money aside though, much easier to spend when it's already been mentally spent!

Have enjoyed two lovely dog walks, caught up on jobs at home and enjoyed a roast dinner. Feeling relaxed entering the Monday-Friday madness now!

Pooky

Make sure you set some ground rules for the phone from the start. Eg. All phones to be left in the kitchen at night to be charged. Regular checks on apps/messages to make sure everything is as it should be. (This is not about invading their privacy but about keeping them safe).

We had an issue with a boy asking DD2 to send photos, once we'd seen the messages DH phoned the boys Dad who was really shocked and promised to look into it, it happened again a few months later, same boy, so we phoned the Dad again and said next time we get the school and police involved and the Dad confiscated the phone. It's only because we did checks that we saw the messages, DD2 was worried they're be trouble but we needed to show her that as parents we had her back in this and we'd sort it. (She was 12).

It's really scary what goes on once they're in secondary school now and they grow up so fast.

Brodiebobs

Second that Pooky, we have a phones downstairs at 8pm rule. They're set up on family account so i have to agree apps before they can be down loaded and I know the codes/passwords.

Good you've got the xmas lists and pressies sorted, neither of mine know what they want!