Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

Well the £112 OP didn't knock another month off but we are close. If I can tilly tidy another £10 or so by month end we will have knocked off 2 months this month. That is the kind of progress I like but sadly can't do it every month (or can I!!!!)

The goal is to get that balance right down and try and get the end date to Dec 2027 which is when M1 ends. We took M2 out in 2016 for the extension so this would be brilliant. House prices are really high around here at the moment and things are selling fast! Not seen it like that for a long time and am curious as to what our house is 'currently' worth.

First weekend for us with dh at work on his new hours. We are locked down as a nation so the plan is productivity! I have discussed with dd the idea of a bedroom makeover as part of her Christmas present and she seems agreeable. Although that was after showing me a present she really wants that is £170!

Have opened a N@tionwide bond which has a prize draw offer, have just sent over £100 but I am debating dh opening one too and moving the childrens' PB into it. Will mull it over as they would have 'good odds' and we don't mind locking that money away as it for when they are older anyway. Also sent another £25 to their bonds as dd's football sessions are cancelled for a few weeks and we would have spent £25 there.

Time to log off and start painting dd's bedroom furniture.

debtfreeoneday

I agree re Christmas. I want to make it different special this year without spending loads. 

CathT

I've actually had a conversation with dd regarding this today. I'm not even sure we're going to be able to spend the day with extended family so keeping expectations low seems sensible. I'm also trying to buy local/handmade where possible. Bought a crafty item for my secret Santa and bought some positivity prints from 3tsy for dd which I will frame and she can have in her room. Don't have many firm plans or goals to see out 2020 but replacing the bedroom carpets definitely needs to be on the list. This will no doubt snowball into having the stairs and a downstairs carpet replaced too! I don't mind the cost, it's the upheaval and moving furniture I am not mentally prepared for! 

Went out for a dog walk this morning and ds and I collected sticks and leaves for his craft homework project. I'm tasking Dh with that as he has 4 days off now and is far more creative than me. 

Money saving today???
dh paid for his own wine, £1.10 from tcb sent to mortgage and made a crumble with free pears given to me by my mum. Not bad for a Sunday. 

Food top up shop needed tomorrow and car going into the garage (under warranty so no cost). We haven't actually put any fuel in the car this month which goes to show how well we have stuck to the rules!!! Considering we both drive to work and have been doing school runs we have done rather well. However, perhaps it's not a good challenge to see if we can last until month end to put fuel in!! 

Karmacat

Hello Cath, delurking to say I'll be really interested to see your low expectations Christmas planning - thats going to be key for me, I think.

CathT

Ah, hello Karma :waves: Considering it's fairly low key every year we'll have to put some thought in. Think I'd rather as a family we enjoy the build up and spending time together than the big day itself. Thankfully there is no elf to deal with this year!

Well I've had a productive start to the week. Started painting dd's bedroom furniture on Sunday, did some after work on Monday and finished it off before work this morning! Definitely worth the effort although I was shattered once I sat down last night. New carpets being quoted for so hopefully be able to get them done fairly soon.

CB landed today so sent £10 to cc and £15 to mortgage which knocked that month off we were hoping for. Hoping to see the snowball effect as only really started overpaying that mortgage earlier this year and have already knocked 2 months off the end date. Hopefully payday Friday will result in another OP to keep the motivation levels high.

October spends

Supermarket £246.62

Fuel £30

debtfreeoneday

I think w will also be much more about the build up. With the news last night about France and Germany, in half expecting Boris to follow suit. 

CathT

debtfreeoneday said:

I think w will also be much more about the build up. With the news last night about France and Germany, in half expecting Boris to follow suit. 

It's definitely going to be a strange one this year.

I'm trying to think of how I've been productive over the last few days....

Finished painting the furniture and it's back in dd's room, just waiting a few more days to put all the bits and pieces back on the shelves. 

Advertised a desk for free today and was absolutely inundated with messages but that was collected before I got home from work. 

Ordered something off ds's Christmas list and reserved two crafty type items for the children. I'm determined to buy local and handmade where possible. 

Managed to harvest some snapdragon seeds earlier in the week so if I catch a dry spell tomorrow I'll try and get some more.

Fingers crossed for a small overpayment tomorrow too. 

CathT

Well I've been fairly productive again! Another piece of furniture painted and drying. We are almost ready for new carpets and just need to choose the shade of grey we want!

Have done some online (lots of things out of stock so not as easy as it sounds!) Christmas shopping today and managed to use a £15 off £75 spend, bought pyjamas, underwear and a few stocking fillers for the children. We usually have a good amount of n3ctar points to use but having hardly been to that supermarket this year due to lockdowns etc we'll struggle to get a £25 spend at the double up! I do have a few bonus point vouchers so will try and pop there to get essentials to boost the spends!

Scraped in with just under £250 food spends for the month which is pretty good, the £30 fuel is even more surprising!

Mortgage signature updated ready for tomorrow, another month closer and around £1000 knocked off the total.

debtfreeoneday

Well done on progress Cath!

apple_muncher

That's a really good amount to have knocked off - bravo!