Our attempt at being MF!!

CathT

I did a quick review of 2019 figures compared to 2020.

In 2019 we overpaid £2,833 and average monthly spends on food and fuel were £371.

In 2020 we overpaid £1,567 and average monthly spends on food and fuel were £350. 

It's good to see an average of food/fuel as helps with budget setting. I was surprised that we overpaid much less in 2020 considering we didn't have a foreign holiday and usually have 2 a year? However, we did save £5000 and then used this towards a new car so I'm hoping this explains the difference. 

I'm also tracking mortgage 2 to see what the balance is going to be December 2027 when mortgage 1 ends. We managed to reduce this 'shortfall' by £1,010 between August and December this year so steady progress definitely being made.

apple_muncher

I think funding £5000 towards a new car definitely explains that difference!

CathT

I'm hoping so Debtfree.

Not too much happening here, recent Tilly tidy of £1.54 and £50 to cc. Hoping that dh can chase up his missing payslips today as has been laying emergency tax the last few weeks so hoping that's sorted and a rebate is on its way.

First food shop of the year yesterday. £42.54 spent so nothing too shocking!

Dh is off work today so have been tasked with home schooling and finding a home for all the Christmas related stuff I have neatly stacked in the dining room. I'm hoping it will be neatly stacked in cupboards but who knows!

Trying to put my January plans in action. Some areas going well but just trying to be consistent whilst being kind to myself. Am really enjoying my book but thinking the weights workouts are more likely to be happening toward the end of the month though! 

January spends

Supermarket £103.39
Fuel £79.04

apple_muncher

I've just started Chloe Ting's 21 day latest plan. It gives me a structure to follow and means that on days like today, where I'm now working from home instead of going in to the building, I have extra time to do them as I'm not travelling. I like that she does some workouts with weights now.

Karmacat

Things sound balanced, Cath, that's great.  How's the tidying/ decluttering coming along?

CathT

Hi Karma, we are taking a plodding approach! Christmas decorations are neatly tidied away in a 3 storage areas (just need to remember where everything is when it's needed). DH has sorted through out huge collection of football boots, it's a shame to throw them away so hoping they can be passed on. I think I will tackle some of the clothing drawers this weekend, mis-matching pyjamas are annoying me so if it doesn't have a match it's being binned!!

A few extra payments sent to 'stoozing' card this morning, it's not easy resisting the temptation to send everything to the mortgage. Whatever is left in the account on Thursday before payday can be sent as an overpayment as we are fairly close to knocking a month off and my goal is to clear it by 2 months in January.

It's been a busy week so my plan is to be kind to myself and recharge this weekend, am not expecting anymore of myself than that.

CathT

apple_muncher said:

I've just started Chloe Ting's 21 day latest plan. It gives me a structure to follow and means that on days like today, where I'm now working from home instead of going in to the building, I have extra time to do them as I'm not travelling. I like that she does some workouts with weights now.

I really do need to find some time/motivation to do the first of 2 workouts this month!

apple_muncher

Turns out it's 28 days, not 21! But I'm going for it anyway!

Hope you find a stash of work out motivation...

newgirly

Happy new year Cath 🙂 great new plans for January too! 

CathT

Thanks Newgirly, am about to pop over to your diary for a catch up. 

Been a quiet week here if you don't include full time work and homeschooling! Think we continue to strike the balance though.

Spends as expected remain low, I am trying to use up toiletries I hate stockpiling them and don't like having various open bottles of the same product. I also can't bear waste so am just using things up this week. I've managed to streamline cleaning products as don't need a particular product for every different job but still have too many toiletries. Think I'll tackle the hand creams next as have at least 3 on the go. 

Payday for dh tomorrow so should manage a mortgage overpayment. His pension payments have started up again but he's still on the wrong tax code so no rebate as yet so need to keep an eye on that. 

Eating simply and cheaply this week, again to avoid waste and I'm not really managing big meals at the moment so tending to just have something on toast for my main meal.

Not much else to report but have nearly finished my first book of 2021, a book in just over 2 weeks is pretty good for me as I don't find/make enough time to read and the world is a pretty distracting place right now.

January spends

Supermarket £155.25
Fuel £79.04