gratefulforhelp's austerity measures

juicygirl

Lurker here, just wanting to say good luck!

We have a similar mortgage to you but need to clear the credit card we used to buy sofa and white goods for our house before I can become a MFW. Will be reading with interest! x

gratefulforhelp_2

Michelle thanks, good to see you.

I do include nappies, cleaning stuff and toiletries in that, still we do waste stuff. Nearest shops 5 miles, so really need to be disciplined about trips to the shops, unless we get stuff when out anyway.

juicygirl scary amount isn't it?? I'm probably going to see if I can get a new car (new to me I mean) on CC, at 0% and then keep switching, as I think my credit rating should be pretty ok.

We put all monthly spending on an M & S credit card so we get vouchers from their reward scheme, but then we squander the vouchers! We do pay it off in full every month, though.

gratefulforhelp_2

Well quite a busy day, doing relatively useful things. And a NSD, which will be ruined as have to buy floor stain and paint tomorrow, not to mention a scary dry cleaning bill (mostly curtains).

However I have got a vat of bolognese sauce cooking, so should help with the food bills.

DH has a vicious head cold and has mostly been in bed today.

LilacPixie

I think quite a few of us are considering 2010 pretty much done OP wise and now looking forward to 2011. I'm such with the not knowing running costs of new house, needing to literally empty our savings to get it (not that it was much) and impending maternity leave

gratefulforhelp_2

I'm only just half way to my £3K target, but dropped the repayments down when I got the (last) BFP. Still trying to pay £48 extra a month, which takes the monthly amount to £1600 (eek!), and hoping to do that through mat leave.

Still, there are all those unknowns, and even more so for you, with the house move.

Don't do what my aunt did and take all the light bulbs!!!

LilacPixie

Our current mortgage dropped to SVR at 3.3% from 6.3% so we continued with the fixed rate payment plus rounded it up to £450

gratefulforhelp_2

That's very good. We're on a 5 year fix at £5.59%, we couldn't take the risk with the variable rate. At least not while still paying for childcare.

LilacPixie

we are the same. new place they wouldn't let us port so we have applied for a new 2 year fix at 5.99%. I did consider longer fixed rate with the impending pixel but OH has a loan that is about a 7th of our take home pay a month ending in summer 2012 so decided to hopefully move to offset then when we will have alot more excess income. Well thats my long term plan. we are still waiting on our official offer which is nerve jangling.

gratefulforhelp_2

Fingers crossed then.

Pixel - loving it!!

toochoosey

I'm going to be following you too Grateful.....no debt as such but LOTS of unnecessary outgoings....currently changing pet insurance to save £16 a month. Car insurance due in Dec and am currently paying £50 a month for car insurance that cost less than £400 a year!!!! Was looking at getting a 0% CC but Mum has said she will loan it to me instead, so said, could I borrow a liitle more(£500 total) and I will get DD's Ipod for Christmas as well.....still will only work out about £42 a month......Still looking to save elsewhere.....don't drive unless I have to......??? Will keep looking xx

ETA....sorry, barged in without realising it was the MFW thread.....OH sorts all that out!!! I'm behind you anyway grateful xx