Ambitious MFW

AnnaBeth

Been away for far too long, missed everyone!
Speedy update: DH has a new job with small pay rise!!!
Have bought 2 guinea pigs so they're keeping us busy.
Debating on whether to convert the loft pre-children as both earning more now than will be later on. Ideas welcomed.
New work system of sick pay being cut which is a pain, not sick ofetn but actually if am miss quite a lot of money, good as guess earn more every day than I thought!
Feel v sick today though but may have to go in for the cash, not sure the system is a good one!
Been documenting spending every day, shocking how much we have been spending at times but have things to show for it e.g. amazing new shed properly sorted out, have sorted fence and tree removal think all mentioend previously. Now plan is to work back some cash as been doing weekly cash system and overdrawn ourselves by about 1,000! Using new M&S 0% card with plan to put cash into ISA to ofset bit behind with cash to offset, as long as we don't get charged interest I don't actually mind but does mean frugal living for a while again hence back on here for moral support.
Have a good day everyone, really inspired again by everyones diarys. Have made another £1,000 OP since last on here, and gym has one week left before it's cancelled for good!!!
Off to update signature with new glossy mortaggage amount have broken the 150,000 mark so pleased!

CathT

Well done on getting sub 150k, it's great hitting these milestones.

Loft conversion could be a good idea to do sooner rather than later if you know you will definitely need the space. DIY jobs are not so easy with small children around and I doubt you would want stress or mess if it was done whilst pregnant.

AnnaBeth

thats it CathT not sure how much we need the space though do have a spare room but thought better to get done before children then out of the way and whilst we earn more cash!

Have done well this week to reduce spending, will do food shop in lidl later, not only is it cheaper but our one has good veg and becasue its smaller shop than big supermarkets don't get tempted with random stuff! Will make some more tea bread today which has been good to make made it a few times recently.

Not sure if I should go back to review websites haven't been since last was posting more frequently don't think i did it long enough to get any rewards, do people really find the time they spend is worth it?

Have a good saturday everyone.

[Deleted User]

Hey AnnaBeth
Well done on getting sub 150K Its great to look back and see the numbers go down!
Ive thought about doing more shoping at lidl and aldi as I agree there are probably less temptations on other things! also the fruit and veg is so much cheaper too!
no ideas on surveys as have never done them but I know a few people on here have great success!
Id also guess that DIY/ rennovations would be easier done with no little ones to think of/keep occupied whilst your doing it! :rotfl:

AnnaBeth

shopping at lidl done this morning definately less distractions, took DH he gets distracted by anything with sugar in, bought 18 cans of coke for £4.99 not sure we even slightly needed but not bad price DH insisted!
Gone back to click websites. Loyalty shopper seems to be one of the most profitable, have managed to get 1,304 points from previous work, not done anything since december last year but good to leave a while to see what actually got passed through for points. I need 3,000 before I can redeem £30, so will keep going with that one as looks possible and £30 will be worth it!
Had £77 rebate from eon for paying too much always find that odd concept when pay by direct debit but that money went straight into OP account. that was a nice bonus for us this weekend! However haven't fixed energy prices for us are low at moment when try to fix will have to increase payments by double so haven't fixed yet which may regret but paying more than double than current doesn't make sense to me yet.
have energy/electric monitor system from eon quite good to keep an eye on ways to reduce electricity.
So will definately plan to stick with loyalty shopper and ignore the others as they don't seem to have worked as well for me, plus don't want it to feel like too much of a job which it can do if using different websites for cash. One's enough for me at the moment can always go back to the others another time.
Weather's looking better here much less rain might even have a BBQ at parents this evening!

linz

Hi AnnaBeth,

I agree Loyalty Shopper is the best for clicks atm, but you could also think about doing Topcashback for the New Vista surveys. They pay out 70p per survey. I've had over £30 from them so far

AnnaBeth

thanks Linz.
I'll give Topcashback another look.

cha97michelle

If you are thinking of doing a big project like your loft i would definitely do it before kids. Having work done and keeping kids out the way is a real pain, plus, before kids we had the most money and time ever, and we never truly appreciated that fact until it was too late. Somehow most got spent on not a lot.

AnnaBeth

thanks Michelle, think it's going to be a plan, I agree I'm sure more money now than ever will have and would be good to have something more to show for it, plus paying a bit extra off our mortgage makes it smaller than it could be so I think will get some quotes etc together and discuss properly with DH. Also want to travel a bit before kids, bit more relaxed now think what will be will be.
One more academic eyar of masters left would also like to get loft donw and maybe a few holidays before this time next year, if need to be more frugal to do it think a good plan!
Have a good evening everyone, lovely weather here today x

sarahevie

Travelling is also a good one to get out of the way, it is something we have never done having kids straight out of uni at 23/24.

Also not finishing my PhD before children is my biggest regret, I'm starting my third attempt at final year this Sept and it's really now or never.

The loft sounds like a great idea, I wouldn't mind having ours done although we are leaning towards a double storey extension. It's just funding it on one income. My parents have always said that they had the most money of their lives pre children, it is surprising how even dropping to part time/stopping work has an impact on things like income multipliers for mortgages etc