2011 diary - MFW - Can't quite believe it!

Caroline73_2

It's been a few days again.

Today I sorted out my finances for the rest of the year.

By the end of this month I will have all the Christmas presents done (mostly all bought and paid for now), money for my tax bill (due Jan) and road tax (due Dec) saved and I want to be further on the way to have £2k in the 'bills' account. I want the £2k in the account by the end of December.

Having jiggled I think this is possible. I have quite a bit of work and have money owed. January will be when the big overpaying starts!

On a daily kind of post - I have done my surveys, TCB clicks today, I also got some cashback pending from TCB. I have £19 in receipts to hand in to Sam's school today as I bought bits for the school disco. As I took the £19 out of last weeks spends I haven't missed it so I will add that money to the OP pot. I also bagged up £2 in coppers from my pot yesterday.

Caroline73_2

Hello all

I overpaid a lump sum of £50 yesterday so very pleased. I don't think I'll be able to do much more than this month, but I have got £70 owed to me by a nursery school. I've only just invoiced them so I might not that until January.

I have managed to get up to £2000 in the savings account too. So that's basically my annual goals all done! I have acheived so much in 2010, I cannot wait for 2011!

I have made some felted bags and brooches recently so I will list those on my Misi and Folksy shops so I can hopefully sell some of those soon.

My plans are to get some major decluttering done between now and Christmas. I've bought most of the food and drink - only the fresh bits to get now, and all the presents are bought. I just need some wrapping paper now.

I've updated my signature.

Caroline73_2

I sat down and did some sums over the weekend and decided that I need about £20k in equity so we can move next year. I have no idea what our house will be worth next summer so overpaying is massive priority now!

I have re jigged this months finances and have mentally put another £225 aside (I can do it properly once I get paid mid month!)

We went greyhound racing at the weekend and did spend a little on bets, we won nothing which was disappointing as everyone won! We haven't been out for months so I don't mind too much. We stopped betting as we were losing. We chose a dog to win and when it lost (as it did everytime) we cheered for the £2 we'd 'saved'!

I have decided to divide the weekly spends into daily spends instead. I think this will help me budget better rather than having a big wad of cash on thursdays and it being gone by Saturday. I don't mind going to the supermarket more often, as I think it means I will throw away less food in the long term anyway. I will also look at the cost per meal a bit more doing it this way.

I will put every NSD money into overpaying. I have set up to do online overpayments so I can do it daily. Hubby is 100% on board so it's all systems go.

pammyj74

Glad hubby is on board. Have you looked at ourproperty site? It tells you what houses have sold for. Its really interesting to have a nose.

Shame about dogs.

cha97michelle

Fantastic that you are all sorted for Christmas already. I'm nearly there, just a few adult bits to get.

I'd be really interested in seeing how your new approach works. I sometimes go for more frequent shopping trips but buy less. I guess it would work a lot better when i haven't got the kids with me though.

Caroline73_2

pammyj74 wrote: »

Have you looked at ourproperty site? It tells you what houses have sold for. Its really interesting to have a nose.

Hardly any houses for the past year and 2009 prices aren't realistic anymore I think going by the prices of my street and F Road, we have about £4k equity, which is rubbish considering we had about £15k two years ago. I didn't considered your road as some are semi's.

cha97michelle wrote: »

Fantastic that you are all sorted for Christmas already. I'm nearly there, just a few adult bits to get.

I'd be really interested in seeing how your new approach works. I sometimes go for more frequent shopping trips but buy less. I guess it would work a lot better when i haven't got the kids with me though.

Both my boys are at school now (Jacob is closing to leaving than to starting!) so I can go easily without distraction and be strong! Also hubby has to walk past 'little' Tesco on his way home from work so I can get him to collect the odd bit if necessary. The boys always want a treat for being good if they go shopping!

Just going to do all my surveys, update my shops and make some brooches today.

Caroline73_2

A bit of a bonus day today. I bought my road tax and it was £25 cheaper than I expected so that will be overpaid. That should make it well over £300 overpayment this month - not bad for December.

My CRB check came through and my Occupational Health status and references are all ok so I am just waiting for a starting date now. Every penny from that will go to overpaying my mortgage.

I made some cute little brooches yesterday which I hope to sell at a craft and gift fair I'm at on Friday and Saturday. Also managed a NSD yesterday and Monday. Today should be one too. :j

CathT

Brilliant Caroline, you have achieved so much and sound very ready for 2011!

Caroline73_2

Quickie update.

I have made my final overpayment for the year - which takes it to £326.86 for December and £567.10 for the year, not too bad considering I've been a MFW since last month!

I start my new job on 10th January but I have been told that there is a waiting list for a free parking permit so I will have to pay for that. That will cost £6.20 a day so I need to put aside £56 before I get paid - how rubbish.

katsu

Agree the parking is rubbish. Anywhere you can park for free in a short walk from your new work? Might be worth checking it out.