SeriouslySeekingtoSave strongly strides straight into slaying her mortgage!

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Below is my spending diary for Feb. Very good considering that that was my big holiday in NZ. I took £500 to spend but because the exchange rate was so utterly pants I was very restrained in my spending habits. I didn't go shopping at all and had a fantastic time on a very limited budget; enjoying what NZ has to offer: Sunshine and Beaches! :-)

Ate a lot of iceblocks and chip sandwiches :-) My parents bread consumption went through the roof while I was staying there!

I only spent about £200 in the 3 weeks I was there (approx as I didn't keep a really accurate total - I was on holiday!) and used the other £300 to pay for my shipping of a whole load of personal effects back to here now that I have a home to keep them in . And that's STILL a WONDERFUL! feeling!.

As that month was a big pay packet month due to a whole load of overtime that I had done I was very ahead of the game .

Monthly Expenses
Mortgage One £355.31
Mortgage Two £118.44
Transport £122.00
Council Tax £87.00
nPower Electric £7.00
British Gas £22.17
Gym£44.00
Broadband/Phone £18.48
Cellphone £10.73
Games/Internet £7.05
Total £792.18

Food
EAT £7.04
Work FoodCard £10.00
Supermarkets £31.75
Total £48.79

Entertainment
Pubs/Bars £27.95
Holiday Spending £200.00
Total £227.95

ShoppingTotal £0.00

Misc
Shipping Fees £300.00
Total £300.00

GRAND TOTAL! £1,368.92

Sepa74

Well done! That's great that you had so much 'restrained fun' while you were away. It will be great when all your personal stuff arrives. Most of my stuff is over here now, just one or two things still with my mum, mostly books, I think! She got a bit annoyed at having 4 children's stuff cluttering up her flat so said we could leave one small box each with her, but the rest had to go!

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

It's been a no overpayment couple of months while I save like a squirrel for my ISA. I currently have about £3,500 stitting in an account ready to go in - it looks like I won't quite make the £5,100 total but I will be close. I've been having £300 a month go out into my FD Regular Saver so that is why I'm a bit short. I'm not too fussed about it though, so long as I finally have a good chunk of money set aside in a good (well, good is a relative term but it's earning more than my mortgage so I'm ok with it) saving account but it is accessible if the worst happens. Which it won't!

Once I have my ISA set up I'll update my signature again, while I'm not actually getting anything in interest I don't considering it 'offsetting' my mortgage total. And then of course it's back to OVERPAYMENTS!!!! :T:T:T

Wish me consistancy and determination!

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Sepa74 wrote: »

Well done! That's great that you had so much 'restrained fun' while you were away. It will be great when all your personal stuff arrives. Most of my stuff is over here now, just one or two things still with my mum, mostly books, I think! She got a bit annoyed at having 4 children's stuff cluttering up her flat so said we could leave one small box each with her, but the rest had to go!

If I had to restrict my 'luggage storage' to one box I'd be sunk! Not withstanding all of the boxes which I still have there (but it's much decreased), they have my dive gear, my computer desk and bed frame (both dismantled) and my piano. They are all really good things so I can't bring myself to get rid of them. My 1960's Knight is fairly much irraplacable, I was very lucky to get it and I don't think I'd be able to find another. Certainly not for the price I got mine at...

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Meant to also add that I have had a lot of 'returned' cash this month. I did get my cashback for my switch to nPower so that was awesome; £15 thank you very much!

Also my Groupon for the laser hair removal that wasn't came back in (£119) and First Direct dropped £100 into my account as my 'start-up' reward . I think that is the first time ever a bank has given me money lol!

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

eBay/PayPal are assisting me with the saving by not allowing me to pay for any of my eBay purchases. It's been 4 days now and I'm just getting errors when I try to pay - it's driving me nuts!:mad:

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

2 4 1 cocktails. I feel human again:-)

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Picked up an hours overtime after work today; I've been trying to set up a training presentation (well, several of them) for a new platform we are rolling out at work and because work has been so hectic (just for a change) I haven't had the time. So overtime has been approved.

The trouble is I am usually so tired after a hard day at work, that I just want to crawl home. Must focus on the bigger picture though - more overtime = more money = less mortgage!

I'm not gonna overdo it though

SeriouslySeekingtoSave

Ohhh my Pubs/Restaurant/Entertainment total is going to be a little on the high side this month... I think it's the surging feelings caused by Spring that's making me head out and party hard. Oh well, I'm reigning it in a bit more now; I don't want anymore £30 nights this month

[Deleted User]

Hi there!
Sounds like the holiday in NZ was a great success and lots of fun!
I hear you on the socialising as the evenings are getting lighter...found myself all cheery driving home in the sunshine...I can feel summer on its way! ...(or at least spring!)