Peonie's journey to smart money management

gallygirl

shala_moo wrote: »

...:o

Can't wait till my mortgage fix is over and I can get an offset mortgage, it's got to be easier surely :rotfl:

Nope, cos then you'll be obsessing over whether you can get better interest elsewhere and whether you should fill your ISA and unofficially offset. More sheets needed on spreadsheets .

Peonie

Shala, when does your ISA end?

GG, I understand that obsession and I don't have an interest-only mortgage. Lately I've wished we had kept our Nat10nw1de mortgage. They allow overpayments to be taken out again which would be perfect at the moment. Hindsight is a fine thing.

Today was technically a NSD. Packed lunch was soup and a sandwich with half left over for another day. I bought some 'personal' items with my B00ts points. So technically I had paid for them before.

moneycurious

Enjoy the treats from BOOts, Hindsite is wonderful. but sometimes we have to play the hand we are dealt. Your still doing well dont be hard on yourself xx

Peonie

:wave: Thanks to Lois, GG, Shala and MC for posting.

MC, thanks for the lovely comment. Mr P got his first pay check today and a few more enquiries so things aren't looking too bad. I'm really hoping he starts to bring in enough money so we don't have to touch the rainy day fund. That would be cause for celebration.

I went for a blood test today and had to wait all of 1 second - amazing. I took a cup of coffee and did not need it. I also parked in the local supermarket carpark and walked the 5 minutes to the hospital rather than pay for parking.

Afterwards I went shopping. Spent around £55, including cardboard box free easter eggs for my nieces (only £1 each), mothers day card and a beautiful 'sell by' orchid for her present from £15 to half price. I've already given it to her and she loves it.

I pruned the wisteria and started to trim the hedges.

I also weighed myself for the first time in 10 months. And I weigh less than last time. :T In January I did not post aims and wishes like others did. But I've decided that this year I really want to hit the mid BMI point. That means I need to lose 9kg (20lb). I have no idea what size I will be if I succeeded. I also want to walk and cycle 2013kms. Why kms? It's less than miles. :rotfl: Does anyone want to join me?

Peonie

I've ordered the £6 homes magazine like everyone else. Can anyone tell me when you cancel the direct debit? Will you do it as soon as it shows up on your online banking? And, do I need to do anything beyond this?

Sometimes I'm truly amazed by how little I know about banking.

It's the first March tomorrow - mortgage day!

gallygirl

Peonie wrote: »

I've ordered the £6 homes magazine like everyone else. Can anyone tell me when you cancel the direct debit? Will you do it as soon as it shows up on your online banking? And, do I need to do anything beyond this?

Sometimes I'm truly amazed by how little I know about banking.

It's the first March tomorrow - mortgage day!

I do it a day or so after the DD first comes out. I have a spreadsheet to monitor .

Peonie

You have a spreadsheet! What's on the spreadsheet? She says excitedly at the thought of more excel columns filled with information.

Do you only cancel it on your on-line banking and no-where else?

gallygirl

Peonie wrote: »

You have a spreadsheet! What's on the spreadsheet? She says excitedly at the thought of more excel columns filled with information.

Do you only cancel it on your on-line banking and no-where else?

Date
Cashback
Website
Title
Bank Account
Price
Who DD will be from
Date due
Date taken
Date cancelled
Gift due (colour in green when received )
How many issues
1st issue date

Sad, sad, sad .

And yes, I only cancel at the bank.

Peonie

Thanks GG. You have really helped.

It's a lovely sunny day and I'm trying to decide what to do. Work on the house or the garden?

Mr P is planning to work on some doors. But I might send him outside to fix the fence panels so we don't have to buy new ones just yet.

TCB paid up. The current account interest was paid; we received £30 which is now noted in the spreadsheet. I have balanced February's books and transferred an extra £35 into the sunny day fund taking it to 45% of this year's target. The mortgage was paid yesterday and I rounded it down by £88.60 to knock off £500 this month. My signature now is:

Sunny day fund (12k in 2013) no. 114: £1,525/£3,416, achieved 45%.
MFiT3 no. 86: Reduce mortgage from £146,800 to £125,000.
Mortgage now: March 2013, at £145,500, end date May 2036.
Mortgage at its highest: July 2011, at £154,000, end date July 2036.

Lois_E

Well done Peonie. Only a little further to go and you will have got a whole £10,000 off the mortgage.

PS Your actual sig is still saying Feb, even though you have March's sig in your post!