Peonie's journey to smart money management

Goldiegirl

We do have Sky' but we are going to cut down our subscription.

We will keep Sky Sports, as we ( or rather Mr Goldie) genuinely watches it a lot.

But we will be ditching Sky Movies, as we don't watch enough films to justify the cost. We'll just get a Pay Per View film if we really fancy it.

I did buy my car new.... But I've had it 11 years now, so I've got value for money from it. We'll go down to one car next year, and I'll be so sad to see it go.

I love eating out as well - on average we do this once a month, or twice if we missed the previous month. I'd like to do it more, but, as with most things, certain compromises need to be made,to keep on the straight and narrow.

Peonie

Hi Becky, most people would not be envious of one car so it's nice of you to say that. Isn't it a status symbol to have as many cars as possible? When we were at our old house and visited affluent areas we used to play: guess which cars cost more than our house - scary.

With Father's Day coming up we're going to take the parents out to a restaurant we really like. It will cost more than a box of chocolates or a t-shirt but at least we have something to look forward to - good food and spending time with them.

I could not justify £30 a month on Sky. We do however get Netfl1cks, it may not have the latest films but there's more options if we want them and it's A LOT cheaper. I agree, the catch up channels are great.

Peonie

Hi Goldie, it's good that you are reviewing your subscription but if you watch it then why not. When i lived with my parents, they had Sky, and I spent more time channel surfing than watching the shows so I know it does not work for me.

I was sad when I left my car at the forecourt, I'd had it a long time and she still had a good engine but the body work and undercarriage was going. Overall it was the right decision.

There's a good carvery near us and sometimes it can be very easy to say we'll eat there on a Sunday rather than spend hours cooking in the kitchen. Mmm, roast potatoes. Aunt B3ssies just are not the same.

We have got through most of our fresh food from C0stco, only half a humungous cake to go.

Right, I'm going to make another huge batch of soup - mmm.

EchoDelta

The 4d scan was pretty cool I can pm you some of the pics from it if you'd like? There is a dvd of it too which Small loves watching (she's 4 now).

As for holidays can I put in a good word for the Canary Islands? We went to lanzarote in November when Small was 21 months. Lovely! Warm enough we spent all week on the beach but not so hot I worried about her. Also did Tenerife in March when she was 3. Really lovely easy fun holidays!

Hope that you feel better soon.

gallygirl

EchoDelta wrote: »

Really lovely easy fun holidays!

I agree with ED - the stress of going abroad is far more outweighed by the pleasure and lack of stress when you get there. Try keeping a 1 year old entertained in the rain in this country :eek:

Peonie

Thanks Echo and GG, it would be lovely to go away for a week before my mat leave ends. He/she would only be around 6 months old before the hot weather starts. Would you take a child that young?

Echo, I really want a video of the baby moving, I did not know you could get one. I'm just not sure about seeing all the lumps and bumps that 4d scanners show.

EchoDelta

Hmmmm, personally I don't think I'd do a beach holiday or anywhere too hot with a 6 month old. Would probably plump for a city break (baby will be happy in sling or similar being close to you and looking around). We did Cardiff and went around all the Dr Who and Torchwood places. Appreciate you might not be as geeky as us though :rotfl:

Peonie

Echo I know you're right but whenever I've been on a city break my brain does not compute that I've been on holiday and I still want to go somewhere else. I'm not really someone who can sit on a sun lounger all holiday either. The other option would be to go away at the end of 2015 when little one is nearly a year old.

I need to buy a birthday present for a female friend in her mid-thirties. Any ideas? Last year I gave her a pamper set, so want to stay away from toiletries this year. I'm thinking jewellery but am open to ideas. But only want to spend around £15.

I've updated my signature. It's now:
Pots: House £4725/£7100, Rainy day Complete, [STRIKE]Sunny day £0/£700[/STRIKE], IVF £2523/£2523, Car up-keep £135/£135, New car £5000/£5000, Holiday £1000/£1000, MFW #16 £1790/£3120
MFiT3 #86: Reduce mortgage from £146,800 to £125,000
Mortgage Jun 2014: £137,000, MF Nov 2035 Peak July 2011: £154,000, MF July 2036

I've changed the house total/target as I could not recall how it was calculated after last months big recalculation.

I'm thinking about what to do with the lump sum when my regrade is paid. I was planning on making another sneaky repayment - remember Mr P told me to hold off making any more OPs and, well, I've ignored him. Without it I do not think I'll make this years MFW target. But I've probably over saved for this years holiday. Mr P has wanted us to get a new vacuum cleaner for YEARS so the over save could be spent on that. Hmmm.

icontinuetodream

Peonie wrote: »

I need to buy a birthday present for a female friend in her mid-thirties. Any ideas? Last year I gave her a pamper set, so want to stay away from toiletries this year. I'm thinking jewellery but am open to ideas. But only want to spend around £15.

I'm thinking about what to do with the lump sum when my regrade is paid. I was planning on making another sneaky repayment - remember Mr P told me to hold off making any more OPs and, well, I've ignored him. Without it I do not think I'll make this years MFW target. But I've probably over saved for this years holiday. Mr P has wanted us to get a new vacuum cleaner for YEARS so the over save could be spent on that. Hmmm.

All my friends buy me alcohol for my birthdays...not sure what they are trying to say, but considering how grateful I am, they are probably right!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

As for the lump sum...how about buying a new vacuum cleaner to keep Mr P happy and putting anything left to the mortgage along with anything you don't spend on the holiday? Keeps you both happy that way! :D

Peonie

I know quite a few friends who alcohol is perfect for. So you are not alone. Ha ha.

I spoke to him about the holiday money and he said to put it into the house improvements pot and he will buy the vacuum cleaner. We've not talked about the regrade money. I suppose we should have that conversation. But I definitely want to OP.

I've been to the doctors again and I have to have some tests done but it could be I'm on the verge of fainting and I'm stopping it from happening by laying down.