misscousinitt's MF Diary

misscousinitt

Well, having had to buy a few essentials at the weekend I've only got £3.25 left from the shopping budget this week. Its always harder when there is a five week month.

Good news on the penguin pot front - was checking DH's jeans pockets before washing on Sat and found 2 x 50ps which he very graciously said I could have!!! Just checked my purse and found 2 more.

So Virtual March OP Pot stands at £146.75 - sure I can make it £150 next week.

Penguin Pot £44.00 of £50.00 target.

katsu

I agree that Aldi is a lifesaver - great prices and as they are small stores they don't take ages to get round either. I love mine.

misscousinitt

katsu - i'm of the same opinion. I am really glad that I get some of my shopping from aldi now - its saved us a fortune. DH was sceptical at first, but he is now a complete convert.

I go every Thursday before my Mr T shop, and if I can pick up any bits on my list for less, I get them from there.

Nothing added to the pot today - but have posted on the small things board - finding it great inspiration.

misscousinitt

Just another 50p in penguin pot today making £44.50 of £50.00 - won't be long now....

misscousinitt

50p in penguin pot today making £45 of my £50 target!

Think I have blown the grocery budget this week, but it is DH's birthday on Monday and we are having a bbq round a friends house tomorrow - so got to get some food etc...

Looking at the grocery budget anyway, I think I worked out my allocation wrong, so should still have enough left to make it to £150 by end of month (maybe even a few pounds more - but won't worry about it if I don't).

Having a chat with DH next week about bills and mortgage OPs so watch this space.

Probably won't get a chance to update over the weekend, so I hope everyone has a great one.

misscousinitt

Booooo....only £1.23 left out of the grocery budget for this week - but I'm going to round everything up to the £150 anyway - can't wait to make my second overpayment.

Another 50p put in the penguin pot today so that £45.50 of £50.

Out for DH's birthday meal tonight, but that has already been budgeted for so really looking forward to that.

misscousinitt

Just 2 days to go before 2nd OP - really excited....how sad am I?

Think DH and I will be going over finances tonight, so I'll know how much regular OPs I will be able to rely on soon.

misscousinitt

It was the quickest discussion about bills and finances ever last night; but got the result I wanted...

I told DH what the total of the household bills was; said that there maybe an increase in the fuel bill - but I don't know what this is yet as I haven't had the bill yet (then I can decide if I want to switch or not) and he said - "How much extra do you want?" Well thats a leading question isn't it?

We decided on £30 extra - £10 for extras on bills and £20 OP (specifically from him) and a stern warning from DH that if I need anymore I should come back to him.....conversation over!

I know it doesn't seem like a lot of money, but our cost of living is quite low. At least it means there is a definate £20 coming from DH towards OP every month; so its just up to me to keep the grocery bills down and try to OP as much as possible without incurring any penalty charges.

Going to revise OUR target for this year OP - as the mortgage was taken out in November, I presume that my next years allocation begins in December.

Any extra that we have (maybe) I'm going to put in a savings account and when the fixed rate is up in July 2012, I will make an extra OP.

Thanks everyone for the support so far...

misscousinitt

Just made 2nd overpayment of £150 - woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phew, now to start again with the Virtual April Pot.

Have just changed our gas and electric supplier too, hopefully this will save us at least £150 per year (and we get M&S vouchers).

Froggy-G

misscousinitt wrote: »

Just made 2nd overpayment of £150 - woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phew, now to start again with the Virtual April Pot.

Have just changed our gas and electric supplier too, hopefully this will save us at least £150 per year (and we get M&S vouchers).

Well done, great OP!! Keep going!!

Froggy