Learning to Live on Less!

LianneH

hope you are feeling better Iris, nothing worse than being ill and having kids too!

All the best with the viewing today x

White_Iris

Viewing on Saturday went well, although they haven't sold their house yet so not expecting an offer. Feeling better too, although I have a horrible cough that won't go away.

Although I did ok with eBay sales this month, I havent managed to bank much of it. I spent it on Mothers day flowers instead - at least I won't have to worry about organising that next month. I've almost run out of things to sell on eBay at the moment - I do have a big box of last years summer clothes but until the weather warms up they probably wont sell well, so I'll keep those back for the moment. I need to spend this week searching things out so I can earn some money in March to make up for this months savings shortfall.

Got a letter to say our child tax credits will stop on April 1st - not unexpected given how low they've dropped the limit for claiming but it will mean another budget shuffle to make up the shortfall in the grocery budget. I just hope they don't want us to pay any back once this years P60s are in.

Nearly the end of the month already - I think I've done ok with my resolutions but I'll check properly in a few days.

White_Iris

White_Iris wrote: »

February resolutions...

Finances

• Increase emergency savings to £250 DONE
• Increase personal savings to £150 Only managed £122
  
• Save £50 towards summer holiday DONE - actually managed £80

House

• Paint living room DONE
• Paint dining room DONE

Also managed to get both bedrooms repainted and swap rooms with the children


Personal

• Switch to de-caff DONE
• Plan a route around the village, go out for a walk at least 3 times a week and record progress on phone app. Route planned and started walking but snow and sickness have scuppered my plans for the last few weeks
• No snacking in the evenings Still no luck with this one

March resolutions coming soon!

White_Iris

March resolutions...

Finances

• Increase emergency savings to £400
• Increase personal savings to £175
  
• Save £50 towards summer holiday
  

House

• Paint hall/stairs/landing
• Tidy up garden
• Plant vegetable patch

Personal

• Plan a route around the village, go out for a walk at least 3 times a week and record progress on phone app.
  
• No snacking in the evenings
  

White_Iris

Payday today for DH and this month we should have a bit of extra cash because Dh has opted out of his pension plan for 6 months! We thought long and hard about this because it is a very good pension but at the moment we need the extra money we'll get by not contributing. He gets a pay rise in September so he'll opt back in to the pension scheme then and he always have the option of buying back missing months in the future. Although it's not a huge amount it should stop us overspending and using the credit card - this should mean we can start to make proper progress with the credit card debt.

LianneH

Hi WhiteIris, your savings are doing really well and sometimes short-term decisions (like the pension opt-out) are the best ones to get you to a place you are comfortable with!

Hope you dont mind, but I feel you are one of my MSE friends and I just need to share with someone else (other than my OH!), that we are now debt free! I am a bit nervous to admit it, in case things start to creep and DFness disappears again! Im determined that wont happen tho! so happy!

sorry wont hyjack your diary again! lol x

White_Iris

LianneH wrote: »

Hi WhiteIris, your savings are doing really well and sometimes short-term decisions (like the pension opt-out) are the best ones to get you to a place you are comfortable with!

Hope you dont mind, but I feel you are one of my MSE friends and I just need to share with someone else (other than my OH!), that we are now debt free! I am a bit nervous to admit it, in case things start to creep and DFness disappears again! Im determined that wont happen tho! so happy!

sorry wont hyjack your diary again! lol x

Hooray to being debt free! :j:j

I can understand the nervousness - we've been close to being debt free a few times but we've never been disciplined enough to actually get there. It is wonderful news though, what a relief - all your money is yours now - no more paying debts :beer:

Oh and feel free to hijack all you want. It gets a bit dull with just my ramblings!

White_Iris

I guess karma is telling me to stay away from re-financing and consolidation...I've just tried to apply for a loan to cover an existing loan (not the one in the signature) and our credit card debt, but although the loan calculator said yes, when I applied they wouldn't give us as much as we wanted or for as long. I'm secretly relieved as although it would have saved us £50 a month, it just didn't feel like the right thing to do. Just filling out the application was making my stomach knot up. Hopefully this is a good sign and we won't be tempted by loans in the future. It would have been nice to get rid of the credit cards though.

White_Iris

Ooh, forgot to say I've topped up the emergency savings pot with this months council tax money and paid a bit off the credit card - I love doing the 1st of the month banking (it's when we get to the end of the month that looking at the bank account isn't so pleasant!)

White_Iris

Managed to get 25 items on eBay this weekend but things are looking a bit thin on the ground now - if they all sell I'll have nothing left until it's time to sell the summer clothes! Better have a really good search through the house next week!