Mouche’s adventures with her first mortgage (while coping with her first baby)

poorbutrich

mouche wrote: »

Nothing MSE to report today – even OnePoll is being obstinate – am 35p away from payout and there are no surveys today. They’re doing it on purpose!

Actually, there is something to report – I spent £5.20 on a second lunch after I’d eaten my frugal soup. I was just so hungry! Need to do better.

Last night was slightly horrific with several tantrums from LO one of which ended with him being sick all over our bed. Sigh. And then he woke up at 3.30 and spent the rest of the night in our bed. I sleep badly at the best of times – a toddler muttering ‘Mummy out’ and ‘MY pillow’ in his sleep did not help my cause. Yawn.

I did do all the ironing though and there was a LOT of it. So pat on the back me. I HATE ironing. The day I pay off the mortgage, I will pay someone to do it for me (so only another 20 years to go then)!

Oh poor you - is LO better now?


Not surprised you had two lunches - you probably needed some extra energy!

mouche

OnePoll payout reached! £40 winging it's way to my account now!

Heather2012

Hi mouche,

Hope you don't mind me dropping in! Could you tell me how I can join onepoll please?

Thanks,
Heather

mouche

Am always happy to have people come and visit Heather. Welcome.

If you PM me your email ID, I can refer you to OnePoll. I think you can probably sign up without a referral as well but it would be very nice of you to let me refer you.

mouche

I have clearly maligned OnePoll as it not only got me to £40 today but has also given me lots of other surveys today.

Pbr, thanks for dropping by. Yes I think it may have been comfort eating yesterday. Today I brought in some bread to go with the soup plus cereal for breakfast and am feeling much better.

Last night DIY-mouche & partners assembled the toy cabinet and I am pleased to announce it looks fine and we got it done in 1.5 hours. Finished at 11pm so didn’t get a chance to fill it up but will do that tonight. The toys on the floor have really been getting me down so I am very pleased about this.

No spends last night but unless OH can cook me something for my lunches this week, we will need to pop to the shops. Also, I need to drop LO to nursery tomorrow and twice next week so that’s £15 planned for. Still, I think we’ve done quite well this month so far. Hopefully, we can keep it up in the home stretch.

I auto-renewed on my budgeting app this month so have been using it much more than I have been. It is very useful – I just need to be vigilant about actually using it and justifying the £1 a month spent on it.

I’ve been looking into Premium bonds after seeing newgirly mention them – correct me if I am wrong but they are like lottery tickets except that they are monthly and you get your money back? I might go in for a few then!

tootoo

Hi mouche

glad mini mouche had a lovely birthday, the youngest has also hit terrible twos early - I'd almost forgotten about them....they do get easier though.
(I'm reassuring myself here!!).
I was thinking about prem bonds too, something I need to look into too so if you find any info I'd be pleased to hear it

mouche

Thanks tootoo…from what I understand premium bonds are pretty rubbish as savings instruments as they pay no interest and the odds of winning a prize is slim. HOWEVER, if like me you are considering them in lieu of buying lottery tickets, they have their advantages – the odds of winning up to £1 million is no worse than the lottery + you get your money back even if you don’t win anything! I’m considering investing £100 a year which will probably win me nothing, but it will be the same cost as buying a Euromillions ticket every week. I’m held back by the fact that I don’t actually buy a ticket every week and that the draw for premium bonds is monthly rather than weekly. Still under review in my mind. (Note, I’m no expert – I could be totally wrong in my understanding).

NSD yesterday and OH made pasta that will last me for lunch for 3 days so no supermarket dash needed. £5 on taxi this morning to drop LO to nursery but he was reasonably well behaved (though he refused to brush his teeth till after I’d got him dressed at which point he started crying for ‘teeth-time’!) so it was fine. He gave me a hug and a kiss and ran off to have breakfast with his friends (unlike the desolate wailing of last time) so I was able to come to work with a happy heart.

Payday tomorrow but my month lasts till the 31st so will have to sit on my hands till then.

OHs personal injury cheque has arrived at the solicitors so he needs to go collect it next week. Yippee!! We will be putting a quarter in the car fund (which will bring it up to enough to buy a reasonable used Ford Fiesta – same as we have now), a quarter in the holiday fund and half in the India trip fund, which includes the gift to my in laws.

Chores – both OH and I were not in the mood last night so though I did some laundry and put some more toys away, there is lots left to be done.

Hurdler

I had exactly that view with premium bonds - although I only ever saved £100 in them... so I might get them back for now!

Pearla*Merle

I'm a bit behind the times, but so glad to pop back in here to catch up at last and find you've hit the 1Poll payout! Hurrah! :j :j Now see how fast you can hit the next one.

I had to have a giggle at you visiting Pets At Home to see the fish, I do that regularly ... sadly I don't have a little one to take with me as an excuse though. :rotfl:

Mini mouche's birthday sounded fabulous

What a clever way to think of premium bonds vs the lottery, I'm going to log that one away for potential future use

claireyfairy82

mouche wrote: »

Thanks tootoo…from what I understand premium bonds are pretty rubbish as savings instruments as they pay no interest and the odds of winning a prize is slim. HOWEVER, if like me you are considering them in lieu of buying lottery tickets, they have their advantages – the odds of winning up to £1 million is no worse than the lottery + you get your money back even if you don’t win anything! I’m considering investing £100 a year which will probably win me nothing, but it will be the same cost as buying a Euromillions ticket every week. I’m held back by the fact that I don’t actually buy a ticket every week and that the draw for premium bonds is monthly rather than weekly. Still under review in my mind. (Note, I’m no expert – I could be totally wrong in my understanding).

Hi Mouche,

I bought premium bonds instead of lottery tickets I was fed up buying lottery tickets that never won me even £10, they haven't won anything yet but i can get my money back if I want it anytime. I had to put in £100 to open my account, then the lowest direct debit allowed is £50 I think. I'm a bit unclear if the lowest amount you can buy as a one off is £100, I shall have to investigate. Check out the NS&I website for more info.:D