Sweetdaisy's aim to be mortgage-free

sweetdaisy

macgirl wrote: »

Hi Sweetdaisy

I've been enjoying reading your diary this morning - well done, you're doing great. My DD1 was hospitalised for 4 days when she was 6 months old, right before Christmas like your DS. She stopped breathing twice which was truly terrifying. Luckily she's nearly 8 now and apart from eczema, is really healthy. Hope your DS is over it now?

I'm subscribing, so will keep popping in

Hi Macgirl

Our DS's are fine now but it was awful when they had to be hospitalised. Glad your DD is well. It seems that everytime they get a cold it goes straight to their chests. Both of the Boys have eczema though (but not asthma), so maybe that has something to do with it?

sweetdaisy

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

Morning SD, sounds like you did well on the car insurance. Its motivating to know that spends on the one hand, can be offset with better deals/cutting cost on the other.

Tilly x

Thanks Tilly. February is always an expensive month for us, but it's all out of the way now. I was hoping to have had saved more money on our car insurances but when we had our quotes both had excesses of £400, so at least I have been able to reduce them.

macgirl

sweetdaisy wrote: »

Both of the Boys have eczema though (but not asthma), so maybe that has something to do with it?

That's interesting isn't it.... I wonder if it's to do with the steroids?
Do your boys get it bad and how do you manage it - if you don't mind me asking

sweetdaisy

macgirl wrote: »

That's interesting isn't it.... I wonder if it's to do with the steroids?
Do your boys get it bad and how do you manage it - if you don't mind me asking

Both of the Boys have had eczema from birth. DS1 was referred to a Dermatologist at 6 months old and now his eczema is managed by using Diprobase. Luckily, we no longer need to use steroid creams unless he has a very bad flare up.

We are hopefully going to get a referral to an Eczema Nurse for DS2 as his skin is really bad. At the moment we are using Fucidin cream and Doublebase.

I don't like using the steroid creams, but it's the only thing that works when their skin becomes inflammed and weepy. Is there a link between using steroid creams and having a bad chest?

sweetdaisy

Been busy shopping today and bought a load of . . . nappies! A lot of the supermarkets have got 'half price' offers on baby goods so I have been stocking up on essentials.

Monthly interest was added to our Mortgage yesterday and last month interest charged was £212 - a whopping £2.00 less than last month.

DH has a PAYG phone and I received an email from Topcashback and saw there was an offer for a Sim Only deal with 250mb mobile internet, 500 texts and 150 anytime minutes for £7.00 per month. This is perfect for DH as he usually spends £10 a month on his PAYG, so saving money plus I got £10.10 cashback .

macgirl

Not sure about a link between steroids and chest infections SD, but as you say, when they get a bad flare up steroid creams are the only solution I've found.

Well done on the half price nappies - you'll save £'s when you are free of that huge expense!

sweetdaisy

Can't believe I only started my MFW diary in October 2011, but wanting to be Mortgage-Free is constantly on my mind. Just wish that I had the Light Bulb moment 11 years ago when we bought our house.

Received my pay from work and I am now on Satutory Maternity Pay from now until the end of April (when I return to work), so I am going to have to be quite frugal.

Did an online food shop this week and used the £5 off voucher I had from Tesco (from the previous week's shop) and I was £25 under budget. Really pleased with this as there is plenty of food in the fridge and freezer.

I have been trailing through my survey/cashback accounts and I have redeemed £111 this month. I would usually put this towards Christmas/Birthday presents but as I am on SMP, I am putting the money towards monthly outgoings.

Party season seems to have started in DS1's school again. We have been to 3 birthday parties in a fortnight, so I have bought a few 'unisex' presents in advance when they have been on offer i.e. 2 for £10 etc. Never realised how much parties would all add up, however DS1 loves attending them and I am sure that he only likes going because he gets a party bag at the end :rotfl:.

sweetdaisy

It's been a sad day today. Our Lovebird, which we have had for 8 years has died, she was a 'sweet' little bird :A.

On the MFW side of things :- just as we have renewed both DH and my Car Insurance, spent £110 on new front tyres for my car this morning and DH's car is having problems starting from cold, so that's more expense when it goes to the garage for a service on Saturday. Oh my, February is an expensive month for us.

Will only be able to pay my usual mortgage overpayment of around £60 this month, but nevermind as it all helps to chip away at the mortgage capital.

I return to work at the end of April and have roughly worked out that childcare is going to cost us on average £400 a month and this includes DS1 going to some after school and half-term clubs and DS2 attending Nursery two days a week. We are fortunate that family are able to help with childcare two days a week (which I am so grateful for), which will save us lots of money.

sweetdaisy

I have made my first mortgage overpayment today of £10 for the month of February (£59 overpayment will be paid when mortgage is paid on 16th). I redeemed £20 from a cashback site so £10 went on the mortgage and £10 in savings. From now on half of my earnings from survey/cashback sites will be used as overpayments as I am keen to exceed my overpayment target of £800 for the year.

For the past month I have been keeping a spending diary and am really surprised how this has affected my spending. I know I don't have any figures from last year, but I think I am spending a lot less on everyday 'bits and bobs' as I hardly make any impulse buys anymore and if I want something I ask myself 'do I really need it?'.

sweetdaisy

Another overpayment made today, so total for February is £80. Spent quite a bit on clothes this week for the children and myself, but didn't part with any cash as used Vouchers received from Christmas and completing online surveys etc.

We moved into our house 11 years ago today, so officially have 14 years remaining on the mortgage however we are hoping to repay in 10 years.

Our patio is being finished tomorrow so savings have taken a bit of a hit, but it looks lovely and DS1 will now be able to ride his bike/scooter out the back. Also looking forward to being able to have my washing line back to dry my clothes properly!