Countdown to Freedom

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Marvellous, Jessops are doing 25% off so best get cracking. Tilly

sweetdaisy

I can highly recommend 'Photobox' and they have a sale on where you can save 50% at the moment on everything other than prints, so printed books are included. But, the offer ends on 28th Dec (and you can earn Cashback from TCB) .

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

I will be checking that out. Thanks SweetDaisy.

Tilly x

sweetdaisy

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS wrote: »

I will be checking that out. Thanks SweetDaisy.

Tilly x

No problem. Have fun in creating your printed book. We store all of our photos on the computer/USB stick and it's easy to 'forget' about all the photos you have. Our youngest Son is 5 months old and last month it took me two days to sort out the (non-digital) photo albums for DS1 and DS2. I had better get round to sorting out the Christmas photos, because if I don't it will be another job put on the Backburner and I won't end up getting round to doing it until Easter!

Hope you have a great New Year .

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Evening, we have spent a little time on some planning for 2012. The kids are having a sort out of clothes upon their return, with DSs going to a close relative and hopefully DDs will enable a small eBay effort. The proceeds (if any) will go to DD for spends on new clothes in the next round of sales.

After that, we have all reached the conclusion that we need a place for everything and everything in its place. This is going to be a work in progress and we are already fairly organised, but I am talking about gifts purchased during 2012, regular clear outs of clothes, 1 out 1 in. Plus DS keeping his bedroom cleaner - I won't hold my breath but anything is better than how it is today.

Any advice on organising 13 ish year old boys gratefully received.

Night, Tilly

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

I have just checked TCB and have now received £16.60 in Amazon vouchers with another £26.56 vouchers claimed today. Only another £3 to come after that so I must remember to focus on doing my purchases in the right order, to gain maximum £.

Loving the free money :j
Tilly

SJ1

Hi Tilly

I just wanted to drop by and say that I have really enjoyed reading your diary. I feel like I am probably where you were a couple of years ago. I want to get to the point where we have regular saving every month that can be set against the mortgage and yet I can't quite seem to get to the end of any month and have saved what I want to have saved.

When I sit with my excel sheets the numbers tell me that we should have lots of money left at the end of the month and yet there is always a credit card bill to settle or money to find for a car bill. It's very frustrating and yet it is all our own fault. There always seems to be something to buy - did you find this and if so how did you resolve it. I have pots but perhaps there aren't enough pots?!

We did well last year and then had a really expensive summer and it's been downhill since then. I am hoping that this New Year will bring a new sheet and with it better money saving.

Sorry, didn't quite mean for this to be so downbeat! I will be reading with interest and hoping that some day it will be me.

SJ

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Good morning SJ1, I really understand how you feel and that is how we started off in January 2011. If you have read my diary then know about my money pots in the bank. Salary gets paid in, money is moved instantly

Definitely start a spending diary - we did one for two complete months and it was a HUGE help as it really highlights what and where things are going wrong, it is boring though and you both have to do it........

For us, it was basically spending too much on CC and no pot of money to pay it off, We shifted a debt a couple of times, but gradually I was persuading DH to work with me, It took until October when I said, "do you realise we could have this mortgage cleared in 5 years?" before he really jumped on board.

What a difference now. We are more thoughtful, we have more time (truly but mo idea why yet) and the house is less cluttered and runs more smoothly.

I cannot believe the amount of positive knock on effects there hcw been, so give it go.

My very beat wishes and I will check if you have a diary - if not started yet, then have a go - I tend to jot down things on my mind, questions, day to day stuff but it really helps.

Good luck Tilly

pavlovs_dog

love the photobook idea Tilly, will have to bear that in mind for when we have kids.

We have a digital photoframe in the living room, I should really take some new photos to go on there. Something to remember in 2012

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Afternoon, mortgage down to just over £305k. This will bring it to £301k by the time we switch mortgages and we are paying £2k to bring it to£299k - ooohh just to get under £300k will mean such a lot. I know it is still hoofing, but it will start with a 2j:j

Just about to pop to supermarket and do a small shop - sitting down this evening to menu plan for January. Will follow that with a real shop tomorrow as we return to the UK.

Lodgers money has hit the bank so that has been swiftly hidden away. Ideally I would like to start our mortgage with FD by basically reducing the requested amount by £5k but not sure we can do that, in terms of their offer etc. however, if not then I will make the manual overpayment, rather than keep it offset. I really need to see the outstanding number drop quickly. Having a mortgage this size since 2004 is every draining. Both DH and I work hard, and both worry quietly about the size.

I have said in previous posts that job no. 1 will be to fill both ISAs, no. 2 to complete our 6 month emergency pot, and no. 3 to offset sufficient funds to enable us to cancel the mortgage protection insurance. It is going to be a challenging 2012 but one which should see us stronger and more robust, allowing us to face further challenges.

That's it for now. Hope everyone's plans for New Years eve are going well. We are having a family evening followed by church and a family lunch on the 1st. It has been a trying last few months, and I am looking forward to 2012 with joy.

Best wishes all
Tilly
Have to remember how to update my signature now.......