Wobbly Jellie looks for balance!

*Jellie*

Lois_E wrote: »

I have two big boxes of random cables in the loft. Most don't get touched for years, but twice over this Christmas season I have though "I need a cable for xxxx", been up there to search, and found one of the right kind, and so didn't have to buy one. So if you have the space where they won't be in anybody's way, keeping cables can be moneysaving.

Very true- by the end of my inventory I fully expect to find several boxes such as this (I'm not going to touch those owned by OH which will have been breeding even more!!)

I guess what I should really do is label them as they come in the house so I know what they are for

*Jellie*

RevolvingDoor wrote: »

I might read both, they sound interesting.:T

They are- I'll be interested to know what other people think.

pavlovs_dog

*Jellie* wrote: »

However, I have suddenly realised that I can do a retrospective spending diary for this year to analyse my spending since I mainly use a debit card or credit card. It may be ugly but I'm determined to do this!!

I've been toying with the idea of attacking statements with a rainbow of highlighters, but am worried I'll be shamed by the results so keep putting it off It would no doubt be enlightening, but not sure if it would provide the kick up the bum I need or just depress me

Your frugaldom posts make more sense having caught up with your diary. Sounds like you're looking forward to attacking the new year. Wishing you health and frugality :beer:

*Jellie*

Thanks Pavlovs dog- I found your last post on frugaldom very helpful. I recently listened to some podcasts called almost Amish and loved the use of that phrase. I very much feel I am almost frugal! I aspire to a more simple, frugal life but we also have made certain decisions and lifestyle choices which are not remotely frugal. It is about finding the almost frugal lifestyle that is right for us!

I know looking at my expenditure will make me feel bad but I also feel I need a Spendaholics style reality check to get out of some bad spending habits! I cannot change what is past but I am determined to evaluate my future spends and make sure they are in line with my goals.

Thanks for dropping in x

QB_Wolf

Almost Amish, you'll need to grow a beard!!

*Jellie*

QB_Wolf wrote: »

Almost Amish, you'll need to grow a beard!!

:rotfl:guess that would stay part of the almost bit

Lois_E

You probably get to delegate the beard-growing to your husband, as long as you wear the mid-calf length dresses and cover your hair.

*Jellie*

We're close enough to the end of the year for me to work on projections!

At the end of this year if we do not add anything more to our offset accounts we will be mortgage neutral in April 2033 (point at which our offset savings would pay off mortgage). When we started in May 2010 it was May 2035. During this time we've also had several major expenditures.

If we maintain current addition of £300 a monthto the offset accounts we will be MN at October 2028.

To reach our ideal target of being MN at April 2023 we need to add £1000 a month to the offset on top of our mortgage payment. I have used this for the MFit and MFW 2013 challenges. If we can manage this the mortgage should be below 250000 in May 2015 and at Dec 2014 would be at point where we were offsetting everything above £200 000.


This will be incredibly tough to achieve while still feeling we have a life! We already do a lot to chuck as much as possible at the mortgage but I'm sure we could potentially manage this!



As is traditionally at this time of year over the next couple of days I'll post my plans and ideas of how on earth we can manage this!!

*Jellie*

Lois_E wrote: »

You probably get to delegate the beard-growing to your husband, as long as you wear the mid-calf length dresses and cover your hair.

So when I say almost amish the almost bit includes growing a beard, wearing calf length frocks and covering my hair.....if you all keep going at this rate the list of ways I am very unamish will be way longer than the ways I'd like to be like them .
In reality I guess I'm more almost quaker but no doubt this will lead to porridge oats quips

Lois_E

I have Quaker ancestors - quite a long way back, though. DD has a friend at school whose family are Quakers, and I walk past their meeting house sometimes on my way to somewhere else. Does that count?

Seriously, good luck with learning some Amish/Quaker ideas for being frugal. I couldn't cope with their lifestyle, but there's much about it that's admirable.