:) The Night before Christmas...

SJ1

Hi everyone

So I am doing reasonably well on my to do list although now slightly knackered!

1. Batch cooked one meal so I have one in the (very small) freezer!
2. Listed 4 things on ebay and have taken pictures of loads of things that are appropriate for this time of year so that is one of my jobs for this week
3. Four kitchen cupboards cleared out and discovered some interesting tins of things and lots of tomato puree!!
4. Haven't done any online shopping or bought any books but I did have to use the card for some dry cleaning and some cards (I pre buy these so we have a few available for birthdays)

So very pleased with myself. I hope I can keep going in this way!

SJ

P.S. Cat flap is in and Oz has managed to get through it twice - v clever, can only recommend (well so far!)

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi, Oz will be feeling very brave now that he is not being terrorised in his own home. Glad to hear he figured out how to use it.

Well done in the cupboard front - Tom pur!e is a helpful find, so good luck with your recipe hunting.

Have a good week, Tilly

SJ1

Hi there everyone

Good day today although work is pretty horrible at the moment, just too busy. Too much to do and not enough time, hoping I can catch up a bit tomorrow.

It was a NSD but I have just booked some flights for our summer holiday, so not a NSD anymore!! Bit annoying but that should be the last thing that we need to buy for at least two weeks so going to work v hard to make sure that there are minimal spends on the credit card. Annoyed about it but know if I leave it much longer they are just going to get more expensive.

Prep'd tomorrow's dinner tonight so feeling ahead of myself but tired, think it might be an early night tonight!

SJ

SJ1

Hi there everyone!!

Well have had a NSD today so very pleased with myself although I am planning holidays at the moment so there is going to be a rather expensive day in the near future!! We are going to have two weeks away spread over the year so we can be at home for the Olympics. We haven't actually got any tickets but that doesn't seem to be deterring my OH at all!

Haven't listed anything else on fleabay or cleaned any more cupboards so need to get my act tog so everything can finish on Sunday night which is (seemingly) the best night to end things on. I have loads of stuff to clear out so really need to start concentrating! Too tired at the mo, work is extremely busy and just a bit down about it all. I am resisting letting it take over the rest of my life but it's starting to at the minute.

Right off for some chocolate spread on toast to cheer myself up....

Have a good night everyone!

SJ

SJ1

Hi there everyone!

OK, so a little more information on the SJ household finances.

Our incoming money and outgoing monies stack up as follows. Incoming are DH and my salaries. Outgoing are a little more things. So first of all the direct debits go out - this covers the mortgage, electric, Council tax, phones, all that good stuff! Next comes out our monthly money which covers food and petrol and quite a generous amount of cash so determined to try to stay within this completely and not spend on cards! We also have to take out a few hundred for childcare and then I have my 'one off' pot which covers car tax, ins, maintenance, christmas, birthdays, home ins and holiday.

When I look at all of this together we should be left about £1,700 on a normal month or £1,500 on a month where there are 5 weeks rather than 4 (I budget my house spends on a weekly basis so more is needed for food and petrol).

I put this amount into the calculator just out of interest and it said that if I paid that off each month I would be mortgage clear in 9 years!:eek: That is really quite incredible.

I don't think that we will be able to do that after this year of saving is out but I could give it a go!

NSD again today and credit card only has the flights on it so quite pleased with that. Trying to decide what to do with any fleabay money, my little boy could do with a new wardrobe so think I might put that on a 0% card and then use any money made to pay that down. I need to buy that for him this year and also need to buy some curtains for the one room that doesn't have them. At some point we are also going to have to change the sofa which is 9 years old this year and starting to show it!

Have a good one everyone!

SJ

SJ1

Hi everyone!

Well it's been a little while since my last post. I have gotten into the swing of this money saving thing reasonably well so far!

In the last week I have

- taken out a lot less cash, just what I need
- spent a lot less on food, weekly shop is coming in at around £70 plus butcher and bits so total of £100 rather than my usual £130 and I have been letting the budget decide what I buy rather than just buying what I want and making it fit the budget
- have spent a lot less on the card - dry cleaning, some cards and some photos, have been really pleased with this in particular. I resort to my cards quite easily and haven't done this this time.
- have just booked our holidays for the year but this was all budgeted for so not worried or annoyed about it.

All in all it's been fab. I feel like we have done really well, in fact I am almost waiting for it all to go a bit wrong! It is really funny how looking at the little things means that you seem to address the bigger things. My fine tooth comb over my weekly shop has really helped in all the other areas.

Not sure how long this will all continue but its good so far!

On the old credit card there are 4 entries from the 16th which is really good for me! Feel like we are really thinking about it. I think that the end of next month we will be able to save about £1,200 by my calculations, maybe more!

It's taking a lot of time but the £££ saving is worth it and I feel much better in myself!

SJ X

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SJ1, you must be delighted with your grocery spend, a huge well done. Also on the CC spending, it's so easy to whack things on a card, but not have in the front of your mind that yes, the bill does still need paying.

I promise you it gets easier, as you start off having to think about so many things simultaneously and then slowly they just become habits, good habits to be really proud about.

Anyway, enjoy the week. Tilly :beer:

SJ1

Thanks Tilly, just have to keep on the wagon now so I will keep boring you all with my posts!

Have a good week yourself.

SJx

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning SJ1, just popping by to see how you're doing. Hope the snow hasn't been a problem for you, it's blinking cold where I am.

I had a fun meal with the kids last night, I had thrown the leftovers from a chilli into a Pyrex dish and popped it not the freezer. Took it out for dinner last night, tortilla, chilli, mix of creme fraiche, salsa and grated cheese on top - that will be lovely I thought, only to find out it was lentil curry! I actually tasted really nice but rather unexpected and a weird combination. That'll teach me not to throw anything in the freezer again, without a label.

Best wishes Tilly x

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi SJ, how are the plans going and is the freezer earning its keep now?

Best wishes Tilly