Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

themadvix

It's our wedding anniversary today - I can't believe how quickly the four years have gone past, can imagine that it feels almost as quick when it's 10 or 25 though! Off out for dinner tonight, which isn't moneysaving, but we've been really restrained this month with no takeaways or other meals out (I'm not counting the chow mein I had last night - £3.50 doesn't count as takeaway!), so we will enjoy it.

Will go to vote en route to dinner - as it's chucking it down, we may even drive! Feel sick thinking about the outcome of the referendum, but I have to keep telling myself that apart from voting there isn't anything I can do about it. If we were to leave it wouldn't be good for my business which relies on quite a few EU customers.

Keep pondering the mortgage balance. Am currently thinking that the £283/month interest might be a good target to tackle (but alongside saving too, I'm not sure if we can do that!). Feeling much more positive about how little we've spent this month though, without really sacrificing anything, so if we can keep that up then bigger OPs should be easy.

themadvix

Haven't been around for a few days because I've been feeling pretty down about things since the result of the referendum. I'm still in shock and am so disappointed in the nation. Personally this could have major implications for my business, but I'm just as concerned about all the other implications. So I've rather fallen off the wagon with regard to making extra pennies. Have done a bit this afternoon and will try to get back into things properly tomorrow.

Have also had a spendy few days, so probably better to gloss over them. Had lunch with some friends on Friday - a combination of circumstances meant we were all around and not working - and that was nice and not too expensive (about £15 including parking and a main meal). DH was at a friend's stag do this weekend (it was the couple getting married that we met for lunch), and I haven't really been able to establish how much he spent.... which is concerning, but it wasn't a ridiculous weekend and he is the best man, so hopefully it won't be too bad. I ate at my mum's on Saturday night (free and delicious!) and went sailing with my dad yesterday - apart from a bought piece of quiche I provide homemade lemon drizzle cake and fruit from garden - so not expensive.

Unfortunately though, I got home on Saturday night to discover the fridge had stopped working!:eek: Not a huge amount in there apart from milk that will need to be chucked, but of course, have had to order a new one. We decided to go for quality (and longevity hopefully) over price and have ordered a Miele one for £320 (+£20 removal - considered the options, but old one won't fit in either car and parents with big cars are going away at weekend when they'd be able to take it to the dump). There's a £50 cashback offer on them at the moment (£270), found an online discount code (£260) and we'll hopefully get cashback (£co) and Virgin miles - so not cheap, but the best value for money, hopefully!

DH has also been looking at mobile phones as the battery life and reliability of his are plummeting at the moment. He's trying to be good - looking at second hand ones, but I suspect a new one through flubit will probably win out as there's risks with something from ebay.

Have got £5 waiting to be paid out of £co, so that will go to OP fund, as, in due course, will the cashback from the fridge. Also rang new energy supplier to waive cooling off period - we've slipped onto standard tariff so the sooner we can move the better.

Busy_Mee1

I've felt the same Madvix - feeling very sad for a number of reasons and watching in disbelief as everything has unraveled this week.
Sounds like you had a nice social weekend to take your mind off it though, although the fridge packing in is a bit of a bummer. I am a bit concerned about mine which is 12 years old (GE American fridge freezer) but it keeps rumbling on. That was quite expensive when we bought it but has lasted well, I keep thinking that actually I should replace it before breaks but I would rather put the money in savings.
Have a good week - let's hope we can find a way through this mess.

themadvix

Thanks for dropping by Busy Mee. It's scary, but not at all surprising how everything has unravelled and will no doubt continue to do so.

Yes, it was a nice weekend and but there were plenty of depressing discussions to be had about the future!

I don't blame you about keeping the fridge going - I know I wouldn't replace it until it had gone completely! I never understand these surveys that ask if you're planning on replacing white goods - I'd never replace unless they'd broken, and I'm unlikely to know in advance!

katep23

Hi Madvix, dropping in to say hello!

I know what you mean about replacing something before it is broken - we were given a side-by-side fridge freezer when we moved in which I hate. The freezer is shelves rather than drawers and is only any good for square food - try stacking a whole chicken!

I would love to replace it as I am worried about something falling out and breaking my toe but until it breaks or we re-do the kitchen it is staying.

themadvix

Hi Kate, if you're still there - sorry meant to reply yesterday but ended up having a much needed night away from the machine! We try to live as close to a zero-waste life as possible here, which does mean carrying on with things that would be better being replaced sometimes! (And we're far from perfect, but it does save us lots of money!). Our kitchen is tiny and at some point we might replace it, but in the meantime it'll all have to stay put. We're fortunate that when we moved in the former occupants had left a virtually brand new cooker and washing machine (and fridge, but it was a Bejam one, so we did replace it - with a freebie from a neighbour!). I am very pleased with my new fridge though - it's 5cm wider than the old one, which means there's just that bit more room in it!

Have still been struggling with motivation the last couple of days. One of my clients sends me work about the EU, and I have felt rather sad reading it and knowing that we won't be part of it for much longer I'm hoping that it won't affect me getting the work in the future though, but no one really knows at this point. Yesterday was a bit of a wash out apart from work.

I did manage to make bread though, which will tide us over to the weekend - so in my challenge to make bread for June, I've only failed twice, which I'm really pleased about. Both mine and DH's CC bills have been a lot lower this month too, so the cutting back and being more conscious of what we're spending has definitely helped. (Despite the fridge!).

Did a survey yesterday on SB and it didn't credit - I put in a claim, with half the info missing and was thrilled that they credited me with the points. Very impressed! Am 200 SBs off cash out again - have been busy with it today as I'm up to date with work. Have written a huge to-do list and have been cracking on today - it's so nice to feel I'm achieving stuff again!

Have been reading through Tilly's diary from the beginning - it's going to take me a while I think, but her attitude to MF is just astounding. The support on this forum is so inspirational and it really is egging me on. Our monthly interest is £282. We can only make £500 OPs, so my theoretical target (with my income everything has to be somewhat theoretical!) is to put away £282 each month and pay it off bi-monthly. However, as I also want to be filling my TSB RS and having a bit of a life/doing DIY, we'll have to see. Tomorrow is 'money day' though, so I'm planning on making a £500 OP, checking I've got the money for the new boiler and seeing where I'm at with regard to putting £280 away as well as savings. I'm looking forward to updating my signature!:)

themadvix

Wahoo, money day has arrived!

All money moved around as necessary, £250 into TSB RS (or will be when the SO goes through). Money allocated for boiler and fridge paid for. £500 OP sitting, waiting to go. I rang Santander and they said they don't recommend OP within 10 days of the standard DD going out - I couldn't quite work out why, but I think they might think I've reduced my monthly payment to £500?? Who knows. Otherwise the lady was really helpful, told me how I could make the payment online, and informed me that I NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY IN LUMPS OF £500!!!!. Sorry for shouting, but.... it's Awesome!:D:D:D I'm very pleased about this as it makes it that much more immediate and the gratification will be huge!

Sadly, with the fridge and the boiler I haven't got enough to make this a bigger OP this month (running scarily low on funds, but DH will add to the pot if need be and I can always remove some from TSB). However, the boiler and fridge are one offs, so hopefully if income is still relatively good (I did have to find £1000 extra this month, but it was a good pay month) next month I'll be able to OP at least the £280 interest. I think this is going to be my target - especially as I can do it in smaller chunks now. (I'm not sure that the bank lady knows what she's let the systems in for at the bank..... I've missed my tiny Tilly Tidy OPs that I used to do with NW.

As I've not made the OP yet, I've noted it in my calendar for every month for the 15th, so I'll remember (as if I could forget!) when to transfer the payment. I guess this means that at least I won't be twiddling my thumbs waiting for payday mid-month

Surveys continue - Newvista up to £40 now, so payout soon. Also signed up to *another* web monitoring thing yesterday - I honestly don't know how my computer keeps going with all the monitoring things on it! But this one pays in cash, and quite decent amounts too, so I'm pleased about that - £4 already for signing up and another £4 at the end of each month, plus quarterly bonuses More money for the pot.

DH has been busy with the MB, profit up to £120 now, although this won't be hitting the account for some time - the problem seems to be that you have to have quite a bit of liquidity to be able to take advantage of some of the offers. However, free money is free money and it'll come to us at some point.

Think that's all for now - will probably remember something else I meant to include as soon as I've posted this! Off to update signature

(Knew I'd forget something - had courgette and pesto pasta last night - all with cupboard ingredients, including pesto that needed using up! A small thing, but moneysaving nonetheless. As a managed to completely miscalculate the amount of pasta, it was also waist-saving as we had large-starter-sized portions rather than a proper meal. Topped it up with homegrown strawbs for pud!)

themadvix

Is it Monday again already?

Friday night was my Brownies' AGM, and we had a BBQ - Brown Owl decreed that the leaders shouldn't have to pay, so that was £5 saved. As a unit we contributed 'salad items' for the BBQ, which I'd bought and prepped (walked to Coop to buy, rather than use car, and remembered my membership card too) - I brought home quite a few cherry toms, much to DH's pleasure. The leftover salad leaves (of which there were quite a few - weirdly all the cucumber went!) I donated to a student leader who was desperate for food, especially greens! I remember those days, and she was so grateful, bless her.

I worked all day Saturday (I do some occasional events work and this was the first event of the season) and I got a free lunch and dinner. It would be money to the pot, but it tends to just merge into monthly income, so although it ends up in the same place it doesn't feel like bonus money for working a Saturday. Hey ho... money is money! I enjoyed driving to the venue and back though - about 50 miles - using the 'range' measure on the dashboard of DH's car. It made me much more aware of the effect of speed and heavy acceleration and braking on fuel consumption. Hopefully continuing to use this will help with fuel costs (when I'm driving anyway!).

DH spent Saturday doing house work and jobs, and Sunday we pottered some more, so a low spend weekend (apart from having to fill up the car). Had a BBQ Sunday lunch time - it was very satisfying as we used up some bits in the freezer (not really enough for a BBQ), I made some tortilla wraps for bread and we made some kebabs from the veg in the fridge - no money spent and yet we were stuffed!

Am going to do an online order from Sains today - our first, so will be making use of the £18 off a £60 shop. Also have a couple of Ebay parcels to post, so that money will be heading to the OP fund.

In other news, the new boiler is being fitted today, along with an extra radiator - am waiting for the guys to turn up any minute.... house is cleaner and tidier than it has been in ages, even the cupboard under the stairs :rotfl: You never know where plumbers are likely to want to go!

The week ahead isn't looking too bad - more events work Weds and Fri, so I'll be fed then, DH is out Weds night with a supplier, so he'll get fed (it's an awards evening, must make sure his DJ is ready to go) and I'm having dinner at a friends on Thursday. So not much cooking needed I guess! I may cancel the veg box delivery.

Ooh, I found a 5p on our walk yesterday - not quite the £5 I found the other week, but it'll still go in the OP fund!:D

Have a good week all! (Kirsty, I know you're there! )

kirtsypoos

Haha, I'm a chief lurker Vix, I love the MFW board and can't wait to move over here!

Just noticed about your sainsburys shop - there is a £20 off a £60 spend voucher which is still working at the moment - I know it's only £2 more but every little helps :rotfl:
Also, I'm not sure if you know but if you got to the recipes page and scroll down they often have try them free items - I got a box of PG Tips earl grey 2 weeks ago which was a bonus as it's all my grandad drinks and meant I didn't have to buy a box specially

themadvix

Hi Kirsty!:hello:

Thanks for that - will have a look for the £20 off voucher and no, I've never done online with Sains before, so had no idea about the recipe pages - will check that out!

I know what you mean about lurking - I used to be (and still am really) a huge lurker! Are you saving to buy?