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

themadvix

Hi All,

Weekend was fairly quiet here, so I didn't spend much money (just £7 on a food top-up). Unfortunately DH spent £330 on tyres, which was a bit much to take in one go! However, Friday night he ended up cooking just for him (did sort friend's computer), and I did manage to scrounge food at the Guiding event (even managed to sneak some leftovers home for later!).

Cashed out on SB, so that's another £5 to the OP fund. Have also claimed YouGov money, so that will go there too - taking it to about £140. It adds up quite quickly when you put your mind to it! :j

Hall decorating continued at the weekend, along with a bit of pond 'gardening'. Also saw a baby fish in there - only about two inches long, so cute and the first we've had (for the record we have WAY too many fish, so it's not great news that they're breeding, but fun nonetheless!).

Using up last of veg from veg box two weeks ago - didn't have one last week as there was plenty to eat, so saving made there. Next box comes Thursday, so eking it out until then.

Have bitten the bullet and contacted a legal company in Ukraine about collecting the debt I'm owed. Have emailed the client to tell them to expect to hear from the law firm, so hopefully that will get things moving pronto! I've never had to do that before, and have no idea how much it will cost/whether it's worth it/how dodgy it is (although it is a law practice and their website looks quite reputable), so we'll see what happens (and hope that the named threat will be enough to get them to pay up!).:o

themadvix

Hi All,

Bit the bullet and opened the Nationwide Regular Saver yesterday for my emergency savings/buffer fund. It's not ideal, but at least it's something - 5% on £500/month is better than what it was getting. Still undecided about TSB regular saver - it's frustrating that you have to set up a SO for it and pay in a fixed amount each month (I know that's traditionally what regular savers look like, but it doesn't suit me!).

Having been looking at pensions for a while I'd decided that I'd save my personal allowance from the previous year to make the monthly payments (self-employment can be tricky!). So when I ended up setting one up with NEST I set up a DD to put the money in there each month - just realised I don't need to do this with NEST so will cancel DD when this month's has arrived and just transfer the lot. That means I'll have more money in there for longer!

In MF news, did a £3 survey yesterday, so as soon as that gets paid I'll be transferring it to OP fund. Am making a concerted effort with surveys and Swagbucks - I always do just after I've cashed out... and then it goes downhill... Continued to eat from stocks and fridge - getting very low on food now, so looking forward to veg box arrival on Thursday. Curry tonight though, all from stores and using up more bits of veg. When veg box arrives will have a go at some carrot and lentil soup - we have loads of red lentils and I don't know the last time we ate any. I'd like to use the jar they're in for something we do actually eat! (They look pretty, I'll grant you!). Made a list yesterday of meals we could make with stuff we have in (plus veg box) - there's plenty of options, so we're all good for the moment.

Still no money or word from Ukraine.... or from the law firm in response to my enquiry! Not hopeful! Maybe I should catch a cheap flight (ironically the work I did for them was for an in-flight magazine).... it's just, I'm not a huge fan of war zones...

themadvix

Hi All,

I've noticed that in my last two posts, I've 'bitten the bullet' about something. Not sure where that's come from! I haven't done any such thing today!

Only small steps today - paid the £3 from above survey into officially-named OP fund and noticed that I'm at cash out point with a survey company - they won't pay till next month, but in the meantime anything I add onto the balance will come to me then too, so major focus on doing all surveys available.

DH and I had a money conversation last night. We are fairly frustrated by the fact that despite my income going up massively since we got our house, our mortgage hasn't gone done proportionately. Admittedly we had a swish holiday last year and have replaced quite a few windows, but clearly silly expenditures have been creeping up too. With that in mind, I've downloaded a spending diary app thing onto my fancy new phone (it has apps, amazing!) and am keeping track of what I spend.... I think I probably need to persuade DH to do this too, otherwise it'll just end up with him paying for all the things I don't want to keep track of!:rotfl:

Have been super busy with work today, which is good, although my back doesn't agree. In between times I've been reading Edinburgher's thread (from beginning, so I'm still back in 2014!) - it's made me wonder about a S&S ISA.... or something. I'm hugely risk averse, but getting fed up with so little ROI, so I think I may be brave and do some more reading/thinking about it! DH has one and shares in the company he works for (thousands of them, in all sorts of schemes - they can't hand them out fast enough!).:D We're hoping one day they'll be worth a fair bit.

I might also get DH to look at matched betting - it's definitely not for me because I would miss something and mess it up, but he's methodical and understands these things better, so we might see! I get the principle, but it's definitely not something to be messed with from what people say.

Think that's all for now.... OP fund currently at £94.32.

Have a good evening!

themadvix

Hi All,

I do waffle on rather don't I? I'll try to be more succinct today.

- TSB Monthly Saver opened after I established that I could vary the SO to suit my mood.
- Various surveys/SBs completed
- £4.11 interest from the closure of an old ISA transferred into OP fund.
- Carrot and lentil soup made using new carrots from veg box (oh fresh veg, I've missed you!) and lentils that have been sitting around for ages. Tastes yummy - will be lunch for DH tomorrow too.

Otherwise today was a rather spendy day - a few bits from the supermarket (including a bottle of wine as we're to friends for dinner tomorrow; new wiper blades for my car (but used Halfords trade card, so cheaper than they should have been; and meat for the cats from the butcher. Also withdrew £50 cash for a wedding present for a wedding we're going to on Sunday - this is budgeted for though.

Tomorrow going to Who Do You Think You Are Live, which should be interesting, have never been before. Likely to be another expensive day though. Will try hard to keep spends to a minimum.

OP fund = £101.43

StrugglingYouth

Just been reading your somewhat sporadic diary entries! You have a super attitude towards it.

In regards to feeling a bit deflated about the mortgage can you work out how much you have saved in interest since taking the mortgage? Im sure it will make you feel better. Keep at it!

themadvix

Hi Struggling Youth, thanks for popping by. Yes, probably looking at the interest saved would cheer me up a bit! I need to get the spreadsheet out and update it, but it's been a while, so it'll need some work.

This weekend has been expensive, with a day out on Friday (some of what I spent was birthday money), various bits of shopping on Saturday and then a wedding yesterday. We did manage to have a cooked breakfast out yesterday for the grand sum of £2.20 - Cafe Rouge BOGOF combined with Leisure Vouchers earned from surveys :beer:

Today has been a NSD (and a Not-Do-Much day too - late nights on Sundays are not cool!). Have transferred another £3 to OP fund from a survey. Work looking busy for next few weeks, so although survey-age may slip it'll be because 'real' money is being brought in!

DH away with work tomorrow, so I'm eating at my Mum's - it'll be another week to skip a veg box :money: Rest of the week is looking pretty quiet, so hopefully more freezer meals will be eaten. Will need to stock up soon!

themadvix

Hi All,

It's been nearly a week, so thought I'd better update to make sure I don't give up or forget this thread again. Not a lot happened last week, beyond continuing with surveys etc. and making the most of food in the house. At the weekend though we listed some bits on ebay and one thing has already sold - £15 to the OP fund. Profits from the others will also be added when they sell.

In even better news, DH has had notification of his annual pay rise today. It was quite substantial :T, so negotiations over where that will go will have to begin soon! Unfortunately for me it means I'll have to raise the stakes again this year workwise - last financial year was the first time I'd ever made more (even slightly) than him... now he's way ahead again!

That's all for now, I think.

themadvix

Hi All (anyone?)

I've just emerged from under a huge mountain of work - hooray! This has meant that not much in the way of surveying or other money saving has been achieved this past week, but on the up-side, it means lots of proper money coming in.

Other bits didn't sell on ebay, so have relisted them and keeping fingers crossed. It was an expensive weekend as it was my Dad's 60th yesterday, so lunch out on Sunday (cost spilt with sister, who I've yet to pay), present, etc. etc. He has a party coming up in a few weeks, so that'll be more expense probably (he's paying, but there'll be bits we pay for).

Have only got around to reading Martin's email today - sorting the Oyster cards has been on my to-do list for ages, must get around to it! Does anyone know if you still get the deposit back if you take the cards into the station?

OP fund standing at £176.60 - will update signature at the end of the month. Nearly pay day and exciting money movements!

themadvix

Hi All,

Yesterday was payday! Wahoo! :j (late because of the bank holiday - I don't pay myself until I've done my invoicing because I hate it and would put it off otherwise). Due to the silly hoops one has to jump through to get all the interest on savings these days, I now have a 'how to' document for paying myself and transferring the money around. I used it yesterday for the first time and have to say, it made the whole process easier - no brain involved!:rotfl:

TSB interest of £8.58 has appeared in account and I've moved another £500 to Nationwide Reg Saver, so presumably that'll be earning me similar amounts (interest paid annually - boo!). TSB regular saver SO goes out on 8th, for full £250. Am hoping that once I've put a few full months worth in I'll be able to use it to round up the various bits of interest that are appearing - rather than them sitting there not earning anything. Still debating whether to open an ISA to put tax savings in before I have to hand them over to HMRC... Also had a letter from Nat-wide about a Loyalty Saver - that could work too...

Business savings account is losing most of its interest rate, so have opened a Business Reward Saver with them - 0.6%/month, except months where you take money out - which I only tend to do once per year. It's not a lot, but it's better than a kick in the teeth.

The OP fund is growing nicely - sold some bits on Ebay, so £54 in from that. A survey payout on its way and a SB cash-out too. Current balance before aforementioned is £226.44 - nearly halfway to the next OP :T Listed another load of bits on Ebay, so hopefully more to add from there too.

Still trying to be penny pinching at home, although we had an expensive Sunday at a beer festival :beer: Still, life is for living and we did take some food with us! Had a lovely picnic lunch with some friends on Saturday too - bought stuff from deli counter in Waitrose, using Christmas present gift card (I kept wondering what we could possible want in JL, then realised a treaty picnic was a justifiable gift!) - more to spend on that too, so another treat picnic to look forward to.

DH away for a couple of days with work (has had hire car all week - petrol saving!), so will be eating portions for one from freezer - which I'm looking forward to as I froze when I first got back into the MSE way, so feeling smug about).

All washing done in the last two days and line dried - I love free solar power!:D

Think that's all for now. Re-reading last post reminded me that I still need to sort Oyster cards out. Will put that on list for this week.

Apologies for unendingly cheerful post - I think the sunshine has gone to my head!:)

themadvix

Hi All,

Just a quick update. Have now finally crawled out from underneath the chaos that was organising a big birthday do for my Dad... Last week got very hectic and I was absolutely exhausted on Sunday - in bed by 9pm! Balance has now been restored to my life though, and we've nearly finished eating all the leftover party food. Even with the contributions from Dad, last week was an expensive one (not that I'll notice until the cc bill hits!).

In MF news, have opened a business savings account with a slightly higher rate of interest - 0.6% (wahey!). Better than I was getting and there's only the money in there that I need for business equipment replacement and one professional membership.

Have opened a Nationwide Loyalty Saver today and will use that for my tax money. It's not a great rate, but better than I was getting and I have to keep this separate from everything else.

OP fund now at £270 - a couple more Ebay sales, some survey money and a SB payout - more than halfway to the next too. This puts us at over halfway just from 'silly little bits' of money - amazing how it all tots up!

TSB Saver got the full £250 this month and will aim to keep this up for a few months to come - there's various bits that will go in, but have had a couple of good months work-wise so need to squirrel it away (occasionally remember that we'll have to pay stamp duty on the next house (didn't on this, as it was during the recession) and think, must not pay all of our spare cash off the mortgage!)