Ecoelle's MFW Diary

pavlovs_dog

ecoelle wrote: »

If i could make £20 a month extra then i could pay a flat £700 each month but i'm not sure about making that much in actual cash. I think i could do it in vouchers maybe, but not cash. We'll see.

could you save it from your existing budget rather than having to make/find it?

e.g. can you join the grocery challenge on the OS board? Are you getting the best value for money for your utilities? Can you use the vouchers to pay for birthday presents etc and then pay the monetary value to the mortgage pot?

Walk a short trip instead of taking the car? Park a little further away and walk the difference instead of paying to park? Use up toiletry stash instead of buying more? Shop from your wardrobe instead of buying new etc etc Take a picnic on days out instead of buying lunch and snacks?

Edited to add:

Someone on MFW was in a similar situation (i can't for the life of me remember who, trouble with reading too many diaries) and they increased their OP to include it, working on the premise that if they'd committed to it, they'd have to make it work whereas if they worked up to it at the end of the month, it wouldn't happen (or at least not to the same extent).

Could that work for you perhaps?

ecoelle

Hi Pavlov, glad you posted, was beginning to think i'd bored everyone to tears:)

Our budget is already quite tight, i already use the vouchers i earn from surveys and clicks to pay for birthday and xmas presents, it's been a while since i did a budget check though so might give that a whirl. I have recently changed the mortgage to a new fix rate and the payments per month reduced so i have increased the standing order for the OP to make sure we still pay the same as before.

ecoelle

Right, off work for the next couple of weeks and determined to get back on track. Feel like i've taken my eye off the ball since about November and things are starting to unravel. So, money wise i think i need to do sit down and just work out where we are savings wise, then work out current accounts, the change to the Halifax rewards account is a pain, don't know if i really want to move any more DD from the main bank, already did it with the ones that pay into the Santander account just think it's all getting a bot complicated for the sake of a fiver. Guess they've realised that everyone is doing what i do and transferring in and out within seconds to get the free money and not actually using the account for anything substantial.

In terms of other things i'm also determined to get back to the gym and to get back on top of things with the house.

I feel a list coming on...

ecoelle

Ecoelle's List

1. Pay in little ones Christmas money for her premium bonds
2. Sort under kitchen cupboard
3. Sell buggy
4. Pay £30 off mortgage as OP
5. Redo budget honestly
6. Sort my clothes and charity shop any that don't fit/don't get worn
   
7. Sort little ones clothes and charity shop any that are too small
8. Sort out sewing box
9. Make 10 cards
10. Do at least 1 job from the flylady thread every day for the next week - w- (kitchen)Wipe window sills, clean any marks off windows if required /t- Spend at least 15 minutes doing something for yourself, whatever that might be /f- kitchen - clean floors/s- (kitchen)Clean cupboard door fronts and the kick boards/s/m/t
11. Change gas and electric tariff
    

brizzledfw

Nice list Ecoelle..I too am in a list mood. Think I will try dn post a realistic one this week.

We are also on a C@op tracker. It's been brilliant so hope it all works outs. Every little helps ..hate T£sco's but its a good phrase!!

Have a good day

Brizzle

ecoelle

right, 59p on it's way from topcashback, £10 voucher on it's way from consumer pulse, i only need 85 more points on global test market to claim my first payout, which i think will convert to about £30:)

Weekly menu done ahead of shop

Vegetarian toad in the hole with roast potatoes veg and gravy

3 Bean chilli with homemade sweet potato wedges and salad

Fish portion / veg burger, chips and peas

Mung bean Daal, creamy coconut daal, rice and naan

Falafel, cous cous and roasted veg

Veggie fajitas, rice and salad

Homemade 3 tuscan bean soup and crusty bread

Right, jobs done on the under stairs cupboard, a few bits for the charity shop sorted into a bag and the rest of the shoes have been put into shoe boxes (just imagine) and put on the shoe shelves (call me crazy), washing done and out to dry, hob cleaned, washing up done, kid fed and shopping list ready. Hoping to not go over £30 this week but not sure we'll make it, go to resist the sweet treats!

Having quite a positive day today, lots to do but busy is good and as it was pay day yesterday i was able to go and get hubbies new work shoes, walking boots, sort out the months spends and still be left with a few quid:) hubbies pay day on monday followed by all the big monthly direct debits but we are treating ourselves to an all you can eat night out with some friends, managed to pursuede them into going for the early bird deal which is a tenner a head instead of 16 as long as you eat and leave before 7.30, which suits us as we can get home and put little one to bed on time:)

Right, jobs left for today

Clean kitchen window on the outside, windowsill is horrid after all the building work

Hoover through the ground floor once baby is napping

Go through ebay box and list any 99p items (anyone know when the next free listing weekend is?)

Clean Toaster

Clean Microwave

Wipe over bathroom before the big clean tomorrow:)

Think that'll do x

ecoelle

Morning all, it is lovely here today, windy but sunny. I have put little one up for her nap and am going to put the washing out to dry then attempt to redo our budget honestly...wish me luck!

ecoelle

ok, done it and it says i should have £50 a month left once everything is paid. I'm happy with that, once the CC are paid we should be back on track. Hoping that when i get the car looked at it's not too expensive, i have some money put to one side for it but not sure if it will be enough.

Jobs for today

Sort out under the sink int he kitchen, how does it get so messy!

Sort and tidy babies cupboard int he kitchen, her food is getting a bit muddled, might try and tupperware it a bit to get it organised.

Bake soime sultana buns for treats:)

ecoelle

Ok, have had bit of a lazy day today as hubby has been off and so wanted to enjoy a day together, also went out for tea with him and some friends, did the early bird special where if you vacate your table by 7pm you c an eat all you want for £10 so got my mum to have baby while we had an early tea and then picked her up in time to do bath and bed.

Moved the £1000 into and out of the rewards accounts to get my free £10, i'll miss this when it's g one in May:(

Also checked up on the survey sites and need another £4 for valued opinions, 500 points for ipsos 55 points for global test market, so i'm settign the challenge that i will achieve payout on all of my regular survey sites by the end of my holiday fron work

Valued Opinions £10 Sainsbury's Voucher
Ipsos
Global Test Market 1020 points $51 which is about £32 i think
One Poll
Crowdology £4.31

Here goes:)

ecoelle

Monday Rooms of Doom and Bathrooms
Level One Done
Level Two
Clear and wipe one surface in the RofD (or bathroom)
Level Three
Hoover and wash the floors
Extras
HHI
Wipe the bath panel
Clean a window

Tuesday - Kitchen and Dining Room
Level One Done
Level Two
Clean anything higher than eye level
Level Three
Make time for somebody else, a child, a pet, a friend - in memory of our friend Diva
HHMe time for everybody
Extras Done

Wednesday - Living Room, hall and stairs
Level One Done
Level Two Done
Level Three
Give all the remote controls and phones a wipe
Extras
Eat a frog
Clean and polish some shoes


Thursday - Kids or Spare Bedrooms
Level 1
Open the windows, even for a short time, to get some fresh air in
Strip a bed and remake it
Level 2
15 minute tidy up of your messiest room
Declutter any toys/books which are beyond their time
Level 3
Hoover as much as the floor as you can
Wipe the window ledges
Lay on the floor/bed looking for dust and grime from a different angle - remove it
Extras
Clean out any pets - does anybody need worming/flea treatment
Clear wipe one surface
Check library book returns

Friday - Master bedroom and Landing
Level One
Strip, wash and remake bed
Clear landing
Level Two
Clear bedroom floor
Hoover floors
Level Three
Turn and hoover mattress
Dust the bedframe
Dust any pictures
Extras
HH me time
Clean windows and sills
Sort that box of stuff - you know the one! I'm sure we all have one somewhere, whose will contain the most obscure of useless item?