Pix's aims, dreams and reality

pixnmix_2

Not had a chance to update siggy as promised on my last post. No point dwelling on that though. Its now done and it's nice to see the £100, 500 down by over 3K

My freezer stock is now dwindling and the storecupboard too so when I get paid this month I need to look at what to stock up on. Wouldn't be able to afford to restock from scratch. Nearly had to the other day as my son had accidently left the freezer door open overnight slightly when I wasn't there and when he noticed piled everything from 3 of the 4 drawers into the fridge. Significant cost there BUT luckily because of his quick thinking and packing close together in the fridge it was still frozen enough to put back when I came in from work, bar a few slices of cooked meat and the sausage rolls which had to be binned.

Cooked a few portions of spag bol and a steak in ale casserole yesterday so building the freezer up again slowly. Watching the money very very closely now and for the next few months cos I wand to start overpayments properly next year. With the cost of gas/ electricity/ food/ petrol etc it's not going to be easy but it needs to be done. With my daughter's and brother's weddings next year it'll be tough but I want to get to £89,000 mortgage by December 2014. Then knock £10,000 each year off the balance after that.

That's the aim and i'm back in the game!!! :beer:

pixnmix_2

NSD today :jcos been decorating at OH's place.
No other news today, been no time to even look at MSE ideas cos been glossing all day. Happy times :rotfl:
I hope everyone on the boards here has had a lovely weekend whatever you've been doing xx

pixnmix_2

Penny pinching goes on and the money balance for the month is done. I predict that if i'm careful for another 2 months i'll be in the black on the December payday instead of the red. Just in time for the festive season but i'm not going to go on a mad spend this year on presents or food.

When I was doing the money stuff earlier I couldn't figure out why I never seem to manage to save as much as I should then I looked at my spreadsheet from this time last year. My monthly gas/ electric bill has increased by nearly £50, food spends have risen sharply and fuel spends are almost a third higher. It doesn't make me feel any better but it does justify a little of why I'm constantly in the red!

Decided today that the 3 tall glass pasta containers in the kitchen will be better to store my 1p, 2p and 5p coins in. So that's what i'm going to start to do..as of right now when I finish this diary entry I'm going to Tilly Tidy all my loose change into the jars. Then, when they're full they will be used to overpay my mortgage a little bit

Getting there...a penny at a time :j

pixnmix_2

oohh 3 more no spend days since the weekend. Not bad Pix!!

And I got my penny pots started...for the 1p, 2p and 5p pieces. So let the Tilly tidying commence... **feeling smug**

Off to read a few diaries on here

pixnmix_2

Blimey what a day. I've done a batch cook of 4 different meals for the freezer and just finishing off making tonight's roast dinner too!

I made spanish chicken, sausage casserole, beef in ale stew and chicken casserole. Adding that to the home made chilli, bolognaise sauce, one portion of chicken in white wine sauce and other various YS ready meals, dinner for the next 2 weeks are sorted. My store cupboard needs restocking now though cos I've got one can of tomatoes left, no cannelini beans and could do with a restock of other basic ingredients.

I've got a big slow cooker full of scotch broth, some eggs, cheese and tuna for lunches too...sorted!

So that's food done...ended the month with 18 nsd's but none so far for November though

Off to do a quick diary read now and then serve up dinner. :beer:

pixnmix_2

Not doing too well on the NSD's so not counting them up this month.. ostrich and sand springs to mind

Today was as far from a NSD as you can get cos I bought an actifry that was just over £100 in Cur*ys. Now, I've wanted one for ages and ages and have enough T*sco clubcard points on the double up system to have bought it in Cur*ys but obviously they aren't useable there. In T*sco the same machine is £60 dearer. So I'm using my doubled points to buy some Christmas presents there instead.

In other news: Tilly tidies are going on as often as I can and the coins are building slowly and steadily. I stocked up the store cupboard in Aldi today and got some lovely bargainous fresh chicken legs and drumsticks - big pack for under £3 and ideal for a slow cooker casserole or a fry up in my new kitchen gadget

Oh..and Mr Pix and I have been talking seriously about selling both our houses, buying one between us and moving in together. We need to do the maths and work out other practicalities cos we both have adult children at home but it will probably be over 12 months from now before we're able to start the wheels in motion. I must admit, after 5 years living between 2 houses and doing housework, DIY and decorating twice, it does sound nice :j

I'll update this diary when I have something half interesting to put in it next time :rotfl:

wantabetterlife

I bought an actifry a few weeks ago, like you I had been wanting one for ages. I really love it and have to say it is money well spent..no more chip pan :D

pixnmix_2

Those bargainous chicken bits i bought weren't so bargainous. Had to take them back and got a refund cos they went off before the use by date and I had to febreeze the fridge with a lemon and salt to get rid of the smell!!! Ah well, better luck next time. In fairness it's the first time i've had a problem with meat from that shop and the refund was done with no quibbling..

Still loving the actifry. I did sausages in it last Sunday morning, no oil needed and they cooked in 10 minutes!!

Tilly tidied 43p yesterday, go me !! Since i started this diary i've made one mortgage overpayment..lol... not exactly inspirational this diary :rotfl:

pixnmix_2

The battle of the pennies continues...
Tilly tidied a total of £4.85 this week and have transferred £3.02 from Top ca**back to bank account today. Every little helps. Need to transfer some savings to bank too to offset high CC bill and try to make headway to getting back in the black in the bank! With Christmas coming up that's not going to be easy but hey ho! I've reduced my overdraft by £100.00 this month before said savings go in. Not too bad i guess.

Had an unexpected bill this weekend. Phone got stolen and the insurance excess is £50. Could well have done without that. Ah well!

It's really frustrating that even though i try to cut back to the bone on pretty much everything, no MOP's are happening but I don't struggle to live and can afford some stuff (like the actifry) occasionally. So can't really grumble.

That's it for this week. Have a good weekend

pixnmix_2

Another month goes by without posting or even logging on here... not doing too well hey? Been a bit down in the dumps and with Christmas approaching spent far too much. Didn't have the heart to log on and post depressive diary entries so abandoned the site completely. Can't promise i'll be a regular on here but I'm going to try hard to pull my act together emotionally and practically. So here's the decisions i've made:
Firstly New year resolutions:
1) From 1st January I'm cutting out alcohol COMPLETELY for 3 months! Now I like my wine and gin a bit too much so that won't be easy BUT it will save money (which I can put towards MOP's) and help my health so i'm determined to give absinence my best shot!
2) I'm going to fill my tall coin jars to the brim (1,2,5p pieces) and not dip into them for ANY reason. Also going to start a 10p one) Then when full they'll be used to overpay the mortgage.

No idea if anyone reads my blurb any more cos i'm not that active on here these days but I am going to try to be cos it does help and right now, I could do with all the help I can get.
Onward and upward, with a bit of luck and blaady mindedness!!