Pix's aims, dreams and reality

pixnmix_2

Forgive me MSE for I have sinned/ lapsed/gone off the rails....It has been 3 months since my last ramblings on here!!! 3 months and I'm not very much further on in my quest to finish the house off ready for overpaying on the mortgage by end of the year. In fact, make that NO further forward. Ok truth time, I have actually slipped backwards in the ambition!
Having had a holiday abroad (last minute decision due to weather stopping camping plans) and deciding to take the plunge to buy a new car (mine is now unreliable and very costly on repairs) I've caused a serious setback to my finances.
But I'm back and more determined than ever to get this party started! What i need is to get back on the forums for inspiration and encouragement. I'm still doing my freezer challenge and shopping for yellow reduced stickers etc so i'll be back on track in no time! **gulp**

Mortgage_Reduction_Novice

Hi, Welcome back. Get y'self up here, back on the band waggon and stop feeling guilty.

janineh1982

Hi pixnmix!

Welcome back after your short stint MIA

I find reading other mfw diaries is really helping keep me motivated!
I also had a slight AWOL session (didn't last v long keeping my diary in the first place tho :rotfl:) which lasted nearly a year however im back and more determined to be mf

Good luck on getting all things houses completed before your Xmas deadline! :T

pixnmix_2

Oh dear oh dear..... failure doesn't even cover this fiasco!
Since my last diary entry I haven't bought anything to finish the house off (apart from 2 lampshades and a couple of throws for the living room sofa). Instead, I've had to take out a car loan (cos I cannot work without a car and my old one was dying on me) and got further overdrawn than ever. Nothing insurmountable but nowhere near where I aimed to be as far as overpaying the mortgage goes. What doesn't help is that we decided to go on holiday in August and between that and having to put money aside for my daughter's wedding dress, and offering to pay for my son's car exhaust it's all gone downhill! And I feel blaady awful but that's life eh.

However, I've looked at my finances, and together with a few hundred pounds in savings, I might just scrape through Christmas. The mortgage and other direct debits are crippling, even though I earn a decent salary.

But it's onward and upward i guess.... I got rid of Sky TV this month in favour of youview (freeview), that's £27 a month saved. Cancelled an accident insurance I don't need too, thats an £8 a month saving.

I need to tighten the belt even further after Christmas. I just need some moral support to do this. Because I hate being overdrawn in the bank like this.

pixnmix_2

Right, lurked on a few MFW threads and I KNOW I can AND WILL pick myself up, dust off and start over again. Only this time, I'm only going to get living room and bedroom curtains, and a wardrobe (see post from months back). The bedroom ones my friend is going to help me make

My new aim is to start OP's in April, when i, hopefully get a payrise, which will add to the pot, and by then I'll have got rid of my overdraft, credit card bill (£325 but it's still a debt) and have sorted the wardrobe and curtains (if not, I just won't get em)

Where there's Pix, there's a way!!

nattypants

Keep posting Pix - you'll get there, and well done on chucking the Sky in favour of youview:T

pixnmix_2

Thanx Nattypants. I'm not missing Sky at all. Loving the catch up internet telly feature on youview

Well, update time. I've had 2 nsd's since I posted so fairly pleased with that. Used up some leftover meat from sunday lunch tonight in a stirfry, so no need to food shop today for tea or use anything from the freezer. I also froze the leftover cooked veg from sunday too, to mash up and use in a soup. I don't need to buy anything except milk, bread, fruit and veg for at least a fortnight either so that'll help. My freezer is full, and an overspill of meals/ meat etc from a yellow sticker food shop last week is in my partner's freezer.

Also I intend to keep all my receipts from shopping for the next month (at least) to document exactly what I'm buying eg food/ toiletries/ fuel/ household cleaners etc.

pixnmix_2

After I posted here last night I was working out my money and realised I have been charged £30 more than I should have for a coat for mum's christmas pressie in a well known department store. Thing is, I bought it in Scotland at the beginning of the month, when their store was suffering a computer blip so they were using the old card swiping and printing system, not chip n pin. But I got a receipt, so I'm going over to the local branch tomorrow after work to see about getting the money back in the account.
Another nsd today, apart from a packet of crisps, which I shouldn't have done but it was paid from a few 5p coins loose in my bag. Not an excuse but hey ho
Will have to fill the car up tomorrow with petrol but I have cash put aside for that from the weekly allowance I'm giving myself. Go over that allowance and my penalty is cleaning the oven!!

nattypants

pixnmix wrote: »

Go over that allowance and my penalty is cleaning the oven!!

:eek::eek::eek::eek: surely the punishment far outweighs the crime. Cleaning the oven doesn't ever feature in my cleaning itinery (not that I ever have a cleaning itinery of course...I just make do with reading ecoelle's diary:p)

Well done on keeping focussed:T

pixnmix_2

another 2 nsd's under the belt since last post. Apart from the petrol I mentioned.
At partner's house now till monday so nsd tomorrow too by the look of things. He's got food for tonight in M&S dine in for £10 deal, which he got for £8 with a £2 off voucher courtesy of 02 priority moments Pork joint's defrosting for tomorrow's dinner ...I'm well looked after. But I did do him and the kids a big lamb roast dinner last sunday so not feeling too guilty
Been to "that shop" today too, and the manager will contact head office on monday to discuss how I get my £30 back. The receipt was filled in incorrectly too, with no date on it. That money is a week's fresh food shopping, so I need it back pronto!!
And finally, this evening is going to be spent reading diaries on here and looking at the Uswitch website cos my gas and electric fixed tariff comes to an end next week, so I'm a bit late in sorting this out but that's life.