Make hay whilst the sun shines.

MoneyMission

Just declared January OP on the 2016 MFW challenge at £589. Super pleased with that.
Should be in the same region next month but will then reduce as council tax payments kick in again!

MoneyMission

Jan's grocery challenge finished at just over £402 ish which is great considering my budget was £532. Used £41 of the remainder to add into Jan's OP pot and the rest went to savings.

Since found out that I needed to spend £2,300 on dentistry we have managed to save that amount and start adding to the savings pot for other items. Currently the list looks a bit like this:

1. Pot of money for a special trip when OH turns 50 in a few years (will slowly drip feed this one)
2. America trip brought forward to 2016 and all saved for. Flights purchased back last year and car already hired. Deposit paid on accommodation. All spends and remaining accommodation money at the ready.
3. Need a new lawnmower. Have actually never bought a lawnmower as have been lucky and had cast offs from one set of parents or another. The time has come though as old one has blown up. Literally.
4. Decorate family bathroom: new shower screen, new floor and skirting boards, painting. Will make do with the current blind, mirror and towel rail.
5. New curtains for snug room.
6. New front door.

There are lots of little items that we'd like too but should be able to get these out of monthly spends.


Have been stoozing on a credit card for a while but need to pay it off now as 0% period coming to an end. Again, all money at the ready. Will close that card down and look for new stoozing deal soonish.

All feeling fairly in control and on the right path.

Happy weekend.

MM.

brizzledfw

Well done MM, especially with pre paying for the hols.

freshcotton

This reminds me, I need to start to think about holiday/trips money for 2016 - even to have a few £100s put aside for spending money would be a great help.

MoneyMission

We save for our holidays the previous year if that makes sense? So, I already know what we'll be spending on a holiday in 2017. Just need to save up for it this year and then find a holiday to fit the budget!!!

We've still got school age kids so have to pay eye watering sums of money to go away in the school holidays. I've spent too many soggy holidays under canvas since they were born and we now only use the tent for weekends away. Even a cottage holiday in Blightly costs a fortune.

MoneyMission

£9 to February's Op pot today.
Popped to town this morning and DD bought herself a top and a pencil case. My spends = £0.00!
Ordered online clothes for growth spurt boy MM.
Saw friend for coffee and cake at her house = no spends and a lovely time.
Cleaning done, ironing done, kids done / doing homework.
Let the evening commence!

MoneyMission

MoneyMission wrote: »

1. Pot of money for a special trip when OH turns 50 in a few years (will slowly drip feed this one)
2. America trip brought forward to 2016 and all saved for. Flights purchased back last year and car already hired. Deposit paid on accommodation. All spends and remaining accommodation money at the ready.
3. [STRIKE]Need a new lawnmower. Have actually never bought a lawnmower as have been lucky and had cast offs from one set of parents or another. The time has come though as old one has blown up. Literally.[/STRIKE]
4. Decorate family bathroom: new shower screen, new floor and skirting boards, painting. Will make do with the current blind, mirror and towel rail.
5. New curtains for snug room.
6. New front door.

MM.

Lawnmower purchased. Too wet to cut the grass at the moment but it looks like it needs it. The winter has been so mild it is still growing!

£28 in Tilly Tidies and interest so far this month. All OP'd already but will wait to declare total OP for the 2016 MFW challenge on payday - 25th Feb.

Grocery spends on budget so far

brizzledfw

All sounding v good. Well done MM

MoneyMission

Not much happening in the world of MM at the moment.

Have had a fairly quiet half term. I had two days off work with the small people - can I still call them that even though one of them is taller than me now? OH took a couple of days off with them and Grandma looked after them for a day. They've had down time which has been lovely.

As it's the last day of half term today we thought we'd drive out to a local-ish town, walk about and then have a cup of tea and piece of cake. Girl MM wasn't feeling well in the car though so we came home after getting only 2 miles away! She's on horrible antibiotics to try and shift a nasty chest thing she's had since December. This latest lot are making her feel nauseous but I'm hoping they'll do the job. No idea what we'll do if they don't. I am getting a bit worried to be honest and I'm usually fairly laid back.

Back at home and I wrapped her up in a fleecy blanket and she sat in the garden on a chair and watched me tidy some borders. She was quite happy all snugged up and it was lovely and warm. Hopefully a bit of fresh air will help her. Onwards and upwards.

In money news, we're almost up to the limit on two pots. There's about £14 left in the grocery budget to last until next Friday, and the general spends pot has £23 in it. Need to purchase a birthday card and a wedding anniversary card but that should be all for the week. Oh, and some onions because I forgot to add them to the Sainsbobs order. Possibly some milk too but we'll see.

Being out in the garden today made me realise how close spring is now. Our blue tit box has some interest and there are crocuses and daffs out in the garden. Must order some veggie seeds so I'm all ready to plant when the weather's warmed up that little bit more. Will away and do that now.

MM
x

MoneyMission

OP of £607 posted for February. Chuffed with that.

MM
x