Saving £100k for mortgage, living a simple life

earthgirl

Bit of a break from posting again as I find life so busy with a baby and toddler!

I have also been having a bit of a blip as baby is still not feeding right. I have been told to just accept it, but I am trying to be optomistc and keep trying new things. However in the mean time I am trying to keep washing down by keeping him in baby gros so its easier and less to wash if he is sick.

We have changed routines slightly to try to get the children to bed earlier, and save money (showe ds1 on a morning, less electricity used in the evening) and its going quite well. OH is helping a lot.

We are out everyday at an activity for ds1, but as most are free, my weekly spend on toddler groups is £2.50. I am still on a quest to live more simply though, and I'd like to focus on jot rushing around and enjoying the beauty of Autumn with the children. I have also found a free toy library at one of thre venues, don't know why i didn't check before.

Money making
Tutoring
I am still tutoring for 2 and a half hours a week. I had Elliot on the friday and because newborns are so sleepy, I could tutor again on the Monday(must have been the adrenaline from the home birth:eek:), but now its getting a bit tougher, so I need to get more organised.

Shop and scan
need to remember to scan receipts, ive been forgetting

OHs business
I have been doing a few sessions every week, so need to keep this up and extend my scope.

Ebay
been really rubbish - keep waiting for the free listings andthen don't list anything. I am going to challenge myself to list at least 5 things per week.

SAVING MONEY

- Line and close attic curtains DONE
-close all curtains early to keep heat from our 1 raidiator in! STARTED
- use cloths (I got free) instead of buying wipes
- reduce washing so that i can start using washable nappies again- try bibs on ds2, spot washing and hand washing.Started
- potty train ds1 to reduce nappy spend (maybe after Christmas!)
- reduce toilet roll usage
-put (free hotel) soap in bathroom and use as an alternative to posh dispenser.DONE
-use candles instead of fire for a warm glow, and snuggle up in blankets - encourage oh to do the same.DONE
-put garden furniture away and cover bbq.
-tend winter veg in garden.

Make rather than buy -
-cards
-clothing
Anything else really!


A couple of people had bought summer outfits as presents, but they will not get worn due to weather, so I swapped for a voucher and then bought ds1 some nice winter boots which should see him through the winter time. I was a cl@rks childrens shoe fitter for 7 years so I can fit shoes, if I wasn't comfortable doing it I'd definately go to the shop though.

Off to do some freecycling- if we stay here, we need to get rid of clutter and use the space! Then I have a day at home to get things sorted.

earthgirl

Just updated sig with Nov pay, and now on £49 xxx saved - only £900 to go till we hit the big 50!

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Almost 33% towards your goal, amazing progress. Tilly x

[Deleted User]

Congrats on little Elliot eg dont know how I missed that!
Cant believe you did tutoring 2 days after giving birth tho! wowsers!! Thats dedication for sure!
Simpler life sounds fantastic as do your savings totals- you are well on your way there I would have thought!

earthgirl

Thanks TYO! I haven't been posting much as children and oh keeping me very busy! I am sooooo happy with life at the mo and would love to be a sahm (or as close as I can be) so I need to continue to be careful with money.

I have been on a bit of a spending spree by my standards and am feeling bad. Doesn't help that its 4am and I've been up for over 2 hours with ds2 who had jabs yesterday.

£7.10 on a book for ds1 so he has the JCB set
£5 on a puzzle for ds1
£23 on a sleeptraining clock for ds1
£1 on a toy for ds1
£3.25 ds1 play centre
£1 on chocs for dh
£2 on caalculators to stash around the house
£12 on 12 swims
£12 on a pass so my friend can come swimming with me and the 2 littlies 12 times

Calculators were essential so oh can quote customers from anywhere in the house - i.e. where crying babys are not!

The swimming shouldn't work out too expensive and its a nice treat for ds. My friend might offer to pay anyway as she wanted to go.

The clock can be from my dad for xmas - he is giving us money.

So the thing I am really bothered about is the books and toys for ds1. Its because its hard to keep him quiet and not frustrated when I am dealing with ds2, and oh needs to work.

It is cheaper than sending him to daycare - which i'd never do when I'm off, but still books and toys can be lent from the library.

I'm going to complain about the book £4.11 delivery charge, my fault for not noticing so mighht get something back, but really really bad buys generally.

So with all the christmas presents now being bought I can now say no more spending except food, and try to set the challenge of being more creative with toys, rather than just buying more. Playcentres are a no no as well, ds1 gets to play sing and dance at some activity everyday regardless.

Off to try ans sleep!

earthgirl

Just caught up on some threads and feel utterly silly for moaning about spending money when others have so much else to deal with.

Every problem is really an opportunity in disguise, and i have used the spending spree as a spring board to make me auction loads of stuff to hopefully get some cash back. I also didn't buy a toy that ds1 wanted ysterday.

Big shop this week - £54 we did seem to need everything though, and the freezer and cupboards are full. Meat came from butchers as it is tasty and they have good offers at the moment.

Took on a new tutoring on Friday, so thats 3 per week, and my maximum I think at the moment.

Kitchen garden still doing well - carrots, leeks, spinach, cabbage and onions left, and i rescued some geraniums for next year, so i will have to devote an afternoon a week to looking after these and just pottering.

Boys both doing well, and i am still trying to not rush around and just enjoy life!

earthgirl

Quick post before I wake up ds1 for breakfast.

All is well here and I am just enjoying life so much at the moment with the boys.

I have been paid (£600 less than normal as on mat leave) but I needed to transfer £1,650 to ds2 as others had given me gifts to that amount before I had opened his account, so it has basically left me with only £600 for savings - but a nice feeling of knowing that the boys are equal and I am making them a little nest egg for the future. If I didn't do it this pay I wouldn't do it!!

So not quite at my target of £50,000 saved - £300 short.


Other ms things -

Income
I have been doing my 4 tutorings per week, but could still do with being more organised.

I have been working on OHs business in the early mornings too.

I have ebayed some stuff - hopefully more today too.

Outgoings

We were thinking we'd move or have to move because of schools. We have since viewed a C of E school that we like and are now staying put and applying there. To move higher up the list it has involved going to a different church, but I have been 3 times now and I like it- the people are all lovely. There is a Sunday school which is brilliant for ds1. This along with systemeatic decluttering will mean that we should all fit in here for a while!

I have been true to my word and not spent on unnecessary items for sd1- not counting £7 for tickets and items for ds1 playgroup party in a few weeks.

I have spent £100 on OHs Christmas and birthday presents - know what he wants but got vouchers so he can buy in the sales!

I have made Chutney for the church fair, so off to put it in jars.

All in all a very relaxed family weekend!

Courgette

Sounds lovely! Good plan on decluttering and staying put too, moving is really stressful (and expensive!) and to be avoided in my opinion

streethack

Wow your like a saving juggernaut a real inspiration to me as im trying to save £100,000. I wonder where you put all your savings to eek out the most interest?

earthgirl

Savings all dotted here and there, £30,000 in easy access at 3.2% which is not great! I must shop around. The rest is locked away for another 4 years.

I have just banked some tutoring money and other bits and bobs, so I can now put my savings amount at over £55,000 since may 2011.

Had such a lovely day, finished off card writing, then a free party at the hildrens centre, then tidied the veg in the garden followed by a walk with ds 1 and 2 . By far the best part of the day was cuddles on the sofa with hot water bottles and hot chocolate after - Bliss!