A stay at home mummy who wants to be a mfw - Yes I can and Yes I will!

linz

Hi Stacey,

Reading your last couple of posts reminded me a bit of a thread I remembered from last Christmas about a lady who was trying to give her children a nice Christmas on a tight budget. I know its a few months away yet but I thought some of the ideas she and other posters had were brilliant - here's the thread if you want to look and maybe pick up some cheap ideas for yourself nearer Christmas

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3645867

I_want_a_baby

Thanks Linz, that link was really thought provoking - it really shows you don't need to have much to have a lot!!

Updated the banks and budgets today:

£4.00 from sale of maternity clothing
£10.00 from sale of baby clothes
£12.00 from sale of maternity clothing
£3.90 change from £10 after purchase of takeaway
£5.00 change from cash purse.
£34.90 into sealed tin.

£243.44 Saved in September
£617.87 Saved since July 2012

Mini September targets to focus the mind!
Target #1 ~Bronze~ = Save £100 in September (Achieved!:))
Target #2 ~Silver~ = Save £500 in Total (Achieved!:j)
Target #3 ~Gold~ = Save £150 in September (Achieved!:beer:)
Target #4 ~Platinum~= Save £600 in Total (Achieved :T)
Target #5 ~Diamond~= Save £250 in September (£6.56 to go)

So happy with my achievements this month - I think my thread alone goes to show that saving the little bits each time really makes a huge impact!!!! I hoped that from July to December I would save £600 which would equate to £50 a month - little did I realise just how much could be saved!

Stacey x

I_want_a_baby

Well the days are flying by this month. Payday Friday so I will be able to update Septembers total figures then.

I am beginning to think about Christmas too, I have been buying bits throughout the year and have pretty much got everything I need for the kids bar a couple of chocolate bits. Just need to get presents for everyone else though so I will start looking out for things for them. I really want to have all of the essentials done by the 30th of Nov this year so I can have December for all the fun things!

DS's birthday is in November, I already have his present and party bits so just need to think of some games and write the invites nearer to the time and then that's organised.

Heard from the solicitor yesterday and the searches have finally been applied for so at least things seem to be moving again now in that respect.

Also found out that the sofas will be collected on Monday so that is £40 extra into the pot. Trying to sell more bits as I am sorting the cupboard/attic out.

I have been reading the commonsense thread and decluttering thread in the oldstyle forum and they really are making me see my 'stuff' in a different light. I hoard things because I 'feel poor' but we are actually ok financially as we are meeting all our commitments and have a little leftover. Therefore I should realise that I can get rid of things I am keeping 'just in case' and just keep the things we need and like, this will give us more space and a better home environment.

So once the 2 old sofas have been collected I am going to start packing, hopefully a box a day. I have to keep positive that this will all go through ok as I have no reason to suspect otherwise. Aiming to sell or charity shop a bag a week and throw a bag a week away as well.

Definately feeling the chill in this house and the heating is back on now although only for a few hours.

Hope everyone is well!

Stacey x

I_want_a_baby

Update today:

£7.00 received from sale of clothes
£2.50 received from sale of hat/glove/scarf set
£9.50 total received and straight into the tin.

£252.94 Saved in September
£627.37 Saved since July 2012

Mini September targets to focus the mind!
Target #1 ~Bronze~ = Save £100 in September (Achieved!)
Target #2 ~Silver~ = Save £500 in Total (Achieved!)
Target #3 ~Gold~ = Save £150 in September (Achieved!)
Target #4 ~Platinum~= Save £600 in Total (Achieved! )
Target #5 ~Diamond~= Save £250 in September (Achieved!)
Target #6 ~Impossible~ = Save £650 in Total (£22.63 to go!)

I can't believe how much the mini targets help focus the mind! Each small step seems achievable and then you stand back and see you have saved big sums of money!

Stacey x

I_want_a_baby

£2.85 From Quidco payout
£10.01 Budget less actual spends for new carseat
£12.86 TRF'd to ISA

£265.80 Saved in September
£640.23 Saved since July 2012
Target #6 ~Impossible~ = Save £650 in Total (£9.77 to go!)

£10.00 saved in to SHTF cash savings from this weeks food budget. Total saved £20/£50.

Definately happy with this months figures! bearing in mind we one a single income household! I cannot wait until we get a mortgage so we can start seeing the figures come down!!

Stacey x

museumworker

I_want_a_baby wrote: »

Just a quick question on finding the balance...

3 - How far do you go in your quest for OP'ing? We have never had the opportunity to decorate somewhere how 'we' like it - yet I feel guilty when I think how much it would cost. ( we would however try to buy furniture 'we want' 2nd hand first but would buy new if we couldn't source it).

hello stacey, congrats on your fantastic money saving figure!

regarding decorating - i'm a firm believer that this is the home i've always wanted, and should buy first time right. if you have to replace something because it is badly made or doesn't go with rest of house it is a false economy. But that doesn't always mean you have to pay top prices for it.

I'll give you my dining room as an example. When we decorated we made a few luxury purchases - £55 a roll Osborne & Little wallpaper, but just did one wall, so £160. 4 years on and I still love it! We colour matched a complementary colour from Farrow & Ball, but used Dulux - tbh I would just pay the extra for Farrow & Ball next time. We have a 1950s teak expanding table and 6 chairs - £300 inc delivery from ebay. I bought some folding chairs from IKEA so can seat up to 10. Our 1950s sideboard I love! It took us 3 years to find the right one for the right price (and one wrong purchase which cost us £100 due to measurement fail! ) but we found it for £350. The photos on the wall are our own, in gallery standard frames I bought in a clearance sale, with professionally made mounts. We have a large plant from Lidl, and an heirloom mirrored clock from OH's grandparents. OH stripped the floorboards and sanded them himself, and we have a very large designer wool rug he bought at a sample sale for £30. On our sideboard are 'vintage' items from charity shops that I adore, and framed photos that were given to us as gifts.

Apologies for the long description, I just think it is worth taking your time (and your money) to buy exactly what you want/is right for you, it will bring you so much happiness and should last a lifetime. You've got good financial sense, so you'll know when you can save and when to splash out.

I_want_a_baby

Thanks so much for replying museumworker!!

Your dining room sounds gorgeous! I definately feel I am starting to feel more comfortable with buying our exact 'wants' yet just ensuring we can afford them and get the best price!

At the moment I am tempted to paint the living room a pastel blue and the kitchen pastel green. We will have chocolate brown sofas (our 2nd hand 'new to us' ones from ebay I love them!), a dark brown large tv unit and desk. Therefore I thought a pastel colour on the wall and my mostly cream shabby chic assesories would look good & we can decide on adding a feature wall of wallpaper at a later date when we 'get a feel' for the room.

My husband is making us a dining room table out of reclaimed wood from the work skip. It is really chunky solid wood and once finished will look lovely, I am planning on painting the legs cream and painting our dining chairs to match, I will then wax the top but whilst the children are young I am going to buy some shabby chic oilcloth to protect the top and make cleaning the table easier.

We will also spend a far bit on the garden as we both have green fingers and would rather the kids play outside than watch tv so we want to transform the boring run down garden and include block paving path, a summerhouse, lawn area, deep borders of flowers, archway with climbing plants and a small veg area. It is only a 5m x 8m garden with an existing brick built shed but we have already drawn some plans and think we can fit everything in. I may post a photo somewhen so you can see

Just willing everything on now and hoping we can have some keys in our hands soon! Thank you very much for you reply xx

Stacey x

I_want_a_baby

PAYDAY!!!

Update as follows:

£60.06 Added to Emergency Fund - New Total £793.73 (14%)
£56.50 Added to House Fund ISA - From Oct Budget

Running Totals -
£126.15 - July 2012 (last 10 days)
£248.28 - August 2012
£265.80 - September 2012
£56.50 - October so far
£696.73 - Total Saved for House Fund.

Mini October Targets to focus the mind!
Target #1 ~Bronze~ = Save £100 in October (£43.50 to go)
Target #2 ~Silver~ = Save £800 in Total (£103.27 to go)
Target #3 ~Gold~ = Save £200 in October (£143.50 to go)

Really looking forward to the month ahead!

• Progress with the house - could we get keys?
• Decluttering, selling and making some £'s - always good for the soul!
• Autumn walks, darker nights, the first frosts.
• Making use of our lovely open fire whilst we still have it.
• Halloween - taking the kids trick or treating and seeing the happy faces of our relatives we knock on .
• Possibily 'starting' work as I have been informed they have my first potential client!
• Indulging in a small amount of retail therapy to make our lovely new house into our cosy new home!

Hope everyone reading is well!

Stacey xx

I_want_a_baby

Well today has been a great start to October.

Got rid of 3 carrier bags worth of stuff to the charity shop on Saturday.
Also got rid of a broken TV and a few other bits at the recycling centre.
Took a few crates of things used annually (like holiday things etc) over to the inlaws who have a few cupboards that we can use indefinitely as our attic space will be minimal at new house.
Sorted out two containers of 'stuff' to sell on a FB site.
Took photos of the selling 'stuff' this morning and loaded them on.

Sold two things already and both have been collected already!
£8 for some bedding
£27.50 for an activity centre
£35.50 into the sealed tin.

£92.00 - October so far
£732.23 - Total Saved for House Fund.

Mini October Targets to focus the mind!
Target #1 ~Bronze~ = Save £100 in October (£8.00 to go)
Target #2 ~Silver~ = Save £800 in Total (£67.77 to go)
Target #3 ~Gold~ = Save £200 in October (£108.00 to go)

Hopefully the old sofas are being collected tonight which will be £40 extra into the pot - I will update this figure when the money is definitely in the tin and is a certain!

Now have a huge bag of clothes for the recycling centre which will give a couple more £'s.

Did some batch cooking this afternoon for the freezer for the busy days to come!

Lovely sunny day today and seen my mum and close friend so all in all been a good day. Still lots of sorting/organising to do, although starting to see some progress being made.

Eek I can't wait to move!!!

Stacey x

I_want_a_baby

Sofa money added to the sealed tin today £40.00.

£132.00 - October so far
£772.23 - Total Saved for House Fund.

Mini October Targets to focus the mind!
Target #1 ~Bronze~ = Save £100 in October (Achieved )
Target #2 ~Silver~ = Save £800 in Total (£27.77 to go)
Target #3 ~Gold~ = Save £200 in October (£68.00 to go)

Went into town and bought some fresh fruit & carrots for the week, also went to iceland and bought milk, bread and a couple of offers including two things for the christmas box.
Money left in purse £7.30 to last until Friday - new weekly budget starts on a saturday this month.

Must go now as lots to do but will be back soon!

Stacey x