Saving money and getting more organised

thriftylass

It's been quite a while but I'm back. I'm sort of "thread-homeless" at the moment. I was part of the amazing NinjaSavingKat movement (April fools no more for instance) but as I've been debt free for a while now (apart from mortgage and hubbies car loan) I needed to move on, fair enough.

I was looking for other threads but I'm not a MFW as we won't start with that till in a few years time and the saving threads are a bit intimidating with singles being able to put away thousands each month (no offence). There are loads of other ones I like but there are so many I would have to join (christmas, food, dealing with hubbies spending, saving for wedding etc etc) that it would be hard to keep up. Hence I just post here again as a wee diary for me and who ever likes to chip in.

quintwins

thriftylass wrote: »

It's been quite a while but I'm back. I'm sort of "thread-homeless" at the moment. I was part of the amazing NinjaSavingKat movement (April fools no more for instance) but as I've been debt free for a while now (apart from mortgage and hubbies car loan) I needed to move on, fair enough.

I was looking for other threads but I'm not a MFW as we won't start with that till in a few years time and the saving threads are a bit intimidating with singles being able to put away thousands each month (no offence). There are loads of other ones I like but there are so many I would have to join (christmas, food, dealing with hubbies spending, saving for wedding etc etc) that it would be hard to keep up. Hence I just post here again as a wee diary for me and who ever likes to chip in.

It's very friendly in here i'm not really a MFW but i still have my dairy in here just keep posting in here we won't chase you.

thriftylass

Thank you quintwins, I wasn't actually chased. I little misunderstanding from my side . But I might keep this here going anyway.

See you later

quintwins

thriftylass wrote: »

Thank you quintwins, I wasn't actually chased. I little misunderstanding from my side . But I might keep this here going anyway.

See you later

I didn't really think you were chased (might go have a nosey now) but i think when posted in DFW altho they appriciate all advice ect it means more coming from someone in the same position, it's like they relate more even if acually they used to be in your position if that makes sense.

thriftylass

Ok here we go. I am going the resurrect this diary now for the 3rd or 4th time :cool:.

Little update. Had a few unexpected or high spends (car, roof, birthdays ) and on top of that TTC number two (which of course if free so far:rotfl:) and we'd like to get married next autumn.

Hence I need to tighten the belt a bit more to be able to pay for these things without going into debt. This month has been atrocious but it can only get better.

For the rest of this week I shouldn't need to spend as we got enough food in. It's hubbies 40th today so I'll cook him a nice dinner but just with stuff we have in (like coq u vin or sth). For next week I still have some money off vouchers for tesco and a few coupons for the top up shop. Tonight (well maybe tomorrow then as it's hubbies birtday) I'll look through my shrapnel and see how much that is. Was thinking of starting a sealed pot and keep it for a treat for me for the end of the year as I can't even remember the last time I bought sth for me or just went shopping :eek:. What is that. Don't do that anymore and still got no money, blame the child and the house

Will need to put a wedding hotel stay and hubbies birthday lunch on the CC in the next few months. We got the money in savings but they're in an ISA and I don't want to take it out. So I'll pay that off over the next few month until the interest free period runs out with money I would have otherwise saved and the remaining balance comes out of the ISA in case I don't make it.

I also added our mortgage to my signature now. Just signed up to a new fixed deal for 2 years. We're not overpaying yet as we can't afford this after childcare etc and saving for the wedding and an emergency fund but will hopefully start that with in the next two or three years.

thriftylass

Next month I have to start working harder on not spending especially the food and HH budget (which is really the only money I spend and can influence). Hopefully hubby will cancel virgin and that should save a few quid a month too so he won't need to borrow money off me again.

Here's my plan for June

INCOME
salary 1569.45 (minus whatever overdraft will be prob £400 this month)
CB 81.2

1650.65-£400=1250.65

OUTGOINGS
Bills contrib. 110 (usually £200 but he borrowed some already)
nursery 310 (4 week month, otherwise £510)
pet insurancfe 13.34
mobile 15
gas and leccy 106 (only use about £50 now so should accumulate for winter or if we reach £150 CR they pay it back)
lotto 7 (family syndicate, I know…….)
groceries 150 (that’s the plan…… not worked so far, for 2 ½ people)
HH and extras 80(nappies etc, the odd drink on the couch on Friday)
CC 200 (to start paying off trip to friend's wedding, birthday lunch)
gym 17.25
SAVING
Rainy day 130
kitchen/wedding 200 (not sure yet, what to do, the ISA earns interest, the overdraft is free) maybe do both chip away at overdraft and save)

That's the way we split the bills. I pay nursery and food and save, he pays mortgage and insurances etc, each spends the same % of income on bills etc.

as this stands I would end the month with £-87.94 so in the overdraft but greatly reduced, some money saved and some paid off the CC.

thriftylass

Yesterday was hubbies birthday. So cooked him a nice meal and baked a chocolate sponge, but managed to use stuff I already had in. However, later I went out and got some ice cream (tesco own brand) to go with the cake and some beers (on offer) as it was his birthday . Spend £8.90.

Today will be an SFD as I'll make pork stroganoff for tea with whoopsied pork from the freezer and store cupboard ingredients. Although I might have a look online for some cheap gardening stuff as need to repot some plants and never make it into the shops anymore. Nah, to dear better make time for the garden centre.

thriftylass

Starting to feel a bit sick thinking about Saturday's birthday lunch and the money that'll cost. What was hubby thinking, 13 people and about £30 a head. Plus the lingering thought of still owing FIL £2000 and hubby living in his overdraft (saw a statement today and it's £1600 OD). I'm so not marrying him next year if he (the one that never wanted to marty initially) wants to do it the way he wants and prob wants to take out a loan, no way. But there's also no way we can pay all that back plus save x grand for a wedding in 15 months. Grrrrrr.......

thriftylass

The LUNCH was a whopping £560 in total (incl a deposit we paid in April). That included about £70 of wine and the meals were about £40 each :eek::eek::eek:. So that's £440 (including 5% tip) on my credit card. Hubby really enjoyed it and loved having all his immediate family together but realised that it was OTT and also wants to tighten the belt now. He gave me £100 of his birthday money towards it (I'm the saver so instead of saving money for us this month I'll pay some towards my CC - our bill though).

Afterwards we had a lovely evening in his cousins garden and watched the footie at ours later with his dad. I stuck another £80 on the CC for a lawnmower and trimmer (engagement present from FIL, got £100 in cash that I'll pay in later). Was meant to cost £120 together but got it for £80 so that's £20 towards the meal. Will have to stick another £200 :eek: on the CC for the hotel for a friends wedding this Saturday. So here's my changed plan for June .

thriftylass wrote: »

Here's my plan for June

INCOME
salary 1569.45 (minus whatever overdraft will be prob only £135 now this month as I paid bday money and engagement money in)
CB 81.2

1650.00-£135=1515.00

OUTGOINGS
Bills contrib. 100 (usually £200 but he borrowed some already)
nursery 310 (4 week month, otherwise £510)
pet insurancfe 13.34
mobile 15.45
gas and leccy 106 (only use about £50 now so should accumulate for winter or if we reach £150 CR they pay it back)
lotto 7 (family syndicate, I know…….)
groceries 150 (that’s the plan…… not worked so far, for 2 ½ people)
HH and extras 100(nappies etc, the odd drink on the couch on Friday)
CC 300 (to start paying off trip to friend's wedding, birthday lunch)
gym 17.25
SAVING
Rainy day 130
kitchen/wedding 250

That way I might even end up in the black at the end of the month. In June I hope to reduce the CC bill from £720 to £420 and then pay that off completely in July and Aug.

Hubby owes his dad £2000 that he borrowed towards the car deposit. As he just got a letter through from a PPI claim he'll pay the £1000 he'll get back (prob in a month or so) to his dad to pay half of this debt off.

thriftylass

Oh and did a grocery shop yesterday to last us the week and beyond on certain items (went to Mr T due to having vouchers). Went at 5 to also get stuff in time for dinner BBQ. probably would have gotten even better whoopsies if I'd gone later. But got a few reduced packages of prawns, fish and veg. Also initial spend was £60 (got 10p of petrol voucher) but then only paid £47 as i had various vouchers etc.

I think to tonight were having HM chinese stir fry with whoopsied veg and one chicken breast from the value chicken I butchered yesterday. After that I might sort through my wardrobe and declutter that a bit. Won't find anything sellable but if I don't wear it it goes to the charity shop (unless it's sth like a dress for a wedding which only come out once or twice a year anyway).