Vala's frugal journey to be MF!!

edinburgher

Happy new year VMD

Vala-Mal-Doran

Eugh - Weighed in - 18lbs to go in 5 months - not impressed, tho the first 10lbs should be easy as they arnt usually there its my Winter Layer Its that last 8lbs - iv not broken into the 10st whatevers for as long as I can remember and I was so close in the summer. This year it WILL be mine, oh yes! :j

The Circuit training DVD's I got for Xmas (I asked for them before anyone thinks I have a mean OH :rotfl: ) are going to be ace - iv used the same one for 9 months and although it works, the trainers jokes start to grate after a while.

Having a NSD today, made Nigel Slaters Chicken and Leek pie last night which went really well and had the leftovers with salad for lunch. Im please as I used the same amount of chicken that would normally do us one meal each but with a few bits and bobs its made two meals! :T


Happy new year everybody!!

Vala-Mal-Doran

Confessions of an IKEAholic...

Had a fairly mse day out today in a nearby city with OH, got up early had a mooch round the shops (armed with christmas vouchers) tried lots on, got very hot and bothered, then put it all back - I really am in need of some better day to day clothes but theres nothing out there at the moment! Then we went to a lovely buffet style sushi restaurant which was paid for by my Nans christmas donation and then went to see the Hobbit at the big cinema which I got my student discount for.

On the way back we vistited IKEA...not this had been planned, I have one of their loyalty cards and was planning on going in to get the free tea/coffee and then get 2 large picture frames for the lounge and then GO...I now am the owner of 3 large picture frames, a pack of small clip frames (OH), an LED strip light type thing and a candle...So, this isnt as bad as I normally get - I actually do need these things..candle maybe not but it was 95p for a big jar thing..:o..Ok I do feel bad about that one even tho it was the cheapest!? I spent £28 in total which is better than I have done before. Plus the strip lights are pretty amazing and if they fit right - I will be able to see the stuff Im chopping on the sideboard and not trim my fingers instead!

See thats not justifying it at all....
:rotfl:

Calfuray

Vala-Mal-Doran wrote: »

On the way back we vistited IKEA...not this had been planned, I have one of their loyalty cards and was planning on going in to get the free tea/coffee and then get 2 large picture frames for the lounge and then GO...I now am the owner of 3 large picture frames, a pack of small clip frames (OH), an LED strip light type thing and a candle...So, this isnt as bad as I normally get - I actually do need these things..candle maybe not but it was 95p for a big jar thing..:o..Ok I do feel bad about that one even tho it was the cheapest!? I spent £28 in total which is better than I have done before. Plus the strip lights are pretty amazing and if they fit right - I will be able to see the stuff Im chopping on the sideboard and not trim my fingers instead!

See thats not justifying it at all....
:rotfl:

Yeah, you've got strip light to save your fingers, and then just in case that doesn't work you have a back-up candle for light!

cotswoldaccountant

I think it is pretty much impossible to go into Ikea without buying something! They are very clever with their lure of free tea and coffee, especially when the restaurant is situated so close to the marketplace...

Vala-Mal-Doran

Hello all,

Iv not been on the ball with the MFW ways this last month or so and to be honest I think OP's have gone out of the window a little bit what with trying to keep on track of the wedding day spends and deposits going out im finding it hard just keeping track of those which feels a bit more important right now because I dont want to miss paying any money out to people/vendors who are owed it - its better to keep that on track and then after the wedding il be able to manage my own accounts better - our joint a/c wont complain about having the OP's stay in there for a bit - and it will give me more weight in my arguement to get back on the bandwagon after the wedding.
Saying that tho - We had the mortgage statement through the other day and OH commented on all the OP's that had gone in and how it was making a difference to the interest. He seemed pretty happy, and he hadnt really noticed the money going out so once the wedding is done, I will get out the mortgage stuff and actually get onto working out MF dates etc like everyone on here does - all I can work out at the moment is how much my interest is going down byt - and that only seems to make a diference every other month. Maybe im not understanding it properly?

On the plus side, even tho i might not be concentrating as much on MFW im still being MSE - And loving every minute of it! My wedding account spreadsheet is looking ace and iv managed to save on the DJ and the photographer and the rings came from Birmingham Jewelery Quarter - cant believe the difference in price there!! And I get to have a pretty hammered effect put on mine and it all still comes in at less than your cheapest high street jewelers for just a plain band! Because of this saving I managed to put our honeymoon as part of our wedding budget (we were just going to pay for it out of our 'own' money but at least its all part of the same pot now. (The honeymoon is only 12 days in Crantock, Cornwall so not exactly expensive but we love it there and will be treating ourselves to some lovely meals out and days out and hopefully lots of surfing (weather depandant!!) )

Hope everyone is having a great MSE day!:T

Vala-Mal-Doran

I may have spoken too soon on the 'not concentrating on being MFW' for a while - it seems its a habit thats hard to break!

Renewed the House insurance today (about a month early but wanted to do it before I forgot like the previous few years) and managed to get more cover for £10 cheaper so theres a £10 new OP each month. AND I got it through TCB so got another £60 back which will be going straight on the mortgage! :T

I think iv been spurred on by the mortgage statement we received. I compared it with the first 2 (when we were on fixed rate as we were newbies) and the 3rd year when I started OP'ing it has gone down by twice as much as it did the previous year - im sure a lot has to do with the rate being lower but it made me more motivated and OH could see what a difference it COULD make if we carried on!

Also Water and something else (I cant remember what) isnt taken for this month and next so they will be OP's when I can remember what the other thing was...:o

On a wedding note - me and OH have been trying to sort out '1st night' accomodation which was being a bit stressy finding somewhere I didnt cringe at the price but also felt 'special' but as we are being married less than 10 miles away, we both agreed it would be a lot less hassle to come back to OUR home - not done for mse reason but will knock a bit off the budget! (Not that its likely to count as a NSD or anything! :rotfl: quite the opposite)

megela

Vala-Mal-Doran wrote: »

Also Water and something else (I cant remember what) isnt taken for this month and next so they will be OP's when I can remember what the other thing was...:o

Council Tax??

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Oh and I came back to our house after our wedding and it was lovely. A hotel would only have been another layer of stress. Relax and enjoy!

Vala-Mal-Doran

Ah yes council tax! Will make said OP's tomorrow.

Thanks squirrel, that makes me feel better. Oddly it's my dear mother that is the one making me feel bad about not having certain 'special bits' like the hotel and the wedding car (which was one of her special memories I think) although iv talked her out of the wedding car idea -£250 for a less than 10mile drive!! I think not!
Wanted to report a NSD today as have been up north and used a voucher for a free mc coffee, but I succumbed to the smell of pastries in he sainsbugs at the station-99p for a cheese twist at 9am! -cheaper than the little deli's at least!