Mr and Mrs P are going mortgage free...

MrsP1983

I'm trying to be focused-it's hard to stay that way all the time though! Had to take the car in for a service today. The service was free but apparently my brake pads are 90% worn and two of the tires are almost at the legal limit too. Joy-there goes £250!! What's quite telling though was I did, just fleetingly, think that I could not bother, so as not to upset my savings total, but common sense prevailed...!

Good tip on the Aldi lemonade-will have to try it. Mr P LOVES the Memento Chocolate Chunk Cookies they sell (they're about 80p a pack I think) so that's my top tip!

MrsP1983

We've had a good few days of money saving, including a weekly shop at £30, which I was chuffed about. And that included two bottles of wine for Christmas! I was worried that offering to host Christmas would be very expensive but I think it will be fine, and certainly come in at less than the price of petrol to drive around the country and see everyone.

My mum really wants to go on holiday next year and asked if we'd go with her. We haven't had a holiday in a few years and would love to, but said we couldn't really afford it. She's said that as she will be going anyway she'll pay for the accommodation (it's Centre Parcs so you pay for the villa regardless of the number of occupants, and we'll all fit into the smallest type) so we'll just need a bit of money saved for meals out etc. I've said that we'll pay for all the food for the 4 days as I feel very guilty about her paying for the accommodation, but must admit to being thrilled at getting a break, even if it's in this country!

Mini P needs a new car seat as she's 13 months and her current one is getting too small. Luckily my dad has offered to contribute to a new one as a joint birthday and Christmas present for her-I can't get over how expensive they are. I've found one that is supposed to turn into a booster seat and last from 15mo to 12yo, so it should be good value in the long term. I'm feeling rather embarrassed about my parents helping out like this-we're nearly 30 and haven't had handouts for a long, long time! But they're being really nice about it and we're very grateful.

Going to have a MSE day today-a friend had her baby yesterday and I've been meaning to get her a present but have decided to knit some little booties and a hat, which will cost me nothing as I've already got loads of wool. Just need to get on with it so I can put them in the post tomorrow!

victoria797

MrsP1983 wrote: »

I want to try and show our budget but am rubbish on the iPad and can't work out how to do it sensibly, so I'm just going to copy and paste bits from the spreadsheet and hope it makes sense! Nearly everything is in my name and comes out of my account and we haven't got a joint bank account yet (despite having been married for four years :rotfl:) so Mr P sends me £850 each month. The £250 savings is a regular saver that's nearly finished (this month is the last payment) so once that's done the £250 will be diverted to make the ISA payment £400 a month.

My Monthly Outgoings

Nursery 361.07
Cleaner 60
Mobile 50
Petrol 50
Buildings Insurance 22.89
Contents Insurance 3.75
Life Insurance 24.6
Union 8
Account Fee 12.95
Dentist 14.6
Action Aid 15
Groceries 280
Savings 250
Cleaning Agency 21.67
Baby activities 50
Toiletries 25
Nappies 30
Phone and internet 15
Fun 50
ISA 150

Total per month 1494.53

Appreciate the £15/month donation to action aid.

MrsP1983

I know charity begins at home and all that but while we can afford it I'd rather spend the £15 a month on sponsoring our little girl than put it in the mortgage. I had a miscarriage a few years ago and wanted to support another child, even if she wasn't my own. She's called Oumu and lives in The Gambia

newyearnewme_2

breakdown cover - I use and recomended on MSE a company called Autoaid £38 a year includes breakdown @ home. You have tp pay at roadside and claim back but there is no excess and you can either phone a local garage (means normally get to you very quick) or let autoaid ring one for you.

BookWorm

Hi MrsP

Just wanted to say I've read your diary and subscribed so look forward to sharing the journey with you. Best of luck!

I've never tried Aldi but I think you have inspired me to try it out - those cookies sound lovely! lol

BW

MrsP1983

Hi newyearnewme and bookworm thanks for the tip re. breakdown cover-I'll look them up next time I'm renewing.

The plan for today is to make masses of bolognaise so when we get back from holiday we've got a 'ready meal' available and don't get stuck short with no food in the fridge!

MrsP1983

Well, my saving plans for November have already been messed up, though I'm trying to look on the bright side and have managed some shuffling around of funds so it's not too bad, or at least not as bad as it seemed originally. The car went in for a service because it was rattling and struggling in lower gears and the garage assured us that the clutch was fine. We needed new brake pads and two new tires, so that set us back about £240. Then we set off for our holiday at the weekend and within 40 miles of home we'd broken down-because the clutch had gone! Luckily we managed to get a new one that day, so we were still able to come on holiday, but it cost £340 Argh. So needless to say we will be saving significantly less this month than we had originally planned to!

Still, on the bright side there was a time when this would have gone on the credit card and then caused havoc with the next month's finances as we'd have had no back up plan and no cash. So it could be worse! At least it won't actually affect our normal budget.

This has made me all the more determined to save up this emergency fund!

Sepa74

You're joking?! I wouldn't be going back to that garage!

But at least you were able to get back on the road and enjoy your holiday, and yes, the whole episode makes the case for an emergency fund, doesn't it. Imagine if it had cost even more!

MrsP1983

Sepa, I know, shocking isn't it! Needless to say I've complained to them and we're changing to a different garage for services/MOTs. But as you say, it could have been worse and we still had our trip down south

Music Magpie sent me a cheque for £30 this week, which was nice, and I've got my first ever item on eBay! It's a pair of jeans (starting small!) and so far it's got one bid on, for the giant amount of...99p...!

Now, how the heck do you start a bidding war? Because I can't let them sell for 99p!!