Can we do it? YES WE CAN!!!

kaz100jay

Hi All
Haven't been on here for soooo long:eek:

Where to begin.....

Well we were well on our way to make our first OP last Dec but it was not to be the issues we had with the boiler turned out to be a leaking rad so we ended up having to have walls ripped open and aload of pipe work replaced and relayed to the cost of £600 :eek: we had no choice but to use the money we had saved for the OP - Yes I know we should have savings for that kind of thing and yes we do have savings but at the time the OH's job was up in the air and we didn't want to use the saving just in case we would need them to live on, luckly for us things didn't get that bad in the end but we decided to count our stars and start again in the new year.

So new year (yes I know it now march but did start again in Jan) the plan is still the same to try and save £1000 - £2000 to use as our first OP.
Have been back doing eb*y, the sealed pot is still going (going to smash it at the end of the year should be a very nice lot in there as we only put £1 and £2 coins in it) been going around the house and selling anything we don't use or want and has I only work weekends started up a little thing - making cross stitch keyrings which has been doing okay - if any of you are on FB please check out my page Hand stitched by kaz

Will have to redo my signature but we are back on board and would love to see the back of our mortgage wish us luck

kaz100jay

Morning all

So it's the start of a new week, had a busy weekend - worked most of it but thanks to it being free listing did get shed loads on eb*y, fingers crossed I sell some of it

Kids at school so enjoying some peace (housework is done :j) but did take some CD's to cash converters and made £5, I know it's not alot but every penny counts and it's gone straight into the OP pot

Hoping to have some NSD's this week so to stop myself getting bored and going to the shops will be spending most of the time cross stitching

Hope everyone has a good week xx

kaz100jay

Afternoon all

Not much been going on here, kids are still off school for the easter hols, have put some more money in the OP pot and did some relisting on e**y last weekend - got to love them free listing weekends and have to say didn't do to bad still waiting for a few people to pay so now need to find more to list.

I did plan on clearing out the loft, when we moved to this house over a year ago, we didn't want to keep alot in the loft but that didn't work out well!!:mad: so keep saying to myself "must clear the loft" but something always comes up and can't do it in the school hols cause everytime I get up there one of the kids will start screaming for me so roll on Monday!!!

The OH has now found a hobby he enjoys, has cost a bit to get started but hope now its all up and running the cost won't be to much, but the main thing is he's happy.

The only bad thing to happen is that the fridge freezer has given up the ghost and that's one thing we really must have, so has signed up for an argos card and got a new one which we can spread the cost over 12 months interest free and as soon as its paid off cut the card.

So until next time have fun making them OP'S!:D

kaz100jay

Hello all

I can't believe I haven't been on here for so long!!!:eek:

Well we have had our ups and downs with trying to save money for the OP but this week I walked into the bank and paid £800 as our first overpayment!!!!:rotfl: I don't know why but part of me was over the moon to have saved that much and the other part of me was like I could use that money for many other things!

I check the mortgage calculator this morning for the above amount and it told me I have saved £1800 in interest and knocked 4 months off and that has made me really smile
so the pot has been restarted for next years OP and I hope to have more cash for the OP next time.

I am going to really tighten the belt, have already told OH that we should not buy for each other this xmas (sorry I know that is a swear word for many but have already started to plan)
so just in case it's another 5 months before I get back on here (I hope not) good luck to everyone

kaz100jay

Evening All,
Yet again I haven't been coming on here to update my diary but to be honest not a lot has been going on.

So to start with I hope everyone had a nice xmas and new year

I have started reading lots of other diaries over the last couple of days and everyone seems to be doing alot better than me dont get me wrong here I'm pleased to see so many of you MFW doing well it gives me hope for myself.

So at the start of this year we put pen to paper and got thinking on ways for us to save this year.
We made an OP last year of £800, which I know isn't alot but to us it is, this year we are working to save £1000 to make this years OP.
We have got the kids to help with a meal planner and explained what we are trying to do and the reasons why and now my youngest is going around the house trying to sell everything!
We have just finished our 2 year fixed deal so we are now looking for a new offer, we want to try and keep the monthly payment the same but kick some years off the term and hopefully I have found one where we can kick 5 years of the term (when we got this house we had no choice but to take the mortgage over 30 years:() so fingers crossed.
Have managed to save £140 towards this years OP so far but have along way to go and anything can happen in the next 12 months and with the way our lucks goes believe me it will be a bumpy road

I am going to have to spend some money this month has the OH turns 40 and I have got tickets for us to go and see the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in my old home town so we need a hotel but on the plus side of this I get to go and visit alot of family and friends which I am looking forward to :j

Well like I said not alot to say at the moment but going to pull my finger out and do everything I can to make this years OP
Have fun out there
xx

kaz100jay

Hi all

Quick silly question - when is it best to pay OP's?
Last year we saved up and made one OP but have been thinking is it best to OP monthly?
Any help with this would be grateful

kaz100jay

Morning all

How is everyone?

My plans for this year are going well at the moment (fingers crossed things stay this way)
This week has been our first week having a meal plan and have to say it's been great, everyone has had an input and when the kids ask what's for tea all I have to say is Look on the board, and because I have had all the food in I have only had to pick up bread and milk on the walk back from the school
Need to plan for next week but hoping I can do this on Sunday as I always hope to come out of work with some bargains which will make some of the meals, will be strong and only buy the bargains I can make meals out of, as I normally see the cake bargains and buy loads not good

I am back to selling bits on e**y and on FB and this week made a £8 sale on FB and last night made £25 on e**y.
We have now decided that the money I make on FB will go straight into the OP piggy bank and the money from e**y will stay in the paypal until the end on Nov then we will put half in the OP pot and the other half towards xmas.

Well better go and hoover and check on eldest has home sick from school
Have a great weekend all x

Imma_Number

kaz100jay wrote: »

Hi all

Quick silly question - when is it best to pay OP's?
Last year we saved up and made one OP but have been thinking is it best to OP monthly?
Any help with this would be grateful

In general if the mortgage rate is higher than the savings rate then the sooner it goes into the mortgage the better.

This is subject to various limits eg if the over-payment would trigger a recalculation (normally around £500) or a 10% max for the year which might result in an ERC.

kaz100jay

Wow what a week!!!

We decided to redecorate our bedroom (the worst looking room in the house) having lived here for 2 years now, so for the past 9 days have been living in a pig sty of a house but now the room is finished and have to say it looks GREAT it would have taken longer as the other half is only able to work on it at the weekend so a big THANK YOU to my daddy for all his help.
The down side on this is that there was so much to come out of the room we have had to bite the bullet and hire a skip (which is coming tomorrow) at the cost of £100 but believe me we really need it.

The food plan is back in effect this week and all the meat I got at half price from timing it right at the supermarket (and my staff discount ) so the freezer is full so will only need to get fresh veg, milk and bread this week
Then today got a letter from the bank to say that our fixed term ends the end of this month (which we did know was happening) and that the interest rate would now be lower than what we had so the monthly payment would now be lower :j
Having spoken to OH we were looking at going to a new mortgage deal but the only one we could get was for 4 years and I didn't want to be fixed in for that long so we are going to let the mortgage run where it is and the difference in the monthly amount (£60) we will put into the OP pot.

Hoping to have a couple on NSDs this week, but have promised to go to bingo tomorrow night with the girls (but it's the cheap night) and come Friday it's my long weekend away for OH's 40th birthday (so some money will be spent but tickets for show and hotel are already paid for so will only be petrol and food)

So to you all have a good week

kaz100jay

Afternoon all,

Not much to report, went to the bank today and paid £280 the first OP for this year not much when I read all the other diary's but every small amount counts.

Had a great weekend away (did spend a bit of money but then it's not every year the OH turns 40) and being we went to my home town it was great seeing some family and friends but did make me think that no matter what happens I would never live there again!

I was hoping not to have much to spend this month but it's my youngest son's birthday and he wants a party at Jungleland so that's £100 without his birthday present and he keeps going on about wanting a 3DS as he's present!!!

Has I was back to work this weekend I timed it right and got alot of reduced meat which will be the meals for this week so should only need to buy bread,milk and veg for the rest of this week.

Listed a load of items on eb*y this weekend as it was free listing and already someone as asked to buy 4 items early and will pay cash on collection (so no eb*y fees ) and yes the cash will be going straight into my OP piggy

Off to peel potatoes for dinner as the bottomless pits (aka my lovely kids) will be on at me if dinner not done soon
so have a great evening all x