Getting a Grip on 2013

Cinny91

Yikes - Just read the small print and they'll be closing my old account and moving all my pennies so I've decided to just keep a little spreadsheet myself of what money is for what. Might be a little confusing on the face of it (and I'll look very rich!) but hopefully it will work.

Will miss all my little accounts, though! Over the space of 5 years I've opened little side accounts so I could have things separate - you know, house bills, joint savings, personal savings.. Will miss having them there but it's all a learning curve! And I suppose it means I don't have to go too my old town to change my mobile number to do it all manually

Cinny91

Happy Monday!

Had a really lovely weekend, possibly drank a little too much on Friday night but I can clearly remember rapping word perfect to Macklemore so I'm oddly proud. We spent the rest of the weekend just pottering around, watching movies and cooking yummy food. Jamie's pizza went down a storm, and we had enough dough left over to make a cheese and red onion loaf which we had for supper last night.

I also discovered 2 hour Dave Ramsey podcasts :j So I was kept entertained for an extra hour on my walks with Ryder this weekend, and it should mean I'm covered entertainment wise on our walks Tuesday - Saturday for life now

Also sent a care package to my soon to be BIL! Just some English goodies, like monster munch and Cadbury's jelly bean chocolate. I did overspend a little, but he's sending me pumpkin flavoured things so that's exciting!

Reworked my budget over breakfast yesterday, with the reward pennies I just need to save £35 a week to meet my goal. Love it when a plan comes together! I'm wondering if I put my mind to it, if I could actually have it paid off by the end of September? Well, have the money ready to go to clear it off after the payment comes out in October

OH paid £500 off his car this morning. It's taken 2 months off the term of the loan, and had some pennies left over to reduce the payment by 43p a month. It's nice to have made a little headway with that now.

It's really nice that he seems to want to me on the same page as me when it comes to money too. He's set himself some budgets and challenges for this month, and seems so motivated to get his car paid off.

Storecupboard tea tonight, making Frank's mac and cheese with pesto pinwheels. Carby carbs! Have a little gardening to do this afternoon, made myself keep on top of the laundry over the weekend to give future-Cinny a little break so just have a little bit of ironing to do.

shrimpy_80

Cinny91 wrote: »

made myself keep on top of the laundry over the weekend to give future-Cinny a little break so just have a little bit of ironing to do.

This made me laugh, I didn't do my ironing yesterday as planned and actually said "sorry future Shrimpy!"

I have a few different savings pots with Halifax - car fund, future fund etc - you can set them up instantly online. I'm not sure if there is a limit but I have 3 plus my ISA (empty )

They didn't have another jumper in my size so I got a refund and paid it off my card. Feeling virtuous! :A

Glad your OH is on board with the money saving too, it makes it much easier if you can motivate each other doesn't it?

If someone sent me a care package with monster munch in I think I would love them forever!

Cinny91

I need to confess something... I still haven't cut the grass *hangs head in shame* I will do it today. I really will!

Not a lot to update on, which is why I've been quiet. Stolen 5 minutes at work to get my money straight on paper, so confusing having bits all thrown in together. I have a grand £2 to see me to Friday, but I don't need anything so we're good Sent off for my personalised debit card today too, with Ryder's face of course

Went shopping yesterday and spent £18.64. Decided to do a little comparable online shopping to see what it would have cost elsewhere and we'd have been looking at £33.80, so edging on double. That's insane!

Not a lot to do today, house is clean and OH wants to cook (wild days!) so I have no excuse to not cut the grass. I mean, I hope it doesn't rain.. *ahem* :A

I'm a woman on a mission at the moment, I've got the ironing bug and I'm ironing everything. I think it's just because it's the best excuse I can find to watch TV, and I feel like I need to be doing something all the time. So if anyone wants to send me their ironing, feel free! I was on OH's socks last night, which is a whole new low. However, I finally see why Dinah is so pumped on getting her bedding ironed. I feel like a Princess!

I actually kind of hate future-Cinny, Shrimpy! She gets life so easy by me doing everything today. Go you on getting a refund on the jumper, I would have just picked style of jumper

Dinah93

Glad to princessify your bed I'd send you my ironing but I doubt it would be in decent nick by the time the postie had brought it back!

tinkerbel

In the past 2 years I think I've ironed 2 things eeek! Everyone must think I'm such a scruff!

Cinny91

I think I have turned a corner in my life - I'm verging on being a Radio 2 listener. I have matured! I am an adult!

Not much to report today, other than the shock at OH deciding his isn't going to watch football this weekend because he "doesn't want to spend money" :eek: He's also told me he's put a little money to one side for his expenses, so he's hoping to not use the credit card this month - but I will admit while I'm supportive, I'm not convinced.

We spoke again about our house deposit, so that's 100% the next step. I'm so excited Really hoping when we do move we can move to what's a more equal distance between OH's family and mine.

I only used to iron OH's shirts when I really had to, Tink! Nothing of mine really needs ironing if I'm honest.. I think it's just because the house is clean and I hate sitting still while OH is still at work. Everything is slowly becoming super organised and clutter free.. apart from the garden which I still haven't worked on. It piddled it down yesterday afternoon, that's my excuse Promised myself I'll be straight out there on a dry day. In my dream last night the garden was way over grown. But I also had a baby that was a werewolf, kept switching from a baby to a puppy - and I preferred it when it was a puppy

Snuck 3 cadbury's fingers into my snack box today - at a glance it just looks like a healthy fruit and nut selection *evil laughter*

Plans for this afternoon equal taking Ryder on a decent walk, now it's cooler his energy levels are through the roof! Pulled a couple things from my "to fix" clothes pile too, so with a little ironing that should be my afternoon filled! I just need to keep busy so I don't end up trying to entertain myself in ways that cost money

Having a bit of a throw together for tea - pork and chorizo patties with veggie rice in tortilla bowls. Or what I hope will be tortilla bowls. Then I promised OH and evening on the sofa with cups of tea/coffee and chocolate biscuits. Because we be healthy and stuff.

Get paid tomorrow so we can do the money shuffle :beer:

poddle911

Don't worry, Tink, I only iron for weddings, funerals and job interviews - it's my policy!

Cinny, really glad to hear you sounding so 'on it' and it makes a huge difference having OH on board, doesn't it? And exciting about the next step being a house deposit!

Yum, your teas always sound so creative! I'm stuck in a protein, veg and low GI carb phase at the moment. I'm desperate to lose the 10lbs that have appeared since I knackered my hip at the beginning of summer, but my stupid body isn't having any of it!

Cinny91

It's equal parts lovely and weird, I'm more used to him being very anti-budgets. I think it's his new work buddies, if I'm honest. They seem more together and less wanting to drink their wages away.

I have the perfect house in the perfect location with the perfect name. The price tag is err, less perfect.

But thanks! I just try and keep them interesting so OH is less aware to the meal plan we're on. It's a lot of tumblr-pinterest inspired searches, along with the personal philosophy that if it's got chorizo in it it's got to be good. Diets like that always sound so complex to me, but I don't know any food groups bar pizza

Cinny91

Payday! Had to make up a massive list this morning, filled a full page in my notepad with break downs and calculations and summaries but it all makes sense and every penny is accounted for. Also, finally got the balance on the new account so I can add the £100 reward to the total. We're now at £656.08 :beer: I'm torn now between keeping up the momentum of saving £70 a week, or edging it off to £55 and still meet my goal.

From the payday on the 11th of October my outgoings will only be £85 a week too, so I'll have £125 to play with most weeks including our grocery budget. Thinking of setting an end of year savings target once I'm at that stage Although once the sofa's paid off, I'm so tempted to treat myself to a little tattoo but at the same time it isn't like it's 100% essential.. hmph!

I think OH has gone TOO FAR. He was talking about the heating last night and said "Well, by November we'll have £250 on the meter so that's plenty.." I'm just like :eek: We're not putting the heating on until NOVEMBER?! I thought October was optimistic considering what a light weight OH is with the heating.

Found an amazing recipe last night for nutella brownies. Just nutella, flour and an egg! Made it into muffins, with a toffee eclair in the middle of each. Then I made frosting out of nutella and icing sugar and holy smokes. I dreamt of them!

Boring tea for tonight, OH has requested breaded chicken with wedges and veggies. I'm going to have my chicken with the left over rice from last night I done good!

Super lazy weekend, OH is shattered from late nights, early starts and all the traveling this week so we're going to just going to kick it around town a little. All the Iron Man movies are on Sky so we might have a little marathon, I'll bake up some goodies and I've got some pretty neat meals on the menu. Need to pop to the shop after work for some eggs, potatoes, carrots and broccoli. Must stay away from the cola pretzel chocolate. Probably won't, but should do