Cut the interest payments

Youknowme_2

Oh my, where did that four months go? Been reading diaries but obviously not updating mine.

Our circumstances have changed slightly in that my hours and income have increased slightly which means we have more income at the end of each month which will be great. We have had quite a few big expenses over the last few months so not actually made an OP yet but are now starting building up savings account.

Made a plan for standard £200 saving account payment at the start of each month for OP

Also plan to round the current account balance to the nearest £10 every day. The first £3.98 has just gone across!

Really must tackle the food bill however, it is getting no cheaper according to my 9 months spending record. Must up our game

gallygirl

Youknowme wrote: »

Really must tackle the food bill however, it is getting no cheaper according to my 9 months spending record. Must up our game

Well considering food price inflation I think you're doing really well to have stayed the same :T

Youknowme_2

gallygirl wrote: »

Well considering food price inflation I think you're doing really well to have stayed the same :T

Valid point but still room for improvement

We and OH tend to be careful with what we eat but we have two young fruit bats who eat and eat and eat.

Hopefully the blueberry bush in the polytunnel and the strawberries produce plenty of fruit this year.

On positive note managed to secure a dinner for 2 for less than 50p each last night due to Reduced stickers.

Our target is £15 a day for the 4 of us so we will see how we go.

Youknowme_2

Well managed a relatively inexpensive Sunday. We usually head out as a family and part of that normally includes an afternoon tea and cake somewhere but on kids fell asleep in car which equals £8ish saved.

On negative side, too much digging in garden has seen the end of my gardening shoes, with soles not fit for keeping water out, so new ones required.

Youknowme_2

Other than a big hit on an investment then a relatively inexpensive couple of days with just a little food shopping and fuel.

The investment hit (money we were expecting back this month but on which there is now no hope of recovery) is a big one and may now need to look to build up emergency savings in short term before fully hitting mortgage.

Needless to say lessons have been learnt!

Tonight's task is to print of ISA application forms as at moment money is in low interest savings account, not that ISA is offering much more I hasten to add!

Youknowme_2

Well ISA applications in and hopefully that money will be tucked away for a while and not be needed. Famous last words!

Been a reasonably good week money wise. Spending records would suggest we have made good progress on reducing food shopping. Found some good prices on food we like and also many reduced stickers.

Cancelled espn on sky so will save £10 for a couple of months as the channel is ending at the end of July anyway. We are big sports fans so may just be a temporary saving until new BT sport channel comes on stream.

Youknowme_2

Oops, not really got a very active diary here have I?!?

However some big news which may hopefully inspire me to do more, as I know I need to.

Made the first overpayment on the mortgage today - £400. And the Emergency Savings in the ISA have been untouched. YAY.

Big task for week(s) ahead is to sit down with OH and work out what all these spends in my "misc. expenses" columns in the spending diary are. I have been keeping this diary for 300 days now which breaks down all bank card expenditure but 15% of monthly expenditure is in the "misc" category. Mainly because it is stuff OH is buying and a lot from paypal etc where not clear what it is for. I am sure it is an area we can shave some pennies (and hopefully pounds!) off

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Well done on the first op. this may spur you on to do more. I have always found that posting daily keeps me on track.

Squirrel

Youknowme_2

Hello diary, have you missed me?!

Managed to make another larger overpayment (£500) at the start of this month, but that is only the second of the year. The EF balance is still as it was, which is good.

Need to get the motivation up and hopefully I can use a more active diary to help in that quest. Also decided that providing the EF stays at current levels, everything extra will go in OPs rather than savings. We will budget and set aside for holidays,etc based on last year's spend but do not class this as savings.

Next month is going to be an expensive month with main car service due on Thursday - only its 20k service so hopefully will not be that bad. Also got our second car tax due by the end of the month, that will be £250 for the year.

My OH is busy listing baby clothes on eBay so that will help reduce our monthly spends. It won't come back into joint account for OPs but will be used for more clothes, so still good.

I have got a Kindle to sell, but will use the income from that to OP. Got a few books I will look to sell as well, but (un)fortunately do not really have anything other to sell!

Youknowme_2

A low spend day yesterday other than dinner for me and OH. The Meal Plan is something that we need to get sorted. Too often we are making decisions on the day and buying on the day from shops. We are not making specific trips but I am sure it is costing us more than if we planned.

Although two fussy kids does not help the planning side of things!

Task for tonight is to get the Kindle listed on that auction site. The fees certainly seem to have gone up since I last sold on it, mind you that is years ago!