Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

Stopping by to help keep myself on track


Mortgage refund sorted. In the process of negotiating my way out of extra contract, as realised I ideally want the last payment to come in otherwise I will be a bit behind for taxes. I know I'll have a year to save it up but as it's an honorary contract not payment for hours worked I am hoping I can just put off the final word while I finish up last bits and the last payment comes in.



A repair made on the house yesterday, the guy who came to quote came with a recommendation from a friend and seemed good. He offered to fit it in today if I was comfortable making the decision and I decided to go with it as it prevents any further damage and saves spending more of my time finding other people to quote. So the repayment to buffer fund is slightly less, but it's fine as the work actually cost much less than I expected.



Sent back sale shopping returns, not cheap but I am still well in profit given how much I saved and I'm really happy with what I bought. I'm very much with DIA on the philosophy of buying the best I can afford and only things I love.



I'm also suddenly feeling a bit more motivated after talking about FlyLady to Aaleigha and have been trying to squeeze in tiny jobs here and there. So a wall washed that has needed doing for ages; the office tidied; the bathroom swiped. I am not finished decluttering - everything is basically piled in the spare room - but think I need to combine it with room cleaning now otherwise the ones I have done will get a bit out of hand.



I will be sorting the living room later in the month and thinking about a sofa vs sofabed. I'm beginning to think it would be better to spend the extra on a sofabed so that if anyone is in the spare room longer term or if more than one person wants to stay there is a proper (ish) bed for them. Some shopping and thinking to be done there


So keeping on and slowly upwards



Rosa xx

beanielou

Good to see you checking in

EssexHebridean

Good to see things are still on plan for you Rosa and LOVE your happiness goal - what better thing to aim for, eh?! Good that the mortgage all got sorted out too and well done for getting repairs done to the house when needed - it's so easy to lapse into that thing of leaving stuff like that "just a bit longer" and then intertia sets in and nothing gets done.

RosaBernicia

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Good to see things are still on plan for you Rosa and LOVE your happiness goal - what better thing to aim for, eh?! Good that the mortgage all got sorted out too and well done for getting repairs done to the house when needed - it's so easy to lapse into that thing of leaving stuff like that "just a bit longer" and then intertia sets in and nothing gets done.

Lovely to see you EH


I worry that leaving things will make them more expensive in the long run, so am just pleased that the repair cost less than I expected now.

RosaBernicia

Belated Sunday shuffle...

Well I'm about £120 over budget and behind on the buffer fund, but that's having had a house repair, dental work, and my usual ridiculous grocery spend so I don't think it's too bad at all considering. Plus a bit of clothes spending but only the delivery charge for something I'm returning (it was in the sale but a poor fit on me) and an 3bay bargain so I think that's reasonable. It will just come from the next paycheque and I hope that will be a final catch up.

Things to think about:

• Building the buffer fund back up - this can happen slowly
• Garden - think I will get a quote for some help again rather than attempt the garden myself, or it will never get done
• House - next few things are small jobs, must chase the handyman

Not much likely to change income wise or in major expenses over the next few months, but need to think about where I can save as will have the van expenses coming up and want to think about holidays. And I'm fully intending to up my 'fun stuff' type budget lines now that I will have more time free.

So all pretty much in the right direction


Rosa xx

beanielou

All in the right direction as you say xx

EssexHebridean

RosaBernicia wrote: »

Lovely to see you EH


I worry that leaving things will make them more expensive in the long run, so am just pleased that the repair cost less than I expected now.

Yes. This is the very wisdom I need to take on board with booking travel, and hotels...

Shuffling looking good and budgeting for fun is always a good thing, if it is doable! :T

MuffinTops

I can definitely vouch that leaving things makes them more expensive in the long run. Maybe it doesn't and not spending for so long is a general increase in costs that would have occurred, but it's a shock having big payments to make all in one go in the house.

It also feels nicer to keep on top of things as you go along.

MTx

RosaBernicia

I forgot the first mortgage payment includes the interest in arrears for the first month - well, that is I sort of knew it but didn't know how much it would be. So that's another £150 out of next month's budget - will slow down the buffer fund a bit. On the bright side, the usual monthly payments will be £13 less and the term is a year shorter than before. Plus the early repayment period will end in November instead of January, so at least next time I won't be trying to do it all over Christmas!

And in other news, a friend is going to visit me next month instead of me going there, so that saves two tanks of petrol . But does mean I need to clear the spare room :eek::o . I've got this weekend free though, so might use that to make a concerted effort.


Rosa xx

kerri_gt

RosaBernicia wrote: »

And in other news, a friend is going to visit me next month instead of me going there, so that saves two tanks of petrol . But does mean I need to clear the spare room :eek::o . I've got this weekend free though, so might use that to make a concerted effort.


Rosa xx

Happy New Year Rosa, sounds like you're doing fab even with the extra expenses. The double good news about your friend coming, is saving the £ of petrol and now it gives you a time scale and motivation to sort the spare room - positive thinking there x