Wishing on an ickle star

icklehelen

Where has May gone??

So my dad had DD this morning so I could spend a little time on the finances. My spreadsheets are looking quite healthy. Savings are still enough to cover a 'disaster' and other savings are adding up slowly but surely.

This month saw the maturity of a fixed savings account. I searched high and low for a decent rate to reinvest but decided that the money would be best OP'd. (I want the mortgage as low as possible so if the rates do eventually start rising the recalculation of my monthly payment won't be too high). So transferred £4000 this morning, which as you can see from my signature puts me well on the way to this years OP target!

So credit card:
Total £276.28
Annual £173.78
Budget £102.50 (£2.50 overspent)

I'm not going stress at £2.50 this month considering I started my £100 budget halfway through. Also some of the spending was on a shopping trip with a friend where I paid for lunch on my card and she gave me the cash so technically not over at all :cool:

Hoping to keep spends very low in June as I expect July and August to be a bit spendy (our anniversary, DDs birthday, school holidays, several other birthdays)

Time for a cuppa me thinks

icklehelen

Yet again updating diary failure! Had a very busy few months both at home and at work.

Have spent the last 6 weeks trying to compromise on the details of a new lease for our shop unit. The landlords are a huge company in London and were not willing to make any compromises so we had a look around and thanks to Gumtree we are signing for a new unit on Friday in a really up and coming area of Sheffield.
So for the next few weeks the shop will be online only then we move into the new premises at the beginning of September.
It's a really exciting move as there is scope for so much more in the new unit - adding a small cafe to begin with then hopefully progressing to parties and classes next year.
I do have a slight concern in that all of the stock needs to come to the house while the fittings go into storage. We have enough space but all that chocolate in the house . . .



Because of the move the shop needs a few things so the mortgage savings pot is going to take a hit but I'll be paying it back in monthly installments once we are up and running again.

Time to sign off - I have a busy day of pampering, presents and child free husband time.

Oh and hopefully

icklehelen

What a couple of days!

Yesterday I had some 'me' time - I even had a bath in the middle of the day! My sister took me for lunch which included a cream tea, YUM! Finished the day with a lovely meal with my husband at our local with no worries as DD was having a sleepover at my dads!

Best of all the meal out cost us £5 as dad gave me some money towards it.

Today I've done my weekly shop which came in at just over £20 which I have S&S'd and meals are planned up till next weekend.

We signed for the new unit today too so we have a few weeks to get lots sorted ready to move in in September!

Time to snuggle up on the sofa with a glass of wine and a film . . . the rock and roll lifestyle of a Friday night! :rotfl:

stressed.mum

Sounds like things are looking up ickle, hope the new unit is up and running soon xxx

gallygirl

Hope the new unit move goes well. Step away from the chocolate .

icklehelen

Thanks stressed and GG! You'd think after 15 months of being 'Chief Chocolate Taster' I'd be sick of the stuff but no chance! :D

It's the last business day in our present unit. On Monday we begin the task of removing everything - we have booked storage for all the fittings, fridges, office furniture etc etc
Then we'll have to paint and leave it in good condition - which will be much better than what we moved into!

Once we're out and keys are handed back we have a week 'off' but in reality it will be getting quotes and ordering all of the new signage, extra fittings, sorting the utilities . . . . .

We do have the Bank Holiday weekend to look forward to. DH's cousin is getting married so our side of the family are travelling over to Cheshire and making a weekend of it. It shouldn't be too expensive as we're staying in the in-laws caravan.

Got to go and get DDs shoes sorted this afternoon which completes her outfit. Her G@P dress cost 50p in a charity shop and cardigan was £2 in a sale and the shoes are part of her birthday present from her auntie! :cool:

icklehelen

Yet again I seem to have fallen off the diary wagon!! I'm not worried though as I am still budgeting, scrimping and saving where possible!

It's been a busy few months with the shop move, work, dd, and general life so not catching up on here would seem a trivial thing to worry about!

Just updated my MFiT-T3 as I managed a final 'extra' OP of the year of £208.57 and am way ahead of target so am very happy with that!

After lots of deliberating I've bought DD's Christmas present. She has been asking for a big bed (she's in a toddler bed at present) so managed to get the one we wanted with £200 off, mattress reduced, a further 15% off and nectar points :j DH wants to transfer her into it so she wakes up in it on Christmas morning . . :eek:

I think I'm finished buying gifts, just got wrapping and cards to do. I've ordered a meat hamper from our local butcher which is lovely and cheaper than Aldi! It includes the turkey, sausages, bacon and sausage meat for Christmas day plus more!

Only 4 days left of work before next year (although I'll be in the shop several days ) Hoping that I'll get into the festive spirit properly once I've finished for the year!!

icklehelen

First update of the year and it's already the end of January!!how did that happen??????????????????

Another OP of £100 thanks to a clear out of my mini savings accounts (the ones that scoop up the £5 interest from the rewards accounts)

I've updated my signature to reflect last year's final 'score' and my meagre plans for this year. I say meagre but it's better than nothing and if circumstances change I can always increase it.

I've met my mini targets of a low January food bill and £100 max spend on my credit card (0% and stoozed). Just hope to keep these up throughout the rest of the year . . .

ickle

icklehelen

End of February update

January CC £104.94/£100 Food £120.06/£150
February CC £60.69/£100 Food £167.79/£150
Overall CC £165.63/£200 Food £287.85/£300 :T

Last food shop in Feb was a big one using vouchers from yesterday's paper and has restocked the store cupboards.

Paid one of my credit cards off as it was at the end of the 0% period. Used the money I had been offsetting in a higher interest account.

Paid the bill for our back fence (it was done in September/October but he's only just invoiced!) with money saved in same account.

Plans are to get our back garden finished over the next few months ready to use in the summer. First job is to hire a rotavator and get the whole area flat ready to lay the decking we bought last year. DH is not looking forward to it but he'll feel better when we've got somewhere to sit outside and I'll be doing all that I can to help even if it's just supplying the tea and biscuits.

icklehelen

Sat waiting on hold with HMRC so thought I'd treat myself to catching up on some diaries.

15 minutes so far and counting ....