Finally saw the light and now scrabbling towards it, one OP at a time!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel · 23 March 2013 at 10:34PM

Hello,

I agree, no point beating yourself up about past spending, you enjoyed those things at the time and had the benefit from them. The only spending I regret is fees and interest to the financial institutions who are clearly focused on making financial products so complicated that we just keep paying over the odds without realising...... Sorry to rant on your thread! Very good luck to you.

fothers365 · 25 March 2013 at 6:51AM

Thank you all for your replies, the support means a lot:)

Yesterday was really snowy again so was a cheap day at home doing lots of cooking using up store cupboard stuff- roast pork dinner and then home made apple pie. I even made the pastry as I didn't have any in. It was actually ok and quite easy using a Nigella recipe. Putting a whole block of fat into does do wonders to remind you how unhealthy it is though!

I spent time on and off yesterday sorting through all our financial paper work and shredding some and rearranging the rest.

I came across a link to FinancialBliss' how to make your own spreadsheet last night so have made a fantastic sheet on google drive for the mortgage and the RBS thing also. DP :)helped and is really into getting on top of this too now. I think the spread sheet will be so motivating.

Today's jobs-

lots of washing and getting it dried- DD3 had a stomach bug through the night and was sick all over her bed:(

Time dd3 naps so I can manage a half hour nap when she goes in afternoon- been up since 4am....

Think of something to make with left over pork and a courgette, mushrooms and pepper for tea- maybe thai curry?

Finish arranging more paperwork

Shredding- normally this gets left in a huge pile then when I try and do it the shredder over heats in protest.

clean bathroom, hoover, tidy up, all the usual!!

Have a great Monday everyone:)

alwaystryyourbest · 25 March 2013 at 8:45AM

Just wanted to pop by and say hi and wecome, 2 of my children are of with being sick in the night.. So tired but better go now still have to get the other 3 to school....
Have a nice day xx

fothers365 · 25 March 2013 at 11:39AM

alwaystryyourbest wrote: »

Just wanted to pop by and say hi and wecome, 2 of my children are of with being sick in the night.. So tired but better go now still have to get the other 3 to school....
Have a nice day xx

Poor you! Hope your day gets better. Stomach bugs really fill me with dread these days as to who will be struck down next and how much washing it will create. Luckily this one seems mild and only lasts about 12 hours!

fothers365 · 26 March 2013 at 3:31PM

Almost payday and still a little bit left over in the current account so moved another £100 to RBS drawdown account.

Thanks to my all singing, all dancing spread sheet that I drew up using Financial bliss's instructions the daily interest has gone down from 97p in January to 78p now.:j

The balance is now £5300 down from £6544.12 at the start of January.

We are really spending as little as possible at the moment and eating out the store cupboards so hope to make a big difference to this balance over the next few months.

Not long until payday now, I think DP may get paid on Thursday with it being the bank holiday weekend, not sure whether I will be then or Sunday.

Still currently reading through lots of diaries- so many good ideas in them to try out:T

fothers365 · 26 March 2013 at 3:50PM

I have just worked out we have paid 19% of the RBS back over the last few months, as well as clearing a solar panel loan and buying a year rail season ticket for DP, a year of car insurance for me and £300 professional fees for me. Also, we are not entering our overdrafts
DP got a load of money back from being on the wrong tax code which helped jump start everything and we have been REALLY careful with spending and budgeting.

WE CAN DO THIS:j:j:j

bloolagoon · 26 March 2013 at 4:54PM

Of course you can do it, you have already done amazingly well. I hope the little one feels better soon too.

fothers365 · 27 March 2013 at 8:34AM

Thank you Bloolagoon, everyone over the sickness bug now hopefully! Going by your signature you seem to have done a fantastic job this year so far, well done.

skint_spice · 27 March 2013 at 9:54AM

Good luck fothers! You can do this & best to do it when the kids are young. Your flatbread post just reminded me that someone said Paul Hollywood was making them on his show the other night - must catch up on iplayer...