New MFW......dipping my toe in the water.......

brummiebabe

Nothing to add on the mortgage side if things....still waiting for our further advance to be finalised & no overpayments made.

However, have had a brilliant kitchen quote today and it's a nice design too.....so am very pleased:j. We'll probably go & pay a deposit this week as get 20% off until Thursday!! They can delay delivery until we're ready......so that's good!!

Have had bathroom, boiler & French window quotes in......all looking good!! Now just need to wait & see what the building/electrics work will cost & labour for fitting the kitchen......fingers crossed!!;)

3 days until payday & no money left in the bank:(. However, we've got food & petrol...so shouldn't need to worry. Had to find money for the tooth fairy tonight too:rotfl:

Early start with football tomorrow so need to get some sleep....

brummiebabe

Payday today - budgets sorted! Am a little dissapointed that there is nothing available for me to overpay this month. Have managed to put aside the other savings, but it's meant there's nothing leftover. Think this is due to it being a 5 week month.....meaning 5 weeks of petrol.....that's an extra £70!! Plus we 'owe' the kids some pocket money....so am having to pay them:rotfl:.

The only way I can save any extra is to underspend in other areas....grocery shopping and our 'pocket money' are the only areas I can work with.....I'm trying a cash only month...so we'll see how that goes...

On a positive....I've had my first £10 Amazon voucher from surveys:j- will put this aside towards christmas!

Miss_Money_Magnet

Hi BB
Know what you mean about pocket money. I always think Im doing ok then I hear a little voice "mum.. You havent given me my pocket money...'.

brummiebabe

Have had the mortgage offer for the additional borrowing!!:j This means we can now begin to get the work done on the house.....on a negative, my mortgage balance is going to increase significantly in a week or so:(

However, we'll have no debt other than the mortgage, the work we want doing will be started & we may even have a little leftover to finish some other bits & pieces that need doing!

Next month will be tight as our mortgage payment will be increased due to the interest....but then I'll work out my new budget & plan for building up my savings ' beginning to overpay:j

brummiebabe

So the good news is that I don't need to save £300 for the wedding:j. Went shopping with my mum...who has bought me a dress!! Got myself some shoes (which I can definitely wear again!). Also, DD is going to be bridesmaid...so I don't need to buy her an outfit:T. That just leaves DSs & DH to sort out.....I reckon £150 at the most (DH needs new shoes but can wear these to work afterwards!!)

On a negative (although it's not that bad) we've agreed that DH & DS1 & 2 can go to the football at the weekend. It's the last match of the season & they haven't been to any so far....so we thought we'd treat them. Will cost around £45:eek: This is money I had put aside for wedding clothes.....

We're on budget so far this month....DH is on board.....looking positive!! It's amazing that we're finally learning to live within our means, not using the overdraft or credit cards!!! Next step is to save, save, save!!!!
:money:

brummiebabe

Well my bank account looks amazingly healthy this morning.......have had the additional borrowing paid in:j:j:j. Have transferred this to a separate account, but will today pay off the last of the credit cards & then look forward to finally getting the work done on the house:T:T

DS1 - who has always been quite materialistic - is finally understanding that life is expensive & that we can't afford to buy him everything he wants!! This feels like huge progress.....he's actually saving his pocket money to pay half towards his X Box live membership renewal this month! He does need a new pair of trainers....but is searching online for a reasonably priced pair:)

brummiebabe

Been out shopping today but no unplanned spends:j. Just got DS1 some X Box live points (that he gave me the cash for) & nothing else!! We were looking at bridesmaid dresses.....found a couple we like, but not purchased them yet....

DSs & DH enjoyed going to the football..it's a rare treat or them. Dinner was spag Bol, as per meal plan.

Have also put new enclosure & padding on the trampoline today....£38 well spent as kids are now happily bouncing again & it looks like a new trampoline!! Got to be better than having to replace the whole thing (£100+) and they get so much use out of it in the summer!!:cool:

Early night planned for me as am shattered after DS1 had a friend sleepover last night:eek:

brummiebabe

Quickly had to post to say I bought a fab app on my iPad.....My Mortgage....allows you to keep track, enter overpayments etc....I'm useless with spreadsheets so this will be a real help!!!:j

brummiebabe

NSD today which is always good!!! Plus I managed to save DH £48 on his car insurance:j

Had a busy day gardening, washing cleaning. Tomorrows plan involves much the same, with a bit of ironing added in for good measure! My life is so rock 'n roll.

brummiebabe

Not much to report on the mortgage front.....next month is the start of us paying the new rate with the additional borrowing! I think it's going to take us a month or so to get straight really, but my aim is to never go into overdraft, to not use a credit card (except for Tesco shopping for points;)) & to save! Pots are on track for summer holiday saving & I've now opened an ISA:T - just to o find some money to put into it now:rotfl: