I have a dream...to be a money magnet!

Miss_Money_Magnet

Very happy to report I have found out Ill be having a decent payrise. It had been mentioned but I thought itd take ages to get sorted. I reckon after tax itll be around £200 a month! With scope to go up in steps for next few years. Very chuffed!
Have spent all day doing little calculations in my head!! Guess who'll be on the overpayment calculator tonight!
My target was to get my regular monthly overpayment to £300, so I think ill use £60 from payrise and the tenner from the cheaper dual fuel dd.
I need to start saving each month to my holiday fund... Would like to put a bit more to ISA although with the rates so low I am torn!! When I saw a financial advisor in jan he said to keep with ISAs because they dont count on any tax returns or forms later on. Ill do some number crunching and make a decision!
These are the kind of dilemmas I like lol!
Also very tempted just keep first months money for a clothes splurge... Decisions decisions.....

Miss_Money_Magnet

The thought of the new money is tempting me into splurge land. So far I have resisted!
Did a bit of food shopping at the nice local butchers..the butcher was so lovely and spent ages chatting. I'd like to shop there more, although it is definitely dearer. How much is good personal service and being treated so nicely worth? Seems to be a dying thing lately ( or am I just getting old!!!)
I am going on a child free trip to see one of my best friends at the weekend. Wish I'd thought to book the train earlier...the cost seems excessive! Sympathise with all those reliant on trains.
My friend was telling me she had one of those Merlin passes and she thought it was a good deal..to get in lots of attractions free once you've bought the pass..Alton towers, legoland etc. Anyone else bought one and was it worth it?

ajmoney

Hi, Newgirly has merlin passes so it might be worth visiting her thread and asking about them.

Miss_Money_Magnet

Going swimming and out for a cheap lunch today with son.

According to the loco blade spreadsheet, increasing my repayments to £300 PCM will mean Ill get it paid off in 11 years 6 months.
I took my mortgage out for 18 years this time when I remortgaged (I reduced the term anyway..can't remember what it would've been... Got a feeling I knocked 7 years off because initially I'd had a longer term due to other factors at the time).
It still sounds a long way off, but I know it'll pay off later. It means I need to be careful and stick to my budget, but my budget now is more generous incl. treat money, holiday money etc, so It's not scrimping too much but more about not squandering. I am also managing to save too, although I doubt I'll max my cash ISA out this year.
It means Ill be 49 and a half approx when it's paid if I maintain that rate.
I do like the idea that any other ops now are bringing the timeline down into my 40's... I think any other money/raises now can be split 3 ways between treat fund, ISA and o/ps. :T

Miss_Money_Magnet

Just hanging on for payday then reverting to my cash budget approach! Seem to have lost my way a bit lately but I know why, so just need to get back on track. Im maintaining my monthly overpayment but not managing any smaller o/ps.

Miss_Money_Magnet

Havent posted for so long Id forgotten how to find my diary!!!
Ive slipped a bit, mainly because I got promoted and got busier and therefore less organised!! However, Ive maintained my overpayments of £220 each month so thats one good thing!
Ive done ok adding to my savings but a lot less than Id aimed for, due to needing to spend on housey things I hadnt planned for.

My new year resolutions are:

-to stock up more at Ald* and home b*rgains and therefore reduce extra trips to expensive local shops. Im also going to buy in a few quick and easy meals each week for days when I get in late and cant be bothered to cook!
- to weigh out/ measure food out so we waste less
-to erase my £400 credit card balance asap (priority 1)
- to stop living in my overdraft (priority 2)
-to claim back my mileage at work
- to post more regularly to keep myself focused

Happy New Year to All x

Miss_Money_Magnet

Money saving activities for today: drop sons thank you cards off on journey to Mums today, free buffet lunch ( although we did xmas lunch which was dear), no spend day x

Miss_Money_Magnet

Another ' No Spend Day'. Had a scout round a few accounts and have paid £70 off credit card. I know lots of the advice would be to pay this off first but I think if I cancel my regular overpayment to mortgage Ill never restart it. The cc balance will be gone soon enough...so that works for me.
I have a bank appointment tomorrow to set up a separate account, and Im going to transfer my spending money for the month to there each payday, so I can easily see what money Ive really got and I can stop living in my overdraft. I think that may work better for me. Ive reviewed all my spending pots and it all looks workable!
I have made a £10 last longer than I ever thought possible this week.... Amazing!

Miss_Money_Magnet

Still got about £6 from the tenner left in my purse. Need to take son for school shoes tomoz and to pay upfront for school clubs for term (£40).
I opened an extra account and on each payday Im going swap my spending money for the month into it...and get out of my overdraft permanently (assuming it works).

Boilers packed up and Im going have a new one. I have got the savings to pay so not really a prob, but Id like to rebuild the savings asap.

I havent done as much as I wanted financially last year, but I have achieved lots of other fab things, and at least now I do have savings behind me and can ride any storms!

Miss_Money_Magnet

Managed to find a nice pair of school shoes in Tesco for £8.
Spent a small top up amount from food budget. Logged on and paid for sons school clubs- which takes him till Easter.
Got loads of food in.
Need to keep a close eye on pennies- got to pay holiday off and get rid of balance on cc, all seems doable if I dont waste cash.