SmlSave's extremely small steps to reducing the mortgage

SmlSave

Hi newgirly

We had a great weekend, spent Sat at Mum's and had a bath (DS had 2 by first getting in Mum's water and later by jumping into mine). And Sunday we went swimming, to the market and had a lovely afternoon nap.

I did wonder how on earth my DH would survive without the local shop though as apparently there was simply nothing to eat in the house! After I made him a stack of apple pancakes the world magically righted itself again and I promised to keep us in a ready supply of bread. Which means I really have to start using the breadmaker more!

My aim of making lunch has failed terribly that last couple of months so I'm going to amend it slightly by only making lunch for DH as I never know atm what I'm going to want to eat.

Aubergine pasta for dinner tonight and then I'm hoping to have enough energy to make a meal plan.

SmlSave

Whoop. whoop we've had some good news DH has got over 100% of his bonus and will be getting a 4% pay rise later this year

I'm already spending the bonus in my head on - new guttering, tree surgeon, a skip and a large OP. I'm going to see if DH will accept £300 to play with although I'm sure he'll angle for £500.

This is my last month of over-time before my four day week becomes standard and DS goes to nursery 2 days a week so I've decided to spend my over-time on a short break to Butlins with my parents. I've budgeted £150 in total

newgirly

Fantastic news smlsave , hope you enjoy butlins too.

SmlSave

Just popping on to say we had a good scan and expected due date is the 4th March, just a day away from my mum's birthday!

Our small camping trip went well and DS was very good, we found out that we have mice though - our mattress was extremely holey! Thankfully our neighbors lent us theirs. Wellington County Park was absolutely brilliant for DS with so much for him to do.

misscousinitt

Hi Smlsave - just found your new diary and caught up.

Good luck with everything.

MCI

newgirly

Ooh, only 2 days from my birthday too smlsave , I'm on the 2nd march

SmlSave

Smlett2 could share quite a few birthdays then!

DH has taken over cooking atm as I seem to spend most my time moping or sleeping! He's doing well although I have to make sure that every ingredient is present and correct as he is not comfortable substituting anything.

We dug up our potato patch yesterday and what a disappointment! 10 planted and about the same dug up, I suppose at least it was one meal.

Our apple tree produces very small fruit so I'm hoping it will stay dry enough this weekend to pick them, sort them and cook them. Work colleagues have brought in their cookers and large eater so we should have a good mix for various puddings.

I also found a blackberry thorn in the garden, big juicy berries but totally in the wrong place so I'm going to layer a shoot and move it next year.

Walking to work is getting harder but the fresh air does me good so I'm just having to leave a little earlier.

We had some good news with the guttering where it didn't need replacing but just fixing instead which cost £114 instead of £770 I'm very tempted to put the money saved against the mortgage but DH has convinced me (ok it didn't take much) that we can get a chimney guy out to see about the possibility of having an open wood fire.

I love the idea of sitting doe in the evening to crackling fire

SmlSave

Consultant appointment tomorrow - I'm not sure what to expect but I hope they don't keep us waiting too long and its a nice person.

As our OP's a few and far between atm I've been playing with the loan calculators and it appears that we should be at 75% equity in 2 years when our fixes end. This assumes that we continue paying our mortgage and house prices stay stable of course!

Doesn't 75% equity sound nice

70% sounds better of course but there's over £8000 difference between 75% and 70% which I just don't see as being possible with having Smllet2 and doing up the house.

We had a expensive weekend too. A toddler party, wedding reception and visit to the farm. Busy, busy but enjoyable overall. We paid £55 for a hotel room and burst out laughing when we saw it - we've become such snobs! It was tiny with a 3/4 bed and no bath, just a shower with a bar of soap. When I think of the type of rooms we used to happily stay in .....

SmlSave

Feeling like a mean mummy today as DS was howling when I left him at nursery. I know he enjoys it when I've gone but it would be nice to drop off a happy child.

We had a lovely day yesterday too when we went swimming, had lunch (chicken burger nomnomnom) a 2hr nap (yes I slept too ) and then to a neighbors to pick green beans and tomatoes.

This neighbor we've only met twice and literally I had a 5min chat with him and then he appeared at our door with a large bag of tomatoes and disappeared before I could get his name or even which house he lived at! Then thankfully he popped round again with an open invitation to pick runners so now I know where he lives and fruit scones shall be baked to say thanks.

:eek: Its only something like 100 days till Xmas and 14 weekends! :eek: Gosh. I think it's probably a good idea if i go through my supplies and see what wrapping paper, cards and presents I already have. Then I'd better make a list and see who needs a present. Hopefully I can keep the food bill down a bit this Xmas as last year DH went crazy on cheese and drink but this year I'll just get grumpy as I can't eat blue cheese or drink alcohol.

I also think that I might have to start adjusting my personal spending and mat pay is roughly £545 so after £26 Pension, £25 Phone, £25 Milk,£400 to the Joint Account I'll have £69 + £80 CHB (total £149) to spend which wouldn't be a problem but it means that there's no payment for the family loan or savings going on. :cool:

SmlSave

Had a lovely weekend

DH & DS went to the play park Sat am so I tidied the kitchen, did 2 loads of washing baked the aforementioned scones and a chocolate cake. The scones got delivered to No44 and I was given a bowl of blackberries and a bunch of grapes! Me and DS then had a nap and went to the local Indian festival for a few hours which cost us £16 with food and a go on the rides.

Then Sunday we visited friends, got cooked for (I took pudding) and after rolling around our huuuge stomachs we took DS to feed the ducks. I swopped a bag of cucumbers and toms for a bag of pears too.

I though it was a lovely couple of days and DS felt loved enough to go to nursery today with a smile.

Pay day is tomorrow and I'm going to try and take out £100 cash and make it last the month for my spending money. Not sure how I'll do as in four weeks I'm off to Butlins but I'm going to give it a shot.