Finally a MFW! :D

KolaKube

MFWers I am having a brain fudge.

We can OP by 10% a year, would it make sense to try and do as much as early in the year as possible (therefore reducing interest over the year as well as on through the life of the mortgage) or does it make no difference spreading it out over the year...?

KolaKube

Getting organised for xmas today! Taking stock of what we've already got inand coming up with ideas for the others... Have agreed with SILs that we'll only each buy to the kids as we all have them now, and then do a wee secret santa amongst the adults.

List to buy for:
LO - a few little bits in from various sales, will gather bits as I see them
OH - ??
Mum & Dad - ??
Brother & GF - idea: white russians gift basket (vodka, kahlua, nice tumblers, ice cube tray, copy of big lebowski
Little brother - idea: beer tour of the world gift basket, already picked up a tankard with his name on reduced to 59p in the sales.
Little bros GF - bodyshop smellies picked up in sales
Little sister - ??
Nephew(3) - disney cars bedding and PJs (bought)
Niece (18 mths) -??
Niece (18 mths) - ??
Niece (8) - ??
Secret santa to one of ILs - ??
Granny -?
Aunt and uncle - idea: local shop does glass engraving will take a nosy

QB_Wolf

KolaKube wrote: »

MFWers I am having a brain fudge.

We can OP by 10% a year, would it make sense to try and do as much as early in the year as possible (therefore reducing interest over the year as well as on through the life of the mortgage) or does it make no difference spreading it out over the year...?

I would say the earlier the better so more of your regular payments are paying capital rather than interest.

Happier_Me

Ooh, I love shopping for Christmas and strangely enough I've been busy helping my two children start their Christmas lists today. We buy for nieces and nephews with just a little bit of something for the adults and we don't spend a huge amount on each, usually around £15.

I have some stocking fillers in the loft already for my two and have just placed an Amazon order today, so that's a few extra bits for my DD, who is 8 and two nieces sorted for Christmas presents. I've ordered David Walliam's new book Demon Dentist (she adores these books) and the Lego Friends Horse Trailer set for DD, which was a good price at £13.29 (it's between £18 and £20 elsewhere).

KolaKube

Sounds like you have your xmas head screwed on Happier Me, my prob is I have no idea whats 'cool' at the min for the 8 year old niece, asked SIL and I had no idea what she was on about so my memory couldnt store the information lol :rotfl:

QB Wolf thanks for the answer I suspected that was how it worked...

HelenDaveKids

That's why I love Doo Yoo, get to read reviews and gain ideas, whilst making amazon vouchers for said gift ideas.
Have already got quite a lot stashed on top of wardrobe

Happier_Me

I will have to look into Doo Yoo, Not heard of this site before.:)

KolaKube, I have the same problem with my 12 year old niece, last year I could buy her the same things as my 8 year old and know I'd got it right, but things are very different a year on. SIL comes to the rescue though - she just sends hyperlinks of ideas via email and I pick one or two.

KolaKube

Does it take much effort on Doo Yoo to see a return Helendavekids? Not one I've heard of I have to admit

Today has been a busy little day. Met some baby friends for a chat at Starbucks but I didn't have one, feeling proud of myself lol. LO took a nap before we went so I made sure I had a nice free coffee at home so I wasn't tempted... it worked!

Was working off a to-do list today:
1) Basket of ironing - all OHs shirts and I'd been putting it off
2) Collect boots order (2 nice blankets to winterproof LOs cotbed, 50% off)
3) Leave OHs suit in for dry cleaning
4) Sort out huge pile of paperwork for filing (this took 2 hours!!)
5) Buy present for friends new baby - lots of nice reduced bits in the mothercare sale - spent £25 but got a good bit for it. Had a nice gift bag at home so at least that was free lol
6) Call payroll to sort return to work and ? where my latest payslips are going
7) Suss out duplo / lego toys in real life to see what to order for xmas
8) Hoover the family car and remove any build up of 'car clutter' (OHs car will have to wait until a day I can get my hands on it)
9) Return electoral roll forms

All done apart from speaking to payroll which moves to tomorrows list.

My other object for tomorrow is to sort out LOs smaller clothes into keep / chuck / charity / sell, which will not be easy as a) there are 4 huge vacuum bags, 2 bin bags and a load of loose stuff so far - thats everything from newborn to 12 month size and b) I love every single item and don't want to let any go lol :rotfl:

In fact, if I could declutter the whole front bedroom tomorrow in advance of packing I'd be thrilled... but getting LOs clothes sorted would be progress enough lol.

Happy Monday everyone xx

EchoDelta

Sounds like a good day Kola. Especially impressed that you resisted Starbucks despite actually being there!

Good luck with the baby clothes - so hard. I have all of Small's and she is 3 and a half now.... It's a lot of bags!

KolaKube

EchoDelta I'm already chickening out.... 3.5 years worth of clothes though, wow! You must have a separate LO clothes room lol xx