Every little helps... our new MFW journey!

FutureFreedom

Hi all,

After a long time lurking and reading all the inspirational threads on here, I'm delighted that the time has finally come for me to start my own shiny new thread! So here is my very first post on MSE :j

So, where to start?
Well, it's been a monumental year so far! DH (let's call him J) and I married in May, soon after discovering I'm expecting our first baby, due end of Jan 2014. This turned out to be just the motivation we needed to finally get ourselves out of rented accommodation and buy our own place after years of saving (and some very welcome and generous help from parents).

Fast forward to now - we've been in our new place for 3 weeks now and loving it! It's a 3-bed semi needing plenty of work, which we plan on doing gradually as and when we can afford it. It will eventually be a lovely family home
To top it off, 2 1/2 years after being made redundant, J has finally found a permanent job with good prospects, so life is looking quite rosy and pretty stable for the time being - well, until the little one arrives, anyway!

We took out a 35 year mortgage :eek: but have absolutely no intention of keeping it that long. 1st payment went out on Thursday and I've already set up a standing order to overpay by £50 per month as I'm sure we won't miss it. Priorities for the next year or two will be to spend most of our spare cash on improving the house (hopefully with the odd smallish OP thrown in), and then once that's done the MFW fun can really begin

I work full time as a teacher at the moment, so don't have time to be as MSE as I'd like. I will be on maternity leave from January, which can't come soon enough! I hope to then have more time to really tighten the screws on our finances and find ways to save for our future freedom. In the meantime I'll post here when I get the time and hopefully get to know some of you lovely people

I've probably rambled enough so I'll sign off for now. Thanks for reading!

FF

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Exciting times ahead of you - good luck with your plans. Loads of helpful advice around and it's a supportive forum.

Best wishes Tilly

Dot_Common

A lovely shiny new diary, welcome! And congratulations on the house move and impending arrival!

Lots of chances to be MSE in preparing for a new baby, there are a lot of people out there trying to persuade you that you need their unnecessary product for your precious first born (baby wipe warmer anyone?)!

edinburgher

Welcome aboard - it sounds like you're in a really exciting period at the moment

If you're looking to find easy savings, it's well worth posting a SOA (statement of affairs) using the link stickied at the top of the MFW board. Lots of smart people with sharp eyes to help you save...

tootoo

hi and welcome.
Dot common - glad I'm not the only who thought "what on earth?!" the the wipe warmer

SmlSave

Nice to meet you FF, lots of luck with your journey

Lots of chances to be MSE in preparing for a new baby, there are a lot of people out there trying to persuade you that you need their unnecessary product for your precious first born (baby wipe warmer anyone?)!

Nooo! do they really exist?

EchoDelta

Congratulations! Hope that your last few months of pregnancy go well and best of luck with your new arrival.

FutureFreedom

Thank you all for the lovely welcome.

Wipe warmers!?! Wow, that's one I hadn't heard of!
I have bought two blankets from Aldi, and that's it so far. We will definitely be doing this the MSE way

I will try and post a SOA at some point, but very busy for the next few weeks so will only be popping in now and then. Will work out how to do a signature as well to keep track of things.

Off to put roasties in the oven to go with the enormous beef brisket that's been slow-cooking all afternoon, yummm.
I hope you've all had a lovely weekend in this glorious sunshine!

EchoDelta

My word your dinner sounds amazing!

I read a blog post the other day about being frugal when expecting. I will try to find the link.

EchoDelta

Here it is - http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/09/09/mrs-money-mustache-what-do-newborn-babies-really-need/

FutureFreedom

Thanks for the link - interesting reading. Luckily, my sister had a baby boy back in June, and we're expecting a boy too, so we will hopefully be getting plenty of hand-me-downs!

Just polished off the last of the beef from the weekend - an £8 joint fed us 3 dinners, lunch yesterday and today and there's enough left for lunch tomorrow too. That kind of thing makes me happy