The march to financial freedom

millionaire_in_training

Looks like you're adjusting to being debt free well. I often wonder how I will find things when I have no debt as I will feel rich when I have an extra £500+ per month in my purse

Brogden

Ali-OK wrote: »

We're having 2 holidays this year so it feels very extravagant The 9 days in the Canaries at Easter that my Mum has treated us to - on the back of my health problems she was insistent I needed a rest (says I'm just like my father was in that respect - I don't stop properly unless I'm away from home and for all the 'not good enough' issues, I recognise she is right on this one). And now the summer one.

All the budgets and plans are in place, so I know where I'm going with what with money this year. The artificial grass can be put back as that's the last bit of the garden project and almost everything else was bought in the autumn. Just the concrete gravel boards and posts to pay out for. Labour is the DIY gang again in exchange for roast dinners and cake and tea on tap.

First priority is obviously getting the CC paid off, but I don't want to drop my current account funds below £5k as it's earning £12-13 interest per month and with it being on 0% there is little point in doing it early so sticking with the £260 per month. It's built into my monthly budget as a bill so no worries there.

I'd also dropped the regular saver from £400 to £200, so the extra £200 per month is building up for spending money for the Easter holiday on top of the £5k. By time the regular saver finishes they'll be @ £3,400 there so the £1k holiday balance may well come from that.

And I'm still budgeting £200 a month as OP to the mortgage and TTing to that small pot.

Usually Feb/March would be an expensive time due to car tax and servicing, but as well as being under the business, car tax is zero band and servicing was included in the package so no impact on any finances.

Ramble over...must do some work! Hope everyone has a good day.

Fantastic Ali and so well deserved !!

Just one thing.....don't you like the smell of freshly mown grass in spring and summer and the fantastic way it makes us feel? Why not leave the artificial grass and have an extra holiday instead?

You know it makes sense.......;)!!

Broggers x

AlexLK

I think the holidays will do you a lot of good, enjoy.

Ali-OK

Thank you all - I'm glad I got it down in writing, as at the moment it's just a table on a spreadsheet with the list of things to save for down the side and months across the top with the savings in the boxes . Keeps me entertained and out of mischief :rotfl:

Broggers with 2 dogs there has never been a decent lawn here, more a bumpy mud sprawl with weeds :eek:. That's all been taken up now though and is covered with the sides of DS's old playhouse and willow screening from behind the pergola that we took down. Lovely to not have muddy paws coming into the house too.

With my lower back issue and being able to further lower electric use/energy costs, I'm better off without a lawnmower anyway. Can always buy a candle of freshly cut lawn scent if I get desperate :rotfl: (I have a sneaking suspicion one of my friends has already planned a purchase!).

MiT - I'm hoping to find a balance between saving and doing the 2 things that I love the most going forward - an annual holiday and having a nice home. Not that much left to do at the house really - may even get the study redecorated this year with leftover magnolia paint and though my desk is held up by drawers at one end and a cupboard at the other :rotfl: the DIY gang reckon that can be fixed with some bits of wood. I saved the carpet from the old spare room so that can be cut down (and worn out bit cut off) and re-used in the study. I re-visited the 'House Jobs To Do' list from the start of last year and so many are now crossed off - they've done so much for me. Amazing bunch of friends :T

Tonight we've had some of the LO beef brisket and I made some dumplings, a lovely winter meal. There is still lots leftover, so I've put some into small freezer tubs to use as lunches and have shredded the rest to use tomorrow night - probably in a stir fry.

Financials:
- bank account checked
- freepostcode lottery checked - someone got a nice £700 from that today!
- Nectar card - still £28.09 but a 100 pt survey from Sbugs in to do
- Inbox Pounds - up a tad to £4.63
- Qmee - empty pot at the moment

Better get myself off to bed - late for me :eek:

supersaver1000

Ali, sounds so organised. Xx

Ali-OK

supersaver1000 wrote: »

Ali, sounds so organised. Xx

Back to my old self I reckon :j

in_need_of_direction

Welcome back you

liltdiddylilt

All sounding so positive Ali.

Am v. jealous of the holidays... the last holiday I went on was in 2008... Wow.. that is the first time I have realised that. Yikes! Now I feel old.

Pass me some of that mojo please.. x

Ali-OK

Lilt, I tell ya going on hols as a single parent with a young child is flipping hard work, I used to go back to work for a rest :rotfl: And used to put DS in nursery and take a day off just for myself sometimes, usually so I could catch up on some sleep Has to be done for sanity's sake. Easier now DS isn't a littlen but the costs of school hols holidays is ridiculous and I do begrudge it. :mad:

The bad habit of late nights is slipping back in :eek: so a quick diary update before I hit bed.

Food shop done today and £20.04 spent which included a whole chicken, not too shabby and freezer stocks are still pretty good, as is the stock of Kale :rotfl: After my purge on fruit, tonight a jam roly poly from the depths of the freezer surfaced and with custard was the perfect winter warmer - it's ok, I did 20 mins and 5 miles on the bike so I'm telling myself it balances itself out

Not alot to report on the financials, except January is looking better than I imagined (even compared to a good one last year) and February work is coming along nicely. I've earmarked the school hols week as mornings off, afternoons for work if need be - can enjoy the lay ins that way .

I seem to have stopped worrying about what each month will bring salary wise - don't want to get complacent but at the same time having the emergency fund does give a bit of security and the motivation comes from not wanting to have to use it.

Looking forward to Hump Day - then it's downhill to the weekend again and the last week of the month - INOD you were right, end of January is coming quicker. Oh my turn to feel old now :rotfl:

Hope everyone has had a good day.

AlexLK

Really don't know how you manage to feed yourself on £20-30 per week! Very pleased to hear work is still going well for you.