The march to financial freedom

Ali-OK

We had quite a few knocks on the door last night, so I probably saved myself a few pounds in not buying sweets to give out. The dogs barked on cue so if it was teenagers, they decided not to leave eggs and flour on the door

Amazingly kept heating off last night as well but candles gave us that extra couple of degrees. I love my meter gadget thing that gives me all this info from my armchair

A mixed day today for saving, recycling and spending.

Bank account checked - pension pot payment gone out and also my optician plan. £5 a month but covers contact lens annual check and eye test. I think it's a saving, but perhaps I should look further at this. I like staying with an independent as I have had eye problems since a young child and had the start of glaucoma a couple of years back which laser treatment on NHS sorted.

P!necone research first payment received in the post - a nice surprise as only a week since I did it. £3 in luncheon vouchers and can be used in quite a few places, so will put those by for when I need to purchase birthday/Xmas/other. Or maybe Xmas Eve when I take DS to town for hot chocolate with marsh mallows in Costa - it's our annual winter treat.

Recycled 2 pictures that hung on the stairs before I re-painted it and they're now in the dining room. Saving myself £30 as I had my eye on a picture in Dunelm (and £15 as now in half price sale!).

Talking of Dunelm...picked up a 10 pack of tall candles for £2.29 and inspired by my car booting box have retrieved a gothic black 4 candle holder to use. I know it's not meant to work like that :rotfl:

Also 24 crackers at £9.98 - this is half what I normally pay in M&S or Debenhams. 19 for the big lunch, 4 for Xmas Day so that is now sorted.

The 2 x £1 coins in change added to my collected stash mean I have £20 now, so I've bagged those up and will pay them into the bank to pay off CC 1 after 10th Nov when statement due.

I've been onto eBay and ordered 3m of plain cellophane for £2.65 inc of P&P for the 'pub parcels'. I found some gold ribbon when getting the heavier duvet out, so will use that to tie them.

Wilko's website was next - candle sale there too! So I've ordered 2 med church for £2.50, 2 large scented for £4.50. Also a value white dinner service for £5 as our daily dinner service is a mixture of leftover bits from nearly 30 years and some of that is cracked. Also means I have enough white with the large lunch coming up as extended family keeps growing! Got a cutlery set for £1.73, again to keep for just the big lunch to go with an Ikea set so we have enough of that too.

Just need table cloths (need 3 due to table sizes) and napkins - probably Wilkos again for those. I tend to buy the linen feel paper ones, but ideas gratefully received.

Also ordered one of the expensive Christmas gifts I needed and using nectar search bar, realised I could get points, so really pleased with that as at least get something back.

After being good and washing towels on 30C on a quick cycle, it started to rain so towels went in the dryer. First time in months I've used it. At least I know it still works :rotfl:

Have done last week's ironing and switched iron off before doing last item.

Still to do:

MOT to organise and the single storey loft insulation. Ebay and car boot stuff (found more I had put aside) to get on with too.

Kitchen and utility decorating - nil points :rotfl:

Next job - get the kettle on

Rosepetal1701

I had a planned spend for last night as I raelly love and celebrate Halloween xx However, I know its a pain for those that don't!
Thanks for the spending tips re Xmas - I'll be onto some of those sites as soon as ...

Ali-OK

There are alots of sales on at the mo - Dunelm, Wilkos, Bhs I've seen - I do think website order and collect (or free delivery if you can) is the way to get stuff as the shops seem to have sold out quick of some things or didn't stock it to start with.

I hope you enjoyed Halloween. We used to participate but they came round in such big groups the last couple of years, none dressed up and all teenagers (which felt a bit threatening to be honest) and I remember having to give them DS's lunch box treats as I'd run out of the sweets and had bought 3 (for 2 offer) bags of mini-bars (maltesers, milky ways, that sort of thing) and just thought enough is enough now.

I've done a few more DFW things but still feels like I am leaking money at the moment (all budgeted such as Xmas or out of my 'pocket money').

- Have boxed up a load of stuff I'd sorted for car booting and will try and find room to put it in the garage.

- I have 4 things on eBay with some bids and watchers. It's a bit addictive checking it, so am trying to keep busy and not sitting at the computer!

- Have booked my MOT with Halfords for Sun 10th Nov and will also get double nectar points. Deal price £29.95 down from £54.

Electrician ran out of daylight to come and change my light fitting to a flex today, so fingers crossed he'll be here tomorrow to do that. Have bought the lampshade in from the car boot box and washed it in readiness. That's 2 things I've grabbed back :rotfl: Was very tempted by one in Dunelm as 20-30% off until Sunday on those, but resisted.

I am looking forward to DS being back at school and me working so I can't get to shops!

Ali-OK

What a grey old day again here.

Progress Report:

The good:

- Ordered the last online Xmas presents - some click and collect, some free delivery, but all within allocated budget. Just one pressie left to buy now :j
- Did Xmas money wallets, a big hurdle as over £200 and lots of Xmas cards written too
- 2 washing loads part dried on line (as spotted with rain) and are now on airer
- Bank account checked - £5.92 interest added which makes £6 to add to Nov CC payment pot
- Batch chilli on the go - will make 4 meals for us, 1 for tonight, 3 for freezer
- Heating on only for a short while this morning and off since. Candles soon to be lit as so dark here already
- Read lots more diaries on here

The not so good:

- Plastic bit on washing line reel broke off so need to look at a replacement for that
- Electrician didn't make it (again)
- One of the dog's collars broke whilst out, fortunately had slip lead with me and can re-use his tags. So have to get a new collar now, a spend I didn't anticipate.
- A closer look at the access to kitchen/utility loft has thrown up another problem and means it's physically impossible to get a person through the crossed roof struts to put insulation from rolls down. Going to have to get someone in with an insulation blower I think. Can't find a local hire company with one.

Which leads into the heat loss via (and cold air coming in through) the garage - poorly fitted garage door and rotten side window and door. Ahh, becoming a big job. Might have to leave all this until next year and see how the debt busting and income goes. We can survive another winter as is.

Hope everyone has had a good day.

Ali-OK

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 1 (age 13)
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2000 (average as S/E)
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 81.2 Child Benefit
Other income............................ 320 Maint from ex - mostly reliable
Total monthly income.................... 2401.2

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 410.3 I/O £1045 Rep
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 121 (runs over 12 months, not 10)
Electricity............................. 37 in fixed deal
Gas..................................... 76 in fixed deal
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 33
Telephone (land line)................... 23 Paid £115 12 mths advance for landline so £14.39 a month inc internet
Mobile phone............................ 5 on PAYG
TV Licence.............................. 12.11
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 22.5
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 100
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 35
Road tax................................ 30 for 2 cars
Car Insurance........................... 40 for 2 cars
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 40 for 2 cars
Car parking............................. 5
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 30 DS 3 weeks a year childcare
Other child related expenses............ 64 pocket money, club, school transport
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 10
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 12
Buildings insurance..................... 8
Contents insurance...................... 5
Life assurance ......................... 9.72
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 60
Haircuts................................ 9
Entertainment........................... 15
Holiday................................. 50
Emergency fund.......................... 75
Osteopath............................... 40 needed for back maint due to op
Pension................................. 93.72
Total monthly expenses.................. 1481.35


Assets
Cash.................................... 2000 Emergency fund
House value (Gross)..................... 260000
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 17000 split £12k and £5k
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 279000


Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 133444...(410.3)....3.69
Total secured & HP debts...... 133444....-.........-

Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
CC 1...........................1470......29.4......0
CC 2...........................6250......62.5......0
Car Loan.......................6526.67...144.3.....0

Thought I'd do this and add to my diary. It's pretty close to reality. On average, I pay £500-£600 towards debt a month.

Emmala

Ali - I notice you pay your council tax over 12 months, I know I've read about this before.....how did you arrange that? Did you ring your council?
Molly x

Emmala

Ooh....AND, how come your TV licence is 'only' £12.11p when mine is £12.12???? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Ali-OK

Oops...a slip of the keyboard (blame using candlelight) - tv licence is indeed £12.12 :rotfl:

The council tax here went up so much one year (2008 or 9), that I think they decided to try and hide it by moving everyone to 12 monthly payments from the 10 - it still went up by £5 a month + 2 extra months. :eek:

But I think you could phone and ask anyway. As long as they get their money somehow, they are generally happy.

Ali-OK

I've had the urge to go and read the gas and elec meters all evening, fortunately the supplier website is down, otherwise I'd have been outside in slippers with torch :rotfl:

I've convinced myself I've saved hundreds by the heating being off and using candle light for 5/7 nights :rotfl:. Reality is probably pence.

Obsessive or deluded - I want to know!

Ooh and the chilli I bulked out with green pepper and onions has resulted in 4 lots (not 3) for the freezer, so a nice bonus.

We ate by candlelight, so DS couldn't see the pepper and he still cleared his plate. Double bonus :rotfl:

OrangeFairy

Ali- your SOA looks good.

I think I read that you are looking to sell one if the cars. Is it the more expensive of the 2? If so will that be used to pay off the cc debt? That would be great.

I hope you are acing a lovely weekend

OF x