Steps towards making the dream a reality...

niftythrifty33

This is my third attempt at a diary! I've only started a new one as reading over my last one that was last updated in March, I notice I've just waffled which I know from reading other diaries doesn't help. The most encouraging diaries are brief, to the point and (hopefully) help others to feel motivated...so I'm going to try and do the same.

Has anyone on here read 'Cheapskatekate's diary? it's brilliant.

Our long term goal is to clear the mortgage asap but we really need an emergency fund first so will be concentrating on that.

Basic details: Current mortgage (inc. home improvement loan) £64,000. Time remaining 16 years. Aim is to clear within 10 years.

We're already quite careful with money and I love budgeting, but I never manage to be consistent. Hopefully this diary will help

(I have edited this page as originally had too much waffle)

niftythrifty33

Have earned 4.33 euro's on Textbroker & £1.50 on ebay this week but will keep them both where they are until a bigger amount.

Currently on budget of £150 per week for everything for family of 5, still got £20 left for this week which is good for us!

Also trying to de-clutter and have got rid of 1 binbag and loads of wood to the tip and 1 binbag to charity WOOPWOOP

niftythrifty33

Just an update to make sure I don't give this up.

I haven't done any banking/paperwork for ages. The £100 I paid into my new ISA was returned. The bank did say when I opened the ISA that I had to pay manually with my book into branch but when I looked online it let me set up an online acct so thought I might get away with it. Will go into branch and see what's what.

I had a text yesterday from FD to say we are in credit by £240 which is good for this time of month! We had DD's birthday and I was surprising frugal compared to previous years. Though I'm sure it was still a lot compared to others on here? It would be an interesting survey to see how much people spend.

I am now out of work so finances are going to change a lot and I need to sign on and see what we're entitled to but I can't get my head around it right now. So, I'm painting the house instead

I had a bit of a spend yesterday on Christmas decs and it felt quite nice but that is it now, I will get back to being frugal

Have a lovely day all

niftythrifty33

I'm not sure whether anyone is reading my diary but I'm finding it really helps so I'm going to carry on.

I've been going through a very stressful time over the last few months but am still trying to stay focussed and keep budgeting and saving when I can.

Today I signed on for JSA, just waiting for interview at dole office.

I switched gas/elec from E-on to Npower, fixed until Dec 2017. Been meaning to do this for a long time.

Now I need to sort Talk Talk as it's £40 per month just for calls/internet/line rental

I've been painting the kitchen today which is also a good moneysaver

Just need to do banking later

niftythrifty33

Bit of a disaster with the budgeting! Mr Thrifty put un-leaded in our diesel car and it cost £169 to get fixed. Also, I went a bit mad in a sale and got lots of stuff for the house :mad: although it is all lovely it was extravagant so I need to make sure I use it all, in the sale I also bought about 10 beautiful necklaces for £1 each. So I will make some little bags with spare pretty material and give as presents.

The downfall of all this means we have £467 now coming out of the bank this week :eek:

Now to focus on the good news:
We were given £240 as a gift from family to help with petrol disaster. I was going to try and put this in our ISA to start off our emergency pot but now it has to go into current acct. as we will be £364 overdrawn.

I spent about £40 less on DD's birthday than usual which is great and she didn't notice. Also I gave her £20 toward sgoing out for a meal which she gave me back next day saying she would use her money, so the moaning about finances is paying off

I was given a bag of cooking apples by a neighbour so have peeled and sliced them and now have 6 large sandwich bags full in the freezer.

The freezer is quite full so I will make a meal plan. Also looks like I will have to make sandwiches for kids lunches which I hate!! but school dinners cost so much.
Oh well, happy budgeting everyone

sweetdaisy

Just wanted to pop in and wish you all the best on getting a new job and on your MF journey .

niftythrifty33

Thanks sweetdaisy, I was starting to think no-one had read any of it, thought I must admit it's probably quite a boring read

sweetdaisy

Not at all! I enjoy reading the diaries on here as it gives me motivation to keep overpaying, even though at times it feels like the mortgage is never going to be paid :rotfl:.

niftythrifty33

I know what you mean. We want to build up an emergency pot of about 2k in an ISA then start overpaying the mortgage. But the ISA's had £15 in it for months and we never seem to have any spare left over!

Looking at your sig, my mortgage is similar to yours and due to finish around the same time. Lets hope we can get it right down

Tahlullah

Hi, just to let you know I am reading. Nothing worse than the wrong fuel in the car. Wasted money putting it in and wasted money getting it out!

good luck with the plan.

niftythrifty33

Thanks Tahlullah. Yes its rubbish and such a waste of money

Today:
Called JSA as hadn't heard from then, turns out they've been trying to call me?? I have an appointment at 2.30pm today. First time I'll have signed on for 20 years! Also called WFTC but they can adjust anything until I've signed on.

Now have £32.62 in cashback site.
Made flapjacks and made squids have packed lunches to their disgust. I think the older 2 just left without anything except flapjacks as I refused to make theirs and they couldn't be bothered (ages 16 & 18!!!) When I was that age.....blah blah blah

Worked out kids savings which have been in a pot earning nothing, Have opened 2 ISA's for youngest 2 and will deposit theirs today. Will get oldest to do his online later.

DH got an extra £200 from work so will add to the £260 gift and put in current acct. today.

But that's still nothing into our ISA or off mortgage which is frustrating but DH says it's a silly time to be paying extra when I'm not working but I think it's still good to try!