Steps towards making the dream a reality...

niftythrifty33

Great news! The car passed its MOT :j
We had the air con re-gassed last year but it only lasted a week and I didn't get around to taking it back in, so I called the same garage for MOT quote, they said £45. I explained about the air con and was told bring it in and they'll do the MOT for £30 and will look at the air con and see what's happened.
I picked it up, paid only £30, got the air con re-gassed for free which is great...but it never worked! So I got a good deal on the MOT but still have no air con :mad:

Day off today, can't wait for my massage :j

Have a good day all

niftythrifty33

Good news today, I got a tax rebait for £200 :j A real surprise as I didn't know I'd overpaid.

Had a reminder to renew our tax credits which I thought I'd already done? I hate calling them, out of pure lazyness of having to get the paperwork together Also DS who turned 18 in March has finished his exams and is not going to Uni (at the moment!) so we could be losing Child benefit and some of the WFTC very soon!!

Bought a chest of drawers for DS2 for £50 from Argos as his clothes have been in piles for weeks since he moved rooms. I'm going to try and avoid buying a wardrobe by fixing a rail to his existing slatted shelf unit. I just hope it doesn't look awful.

We all went canoeing on a MASSIVE lake on Sunday which was a bargain at £30, plus had a few other spends over the last few days not budgeted for so will not have as much to overpay but should have some at least.

Been helping DS1 and DD look for new jobs as theirs are either due to end soon or not enough hours, boy it's tough out there!!! especially in rural areas like ours, no jobs at all

niftythrifty33

Finally moved the savings into the ISA today, good to know we have a bit put by in case of emergencies.

Had to buy car tax for £130 Booorringgg!!!

Also have a bill to pay for £80, so basically anything we had left this month is now gone. I will try and pay a little bit into the mortgage account even if it's only £20 as I haven't managed an OP in a few months.

Off to cook tea now, using veg from the allotment and a reduced cauliflower for cauliflower cheese, Lush

I'm going through a bad case of not wanting to cook tea recently out of boredom of doing it FOR YEARS & YEARS and running out of inspiration and the will to live when it comes to cooking...and to think I used to love it when they were younger!

niftythrifty33

So, got to the end of the month with not much to spare as I'm trying to start each month with enough to cover the DD's that come out immediately on/just after 1st.

I've transferred £50 into DS1's savings (still owe him). Then transferred £100 into mortgage 1.

How do you all manage to overpay when there's always so many other things that need buying? We need new windows, fence and loads of other things but if I bought them, then there'd never be any money to OP. Unfortunately DH Doesn't agree and is yet to be converted to the OP idea, he likes the thought of it being paid off early but thinks it's useless us even trying!

Got lots of spuds and salad coming from the allotment now so saving us a few quid. YEY!!!

niftythrifty33

Having read some great threads on here recently I've decided to start up my diary again.

It got a bit boring before as it just feels like I'm writing to myself which is a bit weird But it did help me to stay motivated towards the end goal and I do quite like looking back at things I've forgotten so I'm starting again.

No OP's made recently as there's just too many things to buy all the time. I haven't started on Christmas and have no idea where the money's coming from but hey ho! Middle DD wants driving lessons and youngest DS wants an extortionately priced console. They both have birthdays before Christmas so will just get money (how boring). Me and DH are really missing buying toys etc for Christmas it was much more fun then.

The eldest DS 'was' working full time so is paying his way now which is very strange but helps us a lot. He's left his job now though (don't ask :mad:) so we're still manking him pay (terrible parents).

I have a new job in a supermarket with lots of overtime available. We are desperate for a holiday as haven't had one for 4 years and we've always wanted to do all-inclusive so maybe next year it will happen.

I'm still budgeting and keeping spreadsheets but things are very tight right now. On the plus side, no credit cards, no loans, and mortgage still going down (slowly) :T

gallygirl

You'll be below 60k in total next month which is great progress :T

Watty1

Lots of us sneak in and read ....keep writing .. .and you are doing well!

Pearla*Merle

Yay, great to see you back Watty & GG are spot on - you're doing great!

I've been AWOL as well and am finally getting back on the straight and narrow again - diaryland really sharpens the focus, you don't realise how much until you get back into the swing of things again(!)

niftythrifty33

gallygirl wrote: »

You'll be below 60k in total next month which is great progress :T

WOW I hadn't realised this, what a great feeling.

I haven't been very good at my spending diary lately (understatement). I'm good at the spreadsheet but not noting where the cash is going so that's next.

DH is going through a very difficult time at the moment with family illness so for a treat I'm going to reinstall Sky with the sport if I can get it half price. He will think all his Christmasses have come at once . I know it's not frugal but he's worth it.

I need to do a meal plan and a budget for Christmas. Watching my favourite programme OCD cleaners, I LOVE it as it makes me want to clean my house :j

niftythrifty33

Thanks Pearla, Watty & Gally for your encouragement.

I really should be asleep but I started reading diaries and thought I'd do a quick update. I've also just read over some of mine from ages ago, it's lovely to be reminded of the little things we've done as a family that I'd otherwise forget

Looking back at when I was off work, I was so much better at budgeting and being frugal than I am now. One week we managed to only spend £38!!! Never mind reading other diaries, I need to keep reading my own.

Weekends have always been our downfall, this one being a typical example. So far we've done 3 mini Tesco shops since Thursday, each between £15-£20 just for one meal and bits of unessesary stuff/junk. Tonight DH went and I asked for Haagen Daz, it's about £4.50 :eek: I am soooo weak :mad:

Nothing frugal to report. Although veg at the allotment is still going well. My butternut squash are fab. one is huge and still growing. Still got loads of other veg which has saved a fortune this year. Anyone thinking of growing any veg, go fo it! it really does save loads and is so fun.

3 things I MUST do this week:
-Take out cash and keep a spending diary
-meal plan inc. lunches for half term
-Start buying Christmas presents

Tip of the day: Don't buy Haagen Daz...unless it's half price, or unless you're hormonal, in which case it's essential (OH NO!!! I've just remembered I've got half a tub left)