Aspirations of Frugality and Fun on the Road to Mortgage Freedom

Alchemilla

Good decluttering, Dedicated.

DedicatedDFW

Morning all

I am sporting a funny pattern of sunburn today after a glorious day yesterday. We had a really wonderful day out :T I did, however, commit to going to a very expensive (for us) event :eek: *blatant justification alert* It will be a once in a lifetime event for us and we are still doing it as cheaply as we can - so instead of approximately £1400 we should bring it in at about half that so £700 is the target. - It is alot of money but it is for an event / day / experience attended also by people close to us so its not buying 'stuff' but making memories And of course it is something we both want to do

This means that i will need to start the MB end of May - although with the season it may just be swotting up for me at that time :cool:

I also *need* to part with more things to raise the cash to pay for this so overpayments etc. won't be affected

The carboot money is being put to our next big house project - total renovation of 1 room.

So i am going to try and find more things to sell on the bay of e to try and reach my target that way. I am of course looking for a new job also (i do have a couple of months to get the money together). And am very keen to take on a 2nd job over the summer at a company i really want to work for as it will complement my degree and i do feel i will enjoy it. Again though it may be the wrong season for this.

I think i need to come up with a plan for things and maybe an soa - my soa is quite scant in what it covers due to the way we break down who pays for what eg. it has on: c/a fee - will cancel after big holiday, mortgage, phone bill, pension, credit card bill for stooze, travel expenses (set train fare won't change car used as little as possible so nominal £5 weekly petrol), Personal spends £20 week. And then several savings accounts, the overpayment, house maintenance for loft and guttering, holiday savings (£30 month). The other item is food and drink which i budget at £140 for the month - £35 week - i do aim to and often spend less than this (my mr contributes also but a lower amount due to way we do the bills). The bill is often less than this but i am putting some aside each week for xmas, and the rest is paid off the bills anyway.

I don't budget for: gas, electric, car insurance, home insurance x 2, mot, car maintenance, car tax, household mainenance such as treatment for fences (thanks p&f), hair cuts / colour, clothes & shoes, holiday (£30 a month will not pay for everything), birthdays, xmas, fun day out - gotta keep the romance alive and there must be other things i have missed off - like saving for a new car...

The plans is for:

getting the money together to pay for

my MA *if* i am successful

once in a lifetime treat as above

spending money for big holiday

fancy dress

loft

gutters - once this and loft are paid for i can save for other urgent and long over-due items like the new windows, gate etc.

Big birthday for my Mr, Mum, Nephew and niece all still to come this year - sisters already done and on this months credit card bill :eek:

home insurance

MOT

- maybe i'll go and have a lie down now :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

DedicatedDFW

Alchemilla wrote: »

Good decluttering, Dedicated.

Thanks Al - there is more to go still i am sure - just not sure what :think: :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl: Already identified 2 jumpers - 1 to carboot, 1 to bay of e and some cheap fashion jewellery to carboot also.

Alot of the clothes i am selling at the mo. i would happily keep but i need the money more :cool:

DedicatedDFW

Today: Bay of e parcels wrapped, labelled and ready to go!

Washing done and dryer still on

Tea chosen and lifted some bits out of the freezer :T

Phone call made that was on my list

Messages issued as needed

New there was more i'd done - lots of money shuffling with today overpayment taking me just over 75% of the £5000 target i'd set myself

Now its time for make-up and brekkie - toasted hot cross bun loaf anyone?

peaceandfreedom

DedicatedDFW wrote: »

New there was more i'd done - lots of money shuffling with today overpayment taking me just over 75% of the £5000 target i'd set myself

Now its time for make-up and brekkie - toasted hot cross bun loaf anyone?

Wow, DDFW, what a productive morning you've had. :T
I got up a bit late (though in fairness I've had a very busy few days) but I've done a few general household jobs. I've had a delicious breakfast, and the sun is shining so I'm going out now to sow my next batch of seeds. One of my favourite jobs.

75% of your £5000 target is amazing, well done you, I am so jealous. You deserve to enjoy that hot cross bun.

Cheery_Daff

Excellent work you're doing there! :j :j :eek: at the hairdresser ruining all those things :eek: Gosh.

I've been channelling your decluttering enthusiasm lately Just little bits here and there - my 4 'miscellaneous' drawers in the kitchen now all have a purpose and have stayed clear for over a week (some kind of record here :rotfl: ) Have also started tackling cutlery/baking/tupperware/toothpick/cork/cr*p drawers :eek: 3 done properly now, one half done, and one left - getting there!! :j Feels SO nice to open a drawer to get a lighter to light the cooker and not have to rummage among a giant pile of rubbish, so THANK YOU!

DedicatedDFW

Hi p&f, it is pretty cold here brr! Glad that you have sunshine and can get out in the garden i will pop over to yours and see what you've been up to - with the overpayments the biggest chunk was from the stooze but i am pleased as it felt a big thing to do :T

Hey cheery :wave: Thats great news with your decluttering and organising :T I had a few motivating factors for doing mine and a big one was the time wasted trying to find / get to things So good that you are feeling the benefit of that

Have to say too that the hot cross bun loaf was delicious

DedicatedDFW

Hi all,

I have updated my freezer list to stay on top of it :T It was good too as i want to work on the few things crammed into the top drawer But automatically went to a different drawer for something Used from the top drawer instead

I've decided to set myself a target of 50 items to sell on the bay of e for next month :eek: Any sales will go towards the cost of the event. After posting and whilst on a walk i mulled it over a bit but absolutely do not regret making the decision to do this as it is alot of money but will be a wonderful day and as i say, this makes memories

What it has done is motivated me to part with more items - so these will be found and listed on the bay of e = less clutter and an easier to live in house :T I think this will also help me to consider food purchases much more as i think this is an easy area to spend more than i need to. Thats why i was kicking myself about the fish the other day - it was reduced but i didn't *need* to buy it I also have fish in the freezer :eek: - but thats for 2.

brizzledfw

Really positive sounding news from the 'DDFW stable' great to see you so motivated about selling but also about saving for a big event. Sounds great. Will your OH help pay for it/ work towards it?

Have a great weekend

PositiveBalance

Hi Dedicated! :wave:

I'm back! My computer broke, then my phone so I've had no internet access for what feels like eternity! You've been busy - glad to see about the MA - I hope it works well for you. I'm thinking of going back to skool as well in September, so I'll have to see how that works out. There's lots more to tell, but I had better do it on my diary as it hasn't been updated for nearly a MONTH (:eek:) so I had better mosey on over there...just as soon as I have been and done the shopping for tomorrow's dinner.

See you soon.