Decreasing spending - increasing happiness

giblet1979

Great stuff - sounds like it's going really well x

peaceandfreedom

Enjoying_life_more wrote: »

Weekly budget going really well - did my shopping at two s/markets and arrived at one of them just at the right time to get a reduced joint of meat -more than half price ( straight in the freezer for one my sun lunches) and some reduced oranges, also plenty of great offers on salad and veg so well stocked up. I always keep a well stocked freezer as I like to have choice but it also helps when I want to cut the budget one week as there's always plenty in. I also got some bargain bedding plants this week worked out at 8 pound for 40 plants - I haven't put any in the ground yet as it's prob too early. Just got to keep looking after them until the weather picks up again.

Hope the weather picks up over the weekend as want to get some walks in and time in the garden.

I think it's safe to say that the weather didn't pick over the weekend - not sure where you live but here in Somerset it rained cats and dogs for most of the weekend. Truth to tell, I was a bit tired on Sunday so very glad of the excuse to do nowt in the garden.

I wouldn't plant out the bedding yet - like you say it's too early. We are forecast a colder snap next weekend which might be dodgy for tender young plants outside.

Well done on the mortgage overpayment and savings pot additions. :T

Enjoying_life_more

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

I think it's safe to say that the weather didn't pick over the weekend - not sure where you live but here in Somerset it rained cats and dogs for most of the weekend. Truth to tell, I was a bit tired on Sunday so very glad of the excuse to do nowt in the garden.

I wouldn't plant out the bedding yet - like you say it's too early. We are forecast a colder snap next weekend which might be dodgy for tender young plants outside.

Well done on the mortgage overpayment and savings pot additions. :T

Sunday wasn't too bad where I live In the North so I got a bit done in the garden. I have planted my baskets but they are well sheltered. Thanks for the well done - it does feel good but I wish I had took this stance many years ago ah well - i'll nip over to your diary and see how you are doing

peaceandfreedom

Enjoying_life_more wrote: »

Thanks for the well done - it does feel good but I wish I had took this stance many years ago ah well - i'll nip over to your diary and see how you are doing

I think that most DFWs would say the same thing - if only, if only we'd done this sort of thing years ago,

But you can't 'if only' your way through the rest of your life. You can start from HERE and be pleased with what you're doing. The past is over and done with, let's leave it there and look to the future. :beer:

Enjoying_life_more

:beer: so true !! and thanks for those uplifting kind words

Enjoying_life_more

Food supplies stocked up for the week - dropped on some quality reduced items which have saved me a few pounds. I'm just about to blanch and freeze some veg I got reduced.

Gym visit done - feeling tired tonight roll on the bank hol weekend.

it's my morg interest update overnight so will be interested to see if my overpayments have made much difference to the interest?

I've opened a new current account with one of the banks in the latest MSE news update - 4 % interest after tax so pretty good - i'm only using it to save in as i'm happy with my main current account which pays me £5 per month just for staying in credit

Also been looking at local houses for sale with a view to moving to a cheaper morg but with whats on offer at the moment i'd rather stay where I am and continue money saving than move- i'll keep looking as something might come up?

EssexHebridean

Looking forward to seeing how that interest rate is affected by the OP'ing for you ELM - we only get a mortgage statement every quarter but I love opening them and seeing the effect we've had! :T

If you can downsize significantly then moving home to end on a smaller mortgage cane be worth doing it - remember that you have to factor in things like agents fees for selling yours, Stamp Duty & Land reg fees on the one you buy, and legal costs relating to both, so unless the saving is significant it may be better to stay put anyway. Definitely worth checking to see what's out there though.

Enjoying_life_more

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Looking forward to seeing how that interest rate is affected by the OP'ing for you ELM - we only get a mortgage statement every quarter but I love opening them and seeing the effect we've had! :T

If you can downsize significantly then moving home to end on a smaller mortgage cane be worth doing it - remember that you have to factor in things like agents fees for selling yours, Stamp Duty & Land reg fees on the one you buy, and legal costs relating to both, so unless the saving is significant it may be better to stay put anyway. Definitely worth checking to see what's out there though.

Thanks and yes there's lots to consider - I think it would be around 3 thousand to buy and sell which is a lot of money although I would be financially better off i.e. the morg bal would be much lower but and it's a big but I love where I live and I have fantastic neighbours which is a big thing when living alone. I'm not in a rush to do anything and I am now managing and saving too it's just I'd be able to save lots if I moved - I keep arguing with myself about it ha. while ever I'm managing I'm not rushing into anything.:)

Enjoying_life_more

I've updated my signature to show my updated balance as of the end of April (which included additional morg repayments) - I am pleased that by overpaying I've saved around 8 pound in interest which is great and has spurred me on to keep doing it.

I have hardly spent this week other than my food shop and I have (generously) budgeted for a day/night out on Saturday, i'm hoping to come in under budget again and split between savings / morg.?

Can't believe how cold it is today where I am - cancelled my walk tonight and still sat in my coat from getting in from work. Roll on the weekend and hope it's a sunny one!:)

Enjoying_life_more

Had a good afternoon/night out yesterday nursing a hangover today but it was good fun so i'll let myself off

So scores on the doors - I had budgeted a very generous 60 pound and I have 32 pound left - it is now decision time as to where it goes (savings/ morg overpayment) I'm also considering treating myself to a take away - I haven't had one in a long long time - i'll update my decision later.

Earlier on in the week I posted about my thoughts on moving to a cheaper property - I did go and view a property on Friday afternoon and it sort of made my mind up that I will stay put for now - the house was lovely but I know I wouldn't be happy in the area it is in - if I lost my job or some other disaster happened I would have to do it but for now I will keep going overpaying on the morg.

Hangover permitting I plan to do some garden stuff today and may list on ebay?