Back to basics with pavlovs_dog: the £6k sprint

pavlovs_dog

smallholdingsister wrote: »

Well done Pavlovs and especially for not spending the payrise.

It is money we've never had to spend so we don't miss it. We've done the same every time I moved up a pay point.

We are fortunate that we can live comfortably on our income and therefore lifestyle inflation hasn't been too much of an issue for us. The challenge now is to start finding a little fat to trim - no easy task if you are already pretty frugal - to free up some money to invest. The first step is getting a very honest, detailed picture of exactly where we spend our money. I have a shiny new spreadsheet too fill in

pavlovs_dog

I've started filling in my new spreadsheet in front of the telebox tonight.
It is a simple step, but it has caused me to interrogate the figures more closely than before. For example, it may sound silly, but whilst I knew how much I paid for my mobile contract and OH for his, I hadn't twigged how much we were paying out collectively.

I think I'm going to add extra columns to calculate the spending on each item as a percentage of our income. Our contractual mortgage payment is 17% of our income, whilst our static OP takes it to 32%.

I've cashed out another £25 via SBs so shall organise an OP in the morning when I am a bit more with it. Will update 1% challenge stats when I've finished playing with the figures.

pavlovs_dog

1% Challenge - the little things make a difference

January Total = £178
£10 Gumtree, £66 P!necone
£50 Swagbucks + £2 Christmas scratchcard win
£50 account tidy

February Total = £157
£25 SB
£132 council tax free month

Cumulative total = £335/£1050 (32%)

This money feeds into

MFW 2016 OP
January £610.03
February to date £567.03

Cumulative total = £1177.06 / £6000 (19.6%)

CathT

Great start to 2016. Just goes to show you don't need to make mammoth overpayments to notice the difference from your efforts.

pavlovs_dog

* RAC breakdown renewed in OH's name instead of mine. Saves £8 on renewal price. Went via Quidco for a further £7.50.

* FD are offering £25 for taking a credit card with them and making a purchase on it. I've applied, and it looks like OH would be able to apply as well.

* Bought our travel money from the post office to take advantage of their flash sale. Went via Quidco which should earn £3.

* quotes for travel insurance run through confused via Quidco for a whopping 55p cashback.

pavlovs_dog

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind.

Bruges was lovely and we did a lot albeit at a leisurely pace. We didn't spend all of the money we took with us. Rather than faff about converting it back to sterling, we'll save it towards our next European trip. OH proposed whilst we were away so our next trip could well be a honeymoon!

It has been a very spendy month with our little fiesta needing 2 visits to to garage. One was foreseen, the other most definitely wasn't (and has highlighted a host of further repairs to be done when it goes for MOT and service in a few weeks). A healthy surplus in the current account means we should be able to cope without having to do any further money shuffling this month.

Work is absolutely insane. We have supplies in for supplies, and the rarely cover policy is being forgotten about. Have brought home a mountain of marking to try and get myself back on to a more even keel. Time to get back to it!

pavlovs_dog

slightly random question teacher friends but how long is your lunch break? We've just gone into consultation about changing the school day (later start, shorter lunch, earlier finish) and was wondering whether our set up is as usual as SLT claim.

We currently have an hour for lunch, and have split lunches as the canteen cannot accommodate all our pupils in a one hour sitting. The proposal is to move to 35 mins, which barely seems like enough time to have a wee and catch your breath, much less deal with any detainees, run clubs, provide extra help to struggling kids and maybe have something to eat.

dangers

I'm not a teacher but at my kids school (secondary), they have a 55 min break at lunch Mon - Thurs and 35 mins on Friday (one less lesson and they finish 45 mins earlier than the rest of the week).
Primary here is an hour.

pavlovs_dog

1% Challenge - the little things make a difference

January Total = £178
£10 Gumtree, £66 P!necone,£50 Swagbucks + £2 Christmas scratchcard win, £50 account tidy

February Total = £157
£25 SB,£132 council tax free month

March Total = £282.49
£132 council tax free month
£15 Swagbucks
£75.49 - credit from closing BG account
£60 account tidy

Cumulative total = £617.49/£1050 (59%)

This money feeds into

MFW 2016 OP
January £610.03
February £567.03
March £659.52

Cumulative total = £1869.58 / £6000 (31%)

cookie9

Hi Pavlovs_dog we have 30 minute lunch break. Start at 8.30 with teaching from 8.45 until 4.00 but not allowed to leave until 4.30. Some days we get 15 minutes break as well but most of the time on duty.