The End May Actually Be in Sight...

skint_spice

Oh I'd love a gardener, cleaning I cope with but ohhh the gardening. Money well spent in my opinion and think of the interest you are saving - live a little and enjoy life.

RoaringTwenties

Thanks Crumpets, Wish, gallygirl & ss I took your sound advice & the cleaner started yesterday :T. My fridge is now so clean I can actually safely store food in it which is a novelty :rotfl:. Actually it wasn't that bad, but I am glad it's done properly now. The gardener is popping round tomorrow to give us an assessment, if he can fit me in that is as he's so busy [STRIKE]you just can't get the starff[/STRIKE]

Not too many spends in the last few days, got quite a bit of stationery for the kids from Sainsys at 70% off so that's useful. I've been trying to come up with [STRIKE]hare-brained schemes [/STRIKE] strategies for getting extra money together to get rid of the mortgage as for some reason I'm getting massively impatient to see it gone! Nothing to report as yet, might have to consult other people's diaries more intensely for inspiration.

DS finishes school for Easter tomorrow, hoping to keep the holiday budget sensible. It's my OH's birthday on Easter Monday but think I've got her sorted pressie-wise. Got a Gruffalo egg in WH Smith for £1.99 today after seeing it in Sainsys for £3.50 :T. I so rarely think to go in WH Smith but might have to start

Hope everyone has a good weekend xx

RoaringTwenties

Weeeelll (turning into Lulu now :rotfl:) the school Easter hols have rather curtailed my posting time, but never mind! It's not been a particularly MSE week, we've had family to stay so a couple of nice lunches out but the kids have been pretty cheap to run so far

Still no word from the gardener, I had a leaflet through the door from someone else so may give him a go instead. My lovely retired neighbour did my front lawn yesterday, he has a massive plot and we have a deal whereby he does our front lawn in exchange for using our garden waste bin for his clippings, as his gets full in seconds! Plus as his wife says it keeps him out of mischief and out from under her feet . He edged ours too and it reminded me how nice it looks when it's properly done. So [reminder to self] must get onto gardeners....

I thought I'd posted this on here but it was when I was chatting on Crumpets' thread I mentioned it! I listed 51 items on the eBay free listing weekend :eek:. I took photos on my iPhone then listed them quickly via the app on a long car journey (whilst a passenger, obviously :cool:). Got a few bids and stacks of watchers. It's mainly kids clothes for a couple of quid here and there but it all adds up. I did make a plan to list one 99p thing a day but that's gone out of the window, will have to try and start when DS goes back to school.

I've realised that our 1st May mortgage payment plus usual OP will take us to £18,159 so I'm going to try and get another £160 together between now & then to get us to £17,999! It's funny, I was going to write "it's a psychological barrier" by way of explanation but then I realised everyone on here would totally get it anyway . Not sure we'll manage it but wish us luck :money:

That's about it for now, the sun is out here, hope it is for all in MFW land :T

Mrs_Rachel_Trelfa

Yep I know exactly what you mean

Well done on keeping the easter Holliday spend down. I remember when I was little mum mum came up with lots of crazy and cheap ways to keep us entertained.

RoaringTwenties

To be honest it's been cheap so far as DS has been so cream-crackered he's just laid on the sofa! He has got into typing things out on the computer - songs etc - & then printing them out as scripts and performing for us all, which is highly entertaining. I do now need a new printer cartridge though, if anyone knows of economical sellers?

Today I'm taking him to Messy Easter Church - he's messy without any intention so I hope the Almighty is ready for the chaos :rotfl:

RoaringTwenties

I think I might have to start posting more regularly on here, it's got to the stage where I have so much to chatter on about that I almost don't want to start as I know I'll never get time to finish it! [STRIKE]I've even created a folder in my iPhone Paperless app where I jot down notes of things to mention when I next post, but obviously I'd never be so sad as to admit that[/STRIKE]

Welllllll it was an expensive food shop this week as the top quality line caught sustainable eco-friendly totally right-on smoked fish loin that we love was half price, so I bought all that they had . It'll freeze and do us for a meal a week for the next month or two so a shrewd move. I've returned a couple of bits of clothing for the kids - my rule is that unless I'm certain they will wear it it goes back if they've not worn it within the guarantee period!

Had a couple of nice days out whilst the kids have been at home but nothing too expensive, just lunches in little cafes and the odd book/toy in a charity shop.

I've started saving coppers, something I always used to do then stopped. I'm up to £1.42 so we're talking big bucks here I don't think I'll pay it in as an OP, I've been thinking about this - because the last few years have been quite tight financially - & downright miserable at times - we want to have a bit of a life now things are so much easier. Also I'm a bit OCD about the OPs, I like to know exactly what goes off the mortgage, and as I have only a basic (& usually totally inaccurate) online statement from Skippers it's hard to keep track of minimal payments. Plus the fact they're not instant if done online of course. So I think Tilly Tidies etc are not really for me (sorry Tilly, no offence ) I'm going to put things like the coppers into general funds, which then makes me feel like we have money to play with, which we don't spend, and then goes towards a bigger OP next month. Did you follow all that? No, me neither :rotfl:

I've also started using TopCashBack again. I gave up late last year as many of my fave retailers exited it, and I got fed up of declined transactions which seemed to be happening a lot. But I've bought a few bits recently so thought I'd try again. I'm up to £5.12 tracked already, and that's from a couple of orders that had bonus cash back. The total amount I've claimed since I started is £794.75 apparently :T

Still aiming for an extra £160 OP this month to get us under £18,000 :A

Right that's enough from me for now, I've got through about half the notes in my MSE app :rotfl:

Thanks for reading, hope the sun is shining on you all

Beckyy

I love saving coppers too, it's quite surprising how much it does add up over time - not millions but you an get the best part of £50/100 without it looking like more than a tenner!

I use Quidco instead of TCB wouldn't be without the cashback, it does make a difference, there's so many people that don't know about it too!

RoaringTwenties

Hi Beckyy, thanks for dropping by

Yes the coppers do add up. I keep a bit of paper in each change bag with the running total told you I was sad

I have both a TopCashBack & Quidco account, I was introduced to TCB first so seem to have stuck with them, and I think at the time Quidco had a fee, though I think that's gone now? I was sceptical at first - free money?! I still can't convince some of my family. I must remember to check them both before ordering, as I think sometimes one has a higher rate than the other...

Welshlassie

I've started using the ClickSnap with Quidco - They offer CB for certain purchases in the supermarkets (including Aldi and Lidl) so in the last 2 weerks I've had 75p (3x25p) for buying grapes, tangerines and something else I can't recall now. You just tick the items your claiming and then photograph the receipt and upload it via the app it then tracks 3-4 days later.

Money for nothing! Much remember to log it within 7 days of purchase, but I love that they have aldi and lidl as well. Not all the offers are for all the supermarkets, but the fruit seems to be for all of them.

I also use Easyfundraising for my amazon purchases - this is linked to our school PTFA so feel that my kids get the benefit when I can't get CB for Amazon on Quidco.

I used to collect coppers, but since starting to use YNAB I have allocated every penny to a category so can't syphon off the pennys. We are difinately better off financially though from using YNAB so as much as I'd love to do Tilly Tidies - appeals to my OCD about numbers, I have to restrain myself.

Mrs_Rachel_Trelfa

I love collecting and saving up coppers. I did this growing up and would use it for my holiday spending money as it doesn't feel like I have had to find extra. Enjoying the lovely weather here.

What is YNAB if you don't mind me asking.