The Road to Financial Security

Pushkin

Hi Frugal - thanks the empathy, glad to know I'm not alone with the frustrations - we will have to get the lounge redecorated - the one we were going to do in August, have really lost my mojo with it all!

Pushkin

Well, I didn't say before but I have had some time out from work and returned back on Monday. As previously mentioned things really started getting on top of me early last month and they kind of came to a head.

Anyway, was both touched and surprised at how lovely everyone has been upon my return. I have a new manager very different to previous one - have gone from a British woman in her 30s to a Texan male in his 50s!

So current thoughts are to hang on in there for now which is the line of least resistance but again hard to walk away from the income.

DH is away this week so food costs have been lower which is good although I am looking forward to his return tomorrow - absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Pushkin

Having an ok week,

Food has been going well and I've (mainly) been sticking to the 3 meals a day with nothing in between strategy - DH working at home today/yesterday and as I've been in the kitchen temptation has got the better of me - but back to the study tomorrow.

Work going ok, ramping up busy wise as I get back into it but am determined not to let it get me down like it did before.

Also been doing long (well 1hr) dog walks before work every morning which is really setting me up well for the day. Will try not to let bad weather be an excuse for not doing it - one of the benefits from working from home.

Weird eye issue today, left eye is swollen and only half open and all gungy. Might be conjunctivitis but will see if it gets better on its own - again not an issue that I look like a tronk as I am at home all day :T:T

Ooh well distinct lack of money talk on a mortgage free wannabe site so some financial updates:

Still have about 60% of Christmas presents to buy - need to get cracking on internet and fit in a trip to the shops.

Accidentally bought a book for my Kindle last night but went on @mazon this morning and requested a refund which was confirmed - a useful tip if anyone is dopey like me and manages to do that!

Set up boiler maintenance agreement now that free one year warranty has finished - £14 a month but worth it for the peace of mind

Have given up trying to sell that 1ph0ne = tried twice and was a disaster so have told DH he can have it - he says he wants it but still (after 2 weeks) hasn't set it up so might try again but really feel I've had my fingers burnt - especially as P@yP@l have taken their commission on one aborted sale and I can't seem to get in touch to claim it back

I guess you live and learn.

Pushkin

Pay day for me today :j Small money shuffle and put a little into slush fund, not too much as still have quite a few Christmas presents to get -am normally much more ahead than this.

I have also done something that might be considered controversial - bought a brand new car (gulp)! DH has been working to convince me for a few weeks - first time I'll ever have a brand new one. We are putting deposit of around one third of its value down and will finance the rest but pay it off after a few months. Plan is to keep the car for longer than I would if it were 2nd hand and according to the spreadsheet DH put together this will work out cheaper.

Feel very indulgent and took a while to be convinced but now the deed is done am very excited and want it soon as possible :rotfl:

Petal88

New car is exciting! What kind did you go for?

Pushkin

Petal88 wrote: »

New car is exciting! What kind did you go for?

Hi Petal - it's a Nissan Qashquai in nightshade - still can't believe I got to choose the colour :T

Pushkin

Another week knocked off, 5 more weeks and its 2016 - talk about time passing more quickly as you get older - eek

First @m@z0n order of the season done today to get some presents for DS.
Going shopping tomorrow as it's my sister and niece's birthday early Dec and need to get vouchers
So finally making a better effort to close down the list - already dreading the present wrapping though - I hate it with a passion! :eek:

Pushkin

Good session Christmas shopping yesterday:

Birthday voucher for sister bought
Few bits for DH
Few bits for DS
Bought some clothes for myself -first time for about 6 months - probably not long time for hardcore MFWers but for me it is. Sadly i still haven't lost any weight but my chunky thighs still need covering!

Cinema last night to see Bridge of Spies - had to book as it was first week open, I got the tickets and DH the refreshments. First grown up film for DS (not action packed, no comedy, no special effects etc) - plot very dialogue driven.

Parents for lunch today so don't need to cook. Just watching Andrew Marr and then I'll blitz through some housework.

Need to pop out and buy some poo bags - one of the downslides of the change in law regarding plastic bags (of which I approve btw) is that I now need to buy bags for picking up poo. Also might treat the dog to a new collar - will make it clear to her it's her Christmas present! :T

Pushkin

Really annoyed myself yesterday, tried the new trousers on thought they were ok albeit a bit tight. The tightness got gradually worse throughout the day - too much so. Another item of clothing I will have to 'slim into' (like that ever happens )

Managed to miss the postman today during my only 30 minutes of being out of the house, came back from walking the dog to find a 'we missed you' delivery card so now I have to go to the sorting centre in town to collect a package :mad:

Bought some stamps and was shocked to discover it is now 60p for a first class one :eek:

Pushkin

First of the month - mortgage has now (by my calculations) gone sub £100k - :beer::j:money::T:A - feels like a real milestone - just hope I haven't calculated it wrong.

I have also made my savings target for the year - although I will be taking some out when I buy the new car

Haven't made my target for money making (selling & surveys) - wanted to get to £200 but am only on £388. Have some cds to sell so I may get it done this month you never know!

Big credit card bill on the horizon as on line Christmas shopping kicks in and there's more to come :eek: