MFWW - Cinny Gets Serious

Cinny91

Awww, Ali! She's absolutely lovely! And so much hair too, she's going to have a mane before you know it

Nothing really to update today, just wanted to comment on the cute kid :rotfl:

And I do, Archers!! I've become really car-proud and it's beginning to bug me, but it is lovely and the MPG is amazing! Lots more trips to the peak district at the weekend as OH can't moan about the lack of heater/leg space like he did with the fiesta

Cinny91

Morning!

Feeling pretty happy today. Mostly for my Sister and how nicely everything is coming together for her. First of all, she got a job and can stay forever :beer: Secondly she found an absolute gem of a car so is mobile again! And lastly she's also got a house sorted. She's actually getting a really sweet and generous deal with one of the family properties. My Dad completely rehauled it. Plastered it throughout, fitted a new kitchen and bathroom suite. Had the garden landscaped and got it ready to sell. But then my Uncle wound up needing a place to stay while him and my Aunt waited for the new home to be ready - so he moved in and fitted an oven, washing machine, fridge freezer and new gates that he won't be taking with him as his new place comes with everything down to the pans in the cupboard! So my Sister gets a gorgeously done up house, complete with all the appliances, as well as a sofa, two beds, dining room set! All she really needs to worry about getting to set herself up is a TV if she really wants one.

Got to say, I feel so much happier her moving into this situation than the one where everything she intended on buying came with "And we can get it on monthly payments" Just hoping other family members/siblings who had to work to get their home on point and build up to having a home so nicely furnished can see it in the same mind set and not get jealous. My Sister had a rough time of it in America and deserves an easy ride for a while.

No money update yet as I'm currently waiting for my Uncle to remember it's Friday and that = Payday! Was nice to still have a chunk of money in my bank by the end of the week so my new budget structure must be doing something right! Going to limit today's shopping to £30 as we don't need a lot and although I'm going to the discounted shops it's not a good deal if we don't need it

Also been really good in not buying cute home stuff! My Sister has been wanting to go everywhere to look for things and it's t'old muggins here that gets taken along. There is a wooden chopping board that's shaped like a lemon which is engraved into my mind and a decorative bowl which is beautiful but serves no real purpose in existing. Both things wouldn't cost more than £10 together but it's the principle!

Birdie85

Aww, glad it's all coming together so nicely for your sister! You're right, she's had a tough time and deserves some good stuff happening to her so people shouldn't be jealous. If they are, well, haters gonna hate!

Well done for avoiding the cute stuff... can't say I'd be that strong! Don't be too tough though, sometimes allowing these sweet little purchases now and again keep you from just going crazy one day and dropping £££s on something big because you feel like you deserve a spend!

alioops78

Yay fantastic news that your sister is sorted in such a short time. TBH if family react badly then they're not very nice people. It's not like she's purposely gone out of her way to get the house, it's just the right thing at the right time for everyone involved and even better that it stops her from getting into debt as soon as she's back in the country.

I'm a sucker for housey stuff too but remember do you REALLY NEED it or do you just REALLY WANT it. I also use the OMG principle, if you see something and you go OMG then it's worth looking to see if it's affordable. I'm actually wanting to get the house sorted now. I thought nesting was meant to happen before you had the baby not 5 months after :rofl:

Have a great weekend

Birdie85

I've been following the KonMari thread on OS, and whilst I still need to buy and read the book I'm finding the 'Does it bring you Joy?' question very fitting, I've gone through several boxes of 'stuff', binning about half of it because the things I was holding onto don't bring me enough joy to warrant keeping! I think this is a good tactic to employ whilst shopping for new stuff too, if it brings you great joy then by all means buy it, if the shine will wear off quickly, keep your money in your purse!

Cinny91

I remember that thread, Birdie! Will have to go back and catch up as it was a lot of food for thought. Personally, I just like going on google and putting in "KonMari Before and After"

Thanks for all the nice words on my Sister, and you're both totally right. If people can't be happy then it's kind of their own issue over anything else! We went to see the house properly yesterday, it's so nice and homely already. I know they don't want to live there forever but it's so nice that I know I wouldn't want to leave :rotfl:

Had a lovely weekend and a talk with OH lead to us setting some new goals. Well, maybe not new goals but new timescales. We've decided we want to get our house deposit up to 20k by the end of the year, and pay OH's car loan off. It's something that's attainable, but only if we play our cards right, so we've also decided we need to be more on the ball.

So, like I keep promising myself, after my hair cut today (which is a desperate need after 3 months of growing!) I'm back on my no spending. Also, I need to stop redirecting my no-spending on myself to treating other people in my place :rotfl: The level of which I like new things is alarming (not even new new, just new to me!) We have plenty, and there's nothing we want from life other than a healthier deposit so that's the focus and that's the big treat!

Need to become more frugal (but, still awesome with it) and pull the belt a little tighter as it has admittedly been getting a little slack!

Birdie85

Aaaaand I've just wasted ages looking at KM before and after photos! I really need to pull my finger out and sort out my wardrobe... but I'm scared of being swallowed up by a huge pile of clothing!

Good luck with hitting the £20k target by Christmas! I'm sure you'll manage it.

Cinny91

Morning!

Had an email this morning to say all our games passed the test at the trade in center so we'll have the money by the end of the week Got to admit, this process is longer than other companies but they don't just pay a few pennies more, on some of the games it was double other companies! OH got some games back from his family over the weekend, and I've got some DVDs to one side as well as electronics so I'll be sorting them out this afternoon.

After our talk over the weekend I feel like we've both upped our game a little. I've been really good (for me!) in not finding an odd recipe I'd like to try for tea and rushing out to get a few things for it, which is what = my odd £5-10 at the shops after we've done a weekly shop. OH has started taking a pack up to work with him, which he says is saving him at least £5 a day Although he does buy lunch out when he's on the road.. mostly because he work reimburse him those costs so it's technically a free meal

Also good news in that we'll be £415 a month better off next year :j Kind of has a good domino effect onto our mortgage plans because, if we get the deposit we want, we'd actually be able to take out a 10 year term mortgage :money: More motivation to be a cheapskate!! With the nicer days, I've got to say, I find it way easier to not spend money (and also eat salad but that's another story)

Sorry to have zapped some of your time away, Birdie I get second-hand-proudness from those pictures! Decided to declutter a few spots of the house today KM style

To Do List:

• Shampoo Carpet
• Try not to walk on said carpet
• Declutter wardrobe drawer and top of wardrobes
• Sell items and get packaged up
• Clean upstairs
• Defuzz Ryder
• Clean up Garden
• Reorganise Kitchen shelves
• Prep for tea

Quite a short one today! Borrowing a push lawn mower on Friday, and the lady who lives next door lets us borrow her edge cutter, so we're going to get the garden sorted. Will save us £20 a month on last year as just to save time with OH working so many hours and me hating gardening, was easier to "support local businesses" (was my excuse ) to get it done

Cinny91

Cinny91 wrote: »

To Do List:

[STRIKE]Shampoo Carpet
• Try not to walk on said carpet
• Declutter wardrobe drawer and top of wardrobes
• Sell items[/STRIKE] and get packaged up
  [STRIKE]
• Clean upstairs
• Defuzz Ryder
• Clean up Garden[/STRIKE]
• Reorganise Kitchen shelves
  [STRIKE]
• Prep for tea[/STRIKE]

Mostly ticked off! Will be packing the sold things up today and taking them to the post office after work. Need to pop and get salady things from Aldi too but I'm only going to spend what money I have in my purse and that's that

Going to the cinema tonight, but I'm cooking tea before hand so no real spend bar fuel there. Also going out tomorrow night but, again, I'm going to make us tea before we go and the show tickets are already paid for.

Really interested in the help-to-buy isa, trying to figure out all the information I can on it! From what I gather (and someone pretty please correct me if I'm wrong) both OH and I can open an isa each - deposit £1,000 and get a total of a combined boost of £500 when we do. From there, we can get a 25% bonus on a maximum of £200 a month (£400 total) I know you have to have the account for a minimum of 4 months, but assuming by "Autumn" they mean October - we'll be able to pay in the full amount every month and gain around 1k towards our deposit from the scheme. I think?!! Obviously because we're using it for shorter term savings - probably 6 months rather than the years some people will be using it for - we won't be getting the full 3-6k bonus like others.

List for today:

• Reorganise kitchen shelves
• Deep clean bathroom
• Tire Ryder before we go out
• Colour hair (thanks Birdie!!)
• Sort Laundry
• Take things to post office
• Behave in Aldi
• Hoover stairs (keep forgetting!)
• Clean Ryder's room (forever a fluff-fest)
• Once all the house work is done - clean the hoover filter (hella getting into the spring clean mode)

Should be plenty for this afternoon! Also need to figure out what I'm wearing tonight/tomorrow and get it all hung up so I'm ready to go without too much fuss in the evenings.

Cinny91

Hey!

Sorry for the lack of update on here this week, it's not even that I've been overly busy but when I try to post I seemingly get distracted by something

Just holding on until OH's payday now! We're hoping for a bit of a whopper as some of OH's commission at a higher rate will get paid, along with being able to back date some older claims for a lower percentage Managing to squirrel a little away from my wages but it isn't really amounts to shout from the roof tops!

Did the food shop on Tuesday and stuck to my list for a meal plan, only spent £26 which still included £1.50 on some radiator airers. Also got through the weekend with no spends bar £10 on dog food for Ryder (obviously) Cashed in on birthday freebies and our cinema cards for free entertainment and doughnuts

Used my MSE ways to spread the wealth and got my Grandad's car insurance down from £150 to £120, so he was happy with that! And, like practically no one ever says, Happy Grandad Happy Life :money:

OH and I have both officially got Easter off of work this year so we're planning lots of walks, and a cheapie trip to the seaside. Hoping we get the beautiful weather everyone keeps talking about! We're going to keep everything as low cost as possible, this hunkering down business is our main game plan now it's warmer

It's my Birthday tomorrow but I've said no gifts, turned down going out for tea in favour of cooking and planning on a night in with netflix and easter eggs :EasterBun Hooooowever we are going out on Saturday as I've decided to spend my birthday money on some new dresses for spring/summer. Had a quick look over the Debenhams sale, so I'm planning on doing a click and collect on Friday night so we can pocket a free £5 voucher So I'll still get a tiny bit of fuss!