DFW journey starts today

monz

sounds very thought out xx

twiggy86

Thanks Monz!

twiggy86

Well last night didn't go as planned and I am now sporting a nice bandage and crutches! Ooops! Tipped my ankle at circuits but funnily enough whilst walking to get my water bottle rather than actually doing anything dangerous! :rotfl: Only a sprain - haven't been to the doctors as I'm sure it will be fine! Just feel rather dramatic hopping around work!

However I was naughty and got a takeaway last night as I wanted to rest my foot up with some ice. But tonight I will be hopping around the kitchen!

twiggy86

Exciting news! Another of my friends is pregnant! Especially exciting since she didn't think she could fall pregnant without help. This is the friend who was having the hen do to Portugal next year but they have now pushed back the wedding to 2017. This means that the villa is already paid for and I have longer to save for the flights! Also means that I may be able to afford a holiday with OH next year! But most importantly I'm super excited for my friend!!!!

twiggy86

Pay day today! So I've paid £250 off the CC plus 67p from TCB. This means that I've now cleared over £6k worth of debt! :j

Plus I've transferred another £100 to my emergency fund, £50 to the house renovation fund and various other amounts to my numerous other pots (which apparently keep growing as I've now got another baby to save for!!)

I'm helping a friend at a kids party tomorrow (she's aware of the foot so I'll be doing all the sit down bits!) so that's an extra £20. Plus depending on what OH gives me I may be able to pay off a little bit more, or may put it into the house pot.

I like pay day, even if I am already skint! :rotfl:

twiggy86

Nothing much exciting over here to report except that my friend is back at the moment from Aus for a month! Went for dinner on Saturday night but I didn't drink despite having a lift, so only spent £18. However the food was horrible! The two pregnant ones ended up sending their food back uneaten as the chicken was a shade of pink! Lovely evening though!

I was also very good and was firm with OH when he wanted "a few quid" - just told him I didn't have any! Felt mean but he needs to get on board! Plus I was annoyed at him as 1. he owes me a fair amount of money already, 2. he only worked 2 1/2 days last week 3. he knew he would have a short week and decided to book a tattoo session(!) 4. he only paid me half my "rent" for this week! Please don't judge him too harshly - we've got a box of light bulbs at home so maybe I need to give him one (or shove it up his....:rotfl:!!!)

In house news, we spent most of the weekend sanding and undercoating the bannisters and spindles, so work is progressing again! This makes a happy twiggy! Still massives to do and very little money to do it, but as long as we're making progress I don't mind! It felt like it had kind of stalled where we got frustrated not being able to just throw a load of cash at it. We does make me think maybe I shouldn't have set up to overpay the mortgage, but as its money we didn't have before I'll try and just forget about it. Once the emergency fund is built up that will be extra to throw at the house each month.

Maybe foolishly considering all of the above, but me and OH have decided that in September (both our birthdays) as our birthday presents to ourselves we're going to book a holiday for next year! So I really need to get back firmly in the MSE saddle!

As the first step I've started using my shopping cashback apps again as I've been lax as building up all the extra little bits and pieces as I was before. I'm also up to £39.90 on One Poll (need £40 to withdraw) but keep getting thrown out of everything! I'm sure one day soon I'll hit the £40 mark!

Wow! That's a lot of rambling about not a lot!

twiggy86

I've decided that as I've been feeling torn between my priorities (debt free, mortgage free, house completed) that I'm going to set myself some (hopefully) realistic goals for the rest of the year to try and make me feel more focussed. I do have some expenses coming up but I am better prepared than most years! So I've already got most of the money set aside for my car and home insurance.

So with 5 pay days left of the year, my goals to reach by 31 December 2015 are:-
1. Debt under £2k - meaning I have to find £349 each month
2. Emergency fund up to £1k - meaning I have to find £107 each month
3. House fund up to £1k - this may be the most difficult one as it currently means I have to find £163 each month if I don't dip into it as we go along (only for house renovations though - nothing else)
4. £500 worth of mortgage overpayments - first £100 overpayment should come out beginning of August

On paper (or screen rather) they look quite doable provided OH is on board (and I can never be quite sure whether he's just nodding in the right places!) - wish me luck!

Bobarella

Good for you setting the goals Twiggy. I do know what you mean when you feel there is so many conflicting but valid financial goals to reach for.

twiggy86

Thanks Bob - I felt like I didn't know where to focus myself so felt I wasn't getting anywhere in particular! Hopefully having goals will mean that I know what to achieve, even though it does delay my DFD but as it's interest free I'll try not to worry about that!

Just popped to the bank at lunch to put some money in so paid £30 off the CC and added £30 to the house fund. Not sure I'll achieve my house fund goal as we are constantly doing work to the house, so maybe I'll change it to having certain things done in the house (and all paid for!) like carpet in the hall, stairs and landing!

AleMrsT

twiggy86 wrote: »

I was also very good and was firm with OH when he wanted "a few quid" - just told him I didn't have any! Felt mean but he needs to get on board! Plus I was annoyed at him as 1. he owes me a fair amount of money already, 2. he only worked 2 1/2 days last week 3. he knew he would have a short week and decided to book a tattoo session(!) 4. he only paid me half my "rent" for this week! Please don't judge him too harshly - we've got a box of light bulbs at home so maybe I need to give him one (or shove it up his....:rotfl:!!!)

:T:T: This made me laugh out loud!:rotfl: sorry! Your OH sounds a bit like mine. He's always moaning we have no money but keeps buying stuff! He's forever telling me we cant afford a holiday, but he wants a new TV! :mad:

Well done on setting your goals, and the way you've been storming through your debts I'm sure they are achievable.