The journey to financial independence.

Cream_Tea

This has been an expensive month. DH car broke and we had to buy a new one. Our savings were sadly depleted. £3,200 later we were reminded why we are working on increasing them so we have the reserves for these little surprises.

Work is busy which is stressful but means I spend less because I'm too tired on days off to go too far. We have tried this month to bring in packed lunches and make dinner from scratch as much as possible. We have eaten out twice, once using Tesc*s voucher. We have also had take away twice. The difficulty is both myself and DH work in jobs where we often come home late and that's where the poor choices come in. I honestly prefer home cooking but at nearly 9 at night the thought of having to cook dinner is too much so a phone call or a drive out is easier (but more expensive).

The first mortgage payment on our new fixed term with the overpayment came out yesterday. It knocked £953 off, which feels great.

More Christmas presents organised. Nearly all the home made Christmas presents are done bar the ones that need to be made nearer the handover date like the fudge.

This month I have a work christmas party, a friends birthday, a friends christmas party and a trip to Christmas markets in Germany. So plan is:
-to save £500, less than normal but needed to allow for the abnormal level of socialising.
-Try to knock the credit card down by another £200
-take in packed lunch each day
-not eat out except the ones mentioned above
-keep overpaying the mortgage.

Wish me luck. I feel this month I could be easily derailed!

Cream_Tea

Just worked out LTV after reading on another post and was intrigued. Ours is 85.31%. So in just over two years we have paid off 4.69%.

CT

cookie9

You're doing great Cream tea. Re cooking when you get home late could you make something which is v quick to cook like fajitas? I tend to batch cook in the slow cooker at the weekend then freeze portions.

Cream_Tea

Cookie9 I like the fajita idea. I will keep you posted on its success.
Plan has not gone so well this month but for a nice reason. We decided to to go away for a summer holiday, a little something to keep us motivated during the long winter (or so we have told ourselves).
Wishing everyone a merry Christmas!

Cream_Tea

So having read some really good diaries I have decided to start recording my daily spend. My aim is to have 3 or four NSDs a week. The plan is to not spend on days I work and I work 3 or 4 long days a week. I imagine I will need to spend on my days off running errands and food shops, socialising etc.
Here goes... Friday NSD, Saturday £14 chocolate and fast food, Sunday £52 meal out with Hubby. Monday TBC!

Cream_Tea

I have also joined the 2015 MFW board. We currently OP £400 a month so I thought it was achievable to push ourselves to £6000 a year which is an extra £100 a month. If not more!!

Cream_Tea

Day off today so regrouping and organising finances which I have let get out of hand in the last few month. I have popped on credit card a little more than I should have and with DH needing a new car and my trip to the Christmas markets my debt increased. Although on a good note I've kept OP mortgage. To keep focused in 2015 I've joined two challenges DFW and MFW ones which I've added to my signature.
I actually feel really positive about next year. I am planning to be debt free by Aug and on track to be mortgage free in 11 years 2025!
I've just found out one of my credit cards par is 29.94% which I am wholeheartedly ashamed I didn't know before. But as always on the bright side I know now so I can change it! I am dedicating today to money organising. So will be looking at more 0% CCs. I need to shift that debt!
I have applied for 0% cc with balance transfer. So fingers crossed that will be very helpful.
In other news 15th was NSD, 16th spent £12 on my lunch and fish and chips - mam came over I had nothing organised.
CT

enjoyyourshoes

Could possibly look at the following ideas:-

Make up packed lunches for the week and freeze them.

Use slow cooker during day (put it on a plug in timer if required) for your evening meal.

Get supermarket delivery on the day before you can do all your scratch cooking for the week: and then freeze them.

Cream_Tea

What good ideas. I think I'm going to add them to my to do list for next year. I would like to try sooner but I don't think with work and christmas plans I might be a little busy. After all... a week until the big day now!
Today £5 spent on wrapping paper, ribbon etc. nearly done.

tootallulah

Hi CT nipped over to see how you are doing, very good down payments so far. You have a big total for next year I will definitely follow and cheer you on.