2015 - the penultimate year!

DebtFree2012

Money is tight this month. It's been expensive in areas I didn't expect it to be, but the good news is that it'll be replaced next month which is when it should have been spent, and is when it was budgetted for!
I've brought my lunch in to work again today so I'm really pleased as I was yet again, very tempted not to. It's the little things that make the big changes like that I think.
We're going away for a short break soon and I can't wait. Nothing flash but some time out as a family which will be lovely. Lots of home made cooking, walks out, family time and hopefully a bit of sun! It's a pain for getting the animals looked after but that's always going to be the case so may as well start small with a couple of nights which is what we're doing.
I was day dreaming on the way into work about being DF and discussed with my daughter how she would like to have her bedroom decorated in the future. I'd be able to get it all done how she wants with just 1 month of what would have gone to debt!!!
I'm still waiting to sort the mortgage as the rates are still fairly high. If you're in that game and hear [EMAIL="H@lif@x"]H@lif@x[/EMAIL] are about to drop their rates (or increase them), please let me know

DebtFree2012

Happy Friday MSE people!


I had a lovely weekend last week and I hope to rival that with an even better one this weekend. I've not cooked a Sunday lunch for a few weeks, as we've had the bbq, been invited out and generally been busy doing other things. With that in mind, I think will see what we have in the freezer that can act as the roast and cook up a storm for Sunday. The full works.


I don't think we have anything planned that takes time away from the farm for the weekend, which is great. I plan in getting all the beg beds finished and then it's a case of staying on top of the weeding.


The turnips and radishes are coming through. I'll be so excited if we get to harvest any of these things, it all seems to far off at the moment as all we have are leaves! Except for the tomatoes, they are showing flowers. They will move to their final resting place this weekend too. That reminds, me, I need more compost for some items. We have rotted muck but for some things I need to add compost too.


A truly homemade weekend is on the cards. Enjoying our space, making food, playing with the kids and having time to ourselves. What more could we want

DebtFree2012

My Friday update


CCV is currently paying interest on £764.75 so this is my number 1 priority. Remainder of balance is at 0% (Total balance is £2750.77). I'm saving each week towards this and when I have a lump sum, I will pay it off. The £500 mark I think. Interest is around £14 a month.


The amount I am paying interest on should be cleared by end October, then I will have the remainder to clear before the interest rate runs out in Nov 17 I think it is.

crunch_time

Your weekend sounds marvellous!! Enjoy xx

DebtFree2012

This was Monday's post but MSE wouldn't let me post until today for some reason.
What a lovely weekend we had too They are simply not long enough though! Given ow fast they go by, I will be DF in no time! This month is turning into a very long one! Money seems to be trickling from my bank account like the dripping tap scenario. Little bits here and there but adding up to A LOT! So this weekend when I thought I better do a menu plan on my lunch hour this week and get it ordered for delivery on Friday (I shop every 2 weeks and collect or deliver on Friday), I realised that pay day isn’t until the middle of next week so Friday’s delivery is out of the question!
I’ve already spent up on the grocery budget but will need to go shopping at some point for fruit and milk. I know this won’t add up to much but I’m annoyed that I’ve not been very organised on that front.
So today over lunch I will draw up the menu plan. We’re starting to harvest one or two small items meaning we’re seeing the benefits of our allotment both on the pocket and in our health. Not enough to make an impact financially but I love to sit down to our evening meal knowing that we’ve grown some of it ourselves.
The budget is going down to £300 for the 4 of us for next month to allow me to kick debt’s butt a bit more. Over the summer our bills reduce slightly anyway so I am hoping this ties in.
Another argument I am having with myself is that I’ve fell out with Tesco but it’s the most viable option shopping wise, that does home delivery anyhow. Sainsbobs deliver but I think they’re more expensive, Mr M doesn’t deliver to us and I think Mr A do. I have £10 off Sainsbobs I think. Anyone used any of them?
Today I have 98 emails to get through in the office, plus a list to start when I get through those and then another list (it's good to have lists) to tackle tonight which includes and hour or so in the veg plot, ironing and getting everything ready for tomorrow so we don't have a stupid rush in the morning.
Accounts checked this morning and all budget money has gone out and there are no more payments due this month (pay month).
I've an unexpceted expense of £6 plus whaetever the milk and fruit comes to this week. We will just about squeeze through to pay day with only £22 left of the £250 savings I should have had, it happens!

DebtFree2012

Down to 62 email by close of play Wed. They won't stop coming in!

pennywisepoundstupid

Hi Debtfree2012.

I have used various online grocery shops, $ainsburys are good and I don't find them any more expensive than tesc0, Tesc0 I fell out of love with too many random subs and late deliveries, I hate Mr A with a passion, they may well be the cheapest but their service is awful but I have never liked them even instore and won't set foot in one to be honest, Mr M is my all time favourite, fantastic service, lovely helpful drivers and I always get plenty of money off an x spend or extra point vouchers.

ScattySkewbald

Sainsburys service is good and nectar points add up but I do find they can be quite expensive on some bits. Have you thought about ocado? There always seems to be £20 off £80 shop etc vouchers flying around. Iceland is also good for stocking the freezer. I tend to plug the few branded bits I buy into mysupermarket.com and go with the cheapest for anything I can't pick up at Aldi x

crunch_time

I like sains and always found the service great! Sometimes you can get delivery for £1 which is great! and you can buy the delivery service pack as an extra I think which, if you are happy with them, can work out cheaper long term. I've found sainsurys basics range very good and I love that they do msc fish which I struggle to find in morris. I'm starting to toy around with the idea of shopping around a bit more. Thing is I don't have a massive freezer and don't have the space for a spare one so cant really stock up for a long period of time.

xx

DebtFree2012

Thank you all for answering. I can't get on to MSE from work anymore which is sickening so I'm struggling to post. I'm writing in a word doc ready to copy across though as I don't want to lose my diary keeping.
Re the supermarkets, I tried Mr A and wasn't impressed at all. I will have a think once we have the next week or 2 out of the way as it's going to be a busy time. This was the post from 25th:


In my housekeeping savings account I have £185.57 which is way down on what it should be but I borrowed £200 from there which is being put back at £37.50 a week and I’ve made 3 payments to that so far, so a couple more weeks and I’m neutral there again. That will then be used to buy heating oil and coal ready for the Winter and therefore paid for in advance. The electricity bill is relatively low at the moment (and so it should be on light nights) so I need to make sure it remains low through the summer and save a few extra pennies to the Winter bill.
The grocery budget for the coming month is down to £300 which is going to be exceedingly tight as we have an event to cater for but the tighter it is the more you watch it I suppose.
Personal accounts are looking like this:


Savings to go to CCV £118.66. The rate this increases will slow down over the summer until around September/October time then it’ll pick up again.


Savings for London still £17.92. Target to reach is £250 after discussing with DH.


My savings are right down to £297.53 after a spendy month.


Blue rewards £35
Savings this month will be spent on the event we’re catering for. June to September’s (inc) pay will see the savings actually saved again as there’s no big known about costs but of course the unexpected might happen plus that will be used towards Christmas. Oh my word, I can’t wait for Christmas in this house . Once I am back from the little jaunt we’re going on, Christmas plans will be out and in full flow!
The credit cards will just have the minimum sent to them this month and that is all covered and will be allocated as soon as pay hits tomorrow. Loans will come out as normal. Dare I say already, roll on end of June’s pay?
At work, I’ve so much to get on with and I am flitting between CBA, procrastinating and getting my head down (to work, not sleep!). I started the week off with 98 emails and now I am down to 74, it was lower, but people insist on sending me more.