MF in 10 - no ifs buts or maybes

Maybe_its_because

An unexpected week of NSDs when I didn't expect them and spending on the days I was planning not to....

But an NSD on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Really pleased with that.

We booked our holiday but used the holiday savings account to pay for it
A few bdays coming up but used clubcd vouchers for present purchasing

And emptied the last £44 out of the joint account and OPd another February payment. Total of £544 :-)

Payday today so lots of shuffling done.

MIB x

Maybe_its_because

Setting myself a March target of 9 NSDs. I didn't quite make the 8 in feb but 7 was enough given I count ANY spending rather than just spending that isn't planned or accounted for.

Off to see if there's a challenge in the debt free area. Need a bit of moral support on that front

Maybe_its_because

Annoyed with myself (in an MSE way) today for making a silly mistake.

Yesterday, knowing it wasnt going to be a spend free day I got a load of the months planned spending done.... booked train tickets, flights and day trips for the year ahead which need to be done at some point this month to get the best prices. Got my cashback and use boost vouchers etc. All in anticipation of a few NSDs today and tomorrow.:money:

But stupidly I forgot to pick up a birthday card to post to my nephew - and didn't have one in the card stash. Its tomorrow so had to go out and buy one today - and there are no cheap card shops near where I work. :mad: Never mind, onwards and upwards.

In better news, the OP will be leaving the account tomorrow so I'll have something to report then.

Maybe_its_because

Ooh, and also paid my updated tax bill yesterday for the BTL.

That's one things less to worry about.

Maybe_its_because

Can't believe I made the same mistake 2 days in a row!

Totally forgot we were going to a friends kids birthday party. Present sorted ages ago but somehow forgot the card.

So, once again I lost another NSD to buy a birthday card.
While I was there I bought all the cards needed for the year. Refuse to forget again Grr!!

Maybe_its_because

Had a very spendy weekend taking our DD out for her first farm trip. Didn't take any cash out the bank, OH and I just used what was left in our pockets to get lunch etc. The MSE way would've been to take lunch with us but get really excited when our DD can eat out like a big girl instead of taking baby food with us.

All the DDs (bar one) have left the joint account and still a healthy balance left. Saved 4p on Tescimo's petrol and used a £12 off voucher at Sainsbugs on the weekly shop.Been meaning to go there for ages as my bags for life were getting really raggy.

New water bill is in and the increase is less than I'd budgeted for so updated the spreadsheet. £6 a month less. Should get the council tax bill over the coming weeks and hope I've overbudgeted for that too.

Had an NSD yesterday and hoping for one today AND tomorrow but who knows.
I've had a reminder to pay DDs swimming lessons for the term but will wait til later in the week as don't want to interrupt the NSD flow.

Going to pop by Sant bank on my lunch to see if I can upgrade my account to a cashback one. Did the est calculations online and we should be £10 a month better off if we had it.

feeling more positive this week. hope that feeling stays ;-)

MIB x

Maybe_its_because

Another spendy weekend followed by an NSD and hopefully another 3 in a row to follow.
Becoming a pattern.

Still plenty left in the grocery account and I'll be away at my parents next week so hope that means less spending while eating from their fridge ;-) OH will no doubt make his way through the freezer in my absence, which is great and very inadvertently MSE of him.

Have made inroads into getting him on board for selling some of the baby paraphernalia we have acquired over the last year. No plans for another (yet?!) so think it would be good to clear the house a little and make some more ££ for OPs.

Had my sant bank appointment today so now totally understand what DDs and spending to do from the 123current and 123credit cards.
Hopefully that's set the foundation for cash back here on in.
Also transferred our joint savings and holiday funds (on less than 1%) to start getting 3% interest. Why haven't I done this before?

Good start to the week. Onwards and upwards

Maybe_its_because

Plus, to add the the £500 OP this month, I've secretly stashed away some more away from the joint account. Just got to stick to the grocery budget and no unexpected spends.

Maybe_its_because

Have forgotten to update my own diary, been posting to the March NSD challenge instead.

Good news since last update
8/9 NSDs so far.
Still have £156 in the joint account and £200 secretly stashed

Not so good news
Have fully spent my pocket money for the month. Used it to buy my train ticket for family visit and had a big (BIG!!!) night out with the girls involving nightclub, taxis and lots of drinking. My first for a very long time - since before DD was present in our lives.


Am away this week and off work. Find NSDs easier when I'm at work.
Confident I can reach the target, it's just a matter of when.
Not sure all of the remaining underspend and the secret stash will all go on the mortgage OP. We need to stock up on euros a we have quite a few trips to visit family and friends in OHs home town. It would be sensible to get the euros while the rate is good. I'd rather OP it though ;-)

Today's plan includes looking for new car seats - one for grandparents and one for our car. Toyrus have a sale on at the mo so the best value for us.

SavingRaven

Hi MIB,

Just caught up on your diary. Well done on all the no spend days this month - brilliant stuff. You've done so well on stashing £200 and the big night out sounds like it was well worth it!

I was quite spendy last week catching up with friends but hoping to be a bit stricter until the end of the month as I have zero money.

Hopefully we can cheer each other on until the end of the month. Good luck
SR x