MF in 10 - no ifs buts or maybes

SavingRaven

MIB, your comment on the front door made me laugh - so MSE! Remember what you said to me last week; you're allowed to have a blow out now and again. You're doing so well on all areas of budgeting I wouldn't feel bad about it.

I know what you mean about what counts as a NSD. I count them as days I don't spend from my pocket money account but I don't count it if it's spent from joint account for milk top ups because we have a budget for food built into the JA.

Good luck on the job front! Better work/life balance sounds like it's worth the pay cut.
SR x

Maybe_its_because

Update for the week.

Back from a weekend away for a pal's wedding and stayed in budget and racked up a couple more NSDs.

Also reconciled the accounts and have made a further £125 payment to the mortgage.
£625 total OP for June, and £3470 total OP for 2015.
Possibly could've paid a bit more this month but want to keep in an emergency buffer for tomorrow or for anything which hasn't yet reached the bank statement.

Updated the spreadsheet so all ready for payday, just need to do the money shuffle tomorrow.

Had the job interview last week and didn't feel it worth the sacrifices we'd be making. It was on the surface a better balance between work and life but looking further into it, it was the same responsibilities, stresses etc - just for less money. So, staying put jobwise. that means OPing remains on track.

Speaking of work, better get some done ;-)

MIB xx

Maybe_its_because

Made the usual £500 OP this week and tried to stash more away for a possible 2nd OP this month.
Looking back these have ranged from £25 to £200 over the last few months so hoping for the latter. We'll see.

Have redefined my NSDs and sorted the money pots out.

Anything which features directly on the spreadsheet (i.e. fuel budget) is a planned spend therefore doesnt affect my NSD status if it stays within the nominated amount. Also I've put £10 a week pocket money and £20 a week for DD activities (swimming etc) aside so that won't impact on an NSD day and also won't count medical related expenses - a last minute need for calpol has scuppered me a few times.

I haven't yet declared my NSD target over on the July thread - must go and do that now.... its the 7th already - oops!!!

2 NSDs in a row the last couple of days already.

All of the bills paid or set up and money all in the right pots.

A major garden project undertaken at the weekend so feeling much less stressed out about that.There is a need to buy some more planters and shrubs to finish it off but might wait til later in the month. We did pick up 3 bags of free compost from our local tip.

Have had a quick look on the spreadsheet and noticed that the £3970 op amount this year has resulted in a £10k+ reduction over the life of the mortgage balance and has moved us from a 2037 to a 2036 end date... after only 7 months of OPing.... wow!!
If we maintain our minimum £500 monthly OP it'll be gone by mid-2028 which isn't far off our 2025 target

Finally, the public figs became available on zoopla on the houses sold recently on our street. Meaning our approximate ltv has gone under 60%. That'll get us closer to the owning 1/2 the house target by 2018

MIB x

Firegirl

Great news about the impact of your overpayments!!!!! Well worth the effort!!!!!

Maybe_its_because

Need to update and clear my brain of info/money stuff

good stuff
- back from trip to inlaws. took just enough euros this time, getting better at budgeting for those trips.
- just requested a £114 TCB pay out :j
- got a free coffee and croissant this morning with a voucher, therby removing the need to splurge on food goodies at lunch time (and not losing an NSD)
- just had text from OH - he is off work this week and has done his to do list and sent me photographic evidence ;-)
- had my 7th NSD yesterday and hopefully the 8th today. The new classification of an NSD (i.e a no "unplanned" spend day) is working out for us
- spreadsheet up to date and the numbers match
- got another crafty order so hopefully £10 coming my way this week once sold
- got a pedicure to use as a late birthday gift
- made another £30 OP taking our annual total to £4,000
- still £100 in the joint account to last til month end so hopefully a chance to find some op ££
- £11 of interest from the 123Sant account paid

Not so good stuff
- forgot to book the suitcase in on our trip over the weekend so had to pay the full fee at check in. Grr. Never done that before! Booked online before we returned so didnt get hit again on the way back
- forgot to put the dishwasher on before we went away so came back to very mouldy utensils which need replacing
- I'm at work while DD and OH are at home having fun (dont begrudge them that)
- BTL rent was both paid late and down by £150 due to gas cert and other works needing doing. (good for the tax bill I suppose)
- holiday break mistakenly booked with CC instead of 123card so missed out on 10% - £30 cashback with my offers
- £200 dental bill still to pay (in installments)

Pretty balanced few weeks I'd say.

MIB x

SavingRaven

Hi MIB, the good stuff on your list definitely outweighs the bad! Well done on the £4k of OPs - great going!

I definitely need to get as organised with you on the BTL front (just had a annual charge bill for £263 that I knew was coming but sort of forgot about it and didn't budget for!)

Fancy coming to north London to go through my finances!!
SR x

Maybe_its_because

SavingRaven wrote: »

Fancy coming to north London to go through my finances!!
SR x

Barely managing my own south of the river :-)

the BTL has taken me a little while to get on top of. I've already filled out my online tax return for the year (but not going to submit til Jan) A couple of years ago I was charged heavily for late payment and learned a very expensive lesson.
Nowadays its just another worksheet on my spreadsheet - which feeds the insane need to be doing "something" MSE-y in those quiet times of the month

xx

SavingRaven

Ha! Fair enough - sounds like you're having far too much fun with your spreadsheets!

We only bought the BTL last year (around this time) as a place for a family member to live rather than as an investment so definitely need to get on top of costs. Need to get the kitchen and bathroom sorted too - never ends does it?!

SR x

Maybe_its_because

Just a quick update.

Payday still feels a long way away Grrr to 5 week months! Final stretch with money in the joint account but need to keep tight control to make it last.

- A couple of NSDs this week so nearly hit the target :-)
- Working 3 days this week so the oyster top up be higher than normal.
- Family visiting us this weekend so need to dish out more on the "jobs in the house/garden" list. Likely to be a little bit of spending on paint but not much.
- crafty order finished and £10 in the pot
- updated the meter readings and predicted the next bill. We're still going to be in debt by about £500 (was -£1,000 6 months ago) we're already paying £125 a month and don't really want to pay more. It does limit us in terms of switching to another energy provider. Not sure what to do about that - except for continue checking we're getting the best npow deal available to us

- There's an Argos sale til tomorrow and hoping to get some 3f2 garden toys for the LO. I've got a £40 gift card so hope to spend that tonight or tomorrow

Pretty much it before payday kicks in. All heading in the right direction :-)

MIB x

Maybe_its_because

Just called up for a cheeky mortgage balance and a couple of days ago we'd've been in the £213ks. As it is were a few quid into the £214ks

Happy with that