ATB's £171k quest begins.... NOW!

shangaijimmy

5.45 must have been a particular time as we had a 2yr old visitor at the same time! Makes the day a long grumpy one for us all!

atypicalblonde

Certainly does Jimmy! I'm sure our children are in cohorts, they never both lie in (by which I mean around 7am!) at the same time. Oh how I long for an 8am get up on a weekend.... x

PrincessLou

My twins never wake up later than 6:30 :eek: BUT...my husband and I have come to an agreement that every weekend we can have one lie-in each, whereby the other will get up with the boys, get them breakfast etc - it's wonderful!

atypicalblonde

Hi PrincessLou, we have the same arrangement but I'm useless at actually going back to sleep once DH has got up with the children. I tend to read or surf the internet, whilst vaguely hearing the mayhem downstairs!

My grandma had five children and even now at 79 years old can't sleep in past 6am, a habit ingrained after years of early starts with children.

Really enjoying a great book at the moment, a crime thriller and what's more I borrowed it from the local library so it's free. The children borrowed some lovely books on Friday so I chose one at the same time - we are very blessed to have such fantastic free local services I think.

Night all xx

shangaijimmy

we have a great arrangement on a Saturday. I get up at 7 and watch sport downstairs. Kids get in bed with mum and watch tv. i supply drinks and food to keep them all upstairs until i've finished. Then i take the dog out...!

Works a treat for me :rotfl:

atypicalblonde

Jimmy you've certainly got that one sussed!

Good Afternoon friends,

The sun is shining in our little part of Yorkshire today which is always lovely to see. DH is now away for six days - I will miss him terribly but at the same time the house will be that little bit tidier and the food costs a lot lower!

I am incredibly pleased to report that the cumulative effect of the past few days' OPs, coupled with some unexpected cash being given to us which we can use for all household expenses such as food etc for the rest on the month rather than using the current account, means our balance as at today's date is bang on £156k

That means we are £1k off target for our OPs for this year, then its a case of throwing all spare money into the ISA and watching the savings (hopefully!) grow to give us a chunk of money to OP at the start of 2016 when we get a new 10% allowance.

Booked myself a manicure and pedicure at the local beauty college next week - £15 for both treatments so a bargain to boot. Might read a bit this afternoon and watch some mindless telly - I really feel like just vegging out which I never ever do, but today I feel like putting the brakes on x

shangaijimmy

Excellent progress. I had a similar day yesterday. I was supposed to start putting the 2 en suites back together after our decorating but...

I had a big dog walk, followed by some tv and food. Then another little dog walk (it was threatening afternoon rain so i got out quickly. Then i needed a brew to recuperate before school run. Then after school run it was kids and dog to park, and out on go carts (easy to occupy them and get another dog walk in!).

So the en suites still require attention, but that will have to wait till Sunday now, unless Mrs SJ intervene's!

atypicalblonde

Sometimes just taking it that little bit easier and leaving the things that really can wait does us the world of good I think. On that note, i'm off to put the kettle on x

atypicalblonde

Good evening all,

A very bad diarist here checking in! I can’t believe I have left it this long between posts. So much has been happening here, May has been a really tough month in a lot of ways. DH has been away all month, which has been hard. I have also been helping out my grandparents a lot – they are hoarders and have been all their lives. My grandad’s health is very sadly and rapidly declining so, with tiddlers in tow, I have been there a lot clearing things out, doing tip runs etc. It has been mentally and physically draining.

It has also been one of those months when money seems to have leaked from our account, but gawd knows what on. I have been eating really unhealthily due to lack of time and energy, and the days at the grandparents have ended with me getting the children to bed then collapsing with wine in hand and a takeaway ordered – not good for bank balance or waistline.

One great thing to come out of May is that any limited downtime I have had, I have spent reading Mr Money Moustache. Wow, that man is amazing and is my new financial role model! I read his article about “your debt being an emergency” and sat up sharpish. I had £1200 on a 0% CC, didn’t worry about it at all as it was 0%. NOOOOOO says MrMM, all debt is an emergency and needs to be gone, ASAP. And it resonated with me – that is the first and only CC I have ever had, and it never sat well with me using it but I thought well, its 0%, it doesn’t matter, etc etc. So May’s OP money has gone on paying off that CC and closing the CC account completely, which is a welcome relief.

The mortgage still stands at £156k. The aim is still to get to £155k by 1st July, then have savings of £15k in the bank by Christmas. And this WILL happen. I am totally and utterly determined. No faffing around in the ATB house, we want rid of this mortgage and fast.

Have peaceful weekends one and all


ATB xx

MummyEm

ATB I'm so sorry to hear that you've had such a rough month. I hope things improve for you in June


M Em x