Spreading our wings - a new start

mummytogirls

Happy New Year Chrysalis!

Your 2016 sounds fab! Loving your family holiday idea, I think you'll have a great time.. once you've got the dates!!

Hope work is ok today for you x

Chrysalis1976

Happy New Year!

Work went well yesterday thanks mtg, it was interesting to see who was around at 0645 on New Year's Day one very happy drunk stubbling through the town. I was sound asleep by 9pm though and didn't wake up until 0930 this morning!

Today we need some shopping in and off to see my parents, they only live a couple of streets away so not a long journey.

I've updated my signature with monthly payments that have gone out and also paid another installment to my Mum so now half way there with that debt. I'm looking forward to February and March when I can use the break in council tax and water payments to throw at the debts and should actually get rid of dh computer payments at least. I will then snowball that payment on to the next one.

I have submitted my expenses for second job and should get child benefit next week, it's such a change not getting a regular income but I know I get paid on 15th and 25th of each month so things can tick along.

Right better actually achieve something today, not just a shower!

C x

Chrysalis1976

Evening, today I have finally finished clearing away dh clothes except now he doesn't have a place for all his running kit so I need to source a small chest of drawers for no pennies.

So only need to get rid of some things to charity shop from kitchen and sort through kitchen cupboards, then small alcove in shed then we have done whole house again!

Kids bits and pieces are ready for them to go back to school in the morning, sold dd 3DS this morning and money went to her and have her bike on for sale at the moment which would give me enough to make another payment towards dh computer.

No surveys available today so have done some competitions instead, feel like others on here today and itching to make another payment.

Working at home tomorrow but do need to go out in the evening to visit a club and check on some equipment for a competition.

Ticking along, C x

mummytogirls

Evening Chrysalis,

Working from home tomorrow sounds good!!!

If you can't source an drawers, would those plastic ones do? I have some in my wardrobe for all my makeup, accessories etc. I can't remember how much it cost but I don't think it was too much from the range. Mine has 4 drawers in but I don't think DH would need one as big... just a thought.

Sounds like you're raring to go, keep going!! xx

Chrysalis1976

Yep plastic ones would be fine, he already has a set for socks etc and I have one for my stuff. I don't see the point of buying furniture for our bedroom until we decorate it so the cheaper the better. I would love a bed one day though, we currently have 2 double mattresses on top of each other for our bed and have done so for the last couple of years!!!

C x

Any bed competition links appreciated!

Ooh just remembered that I still have some vouchers, I'll have a look what I can get.

Chrysalis1976

Today has been lovely and sunny although there is a chill in the air this evening, but that's what snuggly blankets and little children are for - to tuck up and keep cosy!

I have achieved quite a few things:
* Posted f-I-l birthday present, total cost including postage for the 2 boxes was under £10 :j

* Took 2 bags of stuff to charity shop.

* Lots of organisation for second job completed so I'll have a steady income over the months, managed to achieve a lot despite dh being on leave from work and hovering around at times, he did make me lots of tea though!

* I remembered that we also should be putting money aside to finish dd room so I have been racking my brains trying to think of other little ways to earn some money, which led me to re-registering with a mystery shopping company. I have a small assignment next Monday, it may only earn me £6 but it all builds up.

* Tommorrow at my other job I need to plan for February, the more courses that I teach the more income I get!

* Banking and ynab updated.

* Meter readings entered online.

* Competitions and surveys done.

Any more ideas most welcome.

C x

mummytogirls

Afternoon Chrysalis,

Yes see your point re not buying furniture until your bedroom is done. Oh no is it comfy sleeping on the 2 mattresses? Im imagining bad backs all round!

You were very productive yesterday! Hope today has been as productive xx

Chrysalis1976

Well it's been an interesting day most of it with a dark, painful headache that just hasn't shifted no reason for it except maybe a certain time for ladies (sorry tmi).

Anyway interesting mainly because I read about the possible chance of interest rates going up and looking at the mortgage this would have a major impact on us, we already have an interest rate that is double the majority around!

Now before I'm shot down when revealing the next bit, I know alright, I know

We were stupid enough not to save for a deposit and get a NR together mortgage to buy our house, so we have 3 parts to it made up of the main mortgage and 2 loans. So over the last 7 years we have paid a bigger monthly payment due this the combined amount and has meant that our LTV is still not great.

I contacted a building society that do 90% mortgages and had an interest rate of half ours to see what sort of position we would be in to remortgage and if not what do we need to do to get in a better position.

She was lovely but there are a number of stumbling blocks at the minute:
* I've only been in my main job for a few weeks and haven't got a full months wage yet, this coupled with I haven't got my contracted hours written down yet.

* My second job is a 0 hour contract and although I have 18months of payslips it can't be taken into account when calculating borrowing amounts.

* We have no credit cards or personal loans but , the car finance is high.

* We pay for some childcare - I'm not sure about this one, how do they think we can work full time without it?

So on my wages from one job and dh wages we could borrow £40k roughly, I need £101k :eek:

So my plan now is to get a formal contract from main job, talk to second job about a 2 day contract (my colleagues in the rest of Wales have contracted hours so shouldn't be difficult), get rid of these little bits of debt and then attack the car payments full on. I can't change the childcare, I need it.

If by any miracle we could reduce the mortgage I would do that too.

I wish my parents had taught me about finances, or that I had read more when I was younger, so frustrated with myself

OK let's get on with this, ooh and not going to the Lake District now just dh and his friend as he friend is skint and can't afford it. So pennies already saved.

C x

Chrysalis1976

Hi, hi!

A fairly lazy weekend until we went for a massive family bike ride which tired everyone out, really didn't do much else apart from the basics.

Went to do my mystery shop today but it's located on a holiday park which is closed for the season so I informed the relevant person and will still get paid for it.

Worked late at main job trying to get all the info for an important report finished, so an extra hour of wages. I'm working an extra shift for them on Saturday too which will help as we are counting the pennies this week, hopefully should get mileage from second job before Friday and paid from main job on Friday.

Colleague's son is coming round tomorrow evening to give us a quote for plastering dd bedroom, hope it's cheap enough that we can get done soon.

Need to update ynab with a couple of outgoings and direct debits planned for the rest of the month.

DH birthday on Friday, we are going out for a meal but will only have a main.

Lots to do over the next few weeks!

C x

mummytogirls

Ooohhhh we love a family bike ride too Chrysalis!! It is soooo tiring though isn't it.

Fingers crossed the plaster is cheap so you can crack on with some jobs.

Its my DD2s birthday on Friday too!! Have a great week xx