Brighter tomorrow :)

Cel

Feels like I've not updated my diary in ages, but it's only been a couple of weeks! I've been reading lots of diaries and getting inspiration from everyone's mission to be MF. :money:I need to stop lurking really.


I’ve been looking at a new mortgage deal as ours has recently come to an end (currently on 3.99%). If we can get our home valued at £5k more than we paid for it we should be able to get a better deal due to 15% equity. Paying a lower monthly rate will help towards overpayments, so fingers crossed.


I’ve finally got my start date, just a few more weeks and I’ll be back earning some pennies of my own.:beer: can't wait to get started. My earning for the first couple of months will be hit harder than usual by childcare costs. Due to training I’ll be working different shifts and DD will be in childcare a bit more than she will when I am up and running. Just need to remember it’s a short term thing. OH is going to take some time off to look after DD where he can which will help with costs. Hopefully if I can pick up as much as possible they will allow me on my allocated shifts quicker. determined to do well with it.
No further overpayments to report. We’ve got a family wedding at the weekend and it’s been spendy sorting out outfits for us all, and for the present etc. I’ll be driving due to DD, so just OH drinking. we both didn't attend the Stag and Hen celebrations. Felt bad at the time, and a couple of family members were not impressed, but we'd prefer time away as a family as opposed to weekends away separately (plus I'd miss DD too much, although she'd probably be glad of a break from me ).


Reading different diaries made me realise how much I relate to everyone. I really question what I'm spending now. I just realise how much I used to waste on meals out all the time etc. I went out for tea as a treat last week and spent £15 and came away thinking I could have made something a lot nicer at home. :cool:
I've bought a couple of cheap annual passes for the Summer to local attractions. So I'm looking forward to lots of free days out with DD on my days off. Less than £30 in total so a bargain
Cel xx

Cel

We have an appointment on Monday to go through a new mortgage deal, fingers crossed.:j
£12 shopping voucher used for mr T, and after raiding our wallets I’ve rounded it up to £30 towards OP.
I’ve really reduced my weekly spends going out with DD, we’ve been using our season passes a lot, and taking food out with us.
Just under £10 of old DVDs sent to musicmagpi*, I’ll OP that as soon as the money lands. Frees up some space too!
I’ve got my rota for the first month and really chuffed we’ve managed to save just under £200 on childcare fees. Oh is taking a week off, and family members are going to pick DD up for me on the odd day when I’ll be ½ late picking her up from the morning session (saves paying for an afternoon session for the sake of ½ hour). The £200 will go toward general spends for the next month (petrol etc).:money:We'll be able to better focus on OP when I get some extra money coming in.
Other than that just general money saving, using leftovers and reducing waste. DD and I have been out picking fruit locally and going to make some yummy bits for free this afternoon.:D
Had a couple of lovely nights out with friends recently, just popping out for tea. We’ve stayed locally saving me on fuel costs and I’ve not gone mad. I’ve picked up some clothes for DD in the sales, I picked up some bargains for 4-5 years, okay DD is only 2 but I can put them away. I've not mentioned it to OH
Can't wait for the weather to warm up, sat here in many layers
x

LauraJo

Hey
Welcome to the forum
Just wanted to mention a couple of things really...
I feel your pain re getting OH on board! Mine took FOREVER (but of course now we have reached our goal it was all his idea!!!) They do come round eventually but need to see it working first I think!
Secondly overpayments are overpayments. Start now! It doesn't matter how small they are - its about starting the shift in mindset and lifestyle. Your circumstances will change throughout your journey and sometimes you'll be in a position to pay more. Its the attitude that counts!
I was reading a diary on here the other day (sorry cant remember whose) but they had an aim to pay x amount per month and they ended up doubling it just by adjusting their lifestyle. It can be done!
Best of luck. Post regularly and be proud of every penny!

diamondsonly

Hi Cel, well done on the OPs and generally focusing on the MFW goal. My DH was and still is a bit like your OH about the whole MF thing.
I think what has hopefully made him see it my way is all the things we could buy/do/go if we were MF. DH now wants a BMW X5 when we become MF but as we can't both get a nice car I may let him have his X5 and I will just opt for a nice family holiday instead.
Picnics are a fab idea. My mini diamonds won't eat proper meals at restaurants or sit still long enough for us to enjoy the meal.
Good luck on the new job. Once you get your first pay you will get a better idea of what you can afford to OP.
I buy xmas/bday presents for nieces/nephews/family in the sale so they usually all get nicer things within my budget. plus out of 5 nieces and 1 nephew 5 of them have birthdays within 4 days of each other in December so it can get very very expensive if i don't spread the cost.

Diamonds xx

newgirly

Hi cel, i just wanted to say welcome and best of luck with your mf journey , sometimes ive also struggled to make overpaymentsdand went through a period of making 10p a day ops. Financially it doesnt make a dent but psychologically it helps. I hope you manage to get your oh fully onboard.

MumofIowans

Cel wrote: »

Does anyone else have days where they think why am I bothering with relatively small overpayments? Think it’s a combination of looking at our income and outgoings, and there is really nothing to shave off. No Sky, other memberships etc, everything is on the lowest tariff we could find bar broadband (on the list), and having only 1 wage coming in the last couple of years and missing the extra money.

This is definitely what I feel like! And we're in the opposite position from you because I'm about to lose my job so savings are going to take a huge hit. :mad: I've really taken on board what other people are saying though and I feel like I'm still going to be in the right mindset for slowly making our way towards mortgage free. Because we're abroad it's difficult to make OPs whenever we fancy so I've got a savings account set up to funnel money into and then I should be able to call and make a lump sum overpayment at the end of the year.

It has taken a long time for my DH to get on board with lots of things but I feel like we are finally in the same place which is awesome! We have changed so much about out lifestyle in the last 2 years - since we had our son - and I really feel like we can face the crazy future in the right way. Sounds super dramatic, right?!

Anyway, really enjoying your diary and I think you are doing a great job. You have to start somewhere!

sarahevie1

Cel I was like you a couple of years ago. Everything was tight, I thought I was pretty frugal, I was:o. I got into an op habit. I've got down to 9 years from 27 when I started 5 years ago. I realised I couldn't spend any less, I had to earn more.

There's different approaches, I wouldn't advocate my way, as it has been awful at times. It's about finding what works for you, and keeping going. It's definitely a marathon not a sprint.

Cel

Evening,
Thank you for all your lovely comments and welcomes! :wave:
OPing does become rather addictive, I like the idea of OPing even small amounts, perhaps time to start a daily tilly tidy! Frustrating having to wait between OPing. Newgirly your diary is one I've followed from the start, thanks for popping in
I’ve now got my rota for the next couple of months, getting excited to start now. I’ve dug out my old work clothes that fit (all my work trousers seem to have shrunk) so I’ll have to buy some before starting. Just trying to get organised now, batch cooking some meals to help out until we’re in the swing of things so we’re not tempted by takeaways. Looking forward to earning some pennies of my own (my friend commented on me being a kept woman today :eek:).
We’re progressing on the re-mortgage front; we’ll be saving just over £100 on new deal. OH seems to be coming on-board! I think seeing the impact greater equity has on your mortgage rate, and so monthly payment has really hit home with him. We’re going to review our finances when everything has settled down, and hopefully I can convince him we can OP the money we’re saving.
I’ve been enjoying my last few days off with DD, lots of days out using our annual passes and lots of jam butties. I agree Diamonds Only re eating out with little people, little Lady either wants to run around or enjoy smearing food everywhere. So less stressful being out and about. :rotfl:
I’m sorry to hear about your job MumOfIowans, I hope something new turns up for you soon.
xx

sarahevie1

Glad you've enjoyed your last few days with Dd. It felt a bit wrong typing that, ad its not really your last, iykwim. I work full time and there's still loads of family time you can squeeze in.

Glad you got a great remortgage rate and dh is coming on board.

Thistlewhistle

Hi Cel,

Keep going with the overpayments however large or small they might be. at the end of the day, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Once you've made the first step it's just a case of putting one foot in front of the other. Some days you'll sprint, some days you'll stop for a sit down and a rest - the important thing is that you've set off.

Dripping taps fill baths!!! (Assuming you've put the plug in!!) :rotfl:

Thistle xx