I Will Be Free

crazy_cat_lady

I'm so pleased to read that they paid up and that you got the payout you were entitled to. Insurance companies never cease to amaze me - they always look for a way out of paying.
Enjoy the new home

in_need_of_direction

Don't forget to explore cashback when buying the replacement items.

IWillBeFree

Thank you for all the support and messages. It really helps seeing I am not alone x

Finally, after a very busy week at work, I got to put my feet up this evening - well after walking the hounds, rather briskly as it was pouring! I treated myself to a bottle of wine and some chocolate, it is payday after all and I've had great news

Thinking about that, I used to show treats like that in the 'grocery' budget line but now they are under my 'spending' line which is much better as that's mostly bits for fun!

I have been doing a lot of thinking tonight. Not only because I have all this money sitting in my bank account but also because I want to make sure I spend it well and get maximum value out of it. I have spent a long time adjusting YNAB and making sure all the different areas are catered for. I have tried to budget before and where I have always failed is planning for emergencies or for annual bills like the car insurance or car repairs around MOT time (I drive an 11 year old small car which has had everything replaced now except the engine and shell!). With this in mind, I have put £1,000 aside for emergencies and £670 for motoring costs, however, if I need to tap into these amounts for anything else, I know I can just adjust.

I have also provisionally put £300 into a re-mortgage category. I have no idea how much the re-mortgage process will cost but aiming to have £500 in there before I start the process in September and fingers crossed it won't be too far off!

I have thought long and hard over the things I need to get down in the house post-leak, the contents replacement and the other urgent matters: the boiler replacement, the kitchen sink tap replacement and the faulty cistern in the bathroom (which sings every time it is used!). It has been two months since the leak and although I hate walking on floorboards downstairs and the walls being a mess, I think I will have to prioritise getting the boiler sorted and then, sort out the rest. There are three main reasons for my thinking:
1. The lodger has been patient but I get the impression his patience is running out and I would really not like him to go. He and I live well together, especially when I never thought I could live with a lodger as I'm such a fusspot and I have the hounds to think of too.
2. September is fast approaching and although I am hoping it will be a warm one, I have to be prepared for the central heating to be used - especially as I have a lodger, I can wrap up....
3. I am hoping there will be deals around that I can take advantage of, as this is not peak season for the heating

I already have a quote for the floors and decorating and if the boiler costs around £2,000, I can make it all happen, as long as I stick to my budget and continue living frugally.

This sadly means, I won't be able to get a super duper iron and vacuum cleaner but I have to look at the bigger picture and trying to do everything without credit, means I have to wait a bit longer for those things. I will of course use Quidco or similar when the time comes!

In the mean time, I have listed more items for selling and any money made, will be going to the Barclaycard. The snowball calculator says it will take me 10 months to pay it off so the race is on to reduce that by at least 3 months!

I am rambling but this is a good outlet for me and if anyone thinks I am going about things the wrong way, do shout!

in_need_of_direction

I think you have absolutely the right approach. You need to protect your income.

IWillBeFree

in_need_of_direction wrote: »

I think you have absolutely the right approach. You need to protect your income.

Thank you in need of direction. Having slept on it, I think I will go about things the way I described, I feel happy I am going about things the right way.


Decadent morning for me, I was in bed until 9am Oh my god it was so good! I was doing my starfish impression until the female hound barked me out of bliss as she wanted her breakfast.......!


Housework done, washing on and vacuuming a three bedroom house with a little handheld Dyson counts as exercise in my book


Tesco credit card statement landed and it she showed the balance as £40 less than I estimated so woo hoo! Signature updated - which always makes me smile!


The rest of the day will be a bit expensive but budgeted for. The hounds are going to the beautician's for a full groom and I will be going to get them some treats and new collars. I anticipate they will be gone 4/5 hours so a little more housework, then time for me A little manicure and pedicure and a hair mask I think. I always feel so much better after I spruce myself up


Seeing the fella later for a few hours before he has to work so no expenditure planned in socialising.


I worked out that after my minimum payments and the £50 overpayment I made yesterday, my balance at the end of the month will be £29,088.32. So really, I need to sell stuff that will bring in £88.33 as I want to be below £29K on 1st Sept


Off to list more stuff then.....

peaceandfreedom

You've done a lot of thinking and planning and it's clear that's the difference between now and the 'bad old days' when money was spent without any real budgeting being done. I think your plans sound excellent :T.

Doing stuff to ensure you hang onto the lodger sounds like a sensible strategy - it is money that will earn itself back and in any case, you need a decent central heating system.

I am every confidence you will get the balance below 29K and looking forward to reading how you do it .

IWillBeFree

peaceandfreedom wrote: »

You've done a lot of thinking and planning and it's clear that's the difference between now and the 'bad old days' when money was spent without any real budgeting being done. I think your plans sound excellent :T.

Doing stuff to ensure you hang onto the lodger sounds like a sensible strategy - it is money that will earn itself back and in any case, you need a decent central heating system.

I am every confidence you will get the balance below 29K and looking forward to reading how you do it .

Thank you P and F


I really appreciate your kind words and support.


I have listed a good few things today on free FB pages and Gumtree so fingers crossed I will make some money

IWillBeFree

A little update on spends for the day:
£65 for the grooming for the hounds, £5 less than budgeted for
£11 for treats for them
£7.13 for household cleaning products
£7.18 on groceries

Not bad at all :j
Made a list of the contents of the cupboards and freezer and although there's not much there, I have to make it stretch! I have £33.45 left in my grocery budget for the month so it's a bit tight, mostly for lunches.

I will post the list tomorrow for any talented cooks that can offer advice

IWillBeFree

So, I went through the supplies I have left, after a couple of months of limited spending on groceries , and this is what is left. I will be stocking up the freezer in September, but between now and then, I have £33.45 in my budget to cover my groceries. I will get some salad bits and with the tuna tins, there should be some filling lunches! Also some fruit for snacking as I have 1 sad nectarine sitting in a bowl....


In case anyone good at making meals out of nothing is reading, any pointers to make this stuff stretch would be greatly appreciated.


Cupboards


Tins

• pumpkin
• chickpeas x 5
• kidney beans x 2
• haricot beans
• tuna chunks in spring water x 4
• crab meat chunks
• anchovies x 2
• mackerel in olive oil
• mackerel in spicy tomato sauce
• chopped tomatoes
• coconut milk

Dried stuff in bags

• orzo x 2
• red lentils
• brown lentils
• yellow split peas
• green split peas
• quinoa
• polenta x 2
• fragrant jasmine rice
• arborio rice
• spiral pasta
• rice noodles
• brown rice
• white rice
• chillies
• wild mushrooms
• tomatoes

Other stuff

• Tilda sweet chilli and lime rice
• green pesto
• passata
• passata with onion and garlic
• lemon grass in water
• minced ginger
• tamarkind
• stir fry sauce - peanut x 1 and black bean x 1
• stir through pasta sauce - putanesca
• sauerkraut
• tomato puree
• coconut oil
• coconut butter
• tabasco
• soy sauce
• liquid smoke - hickory
• tahini
• stem ginger in syrup
• various oils and vinegars
• rice, coconut, plain and chestnut flours
• ALL THE HERBS IN THE WORLD EEK!

Freezer

• beef burgers x 6
• chicken burgers x 4
• pork burgers x 2
• lamb liver x 400g
• fresh mackerel x 2
• bacon
• bagels x 2
• burger buns x 3
• peas
• frozen fruit: bananas and berries
• VODKA

Fridge

• lots of condiments
• red pepper
• onions x 4
• cherry tomatoes
• aubergine x 2

My emoticons are no longer working....*weeps*

IWillBeFree

Spends for today:


£10 for a great social at my gym
£1.60 for a snack bar - my day started before I was ready for it so got caught out


Bed and book time. Another gruelling week coming up.....