Premature MFW

Monie

Hello one and all, if anyone actually reads this...

My aim is for this to be a well updated diary with lots of posts, convos and tips being shared.

Be nice as I have been reading diary's for a while with no intention of doing my own public diary but I'm spending a lot of time reading others and enjoying the long ones but get sad to see a lot of short/not updated threads so that has prompted mine.

So a little about me and OH

Me 23 + OH 28, no children yet but are very much wanted so that could change everything! Just need to sort moving and careers a bit more first.

In process of buying a New build, we are 1st time buyers and using the help to buy scheme which I like more than the shared ownership but not sure why, maybe just in my opinion a little more freedom maybe.

Projected payment of deposit August 2015 but due to move in Feb/ March 2016 due to the house still being built.

Mortgage when we move in 153,746.25 and Help to buy loan 40,999 at 0% for first 5 years.

My aim in 5 years is to apply for a 75% LTV mortgage so in theory having OP and normal payments to the equivalent of the HTB loan although prices and rates will obviously change but if I can work to this rough goal or more I will be happy.

Fingers crossed between now and Feb/March we can save roughly 6k for a safe net and 2k plus for furniture (nice new corner sofa, big bed and wardrobe at least).

This diary will hopefully outline everything saved over the safe net and furniture budget to pay a small lump sum when we move in and then regular OP after that so here goes.....

Beware small amounts will be on the cards while we save for the other two pots.

Monie

Now that I have started this I am thinking even more about how to save money so I can post about it, must be good! Now back to thinking not sure I will post an SOA as we don't have sky or lots of luxuries or anything we shall see how we get on. Always trying to save money on food bill roughly 160 pm for us, do like trying to use coupons and check out smart and Shopitize to get cash back for groceries.

Monie

Wow three posts in less than 24 hrs, not sure how long this will continue. You can probably see how much this is on my mind.


So current OP pot for when we move in is (drum roll please) a grand total of 45.62! We all have to start somewhere don't we. This was made up from an underspend in petrol and underspend from our holiday last month. OH did underspend too but put his towards the house deposit and fees which I wont document on here for the time being as I'm not too sure of exact figures we have to pay and when as we have paid some of them already so when I know a bit more of what we have to pay I will document Safe net pot out of 6k target and furniture out of 2k min target.


Currently saving for a lawn mower too out of any unexpected money so this will be split between the mower and OP pot. Lawn at rented house is getting too long to keep asking landlord to assist even though he offers I feel too cheeky to let him do it. Free of charge though so very MFW:money:

muddywhitechicken

Welcome to MFW and good luck

MWCx

Monie

Yay thank you MWC, I was worried nobidy would respond and I would just be going on and on about rubbish to myself. That's a relief. Thank you to for being the first to welcome me.

I believe I have read your diary but because I have e been going abit crazy reading some are getting muddled in my head and there are lots of names to remember too! But I checked your progress and you are doing great on OPing, what an inspiration. Also as a family we used to have a couple of chickens but don't think there will be any room at the new house due to garden size. A njce little maintained veggie patch is definitely going to happen though! Been looking at garden ideas on pintrest and vegetable garden ideas too as not expecting garden to be huge so looking at space saving ideas that don't cost a lot. I do like gardening but like it even more if it will save me money! Using some old pots at the moment reusing some and some bottoms of milk cartons but hope those plants can go in the ground when we move otherwise people will wonder why I'm keeping a load of old recycling laying around!

Off to meet the builder in an hour or so to see the plot a bit more and ask questions. I think I have one! Oh well nice sunny afternoon will be good to see what it's like there and picture myself next summer in the garden on my relying lounger Bliss!:)

Monie

So I went to meet the builder on Thursday. I may have turned up a little red as driving through part of the site there were numerous builders half dressed due to the heat, looking back it seemed a little like the coca cola adverts minus the slow motion and can of coke. Anyway made it to the sales office to walk through the machines and dust on a very nice day to see our patch of mud. Or should I say foundations of the house. The garage is a little further along than the house. Walls should be up by end of August then roof on Sept/ Oct when we can go back and pick our kitchen and extra options.

Also the plot was valued by Halifax on the same day and the mortgage was issued which apparently is good so when I get the letter in the post I can notify Solicitors then we can try and exchange contracts.

Was really strange looking at where our house will be, makes me feel a little nervous of everything but when I see the walls up and roof on I'm sure I will feel better and can see a bit more of what we are buying.

Not much on the finding extra money front to build up a pot to OP when we move in. Did get a check for £2.04 or something for a birds eye try me for free I sent off. I am trying to save for a Kayak too just by using extra money I ern or come across but the house is the priority so may put this towards the Kayak. Feel a bit silly deciding what to do with £2! So as its a smaller amount I think it will go towards the Kayak. It was OH idea to get a couple as we want a more outdoors lifestyles but when I mentioned I starred saving a few pounds here and there he said that we probably won't get much use out of them as we want kids in the next few years. My point was that they will last for a long time, we can make the most of them before we have kids, if I meet with friends instead of going to a pub or coffee shop we can take a little trip out on the Kayaks! So I will keep trying to change his mind.

Talking of OH he is on board with the whole MFW thing but as I look after mine and his finances with his input on his I will take the lead. His dream is to move to Cornwall when the mortgage is paid off. I think so many things can change in time but ATM I quite like the thought of having a buy to let when we pay the mortgage off, OP on that and then see if we can retire early even just a little bit early and have a mortgage free house and hopefully mortgage free rental. The house we are buying is three bed end of terrace so hope it is somewhere we live for a long time as I hate moving and maybe it will curb his want for lots of kids. He is one of four and I am one of two so had quite different childhoods, don't think I could cope with four but my mind may be changed when we start a family. My friend is about three weeks before she has her first so I'm sure I will get to experience some of baby life when I am with her but obviously it's different having them 24/7 I'm not that naïve!

Oh forgot to mention when I was on the building site one of the older builders called me sir! I said I think I need to grow my hair a bit more! It was tucked up under the hard hat but made me laugh, I told him not to worry and we had a giggle but he apologised and said he knew I was a female the wring thing just came out. I then had to catch up with the building manager and Sales lady on this uneven rocky ground I was slipping around which could have made a picture!

Anyway back to the issue in hand I think I have gone on so much about saving money to my OH as when we were on holiday he refused to pay £9 to go into a national trust garden that I wanted dto go to so I said £9 I'm going by myself as we were on holiday! And we didn't eat out every night but did buy some nice bits from the supermarket.

My OH likes mountain dew and I think if he has at least 1 per week or two from the local co-op its 1-2£ minimum per week so my first lot of vouchers from swagbucks of £15 and another £10 voucher I earned from this mobile application called Mobilexpression rewards has been spent on Amazon on 24 bottles so overall I will pay about 57p how exciting! I think that's the most free stuff I will have got in one go for so little money! Tap me on the back anyone please!

Anyway like I said I hope to be able to pass on some tips on here for others so will try and think of some more for my next post as this is getting a little lengthy! And I'm sat here on the sofa just tried to drink some apple juice half laying down and some went over the edge of the cup and all over my neck. If that's not a sign to get up and get something else done I don't know what is! Forgot to mention the mjney saved kn mountain dew won't get paid straight to the house pot as it will be a longer term saving so when we have money left our of food budget each month that's where the mjney will be overpaid.

Vest get my tooshie moving and make the most of the day as I will feel crap when I go back to work.

Bye everyone

Side note just googled tooshie to make sure I spelt it correctly and the definition made me giggle. The fleshy part of the human body you sit on..... Why not just say aka buttock?!?!?

Monie

Hello again

So I think the mountain dew has arrived, need to double check when I get home as it may be another package of something I ordered but have forgotten about.

Like I said before I ordered these with Amazon vouchers earned on Swagbucks so I will continue with this for a bit longer and hopefully buy a stock of loo roll and washing powder as I hate paying for those sorts of things as well as Parking that is my pet hate!

I also use the check out smart and shopitize app, not sure if I have mentioned these already which you earn cashback on food after you snap your receipt on your phone. Not much I want to buy on there at the moment so they have slowed down.

As I mentioned we need a lawnmower but the neighbour showed me how to use his as the handle was a little tricky so will put off buying one till we move but will keep the money in place so we have it read instead of moving it over to the OP pot.

Something I was quite upset about was my phone bill was £20 more expensive than it should be which doesn’t normally happen I had gone of my calling time so called to see if they could up the calling time and reduce the texts but after speaking to two people they said no which frustrated me, will rethink my next contract! Also on this note I had to get the OH to stop his Experian credit report before the free trial ends and we ended up speaking to a rude lady and what a hassle that was!

Almost OH pay day so will see what I can put where but most of that will be the house fees and furniture, we had the mortgage offer so waiting for solicitor to get their copy then we can move onto the next step of the purchase.

I am going to try and make some yummy cheap soup in my next days off as cheap meal substitute for something more expensive. Some things I make just don’t turn out well so my invention made me feel very positive.

Went to the area of the development the other night and went to check out the late night supermarket bargains, got 2x pesto pasta 1p each and a chive plant also for one 1p I had to send my sister a picture I was so impressed, along with some reduced pies for about ¼ price.

I went to Aldi the other day and was quite impressed with their price for fish so treated the OH to some salmon. Also saw a post online for veg that you can re grow, having some luck with leeks, cut the bottom off with the roots then place in water, it works with spring onions too but I transferred them to soil then died so this time will keep in just water will let you know how I get on.
Another think I heard of to save money is to cut face wipes in half if you don’t use a lot of make up.

Trying to think of where I can get spare cash from to put in the pot as some ideas take a while to see the pennies materialise.

icontinuetodream

Good luck on your journey Monie!

Monie

So the stock of Mountain Dew arrived should last 8 weeks or more if OH drinks it the same rate as before but he has a habit of gorging himself when I bulk buy so it doesn’t end up any cheaper so I’ve hidden some in a couple of places in the pantry and 12 in the shed, we are renting a small house so not many hiding places!

So I’ve decided I’m going to buy some loo roll and try some soap nuts and obtain these by Amazon vouchers that I earn through two apps that I use. I have just had another look at ways to earn them as I cannot do surveys in bulk as they bore me to death but the other apps seem to just be the same with a different name, there are only so many apps on your phone that you can have on at the same time running videos to earn points.

6.27 to add to the pot which is a partial refund from ebay for an item that never arrived so that will go to OP pot. Slowly but surely (signature updated)

Not sure I will have enough petrol money or food budget to last till my pay day which is mid month so I will have to get creative with food as I don’t like dipping into savings and must find ways to control outgoings even though I consider myself quite controlled on that front. Going to try and make homemade cerial bars from a recipe I found as I have lots of oats at home and am sure homemade will be healthier too.

Happy weekend for those who are not working. Actually happy weekend everyone!

Monie

Forgive me this was meant to be posted the other morning but forgot so if the time of posting doesn't match the content that is why so here it is

I popped to the shop yesterday morning and got some bits that are free through the cash back app or that I would buy anyway but that are offering cash back so today I have requested 4.30 + 4.40 cash back app on groceries but will go towards this month’s food as I think we will be a little short so instead of dipping into savings this extra 8.70 may help. Can’t wait to move to the new house as I can hop on my bike and visit the supermarkets near closing time to get the bargains, due to working hours I’m never near the shops at the time when they reduce to the good prices, my local coop still seems expensive when they have their reductions so gave up in there.
I still think 160 is a lot for groceries and toiletries and cleaning for 2 per month. I also enjoy gardening and growing veg but don’t like buying supplies for it so am gradually trying to keep more plants and veg alive. I have a tiny blueberry bush that I got from pound land but I don’t think this will produce for a few years yet but when it does I hope it will be worth the £ spent and will be fruitful for years.
Was going to stop off at the shop on the way back in the morning as I have a voucher for some deodorant so that coupled with the cashback app will make it free but forgot it’s Sunday opening so will have to do that in a couple of days.
I registered two of my cards on quidc0 to earn in store cash back but normally pay cash for spends and food but may benefit when we do some spending on the odd food purchase and on new things for the new house, every bit counts. I also have £10 due round the 6th August so that may buy the soapnuts on Amaz0n as there is an enhanced pay out for this by the gift card redemption. In my mind this is free and I love it! Saves me using the food budget on soap powder so hopefully all of these spends on household items will reduce the food bill bit by bit and getting better discounts online so the rewards go further. Also referred a couple of friends too.
On Top cash b@ck I have 4.75 payable and 25.00 confirmed but they take a chunk out which I am not happy about so will wait till some of my friend referrals on there appear so the hit isn’t so bad. £15 in Nect@r vouchers currently may have to be spent on petrol for this month. See how it goes! It's like a game what can I get for "Free" or lowest price possible.

Nothing else to report yet L

Monie

Ok so OH got paid 480 to deposit and last bit of fees and 100 to me paying me back which will also go towards deposit and fees.

Need to get him a H@lifax reward current account by upgrading his so we can get an extra £5 per month and maybe TSB current account which I have at the mo which gives about £6 something interest per month.

His payday wasn’t such a happy occasion as still not been paid overtime for months they keep saying they will sort it.

Hope to get a refund for something he brought online but that money will go towards replacing it so no adding to the pot there.

Just did a Tily Tidy of one of my old accounts I don’t use a massive 57p! Will update total. My pay day is mid month so wont be much movement for a while on top saving for the last of the fees and furniture for the house and a safe net but want to feel as though I’m looking at the bigger picture. If I don’t keep track of these extra little bits of money they will get swallowed up on things that we could wait a little longer for like a house full of nice furniture when we want to do this gradually and not impulse buy so If we have to save for a could of months to get all livingroom furniture then we know we want it bad enough.