XSpender Speeds it Up - £0 to £60k in 27 months

XSpender

We finally heard back from the vendor yesterday and after raising our offer slightly we have bought the house! Really pleased as I would have been comfortable going a little higher and we have some items included in the price I also feel reassured that the vendor definitely wants to move as we were uncertain before.

As a true MFW I have spent this morning working out our new budget and how much we can comfortably OP each month on top of our much increased mortgage payment. I have calculated that rounding the mortgage payment up to the next £500 will knock 5 years off our mortgage :j

We do have more than this amount available to throw at the mortgage but we want to have 6 months of mortgage payments saved and a little pot for furniture (need a dining suite and another double bed) and a holiday next year. It will take us until the end of the year to save the emergency pot up. We will then split the money between extra OPs, longer term/pension savings, saving for holidays/a possible extension in a few years and clearing the 0% cards. That means all spare money will be split into 4 pots each getting 25%.

Nothing needs doing in the house, except a non urgent bathroom update but I have budgeted an amount for some items i.e. there are no curtains or curtain rails in the property:eek:

If I can achieve the savings/OP goals I have set for the next 2 years I will have over achieved the £60,000 target I sent myself in the title of this diary

Suffolk_lass

Well done. Really hope this works for you
SL

Pearla*Merle

Congrats! Exciting times ahead! :j

XSpender

I managed to get loads done yesterday including a swim at the gym

Today's plans are:

• [STRIKE]Dog walk[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Run[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Take DS to a party[/STRIKE]
• Clean kitchen floor
• [STRIKE]Finish laundry[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Change sheets on our bed[/STRIKE]
• Vacuum upstairs
• [STRIKE]Speak to mortgage broker to complete application[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Pack for week away with work[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Make toad in the hole for tea[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]DS spelling homework practice[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Dye my hair[/STRIKE]

I thought I was going to have a relaxing day today until I wrote that list!:eek:

XSpender

I didn't think I had achieved much until I ticked things off this morning's list

DH and I are feeling a little anxious about our mortgage application. The broker insists we are in a good place but after so many years of not having a hope in hell of getting a new mortgage we are worried it won't happen. We can't do anything to move from a DiP to a full offer until our vendor has found a house and we start the process. It's a waiting game now.

My running mo-jo seems to be on it's way back and I managed a slow and steady 3.5 miles today. Will try and fit in a short run and a swim over the next 4 days and then run Friday and Sunday. Will aim for 4.5 miles on Sunday.

I am away with work until Thursday night so hoping to spend little if anything until the Mr S delivery turns up on Thursday night.

XSpender

Back from my week away with work. Had my 6 monthly and annual review this week I have been in my new job 14 months:rotfl: Got some great feedback and scores so very pleased.

I managed not to spend anything when I was away but DH spent a tenner on some leather protector:eek: We had Mr S deliver this week using the £18 off £60 they are offering at the mo.

Plans for the weekend:

• [STRIKE]DS swimming[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Muck out the house[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Washing and ironing[/STRIKE]
• [STRIKE]Small shop for the frozen veg Mr S doesn't do[/STRIKE]
• Pick up DH top from the dry cleaners
• [STRIKE]Take DS to the fair [/STRIKE]
• Run (first one this week!)
• [STRIKE]Long walk with the dog[/STRIKE]
• TV/internet free night on Sunday
• Bake [STRIKE]GF bread and [/STRIKE]cheese scones

I am giving sweets, chocolate and shop bought cakes/biscuits up until we start our holiday on Good Friday, hoping to replace them with more fruit and veg in order to lose the last couple of pounds I put on over Christmas and feel healthier.

Not much happening MFW/new house wise but we are managing well on our much reduced budget and don't feel we are missing out on anything. We may be able to add a bit more than planned to the savings which would be amazing

XSpender

Not much progress made on list and my hope that I would save a little extra has gone out of the window as DS is growing like a weed and has worn out another pair of school shoes. I have now bought him the 3rd pair since September but have gone for M&S instead of cl@rks and saved about £12.

DS doesn't look that much taller than his classmates but we have had to buy him 4 new pairs of school trousers, 2 new casual pairs and a new sweatshirt today in 6-7 and 7 and he isn't 6 until May:eek: He has long legs.;)

I have previously budgeted for beer and personal spends separately but this month DH suggested that he would buy his beer out of his personal spends and it has worked really well. He has gone over the budget he originally set but we have still reduced by over half what we were spending across both.

Spent a bit too much in Mr T today and have £23 for the rest of the month but have everything in for the meal plan up until the end of the first week of March except some fresh fruit and a jam packed fridge and freezer.

DM and DSD have put their house on the market. They did it last year and couldn't find what they wanted but have re listed it this week. I am trying not to get too excited but they are contemplating moving the 100 miles and living near to our new house. DM and I are much closer than my DS and DB who live 10 miles from them and I know if they became ill or as they get older (currently 74 and 69 and in good health) I would want to be the one who would look after them. Plus I worry that if DM went first they wouldn't have much to do with DSD even if he has been married to my DM for 27 years and I would still treat him like the DD he has been to me all these years.:A

DSD says they need a new adventure so they are planning to come up next weekend to check out the area as they worry that even though I am moving to a village it is next to a big city and they will find it too busy. They have even checked out that there is a sports club like the one they attend now.:)

XSpender

The cashback for my home insurance has finally become payable so have withdrawn that today.

I have realised that I have counted £50 of savings as been made on YNAB but the money is not in my current account so my total savings are £50 out which is annoying when I am trying to hang on to as much as possible this month. I haven't spent it so much as got my sums wrong and counted it twice.

No progress on house sale although EA ensures me they are trying their best to find our vendor a new house to buy.

Aiming not to spend any money until the weekend as we have a house full of food and I am away a couple of nights.

I need a birthday present for my DSD if they come up this weekend but some of the wine I filled the rack up with for the house sale pictures was destined for his present and will make him a ginger cake too so no costs there.

Off to make a snack and then head down over the lap top for the next couple of hours.

RoaringTwenties

You have my absolute empathy when it comes to lanky lads & school shoes! I too have switched from Clarks to M&S, partly for the cost as Clarks have got a bit crazy IMHO but also the quality, the last ones I got for DS from Marks' were gorgeously soft leather & wearing really well.

I have to tell you it doesn't get easier, I reckon 70% of my food budget goes down my eight year old DS' neck. My Dad keeps apologising & saying it's genetic :rotfl:

XSpender

This week has flown by.:eek:

DM and DSD are coming up on Sunday and DM has suggested we go out for lunch so favourite pub booked I will use the TCB that has paid out this month to cover the cost. DS and I will make DSD a ginger cake to take home as part of his gift. He loves anything ginger, probably cos he is one :rotfl:

DH has had some fishing bits this month so his reduced beer/pocket money has trebled but it is still less than the old budget for pocket money and booze combined so I am pleased we have reduced it.

We will probably end up saving £1450 instead of £1550 this month but the mortgage balance is less than I calculated so it's swings and rounds about really.

I have spent £7 and £10 n3ctar points on food tonight, including
£3 on 2 big bags of quorn mince which is now GF :j Not been able to eat quorn was what stopped me being veggie when I became coeliac and I cannot stand the taste of beef mince. Expect lots and lots of spag bol and shepherds pie on the meal plan. Honestly, its daft but I am :j.