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

XSpender

I got the job

I do feel a little let down though as it was sold to me as a promotion, more prestigious client, more skilled job etc. but there is no salary increase. However the contract I currently work on is due to end or change significantly at the end of the year and my job could be at risk. This new contract hasn't started yet so will give me a good couple of years of job security and I will find the job much more satisfying. I do feel a bit flat after working my butt off to get it

DS has swimming, karate and a party to go to today! He is then going to DFIL for the night as DH and I have a run tomorrow. DMIL is in hospital following a knee op so they will keep each other company.

I have had to buy a dress up costume for a 'future job' day at school on Monday and pay for next day delivery :mad: Three days notice from school when you have just spent a shedload on uniform is not appreciated :mad: Could I find one in the shops? Yes if his future job aspirations were to be a storm trooper, iron man or a Disney princess! If it comes when we are at the party this afternoon and they take it back to the post office I am screwed as wont be able to get it in time for Monday or buy a replacement on Sunday.

I have opened a new regular saver and ISA this week and have finally got YNAB up to date.

Must go scan last nights shop for S&S to earn some points I need to work out how to upload my receipts as the scanner on our printer doesn't seem to work right. DH has also received an invite for a survey which will earn £2.50 so will get that done too today.

Moneyfordreams

Well done on getting the job, shame about the money side, but job security is huge

smallholdingsister

Congratulations on getting the job. Does it come with more "prestige" that might make you even more employable in the future?

Love the cute wallpaper.

XSpender

Yes, SHS, it does come with more prestige and I have been told it will look fabulous on my CV. The job security is good too.

Work are restructuring my pay so that I will earn the same but more is added to my basic and what was my annual bonus is now split with some added to basic, some paid as a monthly bonus and then the rest split into a 6 monthly bonus. It sounds complicated to me but does mean I take home more each month and an increase in basic is always a good thing.

In other news I completed a half marathon last weekend:D and have done a massive 54p TT this morning

XSpender

Another small TT done, added to the small balance in the on line saver until I reach a tenner and it can be paid across the loan.

First sh0p n scan points credited this week Will submit this week's when I have done a shop tonight, if I ever get my butt off the sofa. I am feeling tired but tonight is the only time I have as visitors coming tomorrow and DS is at activities all morning and DH at work. Going out to a restaurant for a happy hour meal tomorrow to save on the cooking

We have decided to ask a friend to do the painting and kitchen refurb work for us as we are struggling to find the time to do it ourselves. We now need to find the money to pay for it!

newgirly

Congratulations on getting the job

XSpender

I have been stressing all week about having visitors (DM and Step Dad) and when I was going to get food bought, the house cleaned and what not on top of DS usual weekend activities. Visitors were visiting on the way back from their holiday so were keen to get off early this morning which has meant that we have got done what needed doing and we have had a lovely weekend

DS loved his first rugby training, we had a great meal out on Saturday night, the house is clean, the room of doom is now only half a room of doom, the washing is done and the fridge is full of healthy food. The dogs been walked, DS has done his homework, we have taken a car load to the tip and I have sorted out a bag of stuff for the bin. DH has spent the afternoon gardening and I have found the perfect paint to makeover our kitchen cabinets. We have seen some friends and have a date for next week and it was lovely to see my Mum

Oh and DH offered our old DW for free and got a tenner beer money which I have paid off our loan along with a TT. I have paid nearly £90 off the loan in TT and bits and bobs this month so far.:) I am focussing on paying all extra bits to this loan as it is the highest rate and the longest term, everything else is 0%.

I have had a look at the budget and a couple of items will be cancelled next month, I am going to apply for a water meter and along with the restructure of my salary I will have an extra £145 or so per month to play with. Well, that isn't taking into consideration the higher co car tax I will have to pay as the new job comes with a different band/make of car!

XSpender

I have been struggling with what to focus our financial efforts on. I hate having debt hanging around even if it is 0% or very low rate, I want to increase our savings cushion in case of emergencies (this panic has reduced a bit as I have more job security with the new role), I want to reduce our mortgage so we can have access to better rates when we re-mortgage in 2 years time (the mortgage rate is almost as high as our loan rate) and DH and I want to pay the mortgage off in 10 years instead of 20 as we are not getting any younger and who know what will happen to our earning potential in the years to come. DH also has no pension so the quicker we can pay everything off the quicker we can start investing for our old age.


I have spent most of this afternoon juggling these priorities and believe I have come up with a plan to take us to the end of 2018. It will mean managing our spending better and managing DH expectations about what we can afford/what our priorities are. Supreme frugality will not work with my DH although he has got better over the years.


I am away with work tonight and out tomorrow but am hoping to discuss the plan I have come up with DH this week.

newgirly

Best of luck with the new plan and getting your dh on board with it

XSpender

I have received the change in terms letter from my employer and my basic has gone up to what my basic plus monthly bonus was and my annual bonus is now paid 6 monthly. Overall I will get paid the same but an increase in car tax may mean I come out with slightly less than before.

DH and I haven't discussed all the financial plans up until the end of 2018 as yet as we have been in different locations but I will share the plan for the rest of the year.

Financial Plan 2016

1)Maximum amount to regular saver Sept- Yes, Oct - Yes, Nov and Dec - No
2)Use DH 2 bonuses remaining in 2016 to finish kitchen refurb and makeover DS bedroom. This will be tight as we are now paying for some of the work to be done by tradesmen due to lack of time and skill! DH changed jobs so 1 bonus not received but kitchen and DS rooms completed and living room and dining room curtains and poles etc have been bought. Some of this is on a 0% card
3)Reduce supermarket spending by £150/month; it's ridiculous for 3 people! Sept - £158/week average, Oct - £107/week average
Nov - £120/week average

4)No extra payments to loans/CC - all minimum payments made

5)Apply to go on a water meter - hoping for minimum £10/month saving Done. Don't require a water meter as usage low but restructured DD to save £8 this year and £16 next

6)Cancel 2 x annual subscriptions saving £135 p.a. (both next due May 17) First one done for £20 will revisit keeping NT membership as no holiday next year

7)Cancel 3 other DDs saving £70/month one from Oct, 2 from Nov -All 3 DDs now cancelled and final payments made

8)Do not add to CC debt at Christmas especially as we are entertaining whole family, have a huge house to decorate and DH likes to get a decent (meaning expensive) present - Christmas shopping has almost all been done and budget has been cut but some has gone on 0% card

9)Raise an additional £250 savings for the ISA through TTs, TCB, sales, vouchers etc. - Achieved £500 through a tax rebate and other bits and bobs but this is now spent on the kitchen!

Not adding to the cards at Christmas and cutting the food budget will be the hardest to achieve.:o I do have some money put aside for gifts and we have agreed not to buy for DM and stepdad since last year (although I will get them a token present) and only have the outlaws, 2 children and a small gift for a friend to buy for excluding DS, DH and me. Oh and the dog always gets a treat

We bought some tickets a while ago to see a favourite artist in London in November and, although I can cover the accommodation with free hotel nights I have earned, the train tickets would be almost £300. Add to that the cost of food and transport while we are there and it is just too expensive. I am not sure how I can sell the tickets (they cost £57) but I would rather take a hit on them than spend £300 getting the venue.