5 years and counting to freedom!

Frugalfamily3

The time's run away from me again since last entry. I just don't know where the days go! All my good intentions are amounting to fark all so far apart from 2 op's. But I guess 2 are better than none. So....I'm gonna try again!!! Deep breath...and...
MSE things I'm going to do this week:

Menu plan for next 2 weeks and only buy what's needed for the plan.

Do a Tilly tidy to the mortgage on next two Saturday's

Take any coins to the bank to OP mortgage.

Make list of what we still need for Christmas - food, pressies etc and stick to it!

It's not much but it's a start I guess.

jodles16

Best of luck! Remember any OP is money you will never pay interest on again!!

Jodles

Frugalfamily3

Hi Jodles. Yes that's true and a good thing to remember when I'm feeling flat about the tiny OP's im going to make given that I'm all spent out over Christmas shopping lol

Quick update to my diary... I've finished Christmas buying for another year! And both OH and I have agreed that significant belt tightening from now is not only necessary but doable. I'm going to pop back on here over the weekend to make a list of all the ideas to save. This will keep me focused and clear where the savings will come from. If anyone still reads my very boring intermittent diary, any suggestions will be grabbed with both hands

Guess I need to get to work now. Pennies don't make themselves xx

SueP19

I am in freezer envy:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Frugalfamily3

I hope all MFW's had a brilliant Christmas. We had a lovely but very busy Christmas which was as far from frugal as you could be. But as of 2nd January (after the last party) it's belt pulling time! And I've made a start to a saving idea list. Ok here goes......

Menu plan every weekend for the week ahead
Make birthday, anniversary etc cards instead of buying them (have loads of craft stuff)
Tilly tidy at least once a week
Put all loose change into bag through week and take to bank at end of every month
Make lunches for work
Bake bread rather than buying it (have ingredients that needs using
Only buy fresh veg, milk and fruit in January and eat from freezers and fridge as all are full
Aim to OP at least £200 a month
Renegotiate Sky and fuel contracts when due
Only carry cash and leave bank cards at home unless petrol for car needed

I'm sure there are loads of other ideas. I'll add as I think of them xx

Hard_Up_Hester

Good luck with your endeavours.

Frugalfamily3

Thanks Hester . I need all the luck and egging on I can get due to very low willpower! Lol

We have a busy few days ahead with visitors tonight and Saturday coming to stay over, and going to daughters for New Year's Eve. From now we're spending nothing in January apart from fresh milk, fruit and veg as we've got all we need for the events above. That money will come from DS1's keep money and hopefully we'll have some left over to do an OP.

I've got 2 credit cards on the go too right now, one with 0% interest so when I get chance I'm going to put a siggy on my diary to keep track and watch the balance of those and mortgage go down

Winds blowing a hooley out there this morning and the rain chucking down in sheets! My thoughts are with the poor people flooded out of their homes xx

brizzledfw

Best of luck ff3.. Am sure you can do it. January sounds a big hurdle but with those freezer multiples am sure you won't starve!

Frugalfamily3

Thanks Brizzled. Yep that's one positive

Well, apart from the mortgage which I managed to lock myself out of online, I've got updated balances on the cards and an interest free loan! I'm going to update my sig to keep track in a min but I predict that the card loans should both be clear in 9 months, less if I snowball them.

I have got some savings but need the majority of that for the holiday we booked for October. Mr FF paid it on his card so owe him that when his bill comes. He pays his every month in full so I need to pay him asap.

I haven't done my current account balancing yet. That'll be the scary part!!!!

Frugalfamily3

Sig now done but there is a change which I'll sort on it later, in the meantime in a nutshell....
I've combined my credit card that I pay balance interest on to the one that is 0% interest. This means I will pay £50 a month less than I am now and finish at the same time as before I combined. I'll pay £200 a month for 9 months and pay no interest. I could stretch it for longer but I don't want to, as I'll then be able to pay that money towards the OP on the mortgage

Oh and my current account balance isn't too bad at all, a big plus there.

All in all its a good plan methinks!

Took lunch to work today but had to force it down as I've managed to catch a stinking cold and feel very sorry for myself, with tickle inside both ears, sore throat and a streaming nose!! Ah well it waited till after Christmas do can't complain! I'm off now to read diaries all tucked up in bed with a cuppa. Rock n' rolll !!!