Two thirds of the way there, final hurdle

MERFE

Got a letter from council today saying we missed decembers council tax payment. I remember doing it but must have not gone through since it hasnt come out the bank. I should have realised sooner but no bother as I have the money to pay it.

Saw my first payslip from the school and notice the pension contributions seem really good, they actually top it up so I am getting more going into mine than my husband. He has seen it and thinking he should ask his work to increase his contributions.

Had a fantastic last day at work, did crafts with the breakfast club and took my boys in too. There was secret santa and Christmas jumper day so spirits were high. Eldest had a half day so she was home lunchtime doing crafts since she missed out in the morning. Now I just need to keep them busy next week whilst hubby sleeps. We need to do a santa visit, dentist, shopping trip, will probably do a swimming day and if the weathers nice a big park. Nothing much organised surprisingly.

Going to sort out my budget properly in january now I know what I am getting each month, should be able to get organised and make a real dent in everything.

MERFE

Budget sorted, feeling more organised then realised I didnt account for the random school requests. This month is swimming lessons £12 per child for a weekly lesson till summer so a complete bargain I just forgot to account for. Middle child has a residential and its earlier this year, literally got the letter last day of term and they need £55 by end of Jan for the deposit, rest by March. I think I am going to need to ebay for this, starting with my craft bits. Oldest has an activity week in the summer too and one of the options she choose was pricey, I am hoping she gets one of the cheaper ones but I need to make sure I save up just incase.

Having a savings verses debt dilemma. I have 2 regular savers and OH has the help to buy ISA. We wont touch the help to buy money obviously but when the regular savers finish do I pay off some debt with them, keep for emergency, or buy things we have put off getting. OH keeps hassling me to get a new laptop, I think keeping a bit of it back to cover the laptop cost then when this one finally gives up get a new one.
The other thing is middle child needs a new bike (or new to him) he has outgrown his. Youngest can have middle childs so no bother there. We cycle alot, middle child also does junior triathlon so wants a decent lightweight bike, he has a ridgeback at the moment that we were very lucky to get for £65. We are looking at islabikes and secondhand they cost more than new cheaper bikes. I know they are worth it and the amount he uses it, is worth it but it means I need to plan where the money is coming from. This also means we have issues going to cycle routes because currently the youngests bike fits in the boot and we have a 4 bike cycle carrier that goes on the tow bar. So we also need roof racks and a roof carrier for a 5th bike once the younger 2 have bigger bikes. So I thought use the savings for this in the summer. Saving was hard though so I am so reluctant to spend the savings. Ideally what I want to do is make enough extra money from ebay or increased hours at work or somewhere so I can keep the savings.

I am not entirely sure we will reach the debt free date June 2018 when it seemed easy through snowballing what has actually happened is we finished paying off the car and that money has been spent in other areas like with OH second car and increased food budget. I am about £56 a month short for making that DFD so hoping I can make that through ebaying and maybe new job in Sept. I am contracted to the school until 31st August and I dont want to renew it, I dont like working with the kids (they are lovely kids and I am firm with my own so thought it wouldn't be difficult but I actually hate telling other peoples kids to stop what they are doing when what they are doing is normal kids stuff but you have to think about if they hurt themselves the school are responsible). I also don't like working split shifts everyday, would rather do 2 full on days and have some time off. But I had to try it or I wouldn't know. So new job search in the summer, fingers crossed for something decentish.

MERFE

Actually thinking about the bikes, the oldest is getting to an age where she doesnt always come with us, maybe one of us, me or her doesnt go on the cycle rides this summer, Or I can go and go running instead (obviously wouldnt keep up but still get exercise and I like running). Would save on getting roof racks.

MERFE

Listed lots on ebay this weekend, January probably isnt the best time but if it doesnt sell I can just relist easily enough. Trying to get back into the survey sites again, I used to do them and save up the vouchers for extra at Christmas so thought that would help this year too.
OH is doing days next week, even if he does 12 hours each day he won't make what he does on nights but I am hoping just one week out of the month wont make too much difference. Next door are having building work done so he couldnt sleep at home. We are lucky his work are able to offer some day work. Means I have to take the kids every day to breakfast club though, it makes it busy and they are distracting. I would hate to be a teacher, dont know how they do it.

MERFE

Sold an item on ebay already, lots of watchers for other bits too. Got loads more to photograph and list. All my craft stuff has to go, we dont have the storage space for it.

I think I am going to rejoin the grocery challenge as well. Groceries is the one thing that so easily gets out of hand. I know I could spend less and us still eat well. I want to try and reduce it to £300 a month until the MBNA is paid off at least. I really want to up our savings too but need to keep reminding myself to pay the debt first.

MERFE

Finished paying the catalogue, so now that is gone what I was paying off it should go towards the MBNA but it'll still take 11 months to repay. Going to concentrate one overpaying this with anything spare.

Lots of bids on ebay which is good. Been manic this week at home so havent managed to list anymore. Will try to get some more listed for the weekend. Been doing the surveys and swagbucks every day so hopefully that will add up to some vouchers soon.

MERFE

Am I wrong to be saving? Should it all be going towards the debts?

I'm not going to spend any of the savings. Want to buy a house asap. We have £1600 saved and saving £275 a month across 3 accounts. One emergency fund, one HTB ISA and one miscellaneous.

Debts are all 0% and the savings give us a little security (first months rent and deposit would be the very least I would want in emergency fund incase we had to move at the landlords whim). But would pay everything off alot faster if I paid it towards the debt then save after.

Moneywhizz

I think you are better to keep saving for your house deposit. The sooner you can get a mortgage the better. Have you looked into property prices and how much of a deposit you need? I don't think the amount of debt you have would affect your mortgage application. You can always try some mortgage application calculators to see if it does make any difference to what you can borrow. Having some idea of how much you hope to borrow will help you to focus on your savings, and hopefully get you there soon. It's good to know what you are aiming for anyway. Good luck.

MERFE

I think your are right. I have read a couple of articles online and actually if the debts are 0% it is ok to save.

We will probably have to move to the town so looking for a house around £150,000. Mortgage calculators show we could get one if we had the deposit but that is going to take a while to save up. I am thinking I should open a lifetime ISA in april because it will definitely take over a year to save, probably closer to 3 years unless I get a new job. I am hoping to go back to full time work in the next year or 2 so it could be sooner.

There is another £2800 on a CC not in my signature that OH pays £55 a month off, it is also 0%. We get neverending 0% offers through the post as well so I am not concerned about them ending and not being able to move it. We have kept the barclaycard open just incase we need to transfer. Going to close the catalogue now that is paid though.

MERFE

I've booked a sun holiday for easter hols, probably work out the same as taking them out each day anyway, so hubby gets a peaceful weeks sleep, then the 2nd week of the easter hols has the bank holidays in so only a couple of days I have to take them out or keep them quiet.

About £20 of stuff has sold on ebay, no big purchases but listed lots more over the weekend and got plenty of watchers for the bits ending in the next couple of days so could go up a bit.

Received a £10 voucher for a survey I did in Nov, putting it away towards Christmas. Did another in January so should get another one probably around March time.

I have been shopping today after writing a meal plan and shopping came to £46 for the week, for 5 of us. We didn't need any toiletries only toilet roll so it wouldnt be so low every week but shows I could definitely lower the £70 it has been. Done a meal plan for next week already too.