Five year plans for my little family

ZoPig2016

New food planner, including breakfast, snacks and puddings, all prepared and printed. DH on board, suggesting pasta, rice and mince once a week. Can do better! Mainly wasting fruit.

Sat with DH to examine the budget and trim a few areas down. Shaved off 400 quid or so through belt tightening, ready to save up and slash off the mortgage.

Ate up the contents of the fridge today, minimal waste. My bread maker is out, functioning and making us lovely fresh bread on demand. Score!

ZoPig2016

Just back from a few days away at my parents' house, it was great - like a little holiday! Had fun watching everyone play with DD and even got out alone with DH a few times, although of course we just talk about the baby now! She's so brilliant.

While we were there we had a look at my dream forever house (from the outside) - such a fine line between inspiring and torturing yourself. It's beyond reach for now but if we work hard to pay off that mortgage and build equity, getting another mortgage to make up the difference is within reach. More determined than ever to smash it.

Carefully planned and ordered a weekly shop for weds delivery, in the meantime eating up freezer teas and lunches. Big bill this week but includes top ups of laundry detergent and softener, nappies and wipes. The food was strict, using my new planner.

Having fun with the bread maker, the house smells yummy!

ZoPig2016

Updates!

Emergency fund: £89.22 / £5000
Weight loss: 2 / 62lbs
LTV JULY 2018 projection: 71% / 60%
SB points: 1129 / 16,699

Hurray for getting off the mark with the weight loss. £20 overpayment as my reward! :T

ZoPig2016

Day out today with the small one, being brave - it generally went well. I thought adventures with the Pram would be difficult but actually we managed just fine. Just need to know where all the ramps and lifts are! Found some decent changing and feeding facilities too so I was happy.

Went into the city to get my hair cut - and grief, did it need it. Been on a bit of a post partem makeover mission, time to take my body back now! Gelled my nails last night, plucked and trimmed my eyebrows using my special cheat sheet I found online and watched some make up tutorials, did a full face and a smoky eye today. Felt brilliant after it has all been done!

Having difficult hair, I see someone very senior at a well known salon so that was expensive but as ever, utterly worth it. I've had quite a lot chopped off and of course you have to trust someone to do that! She is brilliant.

Also found some shoes in the sale. They were £95 but they were £215 full price, in a brand I love. I know I'm going to wear them so much, they're super smart and so comfy. Getting my back to work wardrobe off to a good start. I'm hoping that over time I can blag some expensive clothes in sales for a lot less than new season and build up some solid staples like suits and dresses which I can then supplement with less expensive blouses, cardis etc.

Also bought some face wash and cream, a treat just for me.

However it's not all bad. DH took my small vinyl collection sold it, blagged £35 which paid for his haircut, our lunch, a coffee and cake while he waited for me and a small box of chocolates which we had for pudding. There was a time we'd buy three selectors and wolf them all. This time we bought one we really liked and just split that. It was plenty - better for the bank balance and our waists.

So feeling happy, having been so tight for the last six weeks it was nice to drop a little cash on myself. Back on the wagon tomorrow!

I also started to do some maths on what we will need to retire and maintain the lifestyle we expect - scary business! I've been in denial about my pension plans until now because there always seemed that there was something better to spend it on, but having reached 30 I realised that it's not something that can wait longer. DH is a teacher and his pension demands high contributions, so that's something. Mine however is pathetic as I've not made much by way of contribution. Something to address post mat leave. Also need to consider how savings fit in with overpayments. I'm thinking that the new LISA will be a good start to secure the bonus. After that, I still think caning the mortgage is the winner.

EatingTheElephant

Sounds like you had a lovely day out.

Well done on the weight loss

ZoPig2016

Updates:

Emergency fund: £89.22 / £5000 :hello: Weight loss: 5.5 / 62lbs :hello: LTV JULY 2018 projection: 71% / 60% :hello: SB points: 1499 / 16,699

Things have slipped a bit this month cash wise. I've had the urge to get back to normal to e extent that I can, so I've had a bit of a mummy makeover - bought myself some good face products and new makeup since getting my hair sorted out. Also needed some new clothes because my maternity leggings were falling down. Not a great look!

So I've stocked up and retrieved some self esteem but spent a bit in the process. However it was worth it to feel better!

DH is still on hols and we have discovered how to go out and do things with our baby! Again feeling good but has meant a few lunches out. I don't feel too bad as there's no holiday this year and we do need to do some nice things.

Also random expenses like the dentist, new glasses for DH and I've paid for more driving lessons - hoping I can pass in October now I'm not pregnant any more and can move my leg to work the clutch properly.

September is an expensive month for us as the car insurance, breakdown cover and home insurance need renewal.

Having lost a bit more weight, I've made a couple more payments off the mortgage. Checking my spreadsheet, we were close to hacking off another month so I've made an extra overpayment to see that off. Currently paying it off ten months early! Woop Woop :beer:

Thinking that we will need to reconsider our banking situation soon as 123 account interest drops. Also feeling that we may be able to get a more rewarding credit card, ours is for a supermarket beginning with T but as I'm now ordering my shopping from Ocad0, it's not half as rewarding as it used to be. I feel a switch fest coming on... But awaiting the fallout from the rate drop with other banks before making a decision.

ZoPig2016

Appointment made to switch banks this week, 123 is no longer making us any profit. Going for Marksies as the voucher welcome deal alone is worth more than 123 has made me in two years! Will be used to fund clothes as required for myself and th small one.

What rubbish, rainy weather! Although the baby prefers cooler days.

Tomorrow is my month end, I like to work payday to payday so updated figures due soon. Hoping for a more focussed month now. DH goes back to work at the end of the week, I'm on half pay for the remainder of mat leave and lots of annual bills in Sept so will need to keep things tight.

Been reading about people who paid their mortgage off in three years being frugal and working like crazy! Don't think I'll manage anything that fast but inspiration is always welcome!

See you tomorrow to get back on that wagon!

lippy1923

Hi ZoPig


Just come across your diary and I'm enjoying the read. Great progress so far on the mortgage and the weight loss. We too brought our first home as a starter home and paying off as much as possible to one day move into the forever home. Not sure how long we can physically stay in it if we decide to have another child tho.


Keep up the good work

ZoPig2016

Emergency fund: £1635.40 / £5000 :hello: Weight loss: 5.5 / 62lbs :hello: LTV JULY 2018 projection: 71% / 60% :hello: SB points: 1420 / 16,699

We have kept hold of a good chunk of cash but I'm conscious that: a, we have credit card bills to pay which are a bit higher this month than last month due to random expenses and treats discussed above; b, September expenses are high with annual renewals due and c, this is the first month of my half pay. We shall have to see if this gets eaten into this month.

No more weight loss, decided when DH goes back to work and bank hols are done I will start food tracking to get a grip.

Going to the bank today to change current accounts.

Need to diary more often to stay on track!

AnnaBeth

There is no better motivation than a small person - glad you started a diary. I have a toddler and the demands are still similar, did find the drop in pay going from full time to part time post baby has caught up with me. I found it easier not to spend on mat leave as I told myself id dint have any money as wasn't earning, then think splurged when back at work as working again. I'm sure learning the psychology behind why we spend and when is the key.
Have similar thoughts about pension, seems to be rattling ever close despite only being two years older than you.
Meal planning is a complete saviour, have just signed up to Gousto though as found a v good offer so four meals for less than a fiver worth looking into for a treat.
will keep an eye on your diary as your journey similar.