Baby steps towards mortgage freedom

Moominmamma89

No money saving news today but thought I would pop in to let everyone know it's only 100 days until Christmas :xmassmile

(I am a bit of a Christmas nut but try to restrain starting all my planning until this time of year)

Moominmamma89

Went to the garden centre this morning for breakfast and soft play. I think it is very reasonable was less than £10 for pancakes for me and DH, toast for munchkin, drinks all round and soft play. I had a voucher so got £2.50 off. We also picked up a present for a party this afternoon.

Also got what I hope is the last of the books loaded up - it's nice to be getting the money but I would like my living room space back instead of having piles of books piled up everywhere. Will arrange collection for this week coming.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Moominmamma89

I am trying to decide whether I should give up my gym membership. It's £20 a month which is good for round here but I just do not seem to be getting the use out of it atm. The only chance I get to go is first thing before DH leaves for work but since Munchkin went back to school things have been too hectic in the morning. May try and see if I can complete "couch to 5K" (furthest I have got was week 7) and fit in an exercise DVD during Button's nap - if I stick at that for 2 weeks the membership can go and that would be over £220 saved a year :money:

Best go finish the biscuits in the cupboard before starting tomorrow :rotfl:

Lrimas

Hehe, the biscuits sound like a better plan .

Have you tried the "zombies run" couch to 5k app? It creates a story around your running and I find it very motivating (I can already run 5k so I'm playing the normal "zombies run" app, but if I couldn't I would have tried that one). I find myself running away screaming at my dogs: "Come on! Don't let the zombies catch you!!! "

Moominmamma89

Hi Lrimas - I have just looked at "Zombies run" it looks like a lot of fun but I don't think it would work with my phone, will get DH to check tonight as first run is planned for tomorrow. Love that the dogs are joining in to!

Moominmamma89

Ooooh and I forgot, I have a signature :j

Moominmamma89

Been into town yesterday to set up an account for Button - never too early to start a little saving pot for her. Now both kids have one which I put £10 into a month along with any money they get off family throughout the year.

Got a call from school to collect Munchkin this morning who was complaining about earache. Luckily Button had an appointment at the doctors for her second injections so managed to get some antibiotics as it turned out to be a ear infection. So we spent this afternoon watching Toy Story 3 (always makes me a little teary) and eating ice cream

Moominmamma89

I have been a bit neglectful of my diary . I will be blaming it on the fact I have a new baby and not the fact I have been ill and therefore spending alot of time watching crud on tv in my pjs while eating rubbish!

We have been paid today and that is what made me feel guilty enough to come and make sure I posted an update. Having reconciled our accounts the overpayment going out next week will be £544.44, made up as follows:

200.00 - agreed o/p from joint account
198.05 - selling my mums old books
86.66 - car tax refund
37.00 - left in joint account last month once all expenses paid
20.00 - left over shopping money (was pleased with this as was aiming for £10)
2.54 - left over from my "personal funds" I get each month
0.19 - interest I snaffle from all the e-savings accounts.
544.44

I am pleased with that as it is over twice what I am aiming to pay each month plus means I have succeeded in making the payments I wanted this year :T.

October overpayment: 544.44/250.00
2016 overpayments: 1,799.96/1,500.00

Will update with new mortgage total when I get letter from the bank in about two weeks.

cat683

Hi there


Well done on your overpayment for this month! That's really good! :j


Have you been sick too? Everyone around here is just dropping like flies!

Moominmamma89

Yup - managed to catch a bug off Munchkin which he seemed to recover from remarkably quickly while I was completed floored and wasn't much use to anyone for a good week.

Went to a wedding over the weekend which was lovely and they got some sunshine on the day for the photos which was good. Just hoping we managed to stay inside what we budgeted - waiting for the payments for the drinks to come out!

I spent this morning boxing up more books so that is £42.12 already for November's overpayment. Then popped up to Te$co to exchange some sleepsuits my mother in law had got Button as she had brought 0-3 months and she is almost 4 months now so wanted something I would get a bit more use out of. I also had to pick up some bread and milk but was good and only got what I needed.

Me and Mr Moomin sat down over the weekend and went over finances and I think we are only going to be putting £100 from the joint account towards overpayments from the start of 2017. ATM I am only having to try and find £50 a month from other places which is doable so £150 will definitely be more of a challenge so I am going to really try to make two more decent sized overpayments before the end of the year to hopefully bring next years monthly amounts down if that makes sense.

So this month I am going:

* Try and save £25 from monthly shop (managed £20 last month)
* See if there are any more books for trading in
* Sell a small collection of Hornby trains, track and other bits we have in the attic
* Have also joined the free postcode lottery (you never know!)
* Go through my vinyl collection and see if I can sell any of those as have quite a few random things people passed to me from older relatives collections over the years that I don't really play
* Also starting my Xmas shopping so will do as much of this through cashback websites

Hopefully this will all result in a good amount for overpaying.

Hope everyone has a fab week :j