I can do this!

MistyMountainTop

Horses and ponies seem to be a bottomless pit where money is concerned, so a half loan is definitely the way to go. I can sympathise with you Mrs Tinks, but if she gives up now, think how much money you may save in the future. If she keeps it up, she will decide at some point she needs her very own pony (and then outgrows it and needs a horse, and then starts competing and needs a better horse, and then another better horse - not to mention horseboxes, vets bills, farriers, better saddles, etc etc etc.) Just kidding, I think horses are worth every penny and if I had buckets of money, a horse or two would be on my list.

Is your daughter involved with the pony club? It's been quite awhile for me but the pony club was so much fun, and educational. I made a lot of friends there, too. Something like that might keep her interest up so you can have your pony fix!

I will make it a game to see how low I can get the shopping, I honestly didn't realise just how much I was spending until I started accounting for every single penny. DD and I are sorting out the meal plan and will stick to doing the weekly shop on a Sunday, if all goes well there will be no reason for me to pop to the shops during the week.

MrsTinks

Sadly the pony club is quite a way from us which is a pooper...

I grew up with horses, practically lived in the stables in my teens and miss horses greatly, but I need to shed some pounds and I am old and grumpy and I DEFINITELY need an indoor school LOL
It still amazes me that not everyone has them over here in the UK :rotfl:
I know she loves riding, but she's such a social little thing that I think half of it is more the people than the ponies (unlike her mum who'd take a pony cuddle over speaking to bi-peds any day)
Part of me is saying I don't want to give up my little redhead, but the sensible part of me is saying that giving up THIS pony isn't a bad thing for my daughter... then starting to look for more of a schoolmaster for her to really learn on and see if she gets the bug or if that is definitely just not the same passion as me... at which point clearly I will need to buy myself a little driving pony or something LMAO

MistyMountainTop

I would need a Clydesdale to carry me at my current weight! Actually I wouldn't get on a horse until I was close to my ideal weight, not just for the horse's sake, but it changes your whole centre of balance. A driving pony would be fun, a friend had one when we were younger and we drove that pony all over the village. It was nearly as fun as riding, we decorated the cart and thought we were so cool.

MrsTinks

Hahaha I grew up with trotters and racing (in denmark on a race day you'll typically have about 8 sulky races and 2 gallops - it's way more popular there than in the U.K.) so buggies have many happy memories for me!

Well the decision was made and notice has been given on the pony. Daughter seemed very sensible about it all - I think if the perfect school master pony crops up then I'd probably try again but for now I'll just let her enjoy riding ��

Well that's a £108 a month saving ��

MrsTinks

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 1
Number of cars owned.................... 2

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 2388
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 150
Total monthly income.................... 2538

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 440
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 0
Electricity............................. 0
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 0
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 75.68
TV Licence.............................. 0
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 200
Clothing................................ 30
Petrol/diesel........................... 200
Road tax................................ 18.37
Car Insurance........................... 40
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 25
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 300
Other child related expenses............ 65
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 55.52
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 30
Other insurance......................... 50
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 25
Haircuts................................ 25
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1579.57



Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
MBNA...........................7560......75.6......0
Barclay........................2601.3....55........0
Debenhams......................0.........0.........0
Picture........................1660......110.......0
Total unsecured debts..........11821.3...240.6.....-


Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 2,538
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,579.57
Available for debt repayments........... 958.43
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 240.6
Amount left after debt repayments....... 717.83



Created using the SOA calculator at https://www.stoozing.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using other browser.

MrsTinks

Ahhhhh back at work after a fairly nice day off work yesterday - got my driving licence sent off finally (10 year renewal - can't do it online as not British with British passport so had to do it properly which is such a pain!)

Dropped car for a minor warranty repair, still has a couple of niggles which I will need to get fixed before March when manufacturers warranty is up, it's just easier to get stuff done on that than the dealership warranty LOL

So a short week at work this week which is always welcome! Currently having a fairly chilled time at work in all honesty. I'm enjoying that to the max as I know shortly it's all going to get totally hectic again so I might as well enjoy this.

Money-saving wise then I'm just trying to minimize spends till the end of the month. I have two large bills that go out right at the end of the month which is actually very annoying and I am trying to decide if I should try and move them forward... I wonder if they would do that...

Need a few minutes of no boss around so I can phone them up LOL

Looks like my day might have just been turned a little upside down... good friend has been involved in an accident this morning so we may need to scramble to go to the hospital when we find out where he is going...

Latest update is that he's ok, no spinal apparently, few other things causing some concern but definitely could have been a lot lot worse!

Guess I should be doing SOME work this morning in case I need to dash off.

kirtsypoos

Hope all ok with your friend MrsTinks

EssexHebridean

Aargh that's a nasty shock to have first thing in the morning - hope he's OK.

MrsTinks

I strongly suspect he's chatting up a bunch of nurses and generally being a bit of a pest (in a nice way) - waiting to hear more at the moment

Thought I'd be good this morning so to make my budgeting easier I've moved my DD date for the car payment forward from next month. This months will go on the 24th (what a stupid date!) and then just over a week later another one will go on the 3rd LOL The lady was quite confused bless her - normally people want them moving so they basically miss a payment and here's me happy to move them so they get paid in two consecutive weeks - just because it upsets my inner OCD having one going out at the end of the month :rotfl: she took it in good spirit mind

Need to find details for the other agreement so I can move that forward too

MrsTinks

Second agreement moved forward too - why does simple things like this please me?? Financial organisation is SO satisfying :rotfl: Now all my DD's are at the start of the month with a little wiggleroom in case there are any payroll delays etc and nothing is floundering at the end of the month. Hooray!

I'd say I need a hobby... but I think I have too many already!