ATB'S Frugal Foray to Freedom

atypicalblonde

greent - please don't think me a complete weirdo but I am actually in the process of reading your diary from the beginning! It has been motivating me these past few days

C4C bags netted us £18 which I am mightily :j about. Need to pay that and some other cash into the bank tomorrow, then will shuffle it into the pot. Also sold one of DS baby items to a friend, so that is £10 to shuffle.

If we keep up the savings and selling as are doing, we will be at 5 figures by our diary anniversary at the start of February

Currently waiting to live chat with Sky - our contract has come to an end and I want to re-negotiate....

ETA - our Sky package was due to go up to £55 at the end of the month. We do use it a lot, especially for Movies and kids shows, so was keen to renegotiate and stay with them. Negotiated a reduction down to £35 per month

atypicalblonde

Done a lot of Christmas shopping today, so feeling much more on top of things. Spends are being kept relatively low, especially in comparison to the spending of some of our pals on their kiddies.

Stuck an item on local FB group, fingers crossed x

atypicalblonde

Ebay item sold for £25, shuffled into the pot. There are two biggish life things that are niggling me at the moment. Once those are sorted, we plan on making an OP.

Today has been a NSD, as will tomorrow. All Christmas presents have been bought now. There is a Christmas event at the local charity shop in a few weeks so may pick up some extra bits there, but in the main we are done :j All done for under £100 too including the kiddies :T

Struck gold in a charity shop today - got some Disney Store disney princess dresses for £1 - result!

I do feel a bit flat about our journey though. The mountain still seems so high to climb - will we ever get there? The need to get into 5 figures to make it psychologically easier is huge x

michelle09

Wow, you are well ahead of of the curve for Christmas. Amazing find in the charity shop.

You'll get down to 5 figures soon enough, You've knocked off £50k in under three years which is amazing.

genieuk

I haven't started shopping yet. ggrrr!
We have two children at home, one at uni, and one moved out. Still waiting for 3 out of 4 christmas lists, I am trying the four gift rule with the kids youngest 14 oldest 22. OH family we are doing secret santa.

Have also got a family whatsapp group going for what food/nibbles/drinks they would like - I will use the money I stooze from my weekly housekeeping.

Just applied for new 0% card with Sainsburys hopefully 28months to transfer balance from another card with 0% ending soon.

Also wondered whether to use the 0% on purchases for Christmas presents

What are your thoughts?

we have money to pay but was thinking of keeping that in the 3% accounts.

Once the new card is used that will be it locked away and balance divided by interest free period which if we get the full term will end after mortgage is cleared.

Goes against what i would usually do

chelseablue

Please don't feel flat you are doing amazingly!

At least your close to 5 figures, we still owe £221,000 :rotfl: x

atypicalblonde

Evening all

My Book People order arrived & they sent me some free wrapping paper too :j which should be enough for all the pressies, hurrah!

NSD achieved today, same planned for tomorrow. Still need to list DH Fitbit on fleabay, will sort before school run. Also identified a couple of bits that can go on local FB selling group.

I CANNOT WAIT for our OP allowance to be renewed in January I'm such a saddo, I've got a lovely bottle of fizz I'm saving for the day we are in 5 figures.

Sleep well all x

atypicalblonde

Morning all,

Had some sad news last night, which throws into sharp perspective for us just how precious life is. We are now more determined than ever to be rid of this dratted mortgage asap.

Taking the kiddies out today, so should be a low spend day, hoping for £10 maximum (it's free entry, we will take snacks but may relent and buy an ice cream!)

Have nice days folks and please, give those you love an extra cuddle today xx

michelle09

Sorry for your news, hope you will all be ok.

I think you will deserve that bottle of fizz, but January is not too far away now. (Scarily).

CathT

Hope you've had a good day out and sorry to hear you have had sad news. It does help us put things in perspective doesn't it.