ATB'S Frugal Foray to Freedom

atypicalblonde

Suffering from a major lack of enthusiasm for MFW stuff at the moment . I think (by think I mean know) it's a combination of the rubbish weather we are having, this irritating eye infection and the current account looking depleted. Have had various (unavoidable) spends over the past few days which mean funds are low this month. Getting to £105k seems like an impossible target at the moment, let alone being MF

Shall plough on regardless - the biggest motivation for getting to £105k being that if we achieve that magic number by the end of March in time for our broker to secure us a new deal, going on what the Halifax currently have to offer our payments will be £150 per month lower than they currently are :T in reality that money will be OPd immediately, but it's nice to know it frees up space in the household budget should we need it.

The talk on the news about council tax going up makes me :eek: - we already pay £165 per month, and that's over 12 months! I don't fancy an increase thanks!

Sorry for such a downbeat post

shangaijimmy

Council tax horrifies me as well, particluarly as services and proviisons seem to be reducing! I to am suffering from motivation deficit and its only my morning TT's that is keeping me on track. Still when we both get our motivation surge we'll be on fire!!

atypicalblonde

Made a decent TT of £5.66 yesterday to round off our current account to an even number. My bonus is being paid this week so as soon as that clears I will be sending £450 off to the mortgage.

Today's priorities are entertaining the children whilst doing DH VAT return :cool: that should be interesting! Yet more money to go the tax man no doubt, doesn't he know I have OPs to make!

I have just watered the milk down to make it last the day (very Old Style) and dinner has been dug out of the freezer. Food spends are currently at £101.25 for the month, so over my £60 target by some way, but with only 10 days left I hope to keep it below £125 which, for a family of 4 with a dog, I would be happy with.

woodfired

Love your diary ATB, keep going with the OPs, you will get there!
I hate it when the accounts look low, it isn't good for motivation but just look how far you have come!

I too have a VAT return due and i'm with you on hating them, a thankless task, you spend hours organising invoices then have a bill to pay for your efforts :mad:

Keep up the good work.x

CathT

I don't know how much our c/tax is increasing by, I should probably find out.

How's the eye?

Watty1

somehow I had missed the council tax increases depressing news...and as I've just had the corporation tax bill for the company and done the VAT return I think I shall hide under the duvet! Somedays I feel I work to pay the taxes! Which is silly I know ... but all these taxes do add up to a tidy sum. (Am now reminding myself to be grateful I earn sufficent to both incur them and pay them .....)

atypicalblonde

The eye is much better, thanks to a wondrous invention of a wheat bag eye mask! Much for effective than drops, even though I was very sceptical at first.

Been up since 5.45 with DS so lots of housework and general admin has been done. £12.95 of ebay sales over the weekend which has just been OPd.

Watty - I completely agree. We pay thousands in tax each month across a combination of PAYE/NI for the employees, corp tax, self assessment and VAT. It never seems to end, my HMRC dashboard is always asking for money. And people think because DH has his own business we are wealthy!

Bit of a spendy day ahead as we need to renew DH passport. At least it's getting done before the prices increase.

atypicalblonde

Morning all,

Well the passport renewal never happened yesterday so that has been bumped to today. I am childfree for a couple of hours this morning (it's our half term) as kiddies at grandparents, so I have already power walked the dog and am shortly heading out to get my nails done

OP of £70.79 (random amount!) made. If all of DH customers pay up next week when they are due to (and it's a big if, some have been spectacularly slow recently) he will take a dividend and we will make a £3k OP next Friday. Fingers firmly crossed!

In non-MFW news, I have been steadily losing weight since New Year and am now 20lb lighter than I was on the 1st of Jan :T Ideally I want to lose another 20lb which would take me down to what I weighed before I had the children, low carbing has worked for me so far and, whilst it is certainly a more expensive way to eat, it is far healthier and I love that my body isn't eating anything at all processed now.

atypicalblonde

Where have the past ten days gone?!

We have had absolutely loads of snow here, and as a consequence both children have been at home with me since Wednesday. I love them to the ends of the earth but trying to get anything done with them here is a near on impossible task!

Have been continuing to make OPs, having to hold off making the biggie as the customer who we are expecting the money from has not been in work this week due to the weather, but has assured us they will be in on Monday and the money will be transferred then.

Have checked on the Halifax website and the 2 year fix that we are hoping to secure is still the same - two years at 1.99%. As we can secure this three months ahead of time, if the deal is still there at the end of March we can ask our broker to go ahead and prepare everything for the fix :T our monthly payments will be £450 as opposed to £606 - we will of course OP the difference, but it will still be nice to know our standard payment is "only" £450 in case we have a tricky month.

I have been a bit of a grump this week - evening TV is full of programmes wittering on about the snow! Get a grip and get on with it people. I was very annoyed the kids school was shut - all the main roads round here are totally clear, and all the side roads had been gritted too. For working parents it really is a pain.

On another note - I got the invigilation job :j I have already done my training, and start officially at the end of April :T

We have declared a spending embargo for March as February was sooo spendy :cool: and I am keeping a written diary of everything we are spending. On track for a No Spend Weekend which is always fab.

OP just made of £97 too - keep on keeping on folks

CathT

That is great weight loss. I need to get back in the zone as we go on holiday in 10 weeks. Have you still been able to drink wine???

Hope the late customer pays up soon, I know chasing unpaid invoices has been a big stress for you in the past.

I!!!8217;m hopeful when we come to remortgage in September that there are still some good rates about. We have two parts now 2.49% and 2.99% so feel like we are getting a rough deal!