Sashybo - Back Again

sashybo · 6 May 2023 at 7:58PM

😂 SA, the repeated refrain in my house is "DD stop hitting/scratching/biting/pinching your brother" or "Leave your brother alone". DS isn't always innocent either as he likes to wind DD up and then she loses it and attacks him and gets into trouble. 🙄

sashybo · 8 May 2023 at 10:34AM

Got the first coat of gloss done on the bannister and skirting board going up the stairs yesterday. Should be able to do the second coat today then hoping to sand and paint the door and very small amount of skirting board at the bottom of the stairs.

Once that's all done I'll gradually work my way along the upstairs hall doing the skirting and outsides of the doors. The upstairs hall has 6 doors so that will take quite a long time, hopefully I can do it all within a few weeks, fitting it in around work, kids and the usual housework.

DH cleaned my car yesterday and managed to get the transfer marks off from the RM van scraping against me. Just a few scratches (which will buffer out) & the dent left now, it's small and not that noticeable but obviously will impact the sale price when we're looking to change the car.

Got a few washings done yesterday but only had them out on the line for a couple of hours before it started raining.

DH was listing more things on eb@y that he found when he was clearing out his stuff. He usually puts some of the money he makes towards debt so that's a plus.

I have ordered some clothes - dresses and a skirt for summer - unsure if I'll keep them all as I did spend quite a lot but at least it was my own spending money. Anything I don't love or that doesn't fit quite right can be sent back anyway.

Meeting one of my work friends for a late lunch tomorrow as DH finishes work early and can pick the kids up. Will probably walk to my friends as long as it's not torrential rain so I can have a couple of drinks then walk back as I won't be late due to having to get the kids up in the morning.

sashybo · 8 May 2023 at 11:01AM

Debt totals from Jan 2023 until now (most May payments still to come out).

CC1 total Jan 2023 £1600/ total now £1080 - paying £20 min pm plus survey money and a few OPs when had a good pay.

CC2 total Jan 2023 £3300/total now £2830 - paying £80 min pm plus a few small OPs

CC3 total Jan 2023 £2783/total now £2505 - paying £75 min pm plus a few small OPs

Car loan 1 total Jan 2023 £3955/total now £2896 - paying £152 pm plus DH overpaying when he sells his stuff. Loan is 2.9%

Car loan 2 total Jan 2023 £17067/total now £16327 - paying £231 pm. Loan is 3.9%

Garage loan total Jan 2023 £1402/total now £779 - paying £155 pm, this will be paid off in September so just leaving it to run.

DH is concentrating on the smaller car loan and I am using most of my survey money towards the smallest CC. I think I need the psychological boost of getting rid of one of the CC's but probably should be throwing extra at the car loan along with DH. 🤔

We are staying out of the OD and working (mostly) to our budget which has made a big difference. We will be so much better off when the debt is paid off.

sashybo · 8 May 2023 at 11:17AM

Savings totals

Longer term pots

Christmas pot £400

Annual subscriptions £101

Holidays £301

Cat insurance pot £519 (save money monthly instead of paying insurance for old cat who is now 15 and expensive to insure)

Emergency Fund £301

New Carpet savings £150 - no real plan for a set amount pm but started off with extra money from a good pay & part of another bank account switch money.

Car pot (maintenance/tax/MOTs) £175

My own savings (mainly towards a new phone) £228

Generally plundered monthly pots

Cat monthly spends (food & litter) £67

Home spending £110

Birthdays £85

Kids spending (clothes etc) £80

Plundered infrequently pots

DS's birthday party £183 - have already paid 50% as deposit and only 2 more payments at £50 planned to go into this pot. We pay for the amount of kids that show up as the remainder of the bill so may not need the full amount.

Estate factor fees £14 (just paid first quarterly bill in March)

Family entertainment £90 (used a fair amount during Easter holidays)

enthusiasticsaver · 8 May 2023 at 11:39AM

That is a good financial update and yes as you say once the debt is gone you will have so much spare money. You are not doing too badly on the savings pot fronts too. Well done.

sashybo · 12 May 2023 at 12:03PM

Thanks enthusiasticsaver, DH is now very on board with the budget as he can see how much easier it makes everything and that's really helping. 👍

We realised yesterday that we had forgotten to include the house alarm servicing and annual monitoring charge in the annual subscription savings pot so will need to increase the amount going into that pot every payday.

I managed to get the skirting and door at the bottom of stairs sanded then painted on Tues & Wed, it looks so much brighter now. Having a couple of days break and then will start the skirting and doors upstairs.

Had a nice lunch with my work friend on Tuesday, there was a set lunch menu but it had loads of choice. 2 courses and a bottle of wine between us worked out at £25 each including a tip which I think was pretty reasonable.

We had one drink in my friend's local and then a couple at her flat before I walked home. I had brought a bottle of no alcohol rose friexenet and it was actually quite nice, just like fizzy fruity juice really. My friend finished off her bottle of cava though. 😂

I was so achey for the next 2 days though after all my walking, I get really tight muscles around my left hip if I walk a lot for some reason.

I worked late shift on Wednesday but took a lieu day yesterday so that I could go with DH to DS's parents evening. DS's teacher was very positive and obviously knows DS very well, she said she adores DS. ☺️ He absolutely loves her so it's good that his first year at school has been so well supported by a good teacher.

DD has been a troublemaker at nursery and has been scratching other children again. 🤦‍♀️ Yesterday was "only" hitting, hoping for a better day today. 😬

Went for lunch with DH yesterday to a wee local place and the food was great. I had fried chicken waffles which was a maple glazed breadcrumbed fried chicken breast on a sweet waffle and macaroni. Sounds so odd but was absolutely lovely.

Today I managed to get the washing hung out on the line before the school run then cleaned all the downstairs floors and hoovered upstairs before going to my chiropractor appointment. I have only emptied the dishwasher, recycling bags, robot vacuum and kitchen bin and put a door mat into the washing since getting back. Am now taking it easy on the couch for a bit but want to tidy my big pantry cupboard in the kitchen as it's a mess in there.

Outlaws are coming to visit a week today. 😫