£67,031.92 is a frightening number indeed....

poddle911

Hi TOPM, I've been lurking all month - you're doing SO well! I love the start of the month for budgeting, it was quite stressful to have to wait until 3rd for all the direct debits to come out so I could make a plan

Treadingonplaymobil wrote: »

1. make candles. PLEASE universe, can you give me enough time to allow this to make it onto my daily list? It would make me happy.
2. list nursing chair on eb@y. This is going to be to April what The Handbag was to March, isn't it?

Maybe you could set mini deadlines for these? You'll feel amazing once you get that sodding nursing chair on ebay!

armchairexpert wrote: »

Which iPhone do you currently have, out of interest? I have an old 5c that keeps threatening to give up the ghost: battery wearing out. I like how small it is (I have dropped it so many times and not smashed the screen but I'm wondering how much bigger the 6 feels? I don't want to go to the 7.

I got the SE to replace my 5C, which is the same size as a 5 (slightly bigger screen though), but has the same chip as the 6S - functionality over beauty for sure, but very MSE!

Back to lurking

GeorgianaCavendish

I decided to live with my iPhone 6 for another year and went SIM-only. Can't wait to see my first bill without the handset cost!

FacelessNumber

Just thought I'd suggest buying a refurbed phone and keeping a SIM only deal? I bought my phone for £200 online and saved £23 a month for getting a SIM only - over two years that's a £352 saving!!

Treadingonplaymobil

armchairexpert wrote: »

Which iPhone do you currently have, out of interest? I have an old 5c that keeps threatening to give up the ghost: battery wearing out. I like how small it is (I have dropped it so many times and not smashed the screen but I'm wondering how much bigger the 6 feels? I don't want to go to the 7.

I have a 6, I got used to the size really quickly and love it, but not sure about an even bigger screen size. The 6 is still comfy to hold in my hand.

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 8: Day 2

Ooh, I've realised I never actually posted my list for today! I shall post it below and mark what I did in one fell swoop.

I got paid for all my March work today, and now have two full months business expenses and salary and am only £71.50 off having that third month in the bank too. Much closer to target than I was this time a month ago, so hopefully I'll be there before the end of the month - then it's just going to be the constant worry of STAYING that far ahead until the summer (when my main business is always quieter).

Loads of DDs went out today, so our bank account is looking a little sad, but everything budgeted for, so i can't complain really. We seem to be going through our fuel budget quickly at the moment, I might need to try to find a way to up that a little next month.

To do today:
1. feed sourdough. Done!
2. 10,000 steps. Not done, but did manage 6,500.
3. make tortilla wraps. Done!
4. Prep dal and paneer dishes in the morning. Did that!
5. Cast on my dad's socks. Not done yet, hoping to start that before bed if I manage to get my work done in the next hour or so.

To do this week:
1. make candles. PLEASE universe, can you give me enough time to allow this to make it onto my daily list? It would make me happy.
2. list nursing chair on eb@y. This is going to be to April what The Handbag was to March, isn't it?
3. knit the first of the pair of my dad's birthday socks.
4. sort out some more stuff to eb@y next week when I go to visit my parents on the weekend - they have a boxful of stuff that I sorted out about a year ago in their spare room!

Kim_13

Hi TOPM,

Been following your diary for a while but never posted before.

I have also been an iPhone addict (now wavering as I don't want to lose the headphone jack) and it is SO much cheaper if you can manage to save Apple's sim free price and not go the contract route. Having done both I'd never have a contract again.

Could you add a category to your budget for the phone and 'upgrade' only when you can buy outright?

armchairexpert

poddle911 wrote: »

I got the SE to replace my 5C, which is the same size as a 5 (slightly bigger screen though), but has the same chip as the 6S - functionality over beauty for sure, but very MSE!
Back to lurking

Oh that has solved my problem beautifully, thank you ever so much! That's exactly what I want.

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 8: Day 3

I am so enjoying this school holiday - I think I needed some time away from the usual routine as much as the children!

Child benefit came in today, so I've got another £40 to put towards debt payments after dividing the rest up - will make a small payment later today then wait until the statements come in so I know exactly how much to overpay in top of minimum payments.

I've started a fund for a replacement computer in my business account. It only has £50 in it at the moment, but I know my computer is on its last legs, and I'm hoping to save enough in there over the next 12 months to buy a new one. I'll contribute more to it once I've got up to three full months expenses/salary.

To do today:
1. make bread
2. 10,000 steps.
3. cast on my dad's socks (didn't get round to it yesterday)
4. make carrot cake muffins
5. make butterbean soup for dinner
6. freeze leftovers from last night's dinner. Already done this!
7. only 1 cup of tea at knitting evening tonight (it is now held at a local venue so we have to buy our own drinks)
8. Balance cash budget (we have a tin of cash in the house). Already done. Didn't keep on top of this over the weekend and have 'misplaced' £12 worth of spends - food top ups and ice creams while out, I think, but not certain.

To do this week:
1. make candles. PLEASE universe, can you give me enough time to allow this to make it onto my daily list? It would make me happy.
2. list nursing chair on eb@y. This is going to be to April what The Handbag was to March, isn't it?
3. knit the first of the pair of my dad's birthday socks.
4. sort out some more stuff to eb@y next week when I go to visit my parents on the weekend - they have a boxful of stuff that I sorted out about a year ago in their spare room!

Treadingonplaymobil

Fairly quiet day today, debt-wise. I've made a £40 debt overpayment, and updated my signature to reflect the loan DD and that overpayment. Inching closer to the £64k bracket!

To do today:
1. make bread. Done!
2. 10,000 steps. Done!
3. cast on my dad's socks (didn't get round to it yesterday). Done!
4. make carrot cake muffins. Not done.
5. make butterbean soup for dinner. Done!
6. freeze leftovers from last night's dinner. Done!
7. only 1 cup of tea at knitting evening tonight (it is now held at a local venue so we have to buy our own drinks). Knitting cancelled, so no spends at all there.
8. Balance cash budget (we have a tin of cash in the house). Already done. Didn't keep on top of this over the weekend and have 'misplaced' £12 worth of spends - food top ups and ice creams while out, I think, but not certain.

To do this week:
1. make candles. PLEASE universe, can you give me enough time to allow this to make it onto my daily list? It would make me happy.
2. list nursing chair on eb@y. This is going to be to April what The Handbag was to March, isn't it?
3. knit the first of the pair of my dad's birthday socks.
4. sort out some more stuff to eb@y next week when I go to visit my parents on the weekend - they have a boxful of stuff that I sorted out about a year ago in their spare room!

Treadingonplaymobil

Week 8: Day 4

Amusing moment last night - was showing DH our progress (just over £1,600 paid off in total) and he said 'it's funny, it really hasn't been very hard or anything!' I laughed and pointed out that it had been easy for him, as I had done all the budgets, planned the food shopping, told him how much he had to spend each weekend and massaged the budgets when he'd overspent. He managed to look slightly embarrassed.

He did redeem himself slightly by getting a 1.8% pay rise. Pretty minimal, but it will add a few quid each month to our budgets.

To do today:
1. 10,000 steps
2. 1hr knitting my dad's birthday socks.
3. make carrot cake muffins.
4. make lasagne
5. clear the ironing mountain (sigh).
6. make houmous
7. mend DC3's dressing up costume (current obsession, worn CONSTANTLY)
8. play a board game with DC1 and 2 while DC3 naps this afternoon.
9. make candles.

To do this week:
1. make candles. PLEASE universe, can you give me enough time to allow this to make it onto my daily list? It would make me happy.
2. list nursing chair on eb@y. This is going to be to April what The Handbag was to March, isn't it?
3. knit the first of the pair of my dad's birthday socks.
4. sort out some more stuff to eb@y next week when I go to visit my parents on the weekend - they have a boxful of stuff that I sorted out about a year ago in their spare room!

My list for today is a bit ambitious! We'll see.