Setmefree's Diary: MFi5 journey

setmefree2

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Your new years resolutions look good - I'm also still on my own "use it up" challenge.....I've got a while to go before I need to buy shampoo still, that's for sure! I also seem to be overrun with moisturiser for some reason!

The voucher thing is also a sound plan - it's amazing how these mount up isn't it - I am averaging about £1.30 a week off my Tesco shop at the moment thanks to the vast number of coupons we got given at the Good Food Show! :rotfl:

Your energy use monitoring is still going well I see - actually it's ironic you sending your freezer off for recycling - we've just bought a second one as we want to take advantage of bulk buys on meat etc.....and our original preezer was just half of a tall fridge/freezer so no good for that sort of thing. It is an A rated one though so not too bad.

I got a big heap of smellies for xmas. Tons of gorgeous shower stuff from the likes of Lush, etc, bubble bath and some candles. I love "using" it up! I also got quite a few books. So must resist temptation to buy more.

I'm still going with the voucher part of my spreadsheet. If nothing else it helps remind me what vouchers I have knocking around my purse. Did well in Boots on saturday. Used 2 of their £5 off No 7 coupons, saving £10 on cleanser:j and got a heap of points from buying their serum on a 3 for 2 offer, plus using double points coupon and extra points from the kiosk. You don't want to be in a rush when you go into Boots do you? It's so complicated grabbing all the points you can LOL:D

gallygirl

setmefree2 wrote: »

Did well in Boots on saturday. Used 2 of their £5 off No 7 coupons, saving £10 on cleanser:j and got a heap of points from buying their serum on a 3 for 2 offer, plus using double points coupon and extra points from the kiosk. You don't want to be in a rush when you go into Boots do you? It's so complicated grabbing all the points you can LOL:D

I always add pain killers to my shopping list when I go in there as I always come out with a headache :rolleyes:. I too had a haul on Sat - 3 for 2 on No. 7 with 250 points & £2 off, 2 for £6 posh shampoo with 1/3 off & points, lots of other things as well, plus pints for over £25, and a double points coupon. Ended up with +£45 for £26, plus £14 points :T. Hard work though .

Well done on energy, you make me feel guilty with your monitoring. I need to go out & read mine & get in touch with NPower but it's raining

StuartGMC

gallygirl wrote: »

I...... lots of other things as well, plus pints for over £25, and a double points coupon.

Wow, I remember Boots selling homebrew kits many years ago, put offering free pints may just get me in there! Do I have to buy makeup to get it though? :D:D:D

setmefree2

gallygirl wrote: »

I always add pain killers to my shopping list when I go in there as I always come out with a headache :rolleyes:. I too had a haul on Sat - 3 for 2 on No. 7 with 250 points & £2 off, 2 for £6 posh shampoo with 1/3 off & points, lots of other things as well, plus pints for over £25, and a double points coupon. Ended up with +£45 for £26, plus £14 points :T. Hard work though .

Well done on energy, you make me feel guilty with your monitoring. I need to go out & read mine & get in touch with NPower but it's raining

You are not wrong about Boots. It is soooo complicated that you don't want to be in a rush, LOL. And in order to maximise your points you have to keep going back and forth to the check-out and then they keep giving your more £5 off vouchers - so you have to keep spending them too. My first transaction cost £35 my last £2....finally no more £5 off No 7 vouchers.....:rotfl:

Re energy saving. TBH it doesn't save a great deal of money. It's a every little help sort of thing...:D

setmefree2

EssexHebridean wrote: »

actually it's ironic you sending your freezer off for recycling - we've just bought a second one as we want to take advantage of bulk buys on meat etc.....and our original preezer was just half of a tall fridge/freezer so no good for that sort of thing. It is an A rated one though so not too bad.

I bought my freezer when the kids were babies and it was billiant as they hated the shops and the shops were a drive away. Now I have Sainsburys local about 5 minute walk away and a Tesco local about 7 minutes the other way so I don't really need it anymore....:D

StuartGMC

setmefree2 wrote: »

I bought my freezer when the kids were babies and it was billiant as they hated the shops and the shops were a drive away. Now I have Sainsburys local about 5 minute walk away and a Tesco local about 7 minutes the other way so I don't really need it anymore....:D

Very MSE, get the supermarket to pay the running cost of "your" freezer

setmefree2

Barclays have lowered their base rate to 1.5% - so have a mortgage rate of 2.09%:T

(Of course I'd rather have a higher interest rate and a healthy economy but that's another conversation:o)

setmefree2

I don't believe it but UNWITTINGLY I actually made quite abit of money on my pension pot last year! I moved my money into UK gilts and cash (I think in March 2008) and I have made money on the gilts.

Now that I've made the money I'd like to try and lock it in, so I have been trying to learn about UK bonds. I think that I need to keep an eye on the following:-


1) Where UK inflation is going and hence interest rates - if inflation seems to be rising in the UK (maybe due to weak pound) then I need to sell
2) How well new issues of UK government bonds sell at auction. If the auctions go badly I "may" need to sell because Government yields may have to increase to sell their debt and the new bonds with the higher yields will look more "tasty" than previous bonds.
3) The stock market - if it looks like a bull market might return (LOL) investors might pile out of bonds into equities.
4) Quantitative easing - if the UK government start to buy UK bonds this will push the price up.


But maybe I should just move to cash now? since if I'm being honest I really don't know what I'm doing LOL

setmefree2

We were only to do an op of £500 this month because of xmas. However, with the regular payment the mortgage is down to £122k:D :j Our net debt has gone below £30k. Fingers crossed next month we might get sub £120k - which would be nice.

I have updated page 1

EssexHebridean

setmefree2 wrote: »

We were only to do an op of £500 this month because of xmas. However, with the regular payment the mortgage is down to £122k:D :j Our net debt has gone below £30k Fingers crossed next month we might get sub £120k - which would be nice.

I have updated page 1

Well done to you SMF2 - nice when things like this work in your favour isn't it!