Spend Nowt, Buy Nowt, Owe Nowt

Suffolk_lass

It still feels as though you are totally on top of your finances. Maybe next year, after DH's card is paid and cleared, you should set up the sinking fund - I have got a discount previously from offering to pay in one hit

XSpender

I had the shock of my life this evening when work announced a small cost of living rise for all employees.  The first one ever in the 6.5 years I have worked there.  It’s only an extra £25/month or so  but it’s very much appreciated.

I forgot to do the account sweep yesterday as I was waiting for DH to go the fuel station but he went tonight instead and I’m too knackered now so will do it in the morning.

Suffolk_lass

Ooh that's lovely. We get one in April but that is to our occupational pensions - 0.7 this year.

XSpender

I could be cynical SL and say they are just giving me back the part of my bonus they withheld from when I was on furlough but hopefully I will get my bonus next year and I will be keeping the pay rise.  They have also introduced an annual pay review so I might even get a bit more next year.

One of our close neighbours, in a smaller house than ours, has just put their house on the market and like a nosy moo I just had to have a look at it on right move.  It’s a nice house but I can’t believe how much it is on for.  Houses near us usually only change hands once a generation and we all bought 5-7 years ago so it is hard to estimate what our house would be worth but I am shocked it is on for so much and 40% more than they paid for it 5 years ago.  Good for them 

I have been pulling together the final numbers for our February budget results.  We will be under budget in every category, including my nemesis the food category, and will be close to the challenging savings target I set before I lost a bit of my bonus.  Who is this woman?  What has happened to the real XSpender? 😂😂😂

Suffolk_lass

XSpender said:

I could be cynical SL and say they are just giving me back the part of my bonus they withheld from when I was on furlough but hopefully I will get my bonus next year and I will be keeping the pay rise.  They have also introduced an annual pay review so I might even get a bit more next year.

One of our close neighbours, in a smaller house than ours, has just put their house on the market and like a nosy moo I just had to have a look at it on right move.  It’s a nice house but I can’t believe how much it is on for.  Houses near us usually only change hands once a generation and we all bought 5-7 years ago so it is hard to estimate what our house would be worth but I am shocked it is on for so much and 40% more than they paid for it 5 years ago.  Good for them 

I have been pulling together the final numbers for our February budget results.  We will be under budget in every category, including my nemesis the food category, and will be close to the challenging savings target I set before I lost a bit of my bonus.  Who is this woman?  What has happened to the real XSpender? 😂😂😂

I was just thinking that. Having your DH bought in has made a huge difference. Do make sure you praise him 

brizzlegirl

All those underspends !! Well done, it’s great news x

XSpender

Suffolk_lass said:

XSpender said:

I could be cynical SL and say they are just giving me back the part of my bonus they withheld from when I was on furlough but hopefully I will get my bonus next year and I will be keeping the pay rise.  They have also introduced an annual pay review so I might even get a bit more next year.

One of our close neighbours, in a smaller house than ours, has just put their house on the market and like a nosy moo I just had to have a look at it on right move.  It’s a nice house but I can’t believe how much it is on for.  Houses near us usually only change hands once a generation and we all bought 5-7 years ago so it is hard to estimate what our house would be worth but I am shocked it is on for so much and 40% more than they paid for it 5 years ago.  Good for them 

I have been pulling together the final numbers for our February budget results.  We will be under budget in every category, including my nemesis the food category, and will be close to the challenging savings target I set before I lost a bit of my bonus.  Who is this woman?  What has happened to the real XSpender? 😂😂😂

I was just thinking that. Having your DH bought in has made a huge difference. Do make sure you praise him 

I will indeed SL. 

DH sent me a message yesterday saying 'when your doing your budget money saving Becky Excell Miko spreadsheet for March I need £50 for the Cheltenham festival'.  It did make me laugh.  Miko is The Budget Mom but Becky Excell is the gluten free food blogger I like who has just released a book I have been dropping hits about for Mother's Day He does like to listen in when I play Miko's Instagram stories. Plus, I already have a fun/spending/misc pot for the £50 to come out of.   

Suffolk_lass

I dropped a hint about a recipe book I would like (it's a really old one and out of print) but then I saw an old drill on FB Marketplace. Very tempting... I have a birthday next month but we don't usually do both beyond flowers or a card for Mother's Day

XSpender

Pay day yesterday and DH received a small, unexpected bonus which means we will not have to use any of our savings to pay for the floor sanding next week.  

Last month we saved over £1800 (bonus month for both of us) and paid £700 off the debt 😁 We won’t be adding much to the savings the month as we are using the usual payments and savings challenges towards the floor br we won’t be spending any of it either.

I have made a start on the floor prep and DH is taking up the hall floor and filling and painting the skirtings this weekend. My to do list includes:

Cleaning the bedrooms and bathrooms
Cleaning the kitchen
All the washing, ironing and putting away
Amending the puppy insurance
Ordering puppy equipment (via TCB😉)
Transferring the puppy purchase money to out CA so I can get the cash out next week
Check DS can get in his school pants
Vac packing the meat and sorting the freezer

I am not bothering cleaning downstairs, except for a quick tidy and vac of the rug, as the dust next week will be horrific.  I usually do the washing through the week but work has been so busy I have been getting up early and starting work much earlier. I have got caught up on a lot of stuff and had some good feedback so it has been worth it.  The earlier time is also to get us ready for getting up with the pup.

The meat is from the Costco run we did last night which we have been meaning to do since the start of the year.  This was funded from a sinking fund I have and I was only 20p over budget 😁 It must be the first time we have been to Costco and not bought any random stuff 😂 everything was on the list and I had price checked a few items before we went to make sure they were cheaper at Costco before I put them in the trolley.  

I had had a text at 8.55am yesterday and had my Covid vac 2 hours later.  They must be whizzing through everyone in my area as I am only 50 and a half. DH is 51 and hasn’t been called for his yet but is under a different GP practice. Most of the people where I went were my age or younger.

DS has really struggled to do more than his Maths and reading this week.  He goes back on the 8th so is not going to fall behind if he doesn’t get much done next week either.  He can’t wait to go back although I know he will moan about getting up earlier.

Right, best go eat some breakfast and put the first load on.

Honeysucklelou2

Wow that’s amazing saving and debt clearing . Well done on the underspend.