Taking it slowly, but doing it well.

wishingthemortgaheaway

Well, if I was feeling miserable yesterday, today is positively tear worthy. Garage rang this morning, something else wrong with the car, grand total of MOT and repairs £654 :eek::eek::eek:
So, well and truly depressed in a financial sense:

£654 = £280 from car maintainence pot
£240 already put in the 13 step plan this month
£134 of money previously put into 13 step plan, so that target is now sitting at -£134.
I was already thinking it was going to be a struggle to make this months targets, now it just seems impossible. I do have a day's supply tomorrow £110 which is a start, but with the other pots already taking a hammering there really is no wiggle room this month.

Can May be over please?

mse May Goals

1) Mop Pot (Target total £241.72)
Interest added: £48.29/£65.63
£400 capital reduction: 0/129.26
Mfw 2018 target amount: 0/£15.11
Nice round number: 0/£31.72

2) 13 Step plan funding
-£134/£872* :mad::mad::mad:

3) nsds
4/16

4) 1p a day challenge
11/32

5) use the debit card
3/20

6) save the £2 coins (update monthly)

7) get in size 14 jeans (update monthly)

*This is the amount I need to add into the 13 step plan for each of the next 27 months in order to achieve the ultimate goal (this is on top of the £210 mop pot target)

wishingthemortgaheaway

I've spent some time this evening reflecting on the positives of my current situation.


1) I had the money to do the work, just needed a little wamming
2) my car is safe and potentially dangerous things (like snapped handbrakes cable) are no longer an issue - this makes Pickle safer too.
3) I made myself feel better by moving some of the 13step money around to completely fill step 13 (deep clean of old and new property £375) so 2 out of 13 steps are now complete. (It does mean I've got further to go on other steps, but I needed a little boost)
4) I'm still (just about) on track to be mortgage neutral in 27more months (July 2020)
5) May isn't over
6) 1 day supply tomorrow and a potential of up to 2 more before the month is out.
7) my expenses this month are huge
8) Still waiting on a £30 check from the rail company I was emailed about previously.
9) I have 3 additional work dats coming at some point
10) can't say what this one is as there's a chance it could 'out' me.

But there we go, 10 reasons not to be miserable about money.

I've jiggled the budget from June onwards to include £70 a month in the car maintainence/mot/repair category, The is 1/12 of what I've already paid put this year. This pot isn't included in the 13 step plan, so I won't feel as bad spending it. It may also start to build a car replacement pot of money.

I've also upped my birthday/Christmas pot to £100 a month from now on as it's been severely raided for hubby's birthday (I'll drop it back down to it's usual £50 when I'm 'back on track')
This will obviously have an effect on the 'easy' wins of the plan each month, but it's for the best. I'm on a 'middle distance race' (rather than a marathon or a sprint) I will get there.

Wish.

pinkypig

Awww Wish poor you. Car bills are the worst:( Well done you for having the money set aside which makes it a frustrating and upsetting set back rather than an out and out disaster.

Hope your week improves xx

wishingthemortgaheaway

You are right Pinky, and I refuse to devote anymore brain space to it.

A nsd for me today. Although I have done some Tilly tidying that has been hanging around all week but I couldn't face doing. Onwards and upwards for the rest of the month. An easy day's supply today, so money heading my way a week tomorrow (will drop my time sheet off later)

Tonight I'm going to my knitting group for the first time in AGES so really looking forward to that. I've started the first of the 2 baby blankets I need to make, so will crack on with those whilst having a good catch up with the others.

Hubby's taxi booked for 6:30am tomorrow, no idea what time he'll finish, but Pickle and I will do the food shop and then possibly head out to the airfield play park. We'll see if anyone else is free.

Need to do some work tomorrow nap time and evening but then should!!! Be back on track.

Have a lovely, sunny evening everyone.

Wish

mse May Goals

1) Mop Pot (Target total £241.72)
Interest added: £48.64/£65.63
£400 capital reduction: 0/129.26
Mfw 2018 target amount: 0/£15.11
Nice round number: 0/£31.72

2) 13 Step plan funding
-£134/£872* :mad::mad::mad:

3) nsds
5/16

4) 1p a day challenge
11/32

5) use the debit card
3/20

6) save the £2 coins (update monthly)

7) get in size 14 jeans (update monthly)

*This is the amount I need to add into the 13 step plan for each of the next 27 months in order to achieve the ultimate goal (this is on top of the £210 mop pot target)

pinkypig

Glad you've had a better day

wishingthemortgaheaway

Thank you PP, it was much better and going to crafty, knit group last night was just fab.

Today has been a nsd, food shopping was on the to do list, but I've 'shopped from home' today and delayed it once more. I'm not sure I can go much longer though, the lack of veg is a real issue.

Pickle and I went to the local airfield today with a friend and her little one. Plenty of people having flying lessons in both planes and helicopters and there is a play park to keep the little ones occupied in between take offs & landings. Unlike the big passenger airport locally, this one is free parking and the cafe, if you choose to indulge, is very reasonable. It's also 10 minutes away from home which meant I could keep Pickle awake, just until he got into his bed at nap time.
It was cold though, not quite sure where summer has gone.

tonight I really need to crack on with some work as I have a couple of urgent, pending issues that need sorting out, but, as it's friday, I may just pour a g&t and head for the bath and a binge of a new series on the flixnet. (My friend has a minor part in it which makes it even more exciting.)

Tomorrow we are going to head to a local country park for the morning with more friends and I guess I'll do the food shop. I've got £10 of mr M vouchers that I'm going to use to try and eek out the grocery budget. The cleaner is also poorly so hasn't come this week. So that's £20 back in the budget. I'm not going to juggle ynab just yet, but I know it's there if I need it. If it's still there at the end of the month it can go into a savings pot.

I hope everything he has had a lovely Friday and your weekends are looking suitable mse.
Wish

mse May Goals

1) Mop Pot (Target total £241.72)
Interest added: £48.64/£65.63
£400 capital reduction: 0/129.26
Mfw 2018 target amount: 0/£15.11
Nice round number: 0/£31.72

2) 13 Step plan funding
-£134/£872* :mad::mad::mad:

3) nsds
6/16

4) 1p a day challenge
11/32

5) use the debit card
3/20

6) save the £2 coins (update monthly)

7) get in size 14 jeans (update monthly)

*This is the amount I need to add into the 13 step plan for each of the next 27 months in order to achieve the ultimate goal (this is on top of the £210 mop pot target)

wishingthemortgaheaway

We were both up early this morning, the 'Pickle Chous' (rather than the dawn chorus) at 5:45am. So breakfasted and in the supermarket at 8am. Went to Ald1 as always and then, as I had £10 in vouchers went to mr M's. Most of mr m's 'wonky veg' was not only 'not that wonky' but same price or cheaper and much better quality than Ald1's. Hmmm may have to re-evaluate my shopping habits again.
£22.79in Ald1 and £8 (after vouchers) in mr M's. Paid the £8 in cash, so just the tilly tidy from the £22 that has been done.

We then went for a picnic in a local country park with a group of friends. It has been awesome. Play park, picnic, walk around the resovior, ice cream, good weather and good friends, all 10 minutes
From the house. I can't believe we've never been there before. It's fab. A very
Easy place to have a nsd in the future.

Hubby working away today, but Home tomorrow. And wants a bbq. Some of the picnic things I bought today will be fine for tomorrow, but we are missing the vital ingredients of coal and meat. (I'm wondering if hubby is deliberately trying to ruin the budget this month! )

I'm currently sat in the car, outside of the house while Pickle snoozes and I'm wondering whether to stay here or whether to drive to the supermarket to get the crucial items. Not sure how many are coming yet though, so I'm probably better off waiting as I don't want to over cater.

I hope everyone has sunshine and is able to enjoy it. I think it may be paddling pool out again after pickle's nap time.

Wish

mse May Goals

1) Mop Pot (Target total £241.72)
Interest added: £48.85/£65.63
£400 capital reduction: 0/129.26
Mfw 2018 target amount: 0/£15.11
Nice round number: 0/£31.72

2) 13 Step plan funding
-£134/£872* :mad::mad::mad:

3) nsds
6/16

4) 1p a day challenge
11/32

5) use the debit card
4/20

6) save the £2 coins (update monthly) found one in my purse yesterday grand total of £8 yeah to date - don't think this is going to make my millions somehow.

7) get in size 14 jeans (update monthly)

*This is the amount I need to add into the 13 step plan for each of the next 27 months in order to achieve the ultimate goal (this is on top of the £210 mop pot target)

wishingthemortgaheaway

Im holding my hands up and saying I'm struggling this month. This is the hardest month since I returned to my mse ways.
Car mot & repairs
Hubby's 40th
Pickle's birthday
5 week month
Switching utility companies and both old & new company taking direct debit payments this month
are all taking their toll.

I have gone a bit ostrich over it all, but I need to come up for air now:

Yesterday £26 of the squeaky grocery funds for a bbq party hubby wanted both becuaae it was nice and becuase it's birthday week.

Today was £17 in the blue & yellow pleasure palace, quite restrained I feel, and all from the household goods pot which is actually the most healthy currently.

Tomorrow marks half way through the month, so it's down hill to pay day from here (and I do get a little bit of money on Friday)
The out-law's have landed at a local hotel for birthday week. (We don't really have space for them to stay here, not that I'd actually want them too, they are not the easiest people in the world to get along with. )

Right. Ignoring my targets below and signing off to go to bed. Here's hoping things improve tomorrow.
Wish

mse May Goals

1) Mop Pot (Target total £241.72)
Interest added: £48.85/£65.63
£400 capital reduction: 0/129.26
Mfw 2018 target amount: 0/£15.11
Nice round number: 0/£31.72

2) 13 Step plan funding
-£134/£872* :mad::mad::mad:

3) nsds
6/16

4) 1p a day challenge
11/32

5) use the debit card
4/20

6) save the £2 coins (update monthly) found one in my purse yesterday grand total of £8 yeah to date - don't think this is going to make my millions somehow.

7) get in size 14 jeans (update monthly)

*This is the amount I need to add into the 13 step plan for each of the next 27 months in order to achieve the ultimate goal (this is on top of the £210 mop pot target)[/QUOTE]

wishingthemortgaheaway

I don't have much to say today (let's see if this is actually brief then)
Work conference today.
Nsd - woop wooo
Picked up an additional work day next week so that's an additional £125 ish (plus expenses) at the end of June.
Hubby's 40th birthday tomorrow. In laws are around, doing my head in already. Oh well. I'll survive. I usually do.
Wish

mse May Goals

1) Mop Pot (Target total £241.72)
Interest added: £48.85/£65.63
£400 capital reduction: 0/129.26
Mfw 2018 target amount: 0/£15.11
Nice round number: 0/£31.72

2) 13 Step plan funding
-£134/£872* :mad::mad::mad:

3) nsds
7/16

4) 1p a day challenge
11/32

5) use the debit card
4/20

6) save the £2 coins (update monthly) found one in my purse yesterday grand total of £8 yeah to date - don't think this is going to make my millions somehow.

7) get in size 14 jeans (update monthly)

*This is the amount I need to add into the 13 step plan for each of the next 27 months in order to achieve the ultimate goal (this is on top of the £210 mop pot target)

pinkypig

Sorry you're having a challenging month Wish. It's pants when everything comes all at once:( You've done so well to have everything covered with your savings pots and all your forward planning has protected your family from the stress of unfunded emergencies like your car.
I hope you have a lovely party and a happy, thrifty rest of the month xx