Atrixa's Saving Diaries

MovingForwards

We mix a budget and normal tin of toms, helps keep costs down.

You're doing well with the shopping budget.

atrixa

I only ever buy the budget! The quality of them isn't too bad nowadays, especially if you run some tomato puree through it as well.

Spent £8.04 in Poundland and Mr M on cleaning products and yet more food I've run out of, like non-dairy spread and frozen peas. Hoping to stay out of the shops for a few days.

Running groceries total £111.92. 15 days left until payday, so I'm about halfway through the month now. 

Made my meatball and butterbean stew tonight and I'll do the arrabiata tomorrow. Bf has confirmed he's cooking all weekend so I'm well catered for

Finally got my online mortgage account sorted so I can make overpayments eventually. Looks like only overpayments that are £500 and over will reduce the overall term, and anything less would just reduce the monthly payments. In the future, I can easily set aside money each month and when it tips over the £500, make the overpayment. I have no plans to do this until I've filled my emergency funds, though.

MovingForwards

The term would naturally reduce if you kept the payments at the normal amount. Just chip away at the mortgage when you have spare cash, don't bother saving up £500, unless interest rates rapidly increase on savings accounts.

Not sure who you bank with but V have added a rewards thing and currently have 10% cash back with M. My sibling always gets that offer with NWst.

atrixa

Looks like N@tionwide (my mortgage lender) restrict it at least online for whatever reason so only anything over £500 reduces the term and there's no option to keep payments the same if you're paying under that. Either way it would reduce the interest, though.

Got a call this morning. My company have brought my dept's salaries up to market rate and I've just gotten a hefty payrise  

I mean, it's nice not to be wildly underpaid anymore and I never thought I'd see the day they would actually do anything about it.

I'll do some calculations when it all goes through the system, but I'll be raising my pension contributions by quite a chunk- I'll never miss that money. I also have a goal to fill my emergency funds by Dec 2023 at the latest, although all being well it should be sooner. It all should be processed by the end of this month. 

I should be able to buy a car a few months earlier than planned too and be able to cover any cost of living increases. What a day! I'm very lucky

Today is an NSD. Might have a glass of something later to celebrate!

Skint_yet_Again

Great news about the payrise 🍾 Lovely that you can buy the car earlier and great that you can top up your pension and emergency fund 😁

ForestBluebells

Ah how exciting! I’m waiting for a good moment to ask for a pay rise with work 😬

riotlady

Congratulations on the pay rise!! Sounds like it’s about time!

MovingForwards

Congratulations! 

atrixa

Spent £2.22 in Asd@ yesterday on some bread, tonic water and cheap tissues. Prices aren't too bad in there.

I did my 2nd Half Marathon today and shaved 6 mins off my PB, coming in at 2 hrs 20 mins 23 seconds. I think one of my toenails may be falling off  I did trim them beforehand, but one appears to have rebelled. Just spent money on transport and a coffee to keep me warm (does anyone else find that C@fe Nero put way too much syrup in?) and then I got a free goody bag with some snacks in, so more or less broke even Trains were off, so ended up on a very swanky rail replacement bus on the way home. It had ovens and a bar! Sadly not in use.

Total grocery spend for Feb now £114.14. 

ForestBluebells

Wow well done that’s amazing! Hope the toe nail doesn’t rebel too much!