Atrixa's Saving Diaries

atrixa

Payday once more! 

My emergency fund will be done next month One payment into my savings left! I'm clearly very excited XD

I've started allocating the interest from my savings account (applied monthly) to Holidays, which is rather nice. That'll now grow with no effort from me at all.

Gardening has now started again. I've started growing onions, jalapenos and more herbs from seed. Strawberry seeds are to go in next week. I think the only thing I'm direct sowing this year is garlic (started those in autumn) and french dwarf beans as they were so successful last year. 

I'm catsitting my little furry friend again this weekend. He's been very affectionate and hasn't thrown up yet, so seems much more settled than the first time

MovingForwards

Well done filling the EF and putting interest for holidays; can't wait to hear about your adventures!

Enjoy the furball.

Strawberry seeds take a while to appear but quickly get going when they do. Apparently you're supposed to take the flowers off for the first year however I didn't and got to pick daily.

atrixa

Both emergency funds now full. Ahhhh, that's a nice feeling.

Skint_yet_Again

Well done on the emergency fund. I hope that you have no reason to spend it but it’s a great feeling knowing you have some final back up. 

MovingForwards

Congratulations, another step to stability.

atrixa

Another payday come and gone! My laptop is on the outs so I'll put some money aside toward replacing it when it starts to become unusable. Shame they don't last longer. 

This month, money went toward paying off the mortgage and setting up a stocks and shares isa. I've gone with a 0 fee DIY one. 

I'll do check ins for the mortgage pay off and investments from time to time. 

Still trying to be frugal with groceries and growing my own food. Since the last of the frost should be behind us I'll start hardening off onions over the weekend. My garlic is looking very good. Strawberry seeds haven't come to much yet. Raspberries are getting leaves on them. Most of my chillies have sprouted now.

MovingForwards

Strawberry seeds take ages to start off, then quickly grow. I couldn't get mine to take indoors but they certainly did outside!

If it's the battery or one of the boards it may be worth getting an established independent shop to quote for a repair, depending on how much a replacement is. 

Looking forward to your financial updates and how the mortgage is shrinking.

atrixa

Strawberries are still at a snails pace, but there's definitely progress. I think I've lost my jalepeno seedlings- I'm going to blame the odd weather. I should have moved them back upstairs where it was warmer instead of leaving them in the porch where it's colder. Raspberries are coming along. I've culled some of the weaker onions and I'm looking to plant them out in the next few weeks. Garlic is looking robust.

Laptop is still hanging in. The oven sadly died. I did some research and it's a pre 08 diplomat model and fixing it wasn't financially the best option due to it's age and having multiple things wrong with it. A large appliances company wanted £318 for a new basic model and full installation/removal. I went to a local place and paid £220 for a fancy refurbed Hotpoint model, full installation and removal. I managed to just cashflow the cost and not dip into savings, which is great. It's a shame that most of the appliances in this house are somewhat geriatric. I'd like to avoid replacing anything else before I move, but comes with the territory.

No mortgage ovps yet, but I have put £305 (inc introductory offer) into investments. It's quite fun seeing how the market does each day. I have no plans to use that money for anything, it's just long term savings. 

MovingForwards

It has been very odd for growing things this year, all the different areas have plants or seedlings depending on where they live. 

You got a bargain new oven and did well not to dip into savings.

Keep going with the savings as the future you will be grateful.

daintydaisy

Just caught up on your savings diary and I’m so impressed by the progress you’ve made since the beginning. Bookmarked and looking forward to seeing even more progress  

I’m also from the north east & a cat lover! 

Just recently got into couch to 5k and it’s amazing to see you now running half marathons as I remember your post saying you were starting C25K. Hopefully that will be me one day.

do you have any tips for growing veg etc? I’m hopeless with even keeping houseplants alive but would love to grow my own potatoes, garlic, onions etc. did you learn from a video or just trial and error?

all the best x