My New Frugal Life

Newfrugallife

The main mortgage payment has gone out and the balance now stands at £215,643 - however I've noticed that throughout the month it gets bigger again (assume daily interest) which can make it confusing when trying to keep track! So I will try to record it at the same time each month.

Weekend with the extra pup went well and the money I get will go on my own pups food. But now I'm ill so staying at home today... it's cold virus type thing, but my head is killing me so took a sick day and am in bed. Hope to go back to work tomorrow.

Newfrugallife

I'm wondering whether to buy an annual travel card, annual card cost £2568 monthly £246.60.
I have an offer of 0% until February 2020 But with a 4% handling fee...

So £2568/100*4 is £102.72 fee. Total cost £2670.72, which equals to monthly cost of £222.56 a saving of £288.48 a year

Newfrugallife

Sounds like a no brainer... I have given myself until 20th to decide as already bought this months travel.

My reservations are:
1. I hate being in debt, (before this diary I had a very long DFW diary under a different name forgot log in) and paid off 19k debt. So now every time I have more than a couple hundred on a credit card I panic and try to pay off as soon as possible. I only use credit cards for the extra security really, apart from when I first started work and went a bit mad on new glasses and clothes - but all paid off now.
2. I am determined to keep with this job, but if I have some sort of breakdown again I would have wasted this season ticket (although you can claw some back I believe)

Newfrugallife

Done food shop, last two food shops were very good £58.53 and £63.88 today. £305 remaining (including last months £27 rollover which I'm saving for mortgage overpayment £27/£100).
Even last year when we lived on one salary I could never get shopping down to £50, just can't do it. But at least now luckily we don't have to.
£305 with just two shops to go, next week will be higher as we start to run out of washing powder etc... but even if we spent £100 each week (would never!) we would still have enough rolled over for my £100 overpayment.... result Love 4 week months haha....

the_cross_rabbit

I love a 4 week month too makes budgetting so much easier.
CRx

Newfrugallife

Woohoo had a look at my other credit card and they offering 1.9% fee (0 until August 2020) so I will certainly be getting my season ticket. New payment will be just over £218 a month compared to a monthly cost of £247ish....

When I paid off debt I did not close my credit cards which to be honest is paying off. They send me 0% offers all the time and I'm scared enough of them not to run up debt again. But this time I'm actually making them work for me! Very pleased

Just hope that having £2,568 balance doesn't freak me out mentally. I mean it is 0% and a payment for my monthly travel card. I just need to keep this in mind. (Also my work doesn't offer season ticket loan I already checked, they are too small a company).

Also have bought home items using my home fund. New bedding, kettle, knife set and tea towels

Home fund will reset to 0

Personal account I have not touched apart from little food treat bits, but thinking of getting a haircut this weekend, not had one in a year.... Also promised a takeaway for the family.

Mentally I'm feeling great, I think this is my high so to speak so the down is coming probably next week. I hope it won't hit me too bad and I'm trying to use positive reinforcements and make work my safe place. Also mindfulness book. If I get a very bad down this month I will try again for a doctors appointment.

gallygirl

Newfrugallife wrote: »

Woohoo had a look at my other credit card and they offering 1.9% fee (0 until August 2020) so I will certainly be getting my season ticket. New payment will be just over £218 a month compared to a monthly cost of £247ish....

That's great

Why not pay the £247 anyway and pay it off sooner, then you'll have a month and a bit 'free' at the end? Or set up a SO to pay the extra off your mortgage or into your pension? Your future self waves :hello:and says thank you .

Newfrugallife

That is a very very good point gallygirl, thank you for popping in

My personal spends took a hit last night and so far today... that's a bit of a side effect from being on dfw boards for years and living frugally that I seem to have guilt whenever I spend money (especially on myself!).
Takeaway and haircuts for me and daughter later I'm down £73 and have £427.88 until end of the month (which is loads I know).
I also wanted to have my nails done but will leave it for now as felt I was spending too much today. Bought dog food £28 new personal total £399.72

Newfrugallife

I was going to do a house fund wish list but not got round to it yet... so here it is (I also added items I bought this month just so I can tick them off haha )
Small bits:
New kettle - DONE
New bedding - DONE
Knife set - DONE
Tea towels - DONE
Brita filter jug (I'm hoping this will save us money we spend on bottled water in the long run plus less plastic use) -
Plants for front garden (in spring time obv)

Medium bits:
New patio set-
Awesome patio swing -

Huge bits:
Fix garden patio (might try diy if can't do it will have to get done professionally, might have to re landscape the whole garden ..... hmmm)
Might get garden done. I'm trying one more time to do it myself, spend all last summer trying to sort it out arghhh, not sure yet if it's a loosing battle.
Render the house - that's a biggie

Would be nice to do bits:
-Redecorate master bedroom, ikea furniture we had for over 13 years still not too bad to be honest, but dated pine colour. Wardrobe is dated but decent. I mean it's ok but would be nice to have a new bedroom.
-Redecorate living room, sofas are 13 years old, leather is a bit rubbed and a small rip, I'm still waiting for them to die haha... would change the flooring. The fireplace has a badly applied sticker meant to look like tile effect (hard to explain), would be nice to actually have real tiles!
- redecorate dining room/ change flooring, it has kind off vinyl type floor. Again can live with this but would be nice to change.

Messed up bits!
- This is hugely annoying, when we changed the kitchen, hallway and bathroom a couple of years ago the new tile floors have lost the grouting...grrrrrr. I'm not sure why/how this happened and annoyed as that's all new!
- Something is wrong with the wiring of my touch screen hob, it randomly turns off
- Dear dog ate loads of skirting boards grrrr, I have sanded and repainted but it looks crap if I'm honest
- Eventually boiler will die, it's already been repaired more times than I could count. Could last a year, 2/3 who knows!


Phew... I'm sure there is more.... maybe we should just move to a new build hahaha.


House fund currently - 0

Newfrugallife

Been thinking a lot today which is dangerous for me haha.... These are just thoughts........

Our house value according to Zoopla £412,000
Mortgage outstanding £215,643
Equity £196,357
Max bank would lend on our salaries according to mortgage calculator £292,500
Giving us max budget of £488,857. This is without all fees, stamp duty, solicitors buy/sell, moving costs. Jesus the fees would be thousands... Stamp duty on a £450,000 home is £22,500 wowsers! (5%)
Hmmm not to mention the stress of buying selling.....

Puts this idea straight out of my head....

Lol