Here we go

Botherthatcat

All organised financially now - mortgage fixed for five years and our payment will be going down by around £90 - obviously that saved sum will be still heading mortgagewards but in the form of an overpayment. We have a 10% overpayment limit, so will be striving to achieve that. Most my salary can go towards this, but we'll still need to find an extra £400 in the budget every month. Due to summer holidays, it's unlikely to happen in August but from September, when we're back at school and routine takes back over, the spending should calm down. Am still going to try my best with keeping costs down during the holidays however. Lots of playing in the garden and picnics I think.

This weeks costs are haircuts, one meal out and probably a top up shop. Am trying to slow these down however, I never seem to be able to leave a shop without one of those large chocolate bars they keep by the counters. Not good for the wallet or waist!

Botherthatcat

Well, all good intentions regarding money have gone out the window this week.

Haircuts: £70
Top up food shops: £63.82
Lunch out: £26
Unexpected weekend away: £152.56 (Hotel and train. Weekend is in late August so need to save spending money)
Amazon: Weights and CD player (DS broke his last night and listens to CDs before bedtime, so an essential purchase): £23.62
Ebay: £62.77 (V. bad. Must not do this again.)
Clothes/Things I do not need: £123.22 (V. v. bad. Must not do this again.)

:eek:

I blame the summer holidays.

Today's plans are to go to the park (free!) and bake some banana muffins with the children. I can see my credit card bill already creeping up towards a figure I do not like again so need to reign it in. Thankfully DC are at football club next week so that should keep them entertained. Those costs above are a reminder the local shopping centre is not the best place to go in times of stress. Have also realised that because the DC have been constantly fighting this week that I end up buying things online on my phone to congratulate myself for my refereeing duties. However, there are still five weeks of the holidays to go so really need put an end to that now. Ended up booking a DC free trip away for a friend's birthday which should be nice. Normally wouldn't but decided the holidays are long and my tolerance regarding arguments over crucially important issues such as who was the culprit that broke the latest Lego creation will probably be at my personal limit by that stage.

Plans for free entertainment this weekend include allowing the children to play with all those craft kits they got for their birthdays (I always save these for the holidays as they can easily entertain for an hour or two), baking and for myself, as part of my decluttering regime, I have gone through and donated lots of books but have kept aside those that I want to re-read or haven't read yet. Aim is to get through all these before I am allowed to get any more.


Mortgage paperwork has all been signed and sent off, feel v excited about seeing the monthly payment go down. It's the small things

Botherthatcat

Morning

Weekend spends as it was raining: £7 on softplay and £5.58 on chocolates for the host of a dinner party we went to.

Am going to have to get some salad type bits today, but otherwise am thinking of crafting or a film at home after football. Have begun reading one of the books that was destined for the charity shop and am desperate to finish it and find out what happens. After that I still have several books to read so don't think I'll need to visit the library for a long time.

Am slightly torn as to what to do with regards to some of the books, I have no problem getting rid of novels, etc. but I have a lot of lovely large books about knitting (an ill-fated hobby), travelling (the DCs have put an end to that) and photography (again, my large camera hasn't seen the light of day since the 2000s) which I've been given as gifts over the years and feel awful about getting rid of them. Feeling my next read needs to be Marie Kondo again as my decluttering regime is weakening.

Hoping for a low spend week. First new mortgage payment comes out on Friday so can get going with the OPs again.

greent

I found MK really helpful for getting rid of things that cost a lot/ were things I'd like to have done/ used to like doing/ thought I *should* like to do/ doing. They weren't applicable to the current version of me and the sense of 'shoulda/ woulda/ coulda' no longer hangs heavy as it used to when I looked at them.

Botherthatcat

Yes, I've been trying hard to adopt that mantra this week - a trip to the dump is due today with lots of cardboard and old electrical items and the local clothes charity with unwanted/too small clothes. Have been brave and finally admitted that I am never going to finish a dress I've been meaning to complete for to years as I just do not like the fabric anymore. Baby steps

Botherthatcat

What a week. Not the best week so am going to list the positive things that have happened.

Several evening walks
Sorted out lots of items
Have hopefully found a solution to an ongoing issue that has been causing a large amount of stress
Made several pairs of shorts for the DC
Made a stab at tidying my sewing zone so it doesn't look as apocalyptic as it did
Downstairs looking fairly tidy
Got on the scales and got a short sharp shock (trying to see this as a positive thing :eek: )
£400 OP made
Had a good financial discussion with Mr BTC and feel much more positive about our financial goals

Today a trip to the local farm centre this morning (membership so free) and cinema this evening (hold a pass so also free). Feels like it's going to be very hot again today, hopefully might get to finish my book whilst the children play like angels in the garden this afternoon (doubtful )