Hugglemonster's homemade happiness diary

hugglemonster

Wow another weekend passes in a blur, so busy but all good. Went on my course this morning and despite saying to my passenger that I get mileage through work she insisted on giving me some money for fuel. I've therefore transferred to the credit card.


I've done a few surveys since getting home and a few more to do, also had a booking for business so have sent off the invoice and will chase up the other invoice sent as I need payment to secure the places.


I've updated ynab from the last couple of days, need to chase up plasterer as I'm not sure what day he is coming this week.


Need to get out for a run tomorrow as I have a half marathon in 6 weeks time, dh is going to come on his bike and the kids on theirs. I need to do some work even though I'm off for a group starting next week and also to email schools about events before they go back next week.


Right off to make apple crumble with the apples we foraged the other day and have some with custard later on (we've had tea already).


Hope everyone is having a good weekend, H x

hugglemonster

Good afternoon, so the run/bike ride hasn't happened due to the weather and my infection coming back this morning - trying to drink lots of water today! We're going to go over to one of the lovely towns along the coast tomorrow for a little day trip.

I cashed out on a nice survey site and it was in paypal instantly so transfer to credit card, I still need to pay the main monthly payment payment for it but it's all adding up again. I'm on a course again tomorrow evening then I can do my expenses as I won't have anything else for work before the next month starts.

It's been a pottering about kind of day with a bit of housework, a bit of washing and lots of cooking - need to get out in the garden in a min to tie up the tomato canes that have come loose in the wind, a few nearly ready to pick.

Plasterer is now coming on 4th September which is fine, is will be good to get the next bit done and dusted!

H x

hugglemonster

Lovely day out with dh and the kids yesterday, bumped into a friend who lives just over the English border which was odd since we were further west. Had lunch in a great little cafe which wasn't planned but it was really good so worth it.

Went to get a few bits of food today but for dh's lunches next week at work so great that he batch cooks his meals.

Despite being on leave I'm still sorting things out for work and club, I don't think that unless I went abroad I could really have a full break but hey ho it's all good.

I've had some more bookings for the business, no payments still but plenty of time - I've ordered the t-shirts and need to pay the next installment for the insurance this week. It will be good when the money comes in so I can pay myself back currently owed £130 not including the expenses mentioned before.

Expenses have been sent in, not holding my breath as to when that will be paid but when it does I will allocate to wherever needed. I need to catch up on some surveys this afternoon, one site is not far from a small payout. I need to do ynab for the next few weeks as dh gets paid on Friday.

Ds is having a friend to sleep over tonight and if getting excited, we're having homemade pizza for tea which always goes down well.

Tomorrow we need to pop down to the beach to sort out the final details for our junior running event and put together the signs, we're back at club next week too so need to write session plans and session plans for the business too.

Remind me to have some time off at Xmas! H x

[Deleted User]

Wow H, you've been busy!

Hope that your infection goes away quickly xx

hugglemonster

Household Information
Number of adults in household 2
Number of children in household 2
Number of cars owned 1

Monthly income after tax 996.88
Partners monthly income 1664.94
Benefits 137
Other income 0
Total monthly income 2798.82

Expenses Amount(£)
Mortgage 632.7
Council tax 139
Electricity 73
Gas 0 (included with electric - currently £50 in credit)
Water Rates 61.07
Telephone (land line) 33
Mobile phone 60 - this is 3 phones, dd and I at £10 per month each and the rest dh who is paying extra due to mishaps with phones and the sea!!
TV Licence 12.37
Satellite/Cable TV 0 (Don't use)
Internet services 0 (Included with phone)
Groceries etc. 900 (massive problem)
Clothing 0
Petrol/diesel 200
Road tax 16.62
Car Insurance 33.48
Car maintenance (including MOT) 0
Other child related expenses 0 (kids go climbing but not sure if it will be on after holidays
Medical (prescriptions, dentists, opticians etc.) 0
Pet Insurance/Vet bills 5.45
Buildings Insurance 0 (included in contents)
Contents Insurance 13
Life Assurance 10.81
Other Insurance 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc.) 30
Haircuts 0
Entertainment 13.98 (xbox & amazon prime)
Holiday 0
Emergency Fund 100
Total monthly expenses 2334.48

Secured & HP Debt Description Debt(£) Monthly(£) APR(%)
Mortgage 96180.7 (632.7) 4.63
Secured & HP Debt totals 96180.7 - -

Unsecured Debt Description Debt(£) Monthly(£) APR(%)
Loan 2869.83 82.46 10.8
Overdraft 2400 0 0
MBNA 1703.68 37 18.9
Dad 300 0 0
Ford 6909.04 191.6 5.01

Unsecured Debt totals 14374.19 311.06 -
Asset Description Value (£)
Cash 0
House Value (Gross) 113
Shares and bonds 0
Car(s) 8000
Other assets (e.g. endowments, jewellery etc) 0
Total Assets 8113

Summary
Monthly Budget Summary Amount(£)
Total monthly income 2,798.82
Monthly expenses (incl. HP & secured loans) 2,334.48
Available for debt repayments 464.34
UNsecured debt repayments 311.06
Amount left after debt repayments 153.28
Personal Balance Sheet Summary Amount(£)
Total Assets (things you own) 8,113
Total Secured & HP Debt -96,180.7
Total Unsecured Debt -14,374.19
Net Assets -102,441.89

OK I need your help, I've just done ynab for the month and I have £400 to pay for food, fuel, any spends but will get in child benefit and expenses on top of that. The main problems are the mortgage which we're looking at changing in January and groceries - this includes pet food, our food, kids lunches at school when there, cleaning products, toiletries and alcohol. I would really welcome some meal plans for a week that I can use - we can both cook and will do bread and other meals from scratch.

I get expenses from work which is dependent on what mileage I do, and as you know I'm currently setting up my own business so I've had some expenses there but have actually had a payment since earlier!

The interest rate on the credit card is not all at the full rate, some is 0% - I can't apply for another card so will just have to pay off asap.

Many thanks H x

PurpleFairy26

Hugglemonster as you say refining your mortgage will help, is it just tied in until January? Most places will let you arrange something in advance so if it ends now I would suggest looking round now. As for food, can you make a freezer and cupboard inventory and then plan for the next month around that with to minimise costs. Is it possible to swing by a sm late one night and see if any good ys bargains? HM bread, cakes and snacks will help keep the cost down especially if you have things in already to make them.

BBC g00dfood website is great for inspiration on meal planning, if you type in an ingredient it will bring up ideas, we've had some great meals that have become staples in our meal plan too. 'Barneys Monday night rice' is great to use up left overs and a little bit of meat goes a long way, same with a risotto.

Toiletries- again, stock take what you have. Then do you have a b&m h0me bargains near. Then get one or two bits from there. Toilets rolls in hb are a particular saving.

Maybe keep posting your food spend totals on your diary to keep track too. Hope all goes well.

hugglemonster

Thanks Purplefairy, the mortgage isn't tied in but we are just below the maximum LTV threshold which will be achieved by January I need to get a better valuation though as on one site it says it could be worth up to £130k but knowing the area there's no way it would reach this.

We have a few things in stock and yes I have making bread/rolls down to a fine art but it's definitely the snacks that add up e.g. we've just been down the beach (ds, his friend and me) and they had an ice lolly it all builds up. No toiletries or cleaning products needed at the mo and yes use Home Bargains which is across the road from me.

I've been to pay for the t-shirts this morning, I've worked out that I've paid over £300 towards the business so far and still some things to pay, I will pay myself back as income comes in but will be over the next few weeks.

I've requested a small payout from a survey site but other sites very slow today, had an inquiry about an item on fb selling page but no response since then. I don't think we have anything else to sell, although if I bumped off my dh he has stacks of camping equipment, books and technology up in the attic :rotfl::rotfl: He's paid for the majority through extra earnings or gifted so that's not an issue!

Holds up hands to say we had 3 meals out during this month, one was ds birthday but I should maybe save vouchers to pay for the occasional meal out instead and maybe set a date for a family meal as something to look forward to.

I have a £5 bonus on my Ic*land card so I can get a few bits, and will do another meal plan in a bit.

Back soon, rolls are ready! H x

hugglemonster

Good evening, a strange day today where my cooking has been shocking, the rolls/bread didn't rise and the potato wedges for tea seemed to take ages to cook! Went shopping for a few bits and pieces but the majority was paid for by vouchers of various sorts so very little money parted company. Nice to use the lettuce leaves from the garden as part of our salad today, the homegrown tomatoes seem to be taking a while to grow and ripen this year.

Received a small payout of £8.90 this morning so have sent over to the credit card, I like these small frequent wins but surveys have been pants again today.

I'm now owed £415 by the business so it's no wonder I'm short myself this month, hey ho it will be paid back but so far only one customer paid and 6 more to go that have booked on to the sessions, there are 5 spaces left but when schools go back next week I can push it a bit more.

I need to remind dh to put together an invoice for the work he does on a website, 3 months of fees owed.

I am actually looking forward to be back in work mode from Monday I hate this not being able to switch off fully, I had 2 emails and a voicemail from one chap asking about his club despite messages saying that I'm on leave. I will respond on Monday!

Dh blanket arrived today so I can start making it for his xmas present, I hope he likes it and doesn't suddenly want to wear one of his old race tops.

Right off for an early night, volunteering duties call in the morning and all the family are helping.

H x

hugglemonster

Hi all, last day of the holidays for the kids and they are chilling out and generally being lazy! I was back to work yesterday but didn't need to go out until the evening. The plasterer came this morning but he's going to have to finish on Saturday as he needed to go elsewhere and also he's done the prep work today. He's my friend's son so all good. Took ds for his haircut when the barbers opened, glad I did as it's very busy already as everyone gets ready to go back to school.

We are still hemorrhaging money but nothing to show for it really, I am trying and we've got our expenses down a bit but way too much still. Need to be strict - very strict!

Had lunch at home, main meal from freezer and will have a snack for tea, dh has just taught dd to iron her new school shirts and she is now working her way through my ironing pile - strange girl!! 3 loads of washing on the line, doing bits of admin for work in between surveys.

I will keep persevering, H x

hugglemonster

Hi, I am literally scraping around trying to find bits of money to cover what we need before I get paid again in 2 weeks time. I still have my expenses to come in but equally I will need lots of fuel for the car next week as well as food and bills to pay. I really hate ourselves for being so useless with money!

I've decided to start looking for a remortgage early, I submitted our details but because we're only looking to remortgage the estate agents are funny about doing valuations - one said no, one wanted to charge us £150 but the other is doing a desk top valuation with me on Friday plus they have an inhouse mortgage department so even if we don't go with them at least we've got something to work with.

No surveys sites ready to pay out yet, I've got enough T8sco points to convert to a £9 voucher, there's £6.07 on my B**ts card if I need toiletries but would shop around for cheaper products as can be expensive. I can't check N*ctar online as it's locked my account but will pop in when I'm passing next, I also just need a few more surveys to be able to claim a gift card from here.

So apart from that it looks like either using the credit card, using some xmas money or hibernating for 2 weeks!

Sorry I know it's our fault but having a down day, H x