Single, six kids and going to be debt free!

Mumoffourkids

Thank you beanie. I was reading the other day on a website for mental health and money and they seem to have comprehensive guides for how to fill out the forms and give examples of questions to ask myself about what I can and can’t do. One thing I didn’t realise is that if there is a change in something when I am out driving, I really struggle to cope. I get very stressed about it. I thought this was just normal for me but I realise now that this isn’t. But thank you I will shout if I need any advice.

beanielou

Also now is the time to start gathering up any medical evidence that will be helpful with your claim.

WhySeaEm

Good luck with the new house, I'll have everything crossed for you!

Mumoffourkids

Thank you, I shouldn’t be getting my hopes up about the house. If I do that then I tend to not get the things that I want. So I am trying not to get too excited about it.

I had a look at my YNAB budget earlier today and I have moved some savings around. I currently have enough in my savings to pay the deposit on the house. Then by the end of this month, I should have at least half the first months rent saved as well. I have other savings I could use if needed but that would leave things like my car maintenance pot, birthdays pot etc lower than I would like. But I can borrow if needed. My emergency fund will be up to £500 by the end of this month. I only have £1.32 to go to get to £500. I was putting all extra money earned in emergency fund but once I get to £500 I will switch focus to new house deposit fund and moving fund. I have some money on prolific pending and awaiting cash out so that should be approved this week and my emergency fund will be at £500. Then just to see how much I can get into new house deposit fund by the end of the month. 

So current total is £1588.43. I am hoping to get this to £2100 by the end of the month. So that’s my current goal!

bd80s

Hi 
I've read through your diary start to finish over the last week, you do a lot every day! 
House wise, don't panic about a bit of mess, i'm on my own and my house isn't a show house by any means! 
You've done great despite some ups and downs, I look forward to seeing how you get on going forward and what happens with the possible house move  

Mumoffourkids

Wow, thank you for reading through my diary from the start. I must admit though, I do like to read a diary from the start to see the journey people have been on.

So we were supposed to be going to Cornwall on Saturday. We go every year to the same place at the same time. Due to coronavirus, it’s been cancelled and they have said I can transfer the money paid to another date this year or next year. I was thinking about going in the summer but it is so much more expensive in the summer and I’m not convinced that everything will be open this summer. So I have decided to transfer to next May half term. I have got £800 saved up as spending money which will not be needed now. I am thinking about maybe doing some day trips in the summer if things start to open and maybe a long weekend away camping in Norfolk. But that will depend totally on coronavirus. So I am going to take £400 of the holiday spending money and put to new house deposit so my new total is £2428. My emergency fund is also over £500 now as I cashed out £6.02 from prolific yesterday.  As I have managed to get over £2100 which was my original target for May. I am going to up my target to £2500 by the end of this month.

New house fund £2428.43/£2500 - 97.1%
Emergency fund £504.76/£500 - 100.9%

Seasidegal58

Just caught up with you - as always you are always an inspiration with the amount you do. 😊
The house sounds exciting - great too for your that pets are allowed. As you say not many rentals allow them. 

I think you're probably right about not holidaying this summer - expensive and I agree that everything may not be opened.  Much better to take it as it comes this year with days out if possible. 

Mumoffourkids

Thank you for dropping in SSG. The house is closer to the sea, still about a 20 minute walk away but within walking distance. At the moment we are about a 20 minute drive away from the sea. I’m keeping everything crossed because it does seem ideal even though it is slightly further away from the kids’ schools than I would like. 

In money saving news,  I have done my self assessment tax return and paid the tax. I had overestimated my tax due, so I had some leftover in my tax savings account. That has been transferred to new house fund. I find that when I am on here, I do tend to go great guns and save loads or pay loads off debt. It is something about keeping things updated and not wanting to spend money. 

I have also found that I used to fund my shopping budgets, general spending money, petrol and pocket money weekly from my tax credits. So I got into the habit of spending the money knowing that I will be getting some more in a week. This month I have tried something different and have funded these budgets in big chunks rather than weekly. I am more aware of not spending all the money as it needs to last. Consequently I have more left in my budgets than I would usually have. I am hoping to save some of this at the month end. I probably won’t be able to save anything from the food budget, but I should be able to from the other categories.

So update on my targets
New house fund £2503.33/£2500.00 - 100.1%
Emergency fund £504.76/£500.00 - 100.9%

So thanks to my overestimated tax savings, I have now met my target for new house fund for this month. I think now I am going to concentrate on funding next months bills and spending with my last money in.

Drawingaline

Fantastic! And someone else who does their tax return nice and early! I find I need to for tax credits, normally because I overestimate my income and then they owe me money. 

Mumoffourkids

Yes my tax credits have changed since doing my tax return. I did my ex’s tax return on 7th April! He was due a tax rebate though so that’s why it always gets done early.