2018 New year, new focus and new mission

Choccygirl123

Have posted for a couple of days as been busy with my friend coming to visit. Have spent the time baking and chatting so lovely to have a proper catch up.

In money news I've been paid and on ssp, which we were expecting. We've done shopping, filled the car up, bought new walking boots for child number 1 and min payment has gone to hubbies 0% card, dog grooming £50, £20 for handyman to check issue with heating and my wages are gone!

Bank balance currently £36.43
My account £84.45 (£15 & £25 cheque due)
No credit cards used since transfer in July
No overdraughts used since end of September
Hubby pay due tomorrow £2586.07
Rent income due 4/11 £795
Child benefit due mid Nov £137.60

Budget is set and looking forward to seeing our debt reduce by £400ish abd the mortgages drop few hundred to. I'm overpaying the cc slightly, just wish it was more! Will update debt totals as soon as zopa updates it.

Choccygirl123

Two little surprise emails arrived - £10 postcode lottery win and £20 goodwill voucher from f&b. Have been cheeky and said emailed to say I appreciate the offer but £20 a token compared to cost of 2 adults and 2 teenagers if nothing! Ive asked if I could have either another voucher to cover a realistic family meal so not throwing good money after bad or alternatively a cheque instead!

Choccygirl123

I'm trying to focus on concentrating on my friends and family, stream lining our finances, decluttering and sorting out home and staying save whilst off work sick.

I've never posted anything about mortgages on my diary, but think I should keep track and hopefully once debt free on card & loans i can switch my attention to busting them. I have already reduced the term on our home from 23years to 8 when I remortgaged. This is probably one of the reasons why the debt as loitered as payments larger.

We have two mortgages one on our home and another on a small 2 bedroom, which we've kept as a buy to let.
Our debt at its highest in April 2016 and was £162661. It stands as £143447 today.

April 2016 30/10/18
B2L - £107816 £100817 - 6.49%paid
Home - £54845 £42630 - 22.2%paid

I'm dreaming of the day have no mortgage!

Choccygirl123

Hubbies pay has hit the account, which is always a relief!

I've already sent £30 to each of the school lunch accounts and kids have been told that's it for November, so they need to be organised with lunches!

Tomorrow is the direct debit when we see all the cash fly out the account. I like to get them all out the way. The only one that isn't paid at start of the month is hubbies 0% Cc.

Choccygirl123

Pinch punch first of the month!

The first run of DD have gone out and the next and the joint balance available is £1242.60. Today is a nsd and I'm going to look at the budget to keep the focus.

Choccygirl123

Second day of Direct debits flying out and we're waiting for rental income and child benefit to be paid in a couple of days.

My idea of paying the car tax monthly didn't work, as there was an issue with the online application not accepting my V5. The good thing is it's paid I guess but it was £81.38! Tv licence 1/4 charge has gone out this month too £38.87. The eldest child has been chosen to do DofE which is amazing, but that's a surprise £30 cost!

Balance on joint £831.11 but day 3 of DDs will wipe that out!
My account £304.25 (still waiting to bank £25 cheque & old notes)

Hubby and I both recieve £220 a month spends which is a huge amount. It has to cover all personal entertainment so work did etc when partner doesn't go, all gifts for the other, gAdgets, shoes, clothes the lot! We did this year's ago after I was always desperate for shoes or something but never took the money out as we were skint. Yet hubby had beer money! It's stopped all the snipping although hubby wants to increase this!

The 2 x loans have been paid today so looking forward to seeing the smallest one go under 4K.

Choccygirl123

Second lot of DDs still showing as pending, Available balance £863.52. Still waiting for rental income and child benefit.

Scottish power called yesterday with regards to a missed appointment and they're giving me a £30 refund which was a nice surprise. Could have had it added to my account, but opted for it back to my account.

I've had a £8.44 credit from Proactiv for my daughter's cream that she couldn't use. I had thought it was a full refund, so have emailed and tried calling to chase to check the amount.

I should also be getting a £25 cheque from my car insurance company after they messed up the payment for my multi car policy.

The extra money coming in will go towards Christmas presents and keeping out the overdraft. I've ordered my youngest a Fitbit from qvc for £104.65 instead of the normal £129.99 so that's one main present sorted.

Have asked hubby to email about his £150 course refund, as would love to see the cash this side of Xmas.

We need food shopping so trying to keep it to a minimum and use up supplies. Chippie tea as a treat £15.60.

Choccygirl123

Our phone and broadband are due for renewal. Have been paying £41.99 for phone, super fast net and anytime calls. I had a look on the comparisons on Mse and used the John Lewis deal as my bartering tool. Sky couldn't get it down to £30 a month, but have agreed £33 x 12 contract with £36 credit on my account. They have charged me £2.50 admin fee, but I'm over the moon! Compared to last contract I've save £145.83 a year! :money:

Choccygirl123

Hate the way direct debits are never collected over the weekend. The second lot are as showing as pending and will go tomorrow.

I've looked at our budget and set food spends as £300 until pay day. We've just done a food shop in Aldi and I've spent £67.62, so have £7.39 left for top up shops for milk and bread. I have do a meal plan for the rest of week and we've bought 2 packs of burgers £3.98 and 2 packs of sausages 2.58 for our friends coming over for the local bonfire on Saturday. Will grab rolls on Saturday so nice and fresh.

I joined the sealed pot challenge #090 and I've set a target of £240 by October. Need to find a pot! All my eBay & Facebook sales, Quidco and prolific payments will get squirrelled away. Looking forward to saving these for a reason rather than them just getting swallowed up in normal life.

Choccygirl123

The direct debits have gone, account is waiting for shopping and other transactions to catch up. Not a lot in there at the minute! The child benefit should come in tomorrow and the £25 credit from car insurance is pending.

I picked up cream that I'd forgotten yesterday £1 today. That's £68.72 spent this week and £6.28.

So nice to get out into town today. Spent the £1 out my wallet and bought my friend lunch. It was £16.53 but that came out of my account, which leaves me a healthy £285ish.