Ev's new MFW challenge!

evab_2

Little boost to windows fund:

* DH overtime pay £21.41
* Cheque received from dh gran £20

StuartGMC

Ev
Hope health is continuing to improve and that those funds for the windows build quickly. Well done on the accumulation so far and those voucher funded prezzies.

setmefree2

Well done eva:T:T

evab_2

Hi all,

A bit depressing to begin my post but with positive thoughts.

A colleague of mine died on Friday morning, she was in her mid-30's and had a rare form of cancer for a long time. She finally gave up work a couple of months ago and basically went home to pass away with dignity. She wasn't a close friend but her death, although expected, got me to thinking about how lucky I am and to stop moaning about the little trials and tribulations in life and just get on with enjoying my family.

Anyway these thoughts have been going through my head all weekend and has made me more determined to pay off the mortgage but make sure every day is used to it's fullest potential.

I'm lucky enough to live in a beautiful place, a dream of ours for years so I want to enjoy every moment of living.

I'm going to post my current SOA at some point so you wonderful people can see if I can improve any of my finances and make my money work better.

Hope you have a good day xx

Welshlassie

I understand where you are coming from, one of my former colleagues also died a couple of weeks ago, she was 63 but had only got sick in the last couple of months so it was a surprise. It certainly does make you thankful for what you have and try hard to enjoy every day.

Thinking of you.

evab_2

SOA

Income:

Ev 1100.00 (current maternity pay)
DH 1040.00
Child benefit 125.40 (4 weekly)
Tax credits 64.63 (weekly)

Total 2523.92

notes: my wages will change when I go back to work as I'll go back to getting childcare vouchers, my dh will look at getting these too. therefore the tax credits will probably change too.

Outgoings:

Mortgage 812.28
Life Ins 10.81
Gas 39.00 (currently in credit by £39)
T.V 11.95
Redundancy Ins 20.67
Car Ins 18.76
Council Tax 104.00
A&L loan 101.79 (confession this was taken out 18mths ago for dh pc this will finish Apr 09 and he will have to save up in the future! It would cost more to pay off in full so better to let it finish naturally)
Sky 18.00
Electric 69.00
Water 38.97

Other:

Childcare - currently pay 15.50 pw for dd to keep nursery place and £35 pw for playgroup
Fuel - very little at the mo maybe £10 per week
Food £80 per week including toiletries, nappies, cleaning products
Family spends £20 e.g. for swimming, and other family things but don't always spend this.
DH and me pocket money £10 each pw this is to pay for clothes, haircuts etc

Other such as car tax, mot, home ins need to put away £40 pm
Currently xmas and birthdays have been paid by vouchers.

Total spends: £2,042.23 based on 4 week month

At the moment there seems to be a rough surplus of £481.69! but some would be used by extra weeks food/childcare in the month I suppose.

Still I think I need to have another sit down with dh and show him the figures as I think we could be ploughing a lot more money into the windows/mortgage funds plus our savings.

When I go back to work the childcare will be:

Tom £100 pw
Amelia £97 pw

Fuel costs will also go up but I can claim some back.

Anything I've missed?

Ev x

forgot phone/internet approx £35 pm

evab_2

mobile phone max £15 pm!

earthgirl

Sounds very organised! You have encouraged me to go back through everything - maybe a weekend job! and see if I can be saving more. Well done!

StuartGMC

|Ev
What about life insurance, dentist, opticians, magazine subs, car service, allowance for tyres, brakes etc spread over several years, decorating, tv and white goods replacement, replacement car saving, holiday, furniture, treat pub/meal once per month... i.e. the things you now save for?

Once little ones are older, school trip costs, swimming lessons, rainbows, beavers etc etc

However, please see this as supportive ideas not a critism of the SOA, and well done on the achievements

evab_2

Thanks stuart, life ins already included but definitely need to put money aside for the other stuff.

I think the main thing is I need to set up a regular amount to go into savings as at the mo it's a bit irregular.