Ev's new MFW challenge!

Optimisticpair

Good luck with your plans.

Just think of all that lovely, healthy, tasty veg while you weed, tidy and run eh?.

evab_2

Hello all, thought it was about time that I posted an update!

Work
My work is still good, not teaching as much but am glad that I’ve got my flexibility back. I’m also starting a new aspect as I’ve been asked to go over to the sports department to sort out the NVQs as they are in poor state, I was the only one in my team with a previous sports qualification so my manager asked me. So now I teach, do the work placements, do sports NVQs and Health and Social Care NVQs phew! Oh and added to that I’ve got to update my sports qualification so currently starting my own NVQ Level 3.

Hubbies job is still OK with no current announcements of redundancies, he’s still going to the TA as well – had a break over Christmas but getting back there now.

Veggies
One plot has been weeded and broad beans planted, they’re under a poly tunnel and will give them another couple of weeks before I put up the canes. It will then be time to sort out the potatoes. I’ve got spring onions and tomatoes on the windowsill then I’m planning on doing garlic, herbs and need to think about some other veg and fruit.

Money
I’ve yet again changed my way of dealing with the finances as I thought that there will always be something that needs attention and other things like the mortgage and holidays don’t get thought about until too late so I’ve sorted out today regular payments to:

· Mortgage – secured loan – initial OP of £50 per month
· Holiday £50 per month
· Savings £50 per month

At least some money will be going towards these areas.

Holiday – we can’t afford to go abroad even with the clubcard vouchers but rather than not having a holiday again we have changed them for Park Resort vouchers and will be staying in a caravan near Aberwystwth (sp) at the end of August, managed to get £540 so will pretty much pay for the hols except food and entertainment. With the new savings fund and continuing to collect the vouchers we will be better prepared next year. Off to inlaws at Easter and should get down to see family and friends in Bedford at some point during the year.

House – Overdraft Ok now so savings for the sofa are full steam ahead, once that is paid for then we have decided that we need to start doing up the house, so our plans will be:

· Sofa
· Bathroom
· DD’s bedroom

That’s enough to be getting on with.

Family
All are well, kids are growing so quickly. Tom will be 2 when we go on holiday in August and Amelia is fantastic – she got a great report at school. Was a little monkey this weekend as she decided to cut her own hair, cue emergency haircut by mum! :eek:

Hubbie and I are well, we’re enjoying our running and have quite a few races planned this year.

Fingers crossed there’s nothing to disrupt our good times for a long time!

setmefree2

evab wrote: »

Fingers crossed there’s nothing to disrupt our good times for a long time!

Amen to that:T:T:T:T

Happy Days:D

evab_2

Mortgage statement arrived today, interesting to see all those little OPs on there!

Current figures are:

Mortgage £97,576.22
Secured Loan £5,987.89
Unsecured Loan £10,695.26

Total outstanding £114,259.37.

Obviously last OP on secured loan isn't on the statement.

Other exciting news, we've arranged to go to Sheffield for my birthday weekend in April (just me and dh), staying in hotel for £46! meeting a friend for dinner at Bella Italia which will be free as have vouchers oh and then doing a 1/2 marathon on the Sunday. Lovely

Courgette

You're doing brilliantly :T:T:T Glad to hear the family are doing well too. I remember cutting my own hair once too :eek::rotfl:

cha97michelle

Found your diary again I haven't seen it in a while.

I wanted to say loved the photo of your sofa. It would suit my living room. We could do with a new one but i am going to hold off as the cats have scratched the current one to bits so i can't imagine them being any better with a new one.

Also your holiday plans sound fantastic. We haven't done an abroad holiday since 2004 and only then as my parents paid for us. Our last few have been at centre parcs and we have had a fantastic time. Find lots of activities to do in the area before you go and i am sure you will have a fantastic time.

Also if you are getting more into the gardening this year the BBC are doing the dig in free seeds again this year. They are starting on the 1st of March so i have written this date in my diary and will apply on their site for free seeds again. I can't remember all of them but they are 5 different from last year and one of them was courgette as i needed to buy some seeds and didn't need to as they were here.

Garlic might not do too well. It is supposed to be planted already according to my MIL.

Now i've found you again i will try not to lose you.

evab_2

Thanks for the info r.e. the BBC, I'll watch out for that on Monday.

Had a letter from Northern Rock today, because of my last OP they are reducing my monthly payment by £2 so now I can OP £52 a month to make up for it! I've never had a letter before so maybe those little figures are starting to make a bigger effect.

setmefree2

Courgette

I've been wondering the same thing. Hope everything's groovy, Eva

evab_2

Well hello, remember me? I’ve had a bit of a break to sort out a few things but I’ve still been keeping up to date with the threads.

So here’s where things are at the moment:

Work – Still assessing both Health and Social Care and also Sports, I’m really enjoying the mixture and work are paying for loads of training so I can update my Sports qualifications. My youngsters in the BTEC group finish in 4 weeks time so won’t have any teaching until September.

Home – All really busy but happy and healthy, kiddies are growing so fast – the littlest will be 2 in a few weeks time! Looking forward to our family holiday in August.

Finanaces – OK so here’s where is looks a bit pear-shaped and slightly embarrassing::o:(

· Mortgage – We have had to change to Interest Only for 12 months as we’ve been finding to hard to manage each month especially with the other things below. Obviously this will set us back a bit but is best for us at the moment, hubbies job is OK at the moment but we know it won’t last forever and we need to get sorted now.
· Credit card – Stupidly we have spent so much, not large purchases but little bits when we didn’t have quite enough now it’s got to £1900! I have already sorted that the card is cancelled and we are just paying off the balance with interest at the old rate as it was due to go up. Will never have a credit card again, we can’t be trusted!
· Sofa – haven’t saved up enough but we be sorted – see below.
· Overdraft – still in use need to pay off.

So we have been rubbish but are pulling it back:

· Today I received a cheque for my inheritance for £7000, we are spending £5000 on a car as this is needed. The rest will clear the overdraft, pay off the sofa and a little bit spent on clothes for dd as growing quickly and some clothes for me.
· Money from mortgage reduction to be used for credit card along with any other payments I get from surveys.
· DH is finally (only taken 15years) going to take a more active part in the finances instead of leaving it to me and them spending loads without a thought to what bills need to be paid.

As always we will look to reduce other bills as far as possible, my mobile contract is due to end next month so that will be the first thing to reduce.

So really embarrassed but glad we are being sensible with the inheritance and promise to do better.

P.S veggies are doing really well, very pleased with crop this year.