Getting it together...one £ at a time!

Homegrown0

I always like to be as organised as possible in the run up to the festive period to avoid the inevitable stress that comes with being so busy. I've given myself to have made all purchases for Christmas presents by Sunday 2nd December (a week on Sunday).

Here's what I still need to buy:

• Top from Morrisons £16
• Birthday present for BIL £25-30 budget
• 2x chocolate coins £1
• 6x sweet tubes £6
• Large jigsaw £8
• 3x kids books £10
• Mug £5
• Blueray £10
• Small gift for nephew £5
• 6 x very specific craft beers £12
• 2x Celebrations tubs £7
• 1 x box of chocolates £3
• Candle £5
• Tickets for gig x2 £70
• 4 items from Smyths £99 (with £10 off £100 spend included)

= £287 (£100 left of Christmas credit union money, plus £100 from December clothes/ gifts budget, so just £87 left to find. I should manage to siphon this off of our December spending budget).

Trying to also be economical about food. We are cooking Christmas dinner this year, but just for the four of us plus my MIL so we don't need to go wild. That's next on my list-writing plan.

My breakfast with Santa tickets were bought in September, panto tickets bought in October, so I shouldn't need to outlay on much in terms of Christmas themed entertainment. There's lots of low cost stuff on around here, plus through the school and kids clubs.

Busy tjmes!

It does help to get these things down somewhere, just to cleanse the mind.

Homegrown0

Today has been productive. Of my list, i have scored off:
Top from Morrisons £16
[STRIKE]Birthday present for BIL £25-30 budget
[/STRIKE]2x chocolate coins £1
6x sweet tubes £6
Large jigsaw £8
3x kids books £10
[STRIKE]Mug £5
[STRIKE][/STRIKE]Blueray £10
[/STRIKE]Small gift for nephew £5
6 x very specific craft beers £12
2x Celebrations tubs £7
1 x box of chocolates £3
Candle £5
[STRIKE]Tickets for gig x2 £70
[/STRIKE]4 items from Smyths £99 (with £10 off £100 spend included)

Not got a lot on the agenda tonight - just taking the eldest to a club he goes to and make some dinner. Otherwise, I've not got a lot on which i'm thankful for.

I'm feeling a bit meh today - no real reason, my brain is just feeling full and I've got not a lot of inclination or motivation to get on with getting things done. I didn't have the best night's sleep last night so that won't help. Onwards and upwards!

Homegrown0

Life is going by in a whirlwind yet again. I couldn't be more looking forward to being off work for a couple of weeks at Christmas and just chilling with my family.

This year has been a busy one and it's taking its toll! I'm ready to wind down.

I need to get to Aldi tomorrow to fill the fridge as it's looking a bit bare and I didn't get there on Sunday. Tonight's dinner was from the freezer so tomorrow will be stock up day!

My husband is working all weekend so I'll be on my own with the kids, so will need to make some plans. If it's dry, we will try to get out in the bikes again as the fresh air will do us all good.

I have decided tonight that instead of mindlessly vegetating in front of Netflix, I'm going to read. Just an easy read, but better than more screen time.

I had a call with my mortgage advisor today and our rate is up in January so we needto decide whether 2 years fixed or 5 years is the best way to go. I'm not very experienced in these things so trying to so6a bit of research before deciding.

Hope you are all well in the world of MSE.

Scott-Weiland

re the mortgage there is ten tonnes of uncertainty in the financial markets due to brexit personally if you can get a good deal go fixed as long as possible.

ie if we do a hard brexit and interest rates drop as our economy crashes mortgage rates will drop, i would hang fire. It could go the other way too but i cant see it.

And yes i am an ex mortgage advisor lol I would be thinking whats gunna keep my family most stable

Homegrown0

Thanks for the advice Scott - we were leaning towards the security of five years anyway and have decided to go for it. Ultimately, in 5 years time we'll be in a much better financial position anyway (we'll be debt free and both kids will be in school so minimal childcare costs). By then, we'll be in a good place to get a good rate and start overpaying the mortgage to bring the term down.

I've asked our broker to proceed with things so it should be sorted in January.

Money
We're doing ok so far in terms of spending this month - i've become really conscious of all the silly spends here and there due to sheer disorganisation (i.e. tonight my son ran out of pull ups and I hadn't noticed so at 7pm i was in Sainisbury's buying them and my husband asked me to pick up a couple of things (snacks)...and before I knew it, i'd spent £15). I really must get control of this in the New Year to get us on track.

I'm also expecting to hear any day now about a bonus. We are expecting a bonus (it's been heavily hinted by management) so just waiting now to get confirmation and the find out how much it's likely to be My plan for this money (at the moment) if it comes in is to put it aside for a summer holiday. It won't pay for a whole holiday for us but will go towards it (I hope).

Plans for 2019
I need to begin coming up with some plans and goals for 2019 that are realistic and achievable but still keep me focused. We won't be debt free in 2019 but we won't be far off it (all being well) so i need to have a think about specific goals to set in advance of the new year arriving.

Is anyone else doing some goal setting?

Scott-Weiland

Doing the 5 year option is what i would do. Stability is key you always overpay on the mortgage too.

I am re goal setting i have 5-10 small debts and they are all 150-350 each i want shot of all of them by the end of 2019. I also want through my full bike test by the end of 2019.

Homegrown0

We probably won't be in a position to overpay the mortgage until the last 1-2 years of this deal but the stability is the main thing. Any overpayment is a bonus We are still young and our mortgage currently finishes when I'm 57 so i'd like to drive that down to 50 (or even below!) if i can. We'll see.

I love your goals Scott - that'll be such a victory if you can get rid of 5-10 debts next year! You always have such drive to chip away at these things so I'm sure you'll do it. The bike sounds like it's doing you good, both in terms of enjoyment and making the commute easier so go for it with the full license.

Scott, you'll feel my pain here I'm sure - finally got to the £15.50 threshold on VO to cash out the amazon voucher I wanted and when I went to cash out, it said the amazon vouchers were out of stock! There's really nothing else that I need so I'm mad. Just like you being held 5p away from cash out on Onepoll! JUST GIMME MY VOUCHER P LEASE!

Homegrown0

I've got a few things to save up to pay for over the next few weeks...typically bad time of year!

1. Arrangement fee for mortgage broker who's sorting out our transfer to a new lender/ new deal - £299
2. Need two front tyres probably in January - £200-300
3. Need new brake pads and discs fitted - £200 - 300.

So basically, it's going to be an expensive couple of months. I'm hoping to save as much of this from our wages as possible (the mortgage fee will be covered this month) then any extra that we need should come from my bonus.(I know I'm counting my chickens here, but we're 95% sure it's coming).

And this money is after I just spent £219 on my car being serviced last week...pff....

doingitanyway

A great idea to spend the bonus on a holiday. You prioritise family time and that probably pulls you through the scrimping and saving.

I so related to the disorganised spends. They are so annoying but life is pressurised so be kind to yourself they are not that frequent with you and you have little ones so harder. I just have me and STILL struggle with this (getting better)

I love to read too. Enjoy.

Getting out on the bikes with the children sounds like a great plan.

Your goals as ever are sound and looking forward to seeing your 2019 goals too

Have a good day

Scott-Weiland

Haha i was like that a couple of weeks back on one poll i sat at 24.95 for ages. Its annoying as hell, re vo thats one of the reason i stopped using it re the vouchers that and repeatedly getting kicked out.

You need to start using qmee!! Its a survey app you put on your fone, surveys are anywhere from 10p upto 130-140. The benefit is you can drop the cash straight away. I am upto just under 45 quid since the end of October i think i started.