Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Hello all.
A very relaxed DITR today as the children stayed with their Grandma last night which led to DH and I having an enjoyable few hours in a local pub 👏👏 it was very quiet so distancing wasn't a problem which helped us to just chill and unwind. It's about a mile from our house so we enjoyed the walk there and back.

We'd managed to avoid the rain in the morning too, we got the boys dressed in their puddle suits and wellies and went to a local playpark. We had it to ourselves and the little ones had a good run around and spent as much time jumping in the puddles as they did on the swings and slides 🙂

In money saving news £14 became payable on TCB so have requested a BACS transfer, have also got a couple of voucher deals for a couple of large playsets from $mazon to put away for Xmas gifts - £47 of products but only paid £24, both have really good reviews and will be good for either our boys or our friends children. 

Have also set up a regular £250 direct debit to a S&S ISA as DH was keen to do this sooner than later.
This forms part of our longer term savings plan but if we did have an emergency that our cash savings wouldn't cover in the short to medium term then at least we could withdraw from the ISA if needed.
In an ideal world though this will be, in effect, our mortgage offset. We will continue to tidy the mortgage account balance to end in zero each month though 🙂
Today is going to be a lazy one, chicken dinner on the go then a family film or 2 this afternoon.

In weight news, we've both definitely fallen off the wagon a little - I've gained 2lbs over the last 2 weeks and DH has remained the same. We need to get more focused and stop letting lazy habits creep in, determined to record a loss next Sunday!

Hope everyone else is well, take care x

savingholmes

Great that you got a break from the kids. It makes such a difference. Well done for making £ stretch.

DancingInTheRain

It certainly does SH, my Mum has been a star and taken the boys as she normally does on a Monday in order to give me a bit of time to catch up on coursework as I had 2 assignments outstanding. Just submitted the first drafts of both of them, just hope they don't need many amendments as motivation remains low ('have' to do the course rather than 'want' to and as I'm not really interested each assignment feels like hard work as I'm always lacking motivation and enthusiasm as the topic is very dry and slightly off topic from my actual job role).

The budget is holding up well with my payday due on Wednesday and DH's on Friday so I've sent £100 across to savings, also got 5 items listed on facebook and ebay last night, items the children have outgrown, so will see if any extra pennies come from these.

DH about to log off work early as he has built up a bit of flexi. It's sunny here so we're going to walk to pay the garage bill and to book DH's car in for its service and MOT before picking the boys up and coming home via the playground.

*ETA also sent a further £16 to savings as I won' incur any parking costs with being off this week*

DancingInTheRain

Garage bill £362, so not too far over my £350 estimate. That's paid and have also got DH's car booked in for MOT next week, may need to raid another saving pot to cover this if extra work required.

DancingInTheRain

Switched a few things around in our joint accounts so that my wage and CB goes into the bills account to cover all bills, including mortgage and the S&S ISA, while building up a small surplus each month.

DH's wages will go in to the other current account which will fund savings and general spends as the regular saver & annual bills savings accounts are attached to this account.
The mortgage is also linked to this account (same bank) so the small monthly overpayment will also come from here, along with future Tilly Tidies once savings target is met.

It's good to have it all organised but I must admit to being a little bored, for some reason I don't have the same buzz about our finances as I did paying down debt. Need to count my blessings and appreciate the fact that boring is good for as long as it lasts!

beanielou

Believe me boring is good 
Out of debt is out of danger!

savingholmes

You are sounding very on track. Impressive.

DancingInTheRain

Thank you both x

Today I met my friend's baby for only the 2nd time 😍 she was born 2 weeks before lockdown and they live around an hour's drive away. I managed a quick
doorstep visit 2 days before lockdown but got to enjoy cuddles today & her Mum enjoyed the break 😉 was lovely to catch up and my 2 were little superstars while we were there so all in all a successful visit.

I've also finished sorting through our wardrobes and have a list put together of bits and bobs we need to see us all through autumn.

MIL is looking after the boys for me tomorrow while Mum and I head to the local city to get what we need 🤞 I'm hoping going on a Thursday will mean the cafés will be a little quieter as it's the coffee breaks we enjoy more than the shipping to be honest 🤣.

My personal spends account has barely been touched in recent weeks so the cash is there if anything catches my eye although there's nothing in particular I want or need.

Payday for me today but as mentioned yesterday that wage is all accounted for with September's direct debits. Tomorrow's spends will go on the CC to build points but then immediately be paid back from the savings pots. DH gets paid on Friday just in time for our next grocery shop.

Hope everyone else is well xx

savingholmes

I've not seen one of my nephew yet as he was born before lockdown too. Glad you got to enjoy some baby cuddles.

DancingInTheRain

Happy September everyone 🍁🍂 
Hope everyone is well.

Spendy few days enjoying family time, took the boys on a train ride which they loved. DH and I enjoyed a meal out with friends and we've had a day at a local coastal town which was surprisingly quiet & enjoyed a few fair rides while we were there 🙂 An enjoyable few days before we all head back in to the work/school routine.

We're planning a quiet day today ahead of DS1 returning to school tomorrow. Due to social distancing he's going to be at school 30 minutes less per day than pre-lockdown which is going to cause a headache with work, planning on speaking to my line manager tomorrow to see if we can come up with a resolution 🤞

Most of the direct debits have gone out and have rounded down the mortgage balance.

Scores on the doors today:
Mortgage - £54,250
Savings - £3,450
S&S ISA - £250