Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Thanks for checking in Sashy &Bubbles xx

Quick update for the last few days...DH has needed the car this week for work, typical this happens the moment we scrap my car as he hasn't had to go in for weeks! As school is a mile from our house and the weather has been dry (would get the bus if raining) I've done 3 round trips to pick the boys up so I've walked a minimum of 6 miles today and yesterday!

Thankfully I have the car available tomorrow as (1) my legs need a rest and (2) it's my birthday so I'm planning on having a lazy day to myself while DH is out at work (he's getting a lift tomorrow) and the boys are at school

DH has taken the day off on Friday to take me for lunch & to pick a gift as I need a new handbag and as he "doesn't like the pressure of choosing" despite me always going for a similar style and then using it until it drops to bits so I'm looking forward to a bit of delayed gratification I have had a few cards delivered, I'm sure I'll enjoy watching the boys opening them on my behalf in the morning!

In money news have received £5 from Shopp!x and the £36 from Z!ffit I've been waiting for. Still no car tax refund but when I've checked my reg number on the DVLA website the vehicle details could not be found so hopefully a cheque is in the post.

savingholmes

Decorating plans sound nice. I painted my banisters this year - but they were stained dark wood before. If they'd not been stained I'd have been less likely to paint but for me the stain ruined it anyway.

Happy Birthday for tomorrow. I hope there's cake. Well done on the walks even if they were unplanned. It's been bitter out so I bet your body really had a work out.

Bubblesmum

Happy happy birthday 🎉🎉🎉

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Hope you had a lovely Birthday 

DancingInTheRain

Thanks for the birthday wishes, had a few hours to myself while everyone was out so I gave myself the gift of doing nothing for a few hours as it's a rare event. Got lots of lovely cards and a few little thoughtful gifts to make me smile. Had a little tea party with the boys and DH is taking me out for a meal and drinks tomorrow so I'm looking forward to that bit of extra spoiling too.

No car today so lots of walking to and from school again, not using a step counter but have easily walked 6 miles again which will go some way to working off the free birthday cake from my Co$ta app, free birthday cookie from my L!dl app and free croissant from my Muff!n Break that I've enjoyed over the last few days

Received the cheque from DVLA so £56.66 to go in the 'free' money pot when that clears which will give me an end of month total of £1013.23. As mentioned, I've already sent £500 to the mortgage. Going to put £500 into savings and then use the left over £13.23 to kick start next months free money pot as it's going to be significantly smaller unless I do something drastic!

DH pay and CB both on Monday and there's enough in the account to see us through the weekend so we've had a good start to the year, puts us on a good footing for February.

savingholmes

Glad you got lots of free treats. Well done on the walk and the 'free' money.

DancingInTheRain

A busy but lovely few days since my last post. As mentioned DH took Friday off so he treated me to my new bag and lunch we then went for a meal with friends while the boys slept at their Grandma's. I overindulged slightly in both food and wine so was a little delicate yesterday morning but rallied after going for a walk before picking the boys up. Our niece spent the day and night with us and I am taking her and the boys to a party this afternoon, thankfully all the children are still asleep so I'm indulging in a bit of time in the diaries DH and his band had their first gig of the year last night so he got back quite late, don't think he'll be up until late morning. Need on get on top of the laundry today in between running around after the children and going to cook a lasagna for an easy lunch for everyone.

DH wages and CB both in tomorrow so have updated our end of month balances:

End of month 'What We Owe The World' figures

Current scores on the doors are:

- Mortgage 31.12.21 was £46,415 now £45,700
- Credit Card 31.12.21 was £8,175 now £7,975
- DH Student Loan 31.12.21 was £5,285 now £5,200

WWOTW total 31.12.21 £59,875 now £58,875, signature updated.

So a reduction of £1,000 this month which is a fantastic start to the year, really pleased with this. Our savings are at just over £3,000 which I'm happy with given we've had road tax, holiday balance and a couple of unplanned school related costs this month. The school things (lunches and occasional wrap around care sessions for DS2 and after school clubs for DS1) have now been planned more accurately into the monthly budget moving forward. DS1 has also been offered a place to attend Beavers at our local Scouts Centre so need to add his weekly subs into next months budget too, he's a busy boy!

DancingInTheRain

Happy February after what felt like the longest January ever!

Lots of bills out today, hurrah can update the spreadsheet 🤣 

Small overpayment sent to the mortgage which now stands at £45,500.

£285 sent to the credit card bringing the balance to £7,690. Minimum payment was £259 but sent a bit extra to ensure future minimum payments are no more than £250.

Have been decluttering, cleaning and prepping the utility room and kitchen ahead of decorator friend coming tomorrow. Will just need to quickly move a few things we use often before he arrives in the morning but other than that we're good to go.

DH is working on a project this week which means longer hours so not seem much of him, have just been leaving him regular drinks and snacks outside his office door to keep him going 😊

This has meant DS2 coming with me to DS1's rugby training last night. I try to avoid taking DS2 anywhere after 5pm as it's definitely his cranky time but instead of being a little grump he behaved really well 👏👏 Hoping for the same tomorrow at DS1's football training🤞

DS1 is really suffering with tiredness after a couple of late nights at the weekend, has slept 7pm - 8am the last 2 nights!! Hopefully he'll be back on track soon.

Yesterday I rescanned our books, DVD's and CDs for the selling sites and got 3 small boxes to go which should generate at least £30. Have binned the poor quality looking items but we still have 3 largish boxes remaining but they're much better organized now. 

A few small extra earnings this week from Prolific (£5.36), Lidl (£10 voucher for £200 spent in Jan) and £4.44 from a direct debit being a little less than expected yesterday so a good start to February.

DS2 has had a big growth spurt so I need to sort his wardrobe, he'll have DS1's old 4-5 clothes and I'll get the decent quality 3-4 items on V!nted. That's my project for the next couple of mornings while DS2 is in nursery.

Bubblesmum

Well done you - it’s great to read your achievements to decrease balances 

sounds like you had a lovely birthday 

savingholmes

I must try book scanning again. Thanks for the reminder. 

Glad the overall debt is reducing. Doing really well on one wage.