Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Thanks SH, I'm hoping Prolific release some pending funds as that would take me nicely to my £150 target for the month

The last few days have just dragged, I'm still not feeling 100% and the boys are both a little more clingy and anxious since being poorly last week too so have just been a bit harder work and both been up through night so I'm feeling a bit sleep deprived too. DH still working hard on a project which should complete tomorrow, will be good to have him a bit more 'present' in family life - for him as well as us.

So I've focused on doing the basics, getting the kids to and from school. Homework with DS1. Keeping us fed and clean.

We were looking at our mortgage overpayments for the year (our mortgage year runs 1 Apr - 31 Mar) and we were £715 away from reaching our 10% allowed so we've taken money from savings and paid £700 off the mortgage, the remaining £15 will give us me the chance to round the account to 0 after the regular Direct Debit goes out on Monday.

DH is definitely much more into overpaying the mortgage than me as he loves the idea of owning our house outright as soon as we can, so it's definitely given him a lift to know we've maxed out the overpayment allowance. It's given him the sense of reward for all the long days he's put in these last few weeks . From my point of view as long as we keep adding to savings/pensions each month then anything that sees our overall 'What We Owe The World' figure reduce then I'm happy. Plus anything that puts a smile on DH's face at the moment is a definite win

DancingInTheRain

£146.34 in the free money pot now thanks to £10.66 savings from the L!dl plus app. £19.66 spent on groceries but will need a few more items and diesel tomorrow when I take Mum for her shopping.

So so cold here but no snow thankfully. Just picking DS2 up from nursery, planning on doing some arts and crafts with him before picking up DS1.

Have a governors meeting at school tonight so will be good to use my brain!

savingholmes

Well done on the free £. How fab to reach the 10% overpayment limit... I'd have to pay mine £20K+ to reach mine. I'm just about managing £20 pcm and £50 extra to pension so a long way off...

DancingInTheRain

Thanks SH. The overpayment has only been achieved due to our mortgage being so small, we'd never get anywhere near £20k. All overpayments count though and you've a solid plan for paying down the mortgage so I've no doubt you'll get there x

Just received £5.65 from Prolific, taking the free money to £151.99. Have moved £150 to savings and the remaining £1.99 will kick start March's pot as DH's pay and Child Benefit will both be in on Monday so we'll be on a new month of budgeting.

Governor meeting went well, really enjoying contributing and being part of a team again. 

Took Mum for her shopping today and spent £34 on groceries for us and £20 on diesel. Must remember to transfer £4 from my personal spends as I also picked up a mascara I use which was on offer at half price for some reason.

DH's work project has been completed on time so he's happy with that (and relieved!) he's got a gig in a pub tonight so is planning on having a few beers too as I've promised him a lie in tomorrow. I'm planning on having a couple of glasses of wine once the boys are asleep

No weekend plans as yet, will see what the morning brings...

DancingInTheRain

DH wages and CB both in on Monday and nothing planned this weekend 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 £44,800
- Credit Card 31.12.21 was £8,175 now £7,690
- DH Student Loan 31.12.21 was £5,285 now £5,110

WWOTW total 31.12.21 £59,875 now £57,600, signature updated.

So a reduction of £1,275 this month. A great reduction but this has had a knock on effect on our savings due to the extra mortgage overpayment, current savings total £2780 which includes our EF and annual bills pot.

Happy to get £150 in the free money pot this month, have set myself the same target for March. Only irregular bill due in March will be the cost of DS1's birthday party but hoping to keep this around £125. DS1 has still given us no indication of what he would like as a gift so need to get my thinking cap on! DH will be away for a week for work next month and there's nothing in the diary in terms of events apart from I'm going to see a play with a friend on Friday, which will come out of personal spends so I'm hoping for a steady month on the finance front.

DH was paid in cash last night for his gig so if we do anything this weekend we'll use that, he was home around 130 so won't expect to see him until mid morning. The gig went well so he was happy but exhausted when he got home. Me and the boys are having a lazy morning too although I have got a load of washing on, hoping to peg out as it looks cloudy but dry here at the moment.

Hope everyone has a good weekend x

savingholmes

Glad the gig went well.

Great reduction on overall debt

sashybo

Your figures are looking good. 👍🏻

For DS1’s birthday have you seen yoto players? They’re like radios but also have cards that play stories.

I’m thinking of getting one for my DS for his 5th birthday. They are a bit pricey but look like they would grow with kids for a good few years.

DancingInTheRain

Thanks both x

@sashybo thanks for the suggestion, much appreciated & it looks fantastic but I don't think DS1 would use it. He's quite tech savvy even at his age (takes after daddy who is a bit of a tech geek 🤣) and enjoys using our Google home device to stream things that interest him (we have it set to our phone too so can see what he's watching or listening to).

He's been struggling to get to sleep recently so he's even been streaming meditation videos for kids from utube at bedtime! It's working for him though so who am I to argue? 😊

We asked him again today if there's anything specific he wants and he said he can't think of anything but he'll be happy with whatever we get him which just made my heart melt 💞 

savingholmes

That is really sweet

sashybo

DS1 sounds like he knows what he’s doing with the Google home! 

I must admit we haven’t really let DS access much tech as he gets quite obsessive. He does know how to activate Alexa but doesn’t really know what to ask her to do! 

He doesn’t have a tablet but knows how to use them (and our phones!). He does get some access at nursery to tablets/interactive whiteboards etc.

We also let him play Mario Kart on the switch now & again. And the love of his life is tv. 🤦🏻‍♀️ It’s so hard to judge what to do for the best!

How lovely that DS1 said that. 🥰