Our MFW Adventure!

Needhelpsaving

No Spend Weekend achieved. I didn't leave the house at all, OH did go out and spend some of his personal money on beers and he bought some milk and bread at the same time (and didn't want the money back from the grocery budget, so that was a win). We utilized the garden and done some weeding/maintenance out there to tidy it up. 

We've eaten from what we have in and have enough meals to see us through the week. I think we'll make it to Wednesday for lunch and breakfast bits, so will plan a shop for Wednesday or Thursday of this week. 

Today has seen some spends, I've sent £20 to a family member for nieces b'day, £1.85 OP to the mortgage and £3.15 to the Credit card to round down the accounts. 

Needhelpsaving

Good Morning!

Went food shopping yesterday, as I needed to leave the house, so combined it with the weekly shop. I came back frustrated, as a lot of people didn't seem to be following the rules of staying 2m apart, so I got in and out as quickly as I could. £80.68 spent, I rounded it up to £85 and sent the remaining money to the credit card. 

The rest of the week will have no spends other than a couple of stamps to send out birthday cards for next month. £9.38 due from PA and £3 Amazon voucher cashed out from ReceiptHog. 

Needhelpsaving

Letter has just been received from the mortgage company to say that they've reduced our term to 8 years 9 months following this months OP's   

Does anyone else get stupidly excited when these land on your mat? #mortgage geek 

savingholmes

Congrats on the mortgage reduction

Needhelpsaving

I can't believe we're in May already!    I hope you're all well and staying safe wherever you are. 

So the month is off to a decent start, most of the birthdays for this month (wider family) have been sorted from present/card stash, with only £20 cash paid out towards a larger present. We're sticking to our meal plans and are using up left overs to reduce food waste - in fact, I don't think we've had any food waste for a few weeks other than an pineapple that went funny. 

Last weekend I started working on re-decorating another room, this time it's the turn of our master bedroom (a much needed revival!). I spent £14.50 on paint to top up what we already had in the shed, but otherwise, I have used stuff we already have in  from previous projects, so am pleased with the small spend on this, but in terms of return, it will make the house look so much better. That project will continue this weekend. I know many people may argue that re-decorating is not essential, but we had already planned to do it this year, and I combined the paint purchase with a food shopping trip to avoid any additional trips out. 

I have bought an xmas present (yes ... I've used the C word  ) - as I had gift vouchers that needed using and with the amount of stores struggling, I didn't want to risk not being able to use them in the future. I spent £4.50 out of pocket for the item, so pleased with that. 

All in all, a good start to May's budget whilst also continuing to work towards my annual goals  Stay safe  xxx

Needhelpsaving

Good morning! 

It's lovely and sunny here, so I am naturally being more productive  Although the downside of the additional cleaning/ironing/sorting activity is that I am super hungry ... if it's not nailed down, it's being eaten (I'm blaming baby as if I don't eat, I am very nauseous). 

Weekly shop was done on Sunday morning and I went £12.23 over budget so am working on earning that back through surveys etc ... although the likelihood is that we could be more overbudget if I keep eating the way I am! Again, food waste is non-existent, so I am pleased with that 

This week has been mainly about cleaning and sorting, as I cannot stop thinking about that house we've seen online ... and although it may not be the house we end up with (as we are likely not to be the only people hitting rightm0ve on a regular basis), it has certainly lit a fire under us that we want to move in the near future. OP's will be continuing in earnest and we will be working through the list of updates we want to do on this house (updating decor and essential maintenance jobs) so that if the housing gods do smile down on us, we'll be ready to go. 

In other news, we've been offered a 2nd hand baby bath, which we've accepted, so that's a lovely freebie coming our way 

savingholmes

I managed to get most of the stuff for our kids secondhand in the early years. It definitely helps the budget a lot.

Needhelpsaving

Thanks for stopping by SH x

Another productive day today, to the point that I've worn myself out and I have yet to attend this afternoons hospital appointment. In truth, I would love a nap, but as DH is on conference calls, it's just not going to happen 

Loads of washing done, including putting the winter coats through the wash to freshen them up ... and hopefully put into storage (except DD2's as it's almost outgrown). Dinner will be from the freezer tonight and hopefully DH will cook it while I am out 

Needhelpsaving

The productivity has rolled into the weekend, I have spent the last two days re-decorating the master bedroom (Prep done last weekend), and will continue into today. If I'm honest, I am still swooning over the house we've seen, so I think DH and I need to sit down and have a frank chat about whether we want to act on it or not, at least we'll have some sort of plan. 

Either way, this house needs redecorating, but if we do decide to look to move, it will be further towards being ready to list. The house we're in now is our first home, so I'm apprehensive about possibly selling (will people like it, will it sell etc) - it's irrational really, as it is a popular area for first time buyers/BTL investors. 

In other news, I did a grocery shop yesterday afternoon, and picked the kids up a couple of bits in the George 1/2 price sale (I was planning to do a food shop anyway, I didn't make a special trip just for a sale). I also bought nephew a top to finish his birthday present, so that's keeping the birthday/occasions budget in line. 

1 ebay sale this weekend, to be posted tomorrow so that's money towards the mortgage OP (after fees/postage). 

Needhelpsaving

Good Morning! 

A couple of days away after my mammoth painting session, but the master bedroom is looking great (if I do say so myself  ), I just need to paint the inside of the fitted wardrobes (just the bit where you can see the plaster wall at the back, but then I should be ready to move on to another room on the list. 

In other news, the house we wanted to look at has disappeared from the market and given that it is in a village setting, there isn't anything else on the market there. Hey ho, we'll just keep cracking away at the re-decorating and mortgage OP here and then keep our eye out for something else, there's no point in becoming disheartened, but just to see it as an opportunity to create more equity in this home by OPing