Here we go Lupus Lou....

Lupus_Lou

This is one of the options we will be looking at.

Lou x

Lupus_Lou

Still plodding on.
Not much in the way of overpayment this month but we have avoided using credit cards which is a major step considering they were maxed out each month.
Having said that, MOT is due and we might need some pricey work done on the car.
OH birthday next week, I will make him a cake but not sure what else to get him, doesn't drink or use smelly stuff. I will probably get him more jeans.

Lupus_Lou

Just updating my signature. Progress with the mortgage and utilities so will do a bigger post shortly.
Lou xx

Lupus_Lou

Hi
It's been a while since I last posted but progress has been made and I'll thrill you all (OK - not quite) with my achievements:
1. Mortgage has been renewed. OH is 74 so there weren't a lot of options or the possibility of switching lenders. We're sticking with the Abbey National and have got ourselves a 7 year fixed rate down from 3.19% to 1.79%
Overall monthly saving of £160.
We do have £78K interest only element and OH wanted to pay the difference between the new payment and what we previously paid toward the interest only element.
However, our secured loan is 8% and so I suggested we put the £160 on this, bringing our total monthly repayment up to £1020 but meaning we should clear the secured loan by the end of 2023 - 3 years early.
We can then use the whole £1020 on our interest only element of the loan.
2. Water has reduced from £45 monthly to £28. The water company fitted a meter approx 15 months ago and have been sending us usage stats. Even though there are 6 of us in the house we are only using the equivalent of a 4 person household.
3. Utilities - I have been with one particular company for a few years and the bills just keep going up. We had a meter read in early September and the proposed putting the bill up to £280 monthly. from £214. They kindly gave me details of my usage over the previous 12 months. I got straight online and have switched to another company and the total monthly DD has gone down to £175. The switch took effect today, I have sent in meter readings and just have to make a final payment to end the contract.
4. General shopping - I am trying to stick to Aldi rather than M&S/Waitrose/ anywhere.
I have been stocking up for the winter and did a mega shop two weeks ago spending just over £160. I also acquired a parking ticket for accidentally parking in a residents only bay. Even so, with the £60 ticket charge the shopping was less than it would have been in the usual haunts.
5. Amazingly 13 year old diesel 4WD got through MOT costing only £60 (test and new wipers) so that meant the outgoings weren't as feared at the beginning of the month!

There are a few odds and sods spendwise in October but hopefully nothing unplanned, I'll be back hopefully tomorrow with more news about progress


Lou s

Lupus_Lou

Quick update.
Outgoing utility providers want £197 to close account. So outgoings will be high as we go out with the old and in with the new.
Spent more than planned today, mainly on stuff for the food bank box at work but I also bought covers for our new phones. £20 For two but cheaper than a smashed phone.
Lodger has told us she may be moving out next year, if she does well put the rent up by 25%. She currently has a great deal with us (£40₩ per month) but she is great with the kids and always pays the rent 24hours before it's due.
All well in Loopyland

Lou

Lupus_Lou

Ouch
Almost 2 months since I was last here, not had much to report so I have just kept my head down.
After much too-ing and froo-ing we have decided that we will not extend the lease on our Nissan Leaf.
It's a great car but it is costing us £230 monthly. We will be down to one car and one broken down Landrover at the beginning of January, hoping that OH will use some of the slack to get the landrover going again.
He's been saying for over 2 years that it's the rocker cover gasket but hasn't been doing anything about it!
The plan is that we will put as much money as possible (at least £200 monthly) onto our secured loan and get that paid off by 2023 then the £860 (+ extras) that we pay on it each month can go onto the mortgage to bring down the £70K interest only element.
Overall we should be £168 + £230 +£48 +£17 monthly better off each month i.e. £463 monthly.
That is reductions in the water bills by going onto a meter, reduction in utility costs by switching, savings on the lease car payments of £200 and a £168 saving on the mortgage by remortgaging.
Last Christmas I was juggling payments, looking at home much I had available to max out on each card but this year the majority of the credit cards are unused.

Lupus_Lou

I thought I would start using this thread again as it has been a while and things have changed but I still have some debts and have a major health expenditure due late this year so I need to get debts down before major expenditure comes along.
I am gong to start by planning meals. At the moment we all decide on our won what we are going to eat in the evenings and I am wandering up to the shops circa 5pm and spending £30+ on odds and sods, yellow stickered stuff that I don't need as well as ready meals.
I have been doing a plan of income and outgoings, we have £1592 available each month after all bills have been paid.... however, it is 14 days since payday and barely  have enough left to cover the DD's due on 1st April. 
Plan for tomorrow (Monday 29th) 
1. Meal plan for the next week
2. Bake something - even if I just put it in the freezer
3. cut the lawn and pull up some weeds
4. Sort out sons laptop which I am buying off him so I am not using the work laptop for posting.
Anything else is a bonus

DrCarrie

Hope you are feeling better? Welcome back! Hope it helps. Keep checking in and writing. 

Lupus_Lou

Hi and thanks DrCarrie for your message. 
Just about everything cleared from the list apart from the gardening. 
I will mow the lawn tomorrow,  even if it kills me.
It probably will

LL X

CRANKY40

Well done on clearing your list. I make myself a "to do" list most mornings but don't feel guilty if I need to carry anything over to the next day. I cut our grass on Wednesday. I did it early afternoon and then left it to go indoors and make biscuits. After dinner when it had dried out a bit I went out and cut it again so it didn't look as bad as it did after the first time. I'm going to do some weeding today.