Marginal Gains

Cornish_mum

Month End Totals

Mortgage £1000 capital reduction outstanding balance 160K

Cash change plus £900 (but MrCM is still owed ~£1500 in expenses and I am owed ~£150)

CM AVC increased by £4200 invested £1300

MrCM AVC increased by £6900 invested £2600

Phew July was another hectic month, I caught Covid again a couple of weeks ago but it wasn’t so bad. DD and DS had a good end of term and are enjoying their holiday club. We have 2 weeks until our family holiday and it’s mainly a case of finishing up at work, with no more big deadlines until after we come back. On Sunday we took the kids to the British museum, it was an exhausting but really nice day.

Money wise MrCM was paid a work bonus (everyone got an extra £1000). My French side job has finally sent through payment details, so I have claimed for the work. I have agreed two more side jobs to be completed in the next 6-months (total of 3 lined up).

We have a lot of extra spends on my credit card (Legoland, extra hotels to visit a friend to extend our August holiday), we will pay with the expenses money (claims finally in!).

Spends 

Not tracked it properly this month, just the big things I can remember.

Groceries were £400, including a loaf of bread MrCM bought for £6.50 from the local bakery. He didn’t ask the price and was too embarrassed to give it back, I absolutely understand that their costs have increased but that’s just crazy prices. 

Commuting costs £67 (used a ticket bought in June)

Family meal out in a restaurant to celebrate end of term £90, lunch date with MrCM £40.

Various clubs and teachers collections £130.

New school uniform DD £26.

New school equipment for DS £53 (school requirements).

Extra day of childcare £74.

Trip to British museum £70 (trains (used a group save discount), gifts shop money, coffees and extra water (could not find place to refill)).

Summer clothes for DD £60.

2 vest tops for me £14.

Trip to climbing centre £20 for kids (off-peak rate).

Yikes, we have been pretty spendy, as per usual it’s mostly kiddo related.

Frugal fails 

I was charged £3 for my new bank account, very annoying as it’s only been open for 6 days and I do my sweeps at the start of the month. I am still up £122 pounds plus the cinema tickets up but I will be switching the account ASAP. 

A lot of my plants died in the heat wave (sweet peas, lettuce, strawberries and tomatoes I hadn’t potted on). I was madly busy with work, illl and MrCM was away and my focus was on keeping me and the kids cool and watered, so I just forgot about the plants until it was too late.

Frugalling

I took a pack lunch to work, should be doing this all the time but finally found the time.

We took lunch, snacks and drinks to our trip to the museum. 

Harvested cucumbers, herbs and a few courgettes from the garden.

MrCM has been taking the kids to the library every week and they have been choosing me a book each week too. 

Bought some ys chicken and carefully divided and froze it. 

I have been eating down leftover protein in the freezer to keep the food bill down.

We “shopped the loft” for most of DD’s new school uniform, I am glad she was ok about this.

Decluttered 5 bags of old kids clothes and shoes (charity shop and hand me downs).

Goals for July

Buy Legoland tickets . Done 

Make sure we claim for outstanding expenses. Done 

Buy DS a mobile phone ready for secondary school. In progress 

Sort out the garden (it is very messy). Only a little bit done (roll over)

Organise a new account for MrCMs maturing ISA and  new regular savers. Done (lame interest rate but MrCM values having all his money in one place).

Look for the next bank switch opportunity (once we have our free cinema tickets). Found one need to organise.

Complete outstanding work tasks and then try to focus on making sure I can clear my in-tray for summer break. On track

Goals for August 

Tidy up Garden.

Have a lovely holiday.

New (to him) mobile phone for DS.

Aiming to break even in August but not going to be strict this month, as we want to prioritise enjoying our holiday, we will catch up with ourselves in September. 

A new bank switch.

Cornish_mum

God lord even for me that was an awfully long post😬

savingholmes

Sounds like you are doing all you can to control your budget and have fun. Legoland sounds nice...

LadyWithAPlan

Sounds like all your mfw and savings focus has definitely led to less stress at a difficult time.

becky170

Have a lovely holiday cornish_mum. In shock about you're DH paying £6.50 for a loaf of bread....I hope it was nice 

Cornish_mum

Thanks all,

hi Becky I know what was he thinking!!! To be fair he came home and said “sorry I just spent £6.50 on a loaf of bread, I won’t be going there again, maybe I should start making it”. The bread was nice and it was a large loaf but still, crazy price. 

badmemory

They've got too used to people just flashing a card over a machine & not noticing what they are paying & what for.

savingholmes

Crazy price for bread!!

Cornish_mum

I just have to share my absolute shock butter is £2.15 for 250g in MrS 😱. It was £1.50 last year. Looks like it’s banana on toast for the foreseeable. 

In other news, our annual leave has started. I took DD to the theatre today for a treat. We took the bus into town (£2 each), had lunch at home, went to look round a free science centre and just treated ourselves to a very nice ice cream. MrCM took DS to an event at his favourite museum, to the optician and for chicken and chips. 

We also bought the new kids school shoes £57 (I used a TCB gift card for the balance). DS old shoes don’t meet the uniform policy at his secondary so he needed another new pair. DD’s feet had only gone up a half size and her plimsolls and trainers were fine so that kept the costs down.

We had a lovely first day off; tomorrow I need to clean and pack before we leave for our holiday. It’s going to be hectic as I have so much to do, but nice busy as I do love a home day having a good sort out.

South_coast

Every time I go in that shop I come out feeling like I have been robbed 😮 I only go in there for things Lidl have sold out of, and can easily spend as much on a couple of bits in there as I do on the main shop. 

Hope you have a fab day of sorting and a lovely holiday 😀