When life sends you lemons..... Well I guess you just knuckle down

rtandon27

:santa2:

Have been reading the 2020 thread, but it's a bit overwhelming!:D

I can come up with 20 items, but 20 repeats of 20 items is a bit:eek:

Franalamadingdong

I've really enjoyed reading how you've gotten on so far. I'd certainly be hiding cards from the hubby.... Or possibly replacing them with "preloaded" cards.

I know you felt a bit glum at "only" putting £25 extra towards the car from surveys, but if someone handed you £25 you'd be thrilled. I've been working hard to adjust how I mentally frame things... So apologies if I sound annoying!

Lemon_Tree

Hi Fran, all comments are welcome. I think I just see others clearing loads which makes my amounts seem so low. I must learn to stop comparing myself to others

in_need_of_direction

Why not compare yourself to you without the lbm and posting here?

Lemon_Tree

I do try to do that, we've certainly made some improvements to our spending but there's still a long way to go

Lemon_Tree

Ia hope everyone had a good Christmas, we hosted again this year, feeding 13 so it was rather hectic, specially when you add in two excited children (who got up at 4.45)
Im now raring to go and waiting for next year to start so I know how Jan is going to pan out. It all hinges on the remortgage and when the mortgage payments go out, but I can't find that out until it happens. It will also dictate how we pay off the credit card.
I thought that we hadn't gone overboard for Christmas but now I've added up all the expenditure coded to christmas it appears we well and truly overspent the budget. Think next year we'll have to be both even more savy and increase the savings target.
Today I fed the kids a carpet picnic of freezer fodder, random part bags of stuff. They enjoyed it and it's helped the mission to use stuff up, I even managed to 'shop' on the outside freezer to bring stuff in to start eating it which will definitely save some pennies.

Chrystal

How are things going Lemon Tree?

Lemon_Tree

Thanks for asking, we've started the year well. Remortgage has gone through so we know what we have funds wise for our extension, just waiting for the payment to be returned by the old bank. Budget has been done, unfortunately we overspent on the card so we must get better at living with our means.Unfortunately today at the dentist I've been left with the option of having a tooth removed for 60+ quid or a root canal and crown for 260+ quid. Decisions decisions.

Lemon_Tree

Well as its the start of the year I should record my plans so I can see how well I've done when we get to the end of the year.
Last week I was playing on a snowball to figure out the best way to clear our debts, I've already managed to make 3 small over payments against the first debt on the list which feels like a great start. It did make me have to take the risk to not prioritise the debt I wanted to but clear the one which needs to be gone by the end of next mo th before interest kicks in.
I've started the penny a day challenge, I'm not sure how I'll save almost 700 in cash when I 'think' I only touch £40 in cash a month. It may be eye opening.
Fingers crossed our extension will finally get started this year, hopefully this month if the builder comes good, we've been let down by two builders twice over the last two years but I do believe the new builder will come good.
I need to list some more things to sell, I've been listing about 3 items every so often, some things have taken a week or two to sell but so far everything has sold, the last item sold on Friday so I need to sort some more stuff. The fiver made will go into the camping purse so we can have a takeaway treat one night when camping.
Talking about camping I need to pin my boss down to when I can have leave in August so I can book us a week away in Dorset. Last year we started camping, my first time since a child, OH and the kids first time ever. We really enjoyed it which is a relief given the money we invested in it last year, we certainly glamp rather than camp simply.
Finally, our biggest challenge this year is to finally start living within our budget. We're trying hard, but it doesn't help that OH realised the soles of his shoes had gone through yesterday and today I've got to make the decision about my tooth.
Well I'd best shut up now before I bore folks.

Lemon_Tree

I've confirmed that we'll be getting back the mortgage payment from the old company, just need to wait 13-15 working days, I'm not patient at waiting for it, we're on day 5 now.
I've paid off the first two small debts, one a month early one two months early. They were less than £200 together but it all helps.
Monies have reached all the savings accounts from the extension funds, I've maximised interest as much as possible but as I don't know how quickly we'll need to start paying builders I can't invest it in anything other than instant savers.
Monthly credit card has now been paid in full so I've started utilising the petrol and housekeeping pots. We're trying hard this month to keep within budget but both now need expensive dental treatment and I need to renew my pre paid prescription card. I need to start some little pots off so that these are covered in future. This will be easier if we can really get a handle on the housekeeping budget.
Hope every one is well and has settled into the new year