Re starting my journey to an eventual debt free and frugal life

Cornish_mum

Congratulations on your great achievement in month one:T. It’s really tough to make the changes when you have kids (I know from experience).;)

You might find some of the case studies in the Frugal Woods blog helpful; though they have a very hardcore attitude to debt reduction and it’s very US focused.

Cornish_mum

Also I found a couple of things really helpful the 1) frugal art of substitution and 2) focusing on changing our family habits rather than just budgeting.

You are doing great keep going

yummymummy2012

Well, the last few months have been frantic, I know it must have been for everyone, but i have not even caught up on anyones diaries since this all started happening in Feb 
Well I am saving money on fuel and travel, but food bills have gone up, having an 8 yr old in the house, they never stop eating.  But things are now starting to settle down, and I am now ready to keep checking in on my diary.  I did a finance update yesterday as it is pay day tomorrow, and when July payments are made we will have reduced our non mortgage debt by around £7k. I am really please about this as we have had to pay out for my father in laws funeral unexpectedly (not covid relate) and other outgoings whilst his estate gets sorted.  My plan now is to settle into my new routine, with DD back at school as keyworker child, work settling down slightly and see where we can make any further savings / improvements.  First step if to look at when we can get the tax rebates as I will likely be working form home for 9-12 mths permanently before I go back to the office, so that £28 per month will be appreciated. 
Meal plan is done for the week and shopping came yesterday, and payday tomorrow so hopefully we can keep spend to a minimum this week.  I will have to fill the car up as OH needs to travel to meet estate agents at his dads house, (350 mile round trip) and we didn't MOT OH's car at the end of March as we haven't needed to use it but may have to consider that now

yummymummy2012

Trying to get into the habit of even a short post a day during the week, keeps me focused on not spending money
Well i am trying to stick to slimming world again as it helps with the lockdown weight gain and with meal planning so yesterday made crustless quiche, with bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes, that will do me for breakfast all week (otherwise i dont have anything health), and cooked off some chicken to eat for lunches for the week, also picked our first home grown cucmber of the yr (the conservatory has turned into a glorified greenhouse during lockdown ).  Didnt have a NSD as we invited our friends to social distance in the garden with their DD who is in our DD bubble at school so they had a play in the paddling pool and we bought them some ice creams
I was batch cooking dinner so invited them to stay for some eating alfresco, its nice to be returning to some sort of normality with being able to see friends again   
Today was the normal early start and a half hour stomp with the pup before it gets too warm, cycled to school with DD then had an online exam and project to submit, happy to get that off my to do list.  Its also payday today so need to check how much probate is going to cost, think its around £200ish, and what we can pay off the funeral this month.  I know we will get the money back but we had just started making headway and saving for a garden project for next yr.  At least we have stayed out of my overdraft for the 2nd month in a row.  This is the first time since i left Uni that i have not maxed out my £3500 OD every month so am please the funeral home will let us manage payments so I dont have to go back into that and pay charges.  

Right must get back to work now, after a lovely lunch sat in the sun in the garden, cant believe I have run out of washing as it has dried so fast

yummymummy2012

Also just notices need to update signature figures so will do that today 

yummymummy2012

So we have made it to the end of another week, its been a bit frantic at work as one of the other managers has been off on leave and our auditors are still asking follow up question from an audit they started in Dec    Anyway, nearly the weekend
Filled up the car yesterday as DH is off to the NW today to get his dads house valued, should be back Sunday so just me and DD for the weekend.  So she is bunking in with me so bed sheets are all washed and on the line so we can snuggle in clean sheets later.  I have promised her a takaway pizza tonight, not very MSE but we aren't going out anywhere at the moment so its nice to treat her.

The pup has come into season for the first time , luckily we bought some nappies for her a few months ago as soon as we heard the vets weren't spaying during lockdown, so not had to pay out there.  She is only in them in the evening when she is in the living room, as I can mop the kitchen floor in the day 

I have got 2 phones to try and get on fleabay and a local selling site so I will be pleased it I can get that accomplished over the weekend, also got no car for the weekend as we still havent MOT'd DH's car, but might ring next week and get a price from the garage.

Ive also reduced my childcare vouchers for the timebeing as there wont be any breakfast and afterschool club until Sept, DD may as well stay home with me if i will be working from home over the summer, and Oct half term i have leave, so for a couple of months that will give me a bit extra on payday.

yummymummy2012

Had a lovely weekend with DD whilst DH was away, he had some success at his dads and estate agent valuations are promising and he has found all the paperwork he needed.  Its a complicated situation as his dad owned a % of the house and a great aunt the other larger %.  She is in a home with dementia so his Dad had Power of Attorney (POA) with her solicitor, now they need to apply for sole POA and this was the paperwork he found, a weight off his mind, so we just need to send it to them now so they can sort it out.
We got our takeaway Pizza, from the local restaurant, which was a nice treat , and then chilled on Sat and on Sunday i cleared out wardrobes making a pile of clothes that have holes in or wont be worn again, very therapeutic 
Roast for tea as we had a chicken in the freezer, and did extra veg so cold meat and bubble and squeak for tea tonight.  Not a NSD today as had ordered dog food from the pet shop which has been collected, and then went to the vets for wormer, we pay monthly for various things with them so no charge there.
I have been spurred on to sort out some of my paperwork, so have spend my lunch hour finding all of my various pensions (5 in total), I am waiting for details back on my Final salary and Average salary pensions from when i first started work as they are closed now but im not getting statements, and have 2 i can now see on line with L&G, and one that i had for 1 yr that I will move into my current L&G pot.  Retirement age on the 3 I can access checked and updated to 60, DH is 9 yrs older than me so our plan is I retire slightly earlier otherwise he will be 78 by the time i get to retirement  .
Also noted out current mortgage deal end date is Jan 2021, so 18 mths to get the debts down as much as possible so we can get a better deal and reduce our term to fit this retirement date.  Its currently at 88% LTV so s now in a better bracket for deals, hopefully this can get to 85% before we remortgage.
Next job is to get DH car booked in for an MOT, as it was due in March, and not after 30th I dont think it qualifies for the 6mth relaxation, so will need to book that before he goes back to start clearing the house out.  And planning for the weekend we have booked to go to a local NT property, we have family membership so it will be nice to go somewhere different and take a picnic.  Right back to so some more work before the school run

yummymummy2012

Tried to log on and update last night but they were doing maintenance on the site!

So yesterday was a NSD  MOT booked at local garage in 2 weeks time, money from that will come from a deposit refund for DD birthday party we couldn't have.  Had a healthy breakfast, lunch cleared out some of the fridge (but not so healthy) then SW Chicken Laksa for tea (yum) and there is enough for lunch today.
With the pensions, I have asked for the paperwork to transfer one into my current scheme, no defined benefits so I can make sure it is working for me if I move it, that will mean 2 in Av!va that i can monitor online, the other 2 are  Final salary and Average salary pensions, so finally spoke to a human yesterday and they have updated my contact details, they don't send annual statements, but can send me what i would be receiving if i retired today.  As these schemes are closed and protected they can only change with inflation so should give me a good indication of what I should be getting in 25 yrs   
Also with having dealt with mum passing 18mths ago and DH's dad passing in May I have listed out all of this information and life insurance info for DH just in case anything ever happens, feel better for doing that, just need him to sort his out now.

We were discussing last night what we might do with the small inheritance DH will probably get, we don't want to put it all to debts so have started listing out options.
1. Front garden, apply for dropped kerb and make an in and out drive (DH has a work van currently parked on the verge, this would work better for us)
2. New wall and window in playroom (this was a garage, previous owners made into a room by taking the garage door out and putting in a big patio door so not converted!) this would be step one in fully converting the room, but waiting on floor etc as we would like to extend above, and this would mean making the single brick external wall comply to building regs and digging out better foundations, so just looking at finishing off the front for now.
3. Get a quote for new windows for rest of the house (no idea how much this would cost so would be good to build a budget for it if we can cover it)
4. at least 25% of inheritance will go off the debts, more depending on how much 1 & 2 cost

If 1 & 2 can get done in the next 18mths, that will help with getting the house revalued for remortgaging, fingers crossed 

yummymummy2012

NSD today, and i have completed day 2 of C25K, I am going to feel it in the morning but feeling much better for some exercise.  I have signed up to some survey sites today to see if I can get any boost on my income.  Spends coming up are puppy training classes, starting on Monday, and on the 11th I have a hair appointment, I am so excited as it was feb when i last had my colour done so it is long overdue    These are both budgeted for luckily.  We have also booked 3 nights away at the end of August, that will be our summer holiday so have budgeted for that too.

Starting to think how we can continue to reduce our mortgage term, currently it runs to my state retirement age, but I want to retire 7 yrs earlier so need to get the term down.  So far this yr we have overpaid a £150, (£25 per mth) but all other money is going to our other higher interest debts.  We will be remortgaging in Jan 21 so will look at reducing the term by a few yrs at that point then we can really start increasing the overpayments from 2023 when most other debts are gone, well thats the plan anyway.

Meal planning started for next week, and have checked the freezer so should be a cheaper shop than the rest of lockdown, also as I am going to go to L!dle, we have had Te5co online deliveries since mid March as DH has heart condition but I am ready to cut the food bill, that is my job on Sunday.  Right off to stretch some muscles before i seize up   

yummymummy2012

Monday again, the weekends seem to fly by so fast.  So Saturday we went to the local NT site for a few hours and took a picnic and hot chocolate.  We are members so no entry fee, but not quite a NSD as I bought DH, DD and her friend an ice cream each, but £7.50 for a day out didnt seem bad.  Dinner of beef shins and pearl barley was put in the slow cooker before we went so yummy tea when we got back home 
Our food bill has been astronomical during lockdown, with weekly Te5co deliveries so yesterday I ventured to an actual large supermarket for the fist time since March  So a quick wizz round L!dle and at the chicken factory shop on the way home, and our bill for the week was half what we have been spending, so will be continuing with that going forwards.  Also put some fuel int he car so quite a spendy day overall

I have signed up to a few survey sites, my plan being to save all points earned until Dec and used them as spends towards Xmas presents, not doing too badly at the moment so just need to keep it up going forwards.  Tonight starts 8 weeks of puppy classes so need to take the first 4 weeks payment with me, but after that there shouldnt be much to spend on this week until my hair appointment on Saturday so we will see how many NSD's out of 4 I can achieve.

Off to click through any surveys and crack on with some work, before day 3 of C25K during my lunch hour, that will then complete week 1