Crunchy pays off the loan early, and other stories

crunchy_time

ohdearhowdidthathappen said:

Been pondering job ideas a bit further... How about working for OFSTED?  Or one of the exam boards, something like that.  Or setting up a tutoring business.  Or working at your local authority in the education dept (if that's a thing?)

Thanks for thinking of me!  All great ideas.  The issue is location and hours.  My local authority offices are nearly an hour away and although there is hybrid working at the moment it is not guaranteed in the future.  I have had a look on the jobs board though and will keep looking.  Will have a look at exam boards though and research centres as that's always interesting - thank you!

crunchy_time

Hi all

Been off work most of this week with a horrendous cold but negative.  Nasty headaches all over my head.  Will keep testing. I haven't moved off the sofa this morning = but have my laptop out!!

because I am ill I don't fancy shopping in the cheaper supermarket this weekend so did a sains order but kept it around £100.  This means we are under budget for the month so I have slushed £30 towards the food line on my 0% credit card bringing the total to £390 left to pay for food and the 0% balance to £984!!  

We have got to pay £600 for new air conditioning in the big car around May time so I have added this to the sinking funds list.

My aim this year is to pay off the 0% credit card and be able to afford all the things on the sinking fund list without getting into any more debt.  This is possible and my mindset feels refreshed since we paid off all that consumer debt.

I'm becoming very aware that we need to build an emergency fund that is easily accessible and not in stocks and shares ISA - which takes a week to get out and fluctuates.  Just to clarify this way I got my husband motivated to take saving seriously as he is obsessed with the growth charts so I am not going to change it but consider building the first £500 in one of our little online savings accounts attached to our banks so we always have something.  It will mean the debt payoff slows down though but this is best for the longevity of our finances.  I have a plan for the 0% credit card which is overbudgeting for certain categories so that will keep slipping down over the year.

I may not be able to really tackle that house renovation loan this year but at least we are building the foundations for a steadier financial future.

Crunch

crunchy_time

Afternoon everyone!

Did a little rough working out on how much extra life is going to potentially cost once we hit 7th April and am horrified at the squeeze! I had been looking at applying for a few jobs similar to my own but the ones I was looking at were further away for enjoy much more money and more hours meaning petrol and child care increases which wouldn’t t be covered by the extra now. So I’m best placed to stay where I am and suck it up, be more frugal and make jewellery to sell online.  There was a job for a college looking to train up someone to be a careers advisor - could this be something for me? Anyone know anything about careers advisors?

I haven’t bought any snacks in wrappers this week as an attempt to master baking healthier and cheaper versions for my kids. Gluten free paleo banana bread currently cooking in the oven!!

Crunchy xx

crunchy_time

Morning all!!

I did a big thing yesterday and reverted our monthly mortgage payment back to its original £1136 from £1250 to free up some money for the cost of living increases that are coming our way. It’s the sensible thing to do. Hopefully by the end of the year once we know what is what we can increase it again. I’m in a different financial mindset compared with last year anyway, when we made this decision. In hindsight I wouldn’t have done this but it’s nice to know that we could for a bit.

Trying to be a bit more frugal and get in the kitchen more which is not usually my thing. I made a huge batch of tomato sauce yesterday- enough for 3 meals. We are one batch with pasta and mozzarella and it was lovely!  I also made some oat cakes because I’m trying not to buy things in wrappers and cook more from scratch. 

Oh and I have sold a few more bits on  bay of e so shall have a few more pounds winging my way as well as £50 for my phone soon.

Crunchy xx

enthusiasticsaver

Good that you have the option to stop the mortgage overpayment to cover the energy price increase and rise in NI. 

I am not looking at stocks stocks and shares index at the moment as I know they have gone down. They fluctuate a lot over an investment cycle so hope your husband doesn’t get too stressed out by the drop in value of his Stocks and Shares ISA. Definitely a good idea to have some liquid emergency savings. 

Cant help on career advice. I only ever worked in banking, LA  or HE. Do you have a FE College or University nearby? 

crunchy_time

enthusiasticsaver said:

Good that you have the option to stop the mortgage overpayment to cover the energy price increase and rise in NI. 

I am not looking at stocks stocks and shares index at the moment as I know they have gone down. They fluctuate a lot over an investment cycle so hope your husband doesn’t get too stressed out by the drop in value of his Stocks and Shares ISA. Definitely a good idea to have some liquid emergency savings. 

Cant help on career advice. I only ever worked in banking, LA  or HE. Do you have a FE College or University nearby? 

He’s not stressed about it as as you say it does fluctuate. It’s just made us think more creatively about organising our money. 

Two colleges are 45 mins in opposite directions. I’m checking daily to see what come up at the one I prefer.

crunchy_time

Looked in more detail at the bay of e sales. Sold two pieces for 99p each but fees are 84p.

what’s the point?

luckily they are small bits so can hopefully eek a bit out in postage but still. Other thing sold for over £10 so was worth reposting that. Does anyone know if Vinted is any good?

crunchy_time

Morning all

Slushed £4 from bay of e sales onto food debt on credit card so got that down to £980.

I got paid today so have enough saved up for the next lot of oil so next pay I can pay the £66 currently on that card off and then have a break for a bit before saving up for the next lot. I will be able to pay off the min payment on this card soon too which will bring it down another £25.

Sinking funds look good too at £507 currently for dentist, oil and a school trip.

All in all its going ok at the moment. 

Crunchy xx

pennywisepoundstupid

All sounding good with you, have a good weekend xx

crunchy_time

And just like that, things change.

Had some emergency car repairs costing £850 which we have had to put on an overdraft as the garage doesn’t take cards so could t use cheaper credit card.

Husband and I had a money meeting last night to go through estimated increases come spring and update our budget. We have decided to use the snow ball method to get this debt paid off as quickly as possible but also save a nice emergency fund. 

Our plan is in the next post….