Getting shot of the mortgage sooner than 2049!

themadvix

Another vote for brilliant progress!

QueenJess

Yes agreed. Do you fancy popping round here and sorting out my finances as well? 😂

Bluegreen143

Hahaha thanks everyone! I’m forgetting too, that I’ve added £100 a month to the help to save funds on top of the £2k saved. And I’ve restarted adding £50 to my LISA again.

And yes, there’s been a few big expenses this year so far. £750ish on getting our car fixed and we’ve spent about £600 on fixing Red’s shed 😂 the best bit is that three years ago when I started my diary, little emergencies like that felt soooooo stressful and anxiety provoking. It felt wonderful to not be stressed about either situation and to know the money was there to pay for it. I don’t take that for granted as it’s certainly not always been the case! We actually got a letter saying one of our credit cards will be closed if we don’t use it as it’s been so long 😆😂

Bluegreen143

SPENDING ROUND UP FOR APRIL
Brace yourself, it was a spendy one 😂🙈

Cash at month start	£5,769.80
Income	£4,628.49
Total spending	£4,236.77
Savings	£391.72
Savings %	8.46%
Fixed savings deducted	£150.00
Total cash at month end	£6,011.52
In emergency fund	£3,903.36
NEEDS	52.79%
Mortgage	£528.86
Council Tax	£164.29
Energy	£286.74
Life insurance	£29.26
Home insurance
Internet	£28.19
Car loan	£160.00
Car insurance & tax
Car servicing/repairs
Home repair (essential)*	£478.81
Nursery school fund	£25.80
Groceries	£478.08
Household	£55.43
Petrol & parking	£152.54
Medical/dentist	£55.18
TOTAL	£2,443.18
WANTS	38.75%
Holidays**	£624.25
Birthdays & other gifts	£49.73
Christmas
Home & garden***	£81.64
TV & music	£30.23
Family fun/eating out	£22.91
Dates
Charity	£6.75
Misc/unknown	£7.57
TOTAL	£823.08
RED
TOTAL	£455.00
ME
Clothes	£171.30
Social****	£97.45
Hobbies & books	£50.22
Other*****	£81.06
TOTAL	£400.03
KIDS
Kids - clothes	£25.00
Kids - activities	£40.00
Kids - other	£50.48
TOTAL	£115.48

* Outhouse remedial work (essential so it doesn’t collapse 🙈! We discovered the damage was caused by bad historic DIY by previous owners of neighbours’ house meaning all water from their garden drained into the outhouse foundations…)

** Accommodation paid for May holiday

*** Compost and plants etc

**** Hen party

***** Gifts, parenting subscription, phone bill 

beanielou

Where are you going roughly in Scotland for your break? 

Bluegreen143

Argyll this time @beanielou, then up to the north east coast in July (we have rented a house with Red’s best friend & wife and their 3.5yo that time, and I’m excited as think the kids will really enjoy having someone to play with). 

Keen to get to some of the islands next as shockingly I’ve only ever been to Arran. My mum and sister and I are wanting to go away in Aug/Sept for a weekend instead of doing birthday presents again, so we may try to get to an island that time. Though Arran does make the most sense of going for a weekend as it’s not too far a travel. 

As the kids get bigger I really want to start taking them to places where Gaelic is spoken more widely so they can think of it not just as a school language. The same reason I am trying to learn myself, but I REALLY need to put in more effort. So hard to find the time!

EDIT I’m forgetting we went to Cumbrae/Millport for the day last summer! Definitely doing that again this year ☺️

KajiKita

I notice that Duolingo does Scottish Gaelic. I am learning French on there atm (348 days now! 😊) and you can either subscribe (c. £60 per year) or do less on it (I think you’re allowed three mistakes per day?) for free. I do 10 to 15 minutes very morning before I go to work. You might get some time after the little BGs go to bed of an evening? It’s quite rewarding as it gives you nice ‘dings’ when you get it right! 😉

KK

Bluegreen143

@KajiKita I do actually have Duolingo, I go through phases of doing it daily but if I forget for a day or two I end up missing it for ages 😂 must get back into it!

beanielou

Arran is awesome 
Skye is good too.
Fish & chips in Shetland were awesome.

MissRikkiC

I’m sorry @Bluegreen143 I’ve fallen 24 pages behind and just can’t catch up! I’m back from todays page!