Never a good time but here goes.. 29 March 2021 at 10:39AM in Mortgage-free wannabe 35 replies 2.5K views

beanielou

No wonder you are dissapointed 

ladysummerisle

I’ll get over the disappointment eventually. It was at least pay day yesterday. Last time I thought I’d have some money left over but this seems to have gone on:

Takeaways (newborn essential),
fancy fudge that wasn’t that fancy,
Hedge and grass cutting (meadow appeared whilst I was in hospital),
a new rug that I now need to send back (at my cost),
medicine for the dog (who is also the reason I need a new rug),
storage tubs for the toy cars and train track that’s taken over my living room,
gig tickets for next year, 
flowers for a friend, 
month’s supply of baby milk 

It’s all a haze but as that lifts, I’ll try and do better this month. I’ve transferred additional money to maternity savings so think I’ve got about £5000 there that should cover the lean months without touching the overpayment buffer. 

I’m still waiting to hear about a tax rebate plus updates on tax credits and child benefit. With these this year I should break even then next year it’ll be back to salary only. 

I’ve started entering competitions again too. Attempting optimism! 

ladysummerisle

Tax credits finally sorted but only after three weeks waiting and a call to chase it. It does mean I’ve finally managed to update my budget spreadsheet having not switched on the computer in weeks.

The baby is now a month old and it’s the endless treadmill of bottles, burping, nappies and naps. It felt like bedtime by 2pm yesterday. Four year old has 6 more mornings in preschool then it’s summer. Suspect now is not the right time to tackle my sugar addiction. 

Today I’d quite like to watch (and listen) to the tennis but not getting my hopes up. I was marginally more motivated yesterday and managed to scribble down some calculations. I managed to come up with September 2026 as a potential mortgage free date. Whether this is blind optimism remains to be seen..

ladysummerisle

Nearly another month has gone by in a blur. I was feeling optimistic about being able to save extra this month. Day later the car insurance renewal arrived.. it’s cheaper than last year so I can’t complain too much but obviously I need to do my comparisons. 

AA renewal arrived too. They’d put it up to £244 from £72 inc cashback last year. RAC were charging £90 inc cashback. I called up AA and they offered £93 straight so no waiting for cashback. You can also add children on too so it’s reassuring to know my son won’t get stranded anything he’s with my mum. 

Any child benefit and tax credits is still getting transferred to savings to pay for the lean months of maternity. I’m up to £6300 I should still be solvent by the end of the year. 

I’d love to say I’d won on the premium bonds this month but sadly no. Instead some in Devon with just £1001 in bonds has won the million. If only.. 

ladysummerisle

Just cancelled Now TV. It was down to £5 a month but I still can’t justify it.

I really need to sort out Virgin Media as I’m outside a contract but paying £70 a month for broadband, weekend calls and tv. I know it can’t be very MSE but I can’t seem to get my head around it all. The only things that seem to be on are children’s channels 😭

ElmoR

Maybe ditch the media contract and invest in some box sets of DVDs? My daughter had a steady diet of Bagpuss, Clangers, Asterix, Tintin and Mr Ben. Retro for her age group but they all had a nice simple story line and there is very little whizz bang. She also was happy watching them over and over again - I can take a part in most episodes

ladysummerisle

ElmoR said:

Maybe ditch the media contract and invest in some box sets of DVDs? My daughter had a steady diet of Bagpuss, Clangers, Asterix, Tintin and Mr Ben. Retro for her age group but they all had a nice simple story line and there is very little whizz bang. She also was happy watching them over and over again - I can take a part in most episodes

Good idea. We have some already, maybe even Bagpuss. Mr Bean cartoon seems to fit that bill at the moment. I think I preferred the days before he realised there was more than CBeebies. School in September gives me hope! 

ladysummerisle

The end of the school holidays is now in sight and we’ve done the obligatory trip to Clarks for new shoes. He got measured in a standard shop and I bought a pair for £40 BUT there’s an outlet (a rammed, hot, sweaty outlet) that we went in afterwards. Without having to queue for a fitting we managed to find nicer shoes and pumps for £34. I’d have taken the first pair back straight away but four year old decided to take a “rain shower” in torrential rain so off home we went. We’re lucky in that the uniform list isn’t extensive and I’ve otherwise only had to buy new trousers. 

For the first time ever the car insurance from my current provider was the cheapest but I still managed to shave another £17 off. All done for another year. 

Plans for September:

Nap with baby (hallelujah)
Wean off sugar and lose some weight
Sort through baby clothes to sell / giveaway (finally decluttering)
House insurance
Arrange boiler service for November 

LadyWithAPlan

Looks like despite your busy-ness with the family that 2026 is a real possibility. Well done on all the focus on the bills as well. Will be watching along to cheer.

Losing a sister at 32 must have been awful, mine drives me crazy on occasion but I cant imagine her not being around.

ladysummerisle

Thanks @LadyWithAPlan - I’m half way through your diary so will bookmark. Mine is small fry in comparison but in the end it’s a roof over our heads. 

It’s been 8 years since my sister died and I can definitely say it gives perspective. Siblings however annoying are meant to be the constant, growing old with them. It does give a focus on what is important in life and it’s not ‘things’. Some people are incredibly ambitious but it’s whatever makes you happy. No-one should feel they have anything to prove. Mortgage free would be definitely less stress. After that, we’ll see.