On my journey for financial freedom.

Honeysucklelou2 · 20 June 2021 at 7:23AM

Re savings - I have 5 different savings accounts linked to my main current account. I can name each account so when I look online it’s easy to see what is in each pot but then I also have a savings account with nS&I for my emergency fund because it’s not instant access although I can usually draw on the funds within a couple of days if needed but helps me to make sure that anything taken from that account is a well considered move.

Allikat86 · 21 June 2021 at 7:46PM

Thanks Honeysuckle - I like that idea, and I will have a think about it.

It’s been a really hectic week. I’m meant to be ploughing through one of my post grad assignments this week, as I have a reading week, but now my eldest is off school due to COVID bubble ‘popping’. I’m just waiting for her to go to sleep then I’ll be nipping downstairs to get an hour or so in this evening - spent this afternoon home schooling. I did have to do a click and collect from Asda today though because of that, and I obviously couldn’t leave the kids with anyone else - I was wincing a bit as I’d planned to go to Aldi, which is a lot cheaper! I couldn’t get a click and collect slot for there for today though.

My vacuum died yesterday (RIP Vax, you served me well for four years). I am budgeting hard this month as I had a lot of expenses/heavy saving to reach my goal for last lot of legal fees with regards to finalising the house/consent order. I ended up just buying a Shark from Amazon but using the monthly payment thing. It was originally £349, and I had it in my basket to keep an eye on the price as I knew the vacuum would go soon. It’d gone down to £250, then today it was £219 so I decided just to go for it. I had a play with one recently (the things that you enjoy as an adult, right!) and it was great. I’d had a good look around as I get Blue Light discount, but that was the best price that I’ve seen so far. Saying that, I’ve just seen the same one with car kit for cheaper, but not on a monthly purchase offer. I’m happy anyway - still cheaper than it would’ve been!

I now have £150 until payday next Wednesday. That should be fine - I’ll just need a shop at the weekend for school lunches and top up bits as we have plenty in the freezer and ‘Crexit’ cupboard (COVID/Brexit stash). If I don’t have any unexpected spends then I’ll bung the extra straight into savings at the end of the month when I get paid.

Allikat86 · 24 June 2021 at 11:05PM

Quick check in. Still have £105, payday in 6 days. Still have all of my funds ready to pay legal fees. Had to order a couple of essential bits and buy fuel, but I think all I’ll need is a quick top up shop for school lunches next week. Should be okay as the kids and I are self isolating this weekend ahead of a minor operation on Tuesday, so limited spend opportunities! I’m hoping that the weather is nice so that we can enjoy the garden.

Sent the bulk payment of 10k to solicitor ahead of what should’ve been completion next week with regards to equity transfer from ex husband. I feel bad about the delay, even though it’s not my fault. Old habits die hard! At least this way the funds are there in time for him and then we are just waiting for the solicitor to finish up... Paperwork will delay this for a few weeks but we’ve pre-signed everything - just waiting for land registry/mortgage company stuff. I can’t wait for it to be done, I really am so cooked with it. I’m a really positive and upbeat person but I’ve felt sick with worry over this.

I should have some surplus funds heading here from the new mortgage as it’s been a few months since I applied, so there will be a bit extra - not quite sure how much. I’m not thinking about it much so that it’s a nice surprise when it arrives! Also means that I will have a bit of a buffer as I won’t be paying the legal fees as quickly as I anticipated, so it’ll be nice to not start from nothing.

My new vacuum arrived, and it’s awesome, ha! So much better than my old Vax. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch break using it! I’m so glad that I bought it - the carpets desperately need replacing but it’s made such a difference. That’s the first thing that I’m planning on doing - my 8 year old has chosen the carpets already!

I’m trying to plough through one of my university assignments for my professional post grad - it’s a specialist practitioner qualification. Even though I’m juggling a lot of plates, it’s a really interesting assignment! I’m not desperate to rush and finish it off for a full Masters though, ha!

The kids and I are off to Wales next weekend and meeting my parents there - it feels a bit odd to be looking forward to it as we are going to scatter my aunt’s ashes, but it’s going to be an oddly sort of fascinating visit too - we are going to see where my grandfather and his dad grew up, as it’s an amazing old abandoned farmhouse now. She asked to be taken there, so it feels like the right thing to do. We are going to stop over with my godmother en route as it’s several hours drive, then we have a little glamping pod booked for the Sat night, which will be great!

Allikat86 · 1 July 2021 at 7:19AM

Update - I made to it to payday by the skin of my teeth! Ended up with some last minute expenses, but it was okay. I ended up taking a bit out of savings to cover it, but I’ve replenished it and more today. I wish that I hadn’t had to do it, but again, it was the right thing to do. Ex husband had another baby over the weekend and the kids wanted to get some extra bits, and since my eldest has been quite anxious about it all I wanted to encourage her.

So, I have messed around with my budget a little, and transferred to savings pots this morning. This is my new start. I’ve paid some of my fees this month and have £950 remaining legal fees to pay. I haven’t discounted it from EF as I’m not sure how much I will end up getting back from the mortgage once the redemption on transfer of equity in house from ex is sorted, and I’m not too stressed about looking through the paperwork to work it out, but it’ll replenish my savings back up anyway.

Totals are now:

Help to Save: £200 (Month 4)
Holiday: £55
EF: £1023
Tilly Tidy: £2.74

Still waiting to hear on paperwork with regards to house. It’s been stressful as there have been some issues with the solicitor. I won’t post about it, but I’ll be glad when it’s done!

We’re going away this weekend which will end up as a fair bit in petrol, but I’m looking forward to having a lovely weekend with the kids!

I submitted a massive assignment for one of my post grad modules yesterday, so my work colleague and I are going for breakfast this morning in celebration! 3/5 down now.

Allikat86 · 11 July 2021 at 8:26AM

Quick update, more to keep myself in check than in expectation of anyone reading! We had our weekend away, which was really brilliant. Travel costs weren’t as bad as I though considering the mileage - did about 750 miles! We also ate out a few times but it was just lovely - really needed and we had a great time.

Had to buy some of the kids’ uniform and some new curtains this month as we’d had a move around of furniture, and the old ones were previously hidden behind the sofa! Also had a couple of birthdays to buy for etc. Even with all of that I’m still on budget for weekly budget this week - need to go to the shops today, but I should still have a little over to add to the savings pots.

I also joined Prolific earlier this week and I’ve cashed out just under £30 in surveys this week so far, with about another £30 waiting. It sounds like that’s not the norm for Prolific, but I’m not complaining! I’ve just been doing bits when the kids are in bed and if I couldn’t sleep overnight. It’s gone straight into my Xmas fund, which is where I’ve been putting the odd change at the end of the day.

Honeysucklelou2 · 11 July 2021 at 8:36AM

It’s surprising how little amounts tucked away for Christmas can build up over the year.

Allikat86 · 11 July 2021 at 8:43AM

Definitely! I used to buy things over the months and spread the cost that way, but now they’re older and have their own tastes this is more sensible - I also think that it’ll make me think more about what I’m spending on Christmas as I felt like I needed to make up for their dad. I know that sounds awful - just shows how deeply entwined finances/guilt etc can be...