Pay for the future and not the past

KajiKita

MissRikkiC said:

Had a nosey at our total credit cards this morning and total mortgage. It was the plan to start clearing the credit cards after my daughter gets 30 hours free at nursery come September and I’ve just checked and 1 of the cards 0% ends in January. So Decembers pay cheque needs to be the one which includes the final payment I think. 

Does anyone know how it works if the date is say 8th of the month. And then the 9th the 0% period had ended, at what point the balance is calculated? Would it just be safer to clear the balance by the end of the month prior?

I see that no one has responded to your query. Unfortunately I didn’t have an answer, but I would ring the card provider.

KK

MissRikkiC

I think I’ll just clear it once I get paid. It’s all 0% so the balance won’t change if I do it before hand. It would be that pay check anyway that clears it off. A big number to get gone however, definitely one I would prefer to instead BT again and put the funds into savings and create an emergency fund. Or use on the house. But I just know if I do that, the balance will linger over me and I promised myself it would be gone by the end of this year. 

So instead I think I need to be just thinking more about it like others are against their respective debts or mortgages. If I’m earning funds through additional coaching clients, I will keep half. The rest will go against the credit card as an overpayment. Anything else earnt will go straight against the CC. 

I’ve just agreed to pay an additional £100 towards the mortgage per month, however if I essentially go back to the agreed payment, I could add a further £800 to reducing the credit card which would mean I wouldn’t have to bust my balls come the end of this year. It’s not needed and still in two minds if to do this but it’s a thought. 

Bluegreen143

It’s a nice problem to have, where to send extra money! 

Just my two cents, I personally wouldn’t overpay the mortgage until after you’ve cleared the debts and got an emergency fund set up - I think your money could be better utilised to those two goals first. 

Mind you, I’ve had a diary on MFW for about two years and not started overpaying yet as I’m still doing the emergency fund so maybe I’m a bit cautious 😅

MissRikkiC

It is a nice quandary to have yet still feels like huge decisions need making! 

I did it as an extra £100 a month makes a saving again the interest that we’re being charged overall. According to a basic calculator for every £100 we pay off extra is a saving in interest of £60.43 over the length of the mortgage. But maybe whilst the money being put against a credit card balance isn’t working harder than if it was against the mortgage reducing the interest, I’m subsequently working less as a direct result. Hmmm 

MissRikkiC

Monday already. The weekend flew by with sunny weather and lots of gardening. My husband took the children to the farm yesterday and I went out on my bike and did 18 miles. First time in almost 2 years if not 2 years. Because it had been so long, all my gear was tucked all in a bag somewhere so didn’t bother getting it out, instead just grabbed some shorts and t-shirt and off I went. 

Well, today I’m sat on a cushion is all I will say 🫣 

A huge 3 bean chili made over the weekend covered everyone’s dinner last night, lunches today and another 3 portions left. Used up lots of bits and bobs in the fridge ahead of the veg box tomorrow but as a result the fridge is really bare. 

Saturday I went to the village plant sale and due to lack of cash, I emptied all the loose change from my daughters little box. To be clear, she doesn’t know it’s there, it’s just a vessel to add loose change to however I will replace it. 

I used £5 in total and got great value for money! 2 tomato plants (bloody butcher) 3 rudbeckia which I can’t wait to see bloom, 2 blue cornflower, 5 sunflowers for my BIL and 2 large carex grasses. The greenhouse is looking full!

I found £10 note yesterday when washing the cushions (the old down the sofa!) so having replaced the £5 in the pot, I’ve put £5 to one side (separate pot) for credit card extra payments. The £5 cash will be used on groceries so took it from that pot initially. I also have a £15 Amazon voucher for a survey I did so will take £15 from the household bits pot and use the Amazon voucher for something housey related as there is always something. 

On another money ish related topic, I mentioned to my husband that the slug deterrents id been recommended (thanks @Kajik@KajiKita) we’re made from sheep wool which looked to be effective from what I’d read. Once he was back from the farm he handed me a bag for life of freshly sheared sheep’s wool and said will this do instead of buying pellets 😂 
It had some of the sheep moments before?! Im not sure how I feel about it actually but did try and be grateful! So I’ll give it a try I think, apparently it retains water really well too so that might be an added bonus. 

It’s my sons 1st birthday this weekend and we haven’t really sorted much out due to lots of other things going on within the family. Regardless, I’m looking forward to seeing him being all smiley with balloons and whatnot this weekend. 

Glad I’m back to being able to post more often, shows my head is where it needs to be at. 

KajiKita

I’ve heard about people using raw sheep’s wool too but I have no means of getting my hands on any! I think it would work if you put it in a circle around what you are trying to protect. The only thing you might find is the slugs crawl under it if there are any gaps between it and the soil, depending on how soft, pliable or ground hugging it is iyswim. I will be interested to hear how you find it.

KK

MissRikkiC

Well I put some on yesterday, around the edge of the raised bed as it’s currently in big chunks so this was easier in the 15 minutes I had available to do, but it does look like there is an actual sheep in my veg patch 😂 when I have time I will separate it all and just use a semi rolled up piece as a collar but on inspection today, the snails/slugs did not venture into the broccoli bed last night so it’s helping. 

I’ve pricked out some tomatoes today and potted them on, the same with courgette, squash and corn. I’m thinking I might plant my corn into an old recycling tub this year and see how they go. Last year I had 2 plants which grew through the green house roof where I had no panel in and they germinated and we got 2 medium size cobs but there wasn’t any wind to contend with. I’ve fixed the roof now so can’t do that again anyway. 

Yesterday I ordered 12 bottles of pea milk used a code, added my previously earnt referral code (for ordering on my husbands email!) and paid £5.39 which was a huge win! Can’t work out if to stick the £10 I’d have spent without the referral bonus against a credit card as there is funds available in the bulk pot to pay for the milk at full price. 

Done a top up shop this morning (used the spare cash I had yesterday) and took a bit from the grocery pot too. The veg box has arrived so now to meal plan! 

Yesterdays dinner was chickpea and potato curry which was really tasty. My husband always complains about that dish but enjoyed it and took some to work today. 

A bit of a round up to be done later in banking, quite looking forward to it too. 

Yesterday I felt totally consumed by money questions and today I feel brighter so I’m taking that as a win! 

Right better get back to work after just finishing my massive salad, eaten from a mixing bowl 😂

KajiKita

Very interesting about the wool - I shall see if I can track anyone down with some. I know a man in a garage …. (long story, rural area! 😂)

Having Mr RC enjoy a meal he’s often a bit dubious about is a big win! 👍👏😊 Is it me or are his tastes expanding a bit? I think that’s the second time you’ve written something like that now?

KK

MissRikkiC

We’re pretty rural too so managed to get some pretty easily. If it works I’ll go back for more 😂 

Mr RC is a big foodie. He loves most things but I think chickpeas and lentils are lower down the list. If I suggests dhal he outright says no thanks. We’re eating a lot of vegetarian meals at the moment, largely vegan due to allergies actually and I imagine he’s subconsciously missing meat. It’s not intentional necessarily but cheaper and doesn’t rely on me getting stuff out of the freezer. 

I did a freezer inventory this morning and meal planned until next Wednesday with only eggs to buy. Also downloaded a family planner app so that I can log all things for the family and both of us (OH and I) can see it when on the go. This covers meal plans too and shopping lists so we can both add to it respectively. Hoping it helps reduce my mental load. 

Potted on my rogue tomato plant that was amongst my sweet peas today and see that the nasturtiums and beans have all poked their head through the soil 🥳 
Nothing I sowed at the weekend with my daughter has come up yet however I haven’t checked her sunflowers. Better do that later. 

Yesterday I used up some big salad leaves from the green house which was just lovely to do. 

This week with work feels better and generally more organised. Monday I was able to do walk the dog and do some strength training in the shed, yesterday I was able to pot on all of my plants, and do some training and today I was able to see my friend and walk the dog. Couple that with picking up the children at a reasonable hour, getting to the gym on time tonight and generally finishing before 6pm has been the opposite of the last few weeks. I feel like things are starting to click and nothing makes me feel happier in work than feeling I’m doing a good job. 

Money wise, I had left the bills account with just the right amount in for said bills and the spare change from pennies va rounding up is £3. That will be moved to the credit card overpayment pot.  

Left in the groceries pot is £19.43 and it is topped up next Thursday. With a week to go and according to my plan, only eggs to buy I think we will be okay. There is a chance we will need toilet roll before then but that will be cheap stuff to see us through (hopefully not literally) so as to keep costs low. 

Hub booked his car in for a full service today. Arranged for next Wednesday. There is £52 in the pot due to the costs for the glow plugs about 6 weeks ago which won’t get us very far. Emergency fund/savings of approx £400 will need to be used to cover that as I suspect it’s going to be a costly one. Some of the savings in theory could be replaced next week but best thing to do would probably be to refill the car pot instead as his air con needs regassing too before the summer. Glad we have some savings I guess. Just sad when they get used 😂 

Decided I would pay the £100 to the credit card instead of the mortgage each month from June to reduce the pressure come December. Also challenged hub to ‘make £300’ by the end of the year to add to the pot. This should clear £4.3k of debt and put us below £10k of debt heading into 2024 🥳 with a plan to clear that by the summer. Aaaaahhhhhh

KajiKita

You are sounding really on top of things! 😊👏🤩
And yes, I hate emptying my EF too! 😂 But you’ve done well to be back from maternity leave, have an EF demand so soon and *still* have some funds in there! ❤️
Is hubby up for the £300 challenge?

KK