Walking into another chapter ...

MeandO

Sorry to hear about your Mum, BenBen. My mum has had several strokes, it is so difficult. Sending lots of love and healing thoughts for your Mum xx

benbenandme

This morning I have been thinking about financial goals again, my last target was my holiday which I need to decide if I am going on or not, but the money is sat in a pot for when I do go. I need a goal to work towards or I tend to fritter money without much thought. The plan was to work on ds bedroom this Easter, however that hasn't happened due to Mum. I was going to use some savings then pay it back, so at least this means I can now save up for it first. I also want to look at getting the garage door either replaced or fixed (the mechanism is broken), as well as getting the front garden turfed and tidied (£600), anyway, the cost of these jobs altogether is approx £2700. I already have £867 which is money I've saved since Christmas, with no particular aim in mind. Once these jobs are done I want to go back to over paying my mortgage, something I haven't done since I was at my flat. I am lucky that I am currently in a great fixed rate deal (1.29%), but that runs out at the end of 2026 so I would like to chip away at the balance to lessen the impact when that happens.

So, the aim for the next three months is to find / make money for the front garden, ds room and the garage door (£1834 needed to be found), then I have around 16 months to reduce the mortgage. I will look into it properly but will probably put the money into savings until I remortgage as it will earn better interest, but I do need to check this

So my signature has been updated, my budget will be checked to see if any savings can be made there, and it's now time to get my money hat back on and start saving I'm planning on a huge clothes clear out - I have maintained my weight for over 3 months now, so it is time to let some of my bigger clothes go. Lots are only for for the bin but some will go on Vinted. I am also going to enter decluttering mode again and see what bits I can stick on marketplace, I have so many bits and pieces that "might be useful" but in reality are just clutter. 

benbenandme

Off to a good start - I had put a pair of trainers on Vinted months ago and forgotten about them, just reduced the price and they sold within an hour, so £15 on the way to the summer fund there. Also have cashed out £20 that was sat in my Vinted balance, £2 from Quidco and £2 from a matched bet. 

benbenandme

Waiting for a friend to pick me up to go out for lunch and I let myself have £3 on a slot game - I won £54, it is already moved across to the savings pot

pixiechick99

I pulled my finger out and listed a pile of stuff on Vinted and have made £60 in the last week😁 It is so easy but I am so good in putting it off for weeka😂

benbenandme

A productive day today =- ds best mate is staying for a bit, she has had a tough start in life (was abused by her Dad and brother, went into care and has had to fend for herself since turning 18). She's not in a good way at the moment and has nowhere to go, I said she can stay with us for a bit. She is the best friend ds has ever had, they both have had their struggles but they get each other. He listens to her in a way that he won't listen to me. This morning, (he has today and tomorrow off work), she told him his room was a tip, so helped him tidy and clean it, then told him it was about time he knocked down the shed that I've been nagging him to do for months, so between the three of us the shed was quickly dismantled and a couple of trips to the tip later it's practically all gone! There are a few bits of wood that were too big for my little car, they've been tidily stacked around the side by the bins. It's one of those jobs that I've wanted done for so long so am very happy now

In other news Mum came home yesterday, she does seem more herself again although very shaky on her legs. 

doingitanyway

Glad your mum is home.
It is good to help this young woman. One of my relatives did a similar thing for her son's mate. He is an adult now. He has never forgotten it.

Sun_Addict

That’s lovely of you to take in DS’s friend. What a terrible start in life she had. Glad she’s been useful in encouraging DS to get things done. 

Good news about your mum. 

beanielou

So lovely to take in your DS’s friend. Glad your mum is now home. 

benbenandme

Met a couple of friends for coffee this morning then came home, cut the grass, tidied a bit more of the garden, bought yet another two plants, did another tip run, waxed the dining room table, bought stuff for roast dinner and  cleaned the conservatory. Just had a shower, now going to have a couple of hours of mooching online before tonight's pub quiz.