Walking into another chapter ...

benbenandme

Pub quiz went well - we won the music round, thanks to my embarrassing knowledge of Stock, Aitken and Waterman songs, so came home with a box of chocs

It's funny how things turn out - just last week I came up with my new financial targets and already things have changed. My plan was to save £2700 for jobs to be done over the summer (ds bedroom, the garage door and the front garden). However, yesterday Mum has decided to give me, my brother and my sister £1000 each. She says she's been planning to do it for a while but being in hospital made her get on with it. The only proviso is that we don't save it, she wants us to spend it on something we want or need. So, for now, it is going in the savings pot (but is earmarked for these jobs as she wants us to use it). I also believe that the garage door can be fixed rather than needing replacing, so the total amount needed might be nearer £2000 than £2700, so with what I've already got and with Mums money I'm nearly there already. I have £20 to cash out in Prolific and £12 to cash out in Pinecone, this leaves me with £23 left to find to get to £2000. That's the aim for this weekend, once I've got there I'm starting the mortgage overpayment pot, much much earlier than expected. I appreciate I am so, so lucky to be in this position. The summer pot and the mortgage pot are earmarked for these purposes but obviously if anything changes I have the money squirrelled away. Very, very happy right now.

Today we are having our Easter roast dinner as ds is working tomorrow and he and friend are out all day Sunday. It is drizzling outside so the plants will all get a good water today. Roast lamb is in the oven now, they are upstairs laughing and chatting, the cat is curled up asleep on my bed and all is good with the world.

benbenandme

Managed a lovely lie-in today, always do when it's nearly time to go back to work

Last night I got 5 bits on Vinted and two have sold already, only a fiver in total but saves them going to landfill and is a little more to add to the pot. I need to get them parcelled up and then I can get them sent on their way. I have also filled a bin liner with clothes that weren't good enough for Vinted, they're off to the clothing bank. I haven't actually tackled my wardrobe yet, that might be today - I know 99% of that stuff is staying, it needs sorting into what actually fits and then the winter stuff swapped out for summer stuff. The proper winter stuff can go away in the drawers under my bed, the lighter weight jumpers and hoodies stay out all year round. A lot of my summer stuff won't fit me as I was a 16 last summer and am now a 10. The vast majority of it is supermarket stuff / Shein, so not going to cost much to replace some bits for the better weather.

I've stripped my bedding, that is in the machine, and remade it with clean stuff. My room has been tidied and cleaned, it feels calm and ordered again now. The rest of the weekend will revolve around football, eating chocolate, relaxing and looking for little bits and pieces to declutter as well as try to make some pennies. 

dawnybabes

I’ve been trawling the charity shops whilst I was loosing weight / changing shape ! I’m now a 10/12 and I bought ‘good’ pieces which I resold on as I went down the sizes. I’ve a little left to go so I’m saving bits now 😀

TallGirl

Well done on the weight loss that is an amazing reduction you must be feeling great. How are you finding it after coming off it. My other half is on it and is soon coming off so any tips please. 

Great on the Vinted sales and the decluttering. 

benbenandme

I've stayed on the lowest dose as a maintenance dose, I've been doing that since New Year and haven't put any weight back on as yet. I am sat here eating an Easter egg as I say that  

benbenandme

A couple of matched bets has meant I have reached my target for the summer savings pot

It has also given me my first £10 to go into the mortgage overpayments pot. Off to update my signature.

benbenandme

Morning all, Happy Easter

I was up early this morning to take ds and friend to get the coach to London, on the way back I stopped at the Costa drive-thru and got a latte using up a gift card I had, and am now sat in the conservatory with my coffee and a bag of mini eggs, mooching on here and thinking about what I am going to do today. It looks like the weather is still holding on, the sun is out, just waiting for it to warm up a bit!

benbenandme

£20 profit from a matched bet

benbenandme

A productive day so far - wardrobe gutted, two more bags to go to the textile bank, 6 more items listed on Vinted  
I've put away winter dresses and boots, space has been created for summer stuff but I haven't got that out yet, maybe later. There will be more for Vinted in amongst that so I should get it done so I can maximise the bank holiday buyers. 

I've been round and seen Mum, done two loads of washing and done a target for the mortgage overpayments - I'm aiming to find £250 a month to squirrel away, this would give me £5000 by the time the mortgage deal runs out (December 2026). With the usual payments plus this over payment that would knock £10k off my mortgage, meaning I'd need a new mortgage deal for £42k. Let's see how this pans out  

benbenandme

£3 vinted sale, £2 matched bet, another £5 off to the mortgage pot. Today I have been to visit my aunt who isn't well, have bought some salad bits and some chicken to sort some packed lunches, now it's sofa surfing time while the football is on then it will be time to start thinking about going back to work tomorrow.