Twinklies mortgage journey 2.0

twinklie · 1 September at 1:02PM

Okay, so as is understandable (please be gentle with me) we've gone of the rails moneywise so I've spent the morning creating a budget spreadsheet and adjusting it to what we need. That's now up to date - now I just need to remember to keep updating it.

I will say it's DH more than I with the money issues - he gets caught up in spending things like they are going out of fashion. So it's him I need to get a grip on.

Some big expenses to fork out for over the next 12 months.
1. DS1's school trip to Normandy - £470 - paid in instalments (Sept, Nov and Feb).
2. Easter holiday - £728.01 left to pay on that - final payment due in Feb.
3. Summer holiday - £1,172.36 left to pay on that - final payment due in July.

So £2,370.37 total on trips and holidays.

I also need to get DS1 a passport as he doesn't have one yet.

Also still need to get DS1 rugby/football boots for PE, but think all other back to school stuff is sorted for them both. I hope so anyway as DS2 goes back tomorrow.

I'm pretty sure I've loads of other stuff I need to sort out, however, I can't even think at this point. Just need to get back on with normal life I think and see how busy life is.

twinklie · 1 September at 2:02PM

New Academic Year - New Years resolutions.

List 3 things on Vinted per week - even if it's just little bits.
Get a cleaning schedule that works for me sorted. Trial a few bits and then make a list.
Get routines sorted for the boys in line with homework/clubs etc.
Plan 'get fit' routine.
Try and work on a 'hot spot' per day - 30 mins max then stop.
Meal plan.

I don't think there is anything massively taxing there - but all should help.

I've already created a meal planner spreadsheet which auto creates a shopping list too - so fingers crossed I get proactive with that. I'm planned for this week, shopping ordered and being delivered tomorrow.

twinklie · 6 September at 3:33PM

So I went for an eye test today - my eyes are healthy and no update to prescription. However, I've been getting lots of headaches so I need to take more screen breaks. I do forget to do this. Does anyone have any top tips for taking screen breaks - how to remind themselves and how to enforce it?

I've spent a small fortune on stationary and next sized up stuff for DS1 today - just to ensure that I have everything he needs in the next size up because he grows very suddenly and I don't go into town very often, so I thought whilst I was there it made sense to kill two birds.

Met up with DH and DS2 afterwards and DS2 fleeced us for some additional birthday stuff for his big double digit birthday. He was pretty good to be fair and just got some Pokémon cards, which we'd promised him. Then he spent £10 of his birthday money buying Uno No Mercy and a Pokémon carrycase for the Switch.

DS1's keyboard music lessons start next week - so that's more money to fork out, but his teacher said he had a natural musical talent and he's thinking music might be a good GCSE option if he takes to it. So, we figured why not. The council run an equipment hire scheme as well where you can hire a keyboard and stand for £15 per term, so I thought we'd do that too rather than buy a keyboard. If he gets into it and does decide to take it at GCSE, then we'll buy him his own. If not, it's one less thing to worry about getting rid of.

I'm taking the kids to do Archery Tag for DS2's birthday tomorrow, so the final birthday fun activity...then it's time to turn attention to the 'teenage' birthday which is soon. I'm so poor right now.

Also bit the bullet and forked out for one last Father Christmas event - I really don't think we'll get away with it passed this year. So I'm eeking it out as much as possible. You only live once and once they are grown up, you can't get this time back can you. So I guess my MSE lifestyle is still not quite where it should be, but you know what? I don't care. Life really is feeling too short.