Buying a little piece of Middle England; Manifesting my way to mortgage free.

debtfreewannabe321

I've used my morning off (and sat in bed) quite well. I've put together next month's budget. On paper. Ynab is a mess. 🤦🏻‍♀️😆.

-There's a small cc bill to pay
-I've also budgeted for some spending money for a few festivals/ concert/ camping we've got booked in June too. Not a lot as want to keep unnecessary spends down but hopefully enough.
-Also budgeted more for eating out because of these things.
- still have my mortgage OP in there, £200. I feel like I should just go ahead and put it into the budget permanently so I don't get used to spending it elsewhere. Depending on how much our new loan is per month will depend on how much I can continue to OP though - but don't need to worry about that just yet.
-There is a floating few hundred quid too which I've kind of earmarked for garden/ house stuff but it's there for other expenses if needed.
-Also got £700 going into the savings account which means I will reach my first savings goal next month. I can pay for DS braces outright meaning I don't need to add £180 a month outgoings for however long and it's all paid for. 🙌🏻
-Then I will work towards the next savings goal of the small bits we've added onto the new extension. I don't yet have a figure so thinking worst case scenario 3.5k and whatever is left can be for the EF.

Don't worry I have other savings pots elsewhere in case of emergency. I just find for me mentally speaking I feel less overwhelmed when I keep my monthly outgoings as small as possible and pay for the big stuff in one rather than over months/ years on payment plans. Speaking of monthly outgoings, in December when I started this new paper budget the money going towards bills was £1550, it's now £1180 so that's reduced by quite a bit. Mostly due to paying off the car and carpet loans but also rejigging a few other expenses. I could get rid of one more outgoing but it's so small and on 0% I've left it as is for now (DP glasses 🤓).

DD has another shift at her job this weekend. I've told her to add this job to her CV now and then apply for other jobs. The one she has is at a catering company so the jobs are far and few between but it did mean she got some work experience (and paid for it!) Yesterday she told me she had her mock a level result back and she was three marks off an A in one and she had a solid B and C for the other two 😄. 

DS2 is still very quiet but he seems to have a new friend now which I'm happy about as he's stopped moping so much. He also seems to be enjoying the new trainers at the gym which is good. And next month I should be able to get him booked in for braces and get them on before the summer holidays.

DS1 has been radio silent for a while so I bombarded him with messages everywhere I could think to make sure he was okay and he eventually replied. Why are boys so non communicative 🤔. Anyway he's okay. Think he's training people at the moment at work so is quite busy. 

Right anyway, now the budget is done I'm moving on to the decluttering job. I intend to have found at least a dozen things by lunch! I also want to give the hoover a bit of tlc. I think DD and my hair has clogged up the brush part 🙈 so I'll change the bag and filter and cut the hair out 😆. Then this afternoon I will hoover and then eventually I am going to have an hour or so just to read my book and rest 😁. Right enough update from me. Hope everyone has a good day.

Edited to add- gosh I've mentioned overwhelm a few times in the last few posts. I really need to come up with a plan to reduce this mental overload I am feeling day to day.... perhaps roping the kids into jobs every day or something might help and making a clear plan for everyone so I'm not trying to do the entire house, laundry, shopping, working and gardening myself. 

debtfreewannabe321

Morning,
Well I managed to move around 15 bits to the charity shop pile or the recycling bin yesterday! My bedroom had a move about (not that I should have been moving furniture on my own but it's done now) and the flow in there is much better now. I also moved around the kitchen a bit to make things a bit easier for me. Things haven't found their final homes and so I'm continually trying to improve the flow ...it's tiring 🙈. 
I mopped everywhere and hoovered and sat and chilled on my own too. Lots achieved as well as a NSD 😁.
I made two portions of rice too so we will have one today or tomorrow with the curry I made yesterday. All cooking this week aside from Sunday and yesterday haa been done prior to us needing it. So it's made the working days really easy for me. 

Right work today....2 days left and then a week to relax! 😁🙏🏻

debtfreewannabe321

Work is done. Was going swimmingly until around 2pm. The last two hours were a nightmare ending in statements being written, lots of tears (not mine) and threats and security. I am glad to be out of there
Curry for dinner and rice which is already cooked and leftover from last night. 
Didn't get a NSD. I slept so badly last night that by lunch I was flagging and needed caffeine. Early night for me I think. 
I think the refund I was after for the bras is going to be filed in "have to forget about it and move on" file. They are being very uncommunicative and refusing to budge. I am not posting them back on my money because I have a feeling I won't see that money nor the refund ever again. 
Oh and I ended up invigilating an exam today after all. And also ended up having a coughing fit, crying from being unable to stop and having to flag a passing tutor to take over from me whilst I caught my breath outside (air con set it off!) feeling a bit fed up really but at least only one more day of work.......

KajiKita

It sounds like you really, really need a rest! Please actually try and have some downtime during your time off work rather filling every running minute with ‘doings’? 

Well done on improving the kitchen flow 😊👏

KK

debtfreewannabe321

Thanks @KajiKita I'm actually off work today. I rang in sick. I was up again in the night coughing and am just really tired so will stay home and rest 😊. It was at about 3am after maybe my fourth coughing fit of the night that I thought....what are you doing DFW? You're making yourself more ill going in when you should just be resting. If you don't rest then you'll be more ill and need even more time to recuperate. Gave myself a telling off, and today will be about me. Healing, resting and getting some vitamin D in the garden. Thankfully it's just a bad cough and sore throat and chest at the mo, it's not turned into an infection yet and it's not a proper cold either so hopefully I can shift it pretty quickly ❤️‍🩹.

Poor DP has been awake most of the night and I thought it might be me coughing so much but it was actually because he's expecting a bit of a telling off today at work. He used an opinion about something in a work email chain and it should have been fact really because now it looks like he's being insubordinate towards someone above him even though he wasn't he just kind of gave an opinion where someone else should have been in charge of opinions 🙄 usual office politics but he's really worried now and looks so tired. Hopefully it will all be fine and they can get back on an even keel quickly. 

Dinner is made for later just needs reheating. Chilli with wedges. So I really have nothing to do but take care of myself. I might start with my book in a salt bath. 😊❤️ Half term started a day early for me ❤️‍🩹.

KajiKita

I'm glad you listened to your body and gave yourself today. I think you need it. Enjoy your relaxing and recuperative day  

Sympathies to DP on the opinion giving .... That's the kind of knot I get myself into too! He's been doing well at this new job though so the worst that should happen is that he gets 'coached' not to do it again. You never know, he might get positive recognition for saying the thing that no-one else is brave enough to ....  

KK

debtfreewannabe321

Well I've had a much needed day of R&R. Nice salt bath and finished my book and camped on the sofa most of the day. I did a few surveys and have requested almost £30 payout which is good. The most I've got out of them in a while. It will take a few days to reach my account on some of it though. I'm going to use the money to put towards the CC statement meaning I don't need to take it all out of next month's money. 

DS is about to be collected I think so we'll have a few days without him whilst he goes camping with dad. DD is at work most of tomorrow so just me and DP. Perhaps if my energy is okay I'll suggest we go out somewhere. 😊 I'm off for a week now so plenty of time to get over this cough (which is oddly not a cold at all just a weird horrible cough and bad chest!?) 

debtfreewannabe321

KajiKita said:

I'm glad you listened to your body and gave yourself today. I think you need it. Enjoy your relaxing and recuperative day  

Sympathies to DP on the opinion giving .... That's the kind of knot I get myself into too! He's been doing well at this new job though so the worst that should happen is that he gets 'coached' not to do it again. You never know, he might get positive recognition for saying the thing that no-one else is brave enough to ....  

KK

It all worked out okay I think for DP...he's had meetings about what they were talking about anyway and I've not heard any computers being launched out of windows yet 🤣

KajiKita

debtfreewannabe321 said:

It all worked out okay I think for DP...he's had meetings about what they were talking about anyway and I've not heard any computers being launched out of windows yet 🤣

I’m pleased for him 😊

KK

debtfreewannabe321

We've had a nice weekend even though the weather wasn't all that pleasant here. It's been really windy and cold in the wind. The rain wasn't enough to penetrate into the soil very far so we've had to water the garden still. So today we've decided to have a day in the garden. I've thrown out all seedlings that have either started well then died, I think I've over loved some - with water 😬 and over-sunned others 🙈 and some were very dry. So anyway I'm trying to be aware of what's doing well and what's not. So so far, snap dragons, fail. Lupins, do not over water and do not put in the greenhouse, gherkins, don't over water, however tomatoes and cucumber are loving the greenhouse and enjoying a good soaking so they're doing well. I've also got lettuce and mint growing ok as well as a few other bits like cabbage. Outside the greenhouse - My strawberries are doing well this year because I've cut off every runner I've found (made that mistake before leaving them to grow), the runner beans have all but died and I don't know why, fruit Bushes are doing well although I'm not sure they will give much fruit this year as they're establishing themselves in the ground. They've little bunches of fruit though so I'm hoping to get something. 
I've got great crops from the rhubarb, mint and a few handfuls of strawberries so far. All the fruit trees have small fruit on too so hopeful for a good crop not infested by anything this year.
I think I'm going to cut the grass now. I did leave it for no mow May, however we've a tonne of other things popping up all over the place now so lots of flowers and places for bugs to hide and eat. It's just getting to that messy stage where it doesn't look like a meadow and it doesn't look neat any more as it's only growing in clumps and the rest is yellow 😆. I tried. Lol. 
The crows are becoming a big nuisance and I don't really know what to do about them. They dig up plants that resemble stones (all lilacs!) they've pulled feeders off trees, they've ruined all bird baths with bread or whatever someone is feeding them. They've thrown stones everywhere in the garden that they've found. They've knocked pots over thinking there was something good to be had in them and they scare all the other birds away 🫤 I've always been of the opinion to let all animals in freely and love them all. But omg they're driving me mad and they regularly attack other birds nests. I need to research how to discourage them - it will be a shame if I have to stop putting the water in the bird bath though and try and remove every rock I find 🙄 (do they think they're eggs? I'm assuming they do?) 

I've spent as little as possible over the weekend. We even managed to visit a boot fair, and antique centre and not spend a penny aside from entry 👌🏻😁 that is excellent for us. We did treat ourselves to a takeaway but that was budgeted for. 

I think DS is off for the week now with his dad. And I'm hoping he comes back in a better mood. The week before he goes he's a nightmare and the first week or so he's back he's also a nightmare usually 🙄 he's lived up to the bit before going already..I'm hoping he comes back in a good mood. Ex didn't even say hello to DD because DS was kicking off at me - over the most ridiculous reason too I might add. She was a bit upset over that and asked if they were coming to see her on their way back from camping to be told, no, they've already driven past ours and were on their way home. I can't see DD going to her dad's house very much at all in the future the way things are going.

I've had a few NSD but I haven't kept any records. I know I'm doing alright though and I should make it to the 1st without going into any savings. I've also paid one payment due in June off early so I have money to budget elsewhere now on payday. 

Hopefully the weather will stay good over the next week because I'm feeling the need for some gardening therapy. I've been feeling a little down and stressed lately and need something to take my mind off everything 🌱🌱🌱🌺.