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

debtfreewannabe321

Rounded down my bank account and moved to EF. £11.37 that stands at, all from rounded down pennies! 

LadyWithAPlan

Well done on facing your overspends 
I tracked on here all my voluntary spending for Oct /nov/dec and it was a huge wake up call - I always keep a large bank float as self employed so .. easy to overspend into it and my cc over the budget 

I am now on month 2.5 of YNAB and it has made a huge difference just seeing every transaction and having to move money from one category to cover any over budget spending / it was even helpful in the Dec run up as i was tracking everything without much effort .. 

at least with both you and dp on board you are saving and ensuring you limit your spending so you are in progress 

sorry to hear your kids upset re their loss - we all process grief differently and I am sure just having a hug, a nice meal and stability at home hugely helps them even if it doesn’t seem obvious that you are helping them process - also if it’s the first big loss on their lives they may not know the tools to get through it - 

redofromstart

I found being able to see the overpayments in the banking app really motivating.

You are not the only one spending far more than they realise on food, well worth having a note pad and writing every spend down.

debtfreewannabe321

LadyWithAPlan said:

Well done on facing your overspends 
I tracked on here all my voluntary spending for Oct /nov/dec and it was a huge wake up call - I always keep a large bank float as self employed so .. easy to overspend into it and my cc over the budget 

I am now on month 2.5 of YNAB and it has made a huge difference just seeing every transaction and having to move money from one category to cover any over budget spending / it was even helpful in the Dec run up as i was tracking everything without much effort .. 

at least with both you and dp on board you are saving and ensuring you limit your spending so you are in progress 

sorry to hear your kids upset re their loss - we all process grief differently and I am sure just having a hug, a nice meal and stability at home hugely helps them even if it doesn’t seem obvious that you are helping them process - also if it’s the first big loss on their lives they may not know the tools to get through it - 

The wake up call is horrifying but also very needed I think as it really does make you take stock. I used YNAB when it was new! I loved it! I trialled the new version which is paid for now and I didn't like it as much and I felt a bit resentful and paying for it as I preferred the old version which I had already paid for! Maybe I could try it again though as DP is on board to help and he is much better with tech stuff and budgets on computers than me. I have it the old fashioned way at the moment, paper and pen and tracking everything by writing it down and using a calculator lol
I think you may be right with the children, this is their first big loss that they would remember. My grandparents- well two of them, have passed away in their lifetimes but they were not particularly close to either and they were young. I am just trying to be here readily available and don't really know what else to do. 

redofromstart said:

I found being able to see the overpayments in the banking app really motivating.

You are not the only one spending far more than they realise on food, well worth having a note pad and writing every spend down.

I love the new mortgage app I set up, it shows all the payments in and out and also how much interest I am paying per month, it is very motivating. My first goal is to get below £99k! 


So this morning has been spent making a meal plan, then shopping from the cupboards and freezers etc (I had a good idea of what was in them so this was quicker than going through the cupboards and freezers first to make the plan). I decided to see if I could get a weekend slot from Sainsburys and I was able to get one on Sunday morning! So I booked that and did my shop online. Strictly only stuff from the list! I may have to do one small top up before pay day on the 25th after this shop but I think I have plenty of dinners and lunches to see us through now. 
That cost £128 - well just under. And is 12 days worth of dinners & lunches & 1 bulk bag of rice which we are out of totally now. I also had to re-stock coffee, nuts and the spice rack so I think I did alright considering I only buy organic fresh stuff and fridge stuff where possible (I cook 90% from scratch so that helps).

I made a left-over-in-the-bottom-of-the-veg-drawer curry from broccoli that was on the turn, two potatoes that roots and an onion. I added some paprika so it has a real tangy kick to it. That will be tomorrow's dinner I just need to re-heat it. There is also enough for 4 portions and only the two of us so I will freeze some as well for later in the month. I prepped veg for a stir fry, tofu for the air fryer and 5 portions of rice (thankfully that's what was left!) and that will do tonight's dinner as well as two portions to re-heat for DP and I tomorrow after our little road trip because I am a nightmare for wanting a takeaway when I have been out all day and starving hungry. This only needs re-heating so healthier and cheaper than the take away--- I will keep telling myself this. Bank account is low again but I don't care now, all bills aside from that astronomical Gas & Elec bill are paid, we have enough food in and all is well in the DFW321 house for now. 

Anyway off to work, hoping for a nice easy shift compared to yesterday

killerpeaty

Sorry you had such a terrible day at work, hopefully you will not have to deal with such a character again soon. Do you think your work is okay outside of this?

Sticking to a budget and paying down debt/mortgage takes practice. Don't be too down on yourself, you've done it before and you'll do it again.

Also, if you like your handwritten expenditure tracking and it works for you, then go for it. Everyone is different, no point in using something because it suits someone else.

ladybird1106

Debtfreewannabe321 I just wanted to thank you on behalf of all parents who have a child with a learning disability for telling someone off for been mean towards a person with LD. It's every parents worse nightmare. 
Love🐞

debtfreewannabe321

killerpeaty said:

Sorry you had such a terrible day at work, hopefully you will not have to deal with such a character again soon. Do you think your work is okay outside of this?

Sticking to a budget and paying down debt/mortgage takes practice. Don't be too down on yourself, you've done it before and you'll do it again.

Also, if you like your handwritten expenditure tracking and it works for you, then go for it. Everyone is different, no point in using something because it suits someone else.

ladybird1106 said:

Debtfreewannabe321 I just wanted to thank you on behalf of all parents who have a child with a learning disability for telling someone off for been mean towards a person with LD. It's every parents worse nightmare. 
Love🐞

KP my work is OK there isn't much choice when car-less around here, there are only a few opportunities it seems without the expense of travel costs. And honestly I wanted to dip my toe back into working outside of the home again part time rather than FT. I have worked from home for so many years and DP made almost enough money that I could go part time. I like my colleagues and that always makes it easier. It was just that one that ruined it for all....so she has gone now anyway. The job is menial and I do complain a lot about it in RL but actually I have had worse when being paid more and in a nice cushty office (with horrible colleagues). 

I wish I could get the old YNAB back as I liked that one but don't think it's available any more sadly.

LB I actually was reeling from what she said. It took a moment to process that she had actually said that and then I kinda cut her down- in a way that I probably shouldn't have done (very loudly as she was literally shrieking at that point lol) as supervisor but quite honestly she had been shouting at me since she bl00dy started in December and I had had enough! 

It was going to be a NSD today but  DD was so upset earlier on the way to handover with her dad that I stopped and bought her a McDs breakfast as we never have anything like that living out in the sticks. It certainly cheered her up so a well spent £12 (DP and I had a hash brown and drink each too!) Sometimes you just have to put the budget aside slightly (we chose McDs as it was the cheaper option of that or a local cafe breakfast each). 
DD was dropped off smiling thankfully. Ex looked forlorn and sombre I hope it all goes okay Monday.

DP and I went on to Nottingham to collect some bits he had bought. He was good and said no to lots and took a few bits of all he wanted. Money from his pot anyway so nothing to do with budget. He cancelled the stuff we were buying from Manchester area so that saved a very long road trip.

We went home and I put a wash on and had a nap! I think I have a bit of an adrenaline crash from the other day. Oops. I also ordered DS air cadet shoes as the listing was about to end on Eb@y. They were second hand but A+ grade and I think £19 with postage so cheaper than new. Dinner is already cooked for later. I have put a wash on and have another to do this weekend. I cannot actually believe I was doing a wash a day before in a bid to keep up with it. All that happened was, I would wash it, dry it, throw it in a basket in my room and leave it there until the weekend anyway so actually this is just as effective waiting all week to do it and doing it all at once. And only doing 2 washes (one light, one dark) and the odd third wash (towels) instead of 7.

DP has said the dehumidifier works just as well as the heater it costs about 4p to run as opposed to about 30p for the other heater! Not sure whether he meant an hour or by the day though. 

S'bury's is coming tomorrow morning, but aside from that and ironing I haven't anything planned. 

Off to have a tidy and do the washing up. Our water was off this morning as there was a burst water main in the area so only just put the wash on and need to do this morning's washing up. Hope everyone has a nice weekend

debtfreewannabe321

£5 OP to Mortgage account..
Nothing to round down into EF.

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all, 

Well the S'Bury shop has been, bright and early! Several substitutions which were annoying and I only kept two so sent the rest back, will wait to see what the total is once they have refunded me- oh and one of my items apparently disappeared in the truck hmmm so we were short on that too. Will update the signature of food spends once I know what the total is. I will have to pop to the shops for a few of the things missing now though at some point as it was all fresh stuff. And I thought I was being really good by only buying four different fruits and 7 different vegs- and half were sent back typical. 

All washing, drying, ironing is done. DP is out in the garage working on one of his projects. I wish it were a bit warmer I want to get out in the garden and give it a tidy up. 

We were working out the budget for next month and planning things we need to do/ buy and want to do/ buy, as I want to put every penny to work rather than leaving hundreds unaccounted for. Because those hundreds that I always think are spare somehow disappear. We would like to do a small DIY job but that will come out of the bonus money. It is my birthday next month but technically it falls just after the next pay day, but DP may want to take some money for presents. Christmas is so scaled down now for us since my first MSE days that I don't budget any more but I suppose I should really so I might start a Christmas/ birthday pot. I also want to work on the emergency fund. I don't have any car expenses at the moment so no need for a pot for that. Trying to remember what other pots I had without re-reading my old diary  I would love to start a wedding pot and a holiday pot but I feel like the emergency one should be filled first. Also going to have a fun spends budget for each of us as I have fallen off the MSE wagon before by being too strict learnt my lesson there quickly! May also give the kids some pocket money so if treats cupboard is emptied in two days as usual then they have to buy any more out of their own money. Would save me lots of small shops. 

Have my meals sorted for the week ahead. Tried to be money saving about it as I am into the last week and half before payday.

Today we will have a mini roast 
Monday      Jacket potatoes
Tuesday      Leftover cottage pie 
Wednesday (kids will be back) Naan pizza & wedges
Thursday    Leftover curry & rice
Friday         Sausage & Mash
Saturday     Veg pie (I will make from scratch and use up what we have in the fridge)
Sunday       Leftover Cottage pie (last one)
Monday      Meatless balls & pasta
Tuesday     Tofu, Stir-fried veg and rice 
Wednesday Whatever is left at this point
Thursday I will do a fresh meal plan for the week and have a shop ordered to arrive on this day as it's PAYDAY wooooo the longest month is OVER!

Spent lots of money today as the shop came out so not a NSD. Also bought a new filter for the tumble drier as we wondered why our TD was taking forever to dry anything- it is a clever one apparently and doesn't switch itself off if there is still damp stuff in it so last night it went for about six hours we checked the filter at the bottom this morning and it had quite literally fallen apart, oops. only £8 for two generic ones so that was okay.

Anyway, off to prep some veg, walk the dog whilst it is still blue skies and then maybe have a potter around the house and garden and check other's diaries out

debtfreewannabe321

PAD to OP £5
Rounded down account to EF £14.08.
Will update signatures when I have the shopping amount finalised.