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

HotDog2020

Good luck for an August move, sending hopeful vibes, a quick way to work out the Vat on top is to times it by 1.2 but I am sure you know this, a lot of individuals display the vat this way to appear that you have a lower quote, it is a good job you double checked this, at least you now know what to look out for. I don't like it when they do that either, I know they don't get the money (Technically they do because they can claim the tax back on purchases) but I would still have to pay it! annoying very much so. It looks like you are being seriously organised, good job. 😊❤️😊🏋️‍♀️❤️🏋️‍♀️

debtfreewannabe321

Well the removals have cancelled, how odd, I thought they were a no show yesterday (my mistake though) and they actually are today....so... never mind.

I have sat down with the budget to see what is what and how we can save the removals & conveyancing money without breaking the budget. So I did TWO budgets. Two options....

First one is our usual one, the bonus divided into 4 as it comes which by my reckoning after tax should be around £458 per month. I've added in the new maintenance figures and also the costs of removals left to find and divided it over two months. That is £500 straight out of the budget for two months. It is doable but it then impacts all other savings, for 2 straight pay days. It would mean though right around the time we move in we have £458 extra in the budget rather than...

the Second option of £208 extra per month, which is what I would have taking the £1000 out this pay day coming, and then dividing up the remaining budget over 4 months. 

I'm leaning towards the second option so I know it is all there ready to go whenever, and then I can continue saving towards pots at the same rate I was before because I don't need to be putting it all towards the move. But the first option does give us around £250 more per month after 2 tight months.........hmmm.....I will speak to DP later and see what he says. I am happy enough to do either and although we agreed to take it all out this month I just know DP has all sorts of small things he needs to put right in the new house immediately that he will want extra money for so good to have options. 

Another thing we may need to account for if we do not get our move in August is approx £40 per week of bus/train fares for the kids to get to school (my friend has sent me a way of getting the tickets cheaper for the kids I need to look into this though- as before I was looking at £70 approx per week hence our decision to move!)
I won't be able to drop them and collect them every day as DP needs the car for work.
The kids don't go back until 6th I think (will double check) so if we can get a move around the 13th Sept (if Aug is def off) it is only just over one week to struggle with the extra payments rather than months which will be fine. 

DP is still wanting to buy the neighbour's car, however it is 19 years old, I will have to MOT, tax, insure and put diesel in it.......I have emphatically said NO but I know he is still debating it. 


Our remaining pots are all quite low:-

I currently have £50 in the clothing/health/DIY one and that is earmarked for takeout for DD. I would like to start boosting this one with surveys and sales.

I have around £350 in the birthday/christmas fund (this had £800 nearly last month!) this should still be ok though because I save a good amount each month so even though I have 3 more important birthdays I think there is enough for those and Christmas.

And the EF is at £1800 (the new one)- this is healthy enough, and I can boost this up to £2k almost immediately after payday if I go with option 2. 

I will be shopping very frugally later. I will make the meal plan and shop to that. DD is having her takeway monday, she asked why I had saved £50 back for it, and I said that is how much it costs for 4 of us...and she turned around and said, what do you mean? Why are you all getting a takeaway? It's MY birthday Hmmmm....she has a point actually I don't even like the local takeaway pizza so DP and I are debating making a nice risotto instead or something else they don't like and having that whilst the two kids have a take out  

I returned some shirts to next as DD wasn't sure, I said I am not wasting my money on 'they're okay but I dunno if I will wear them'...kids!! So that bill has reduced to £73 now. 

Righty ho I am off to do that very frugal meal plan, and a very specific shopping list and make some lunch for all. 

debtfreewannabe321

HotDog2020 said:

Good luck for an August move, sending hopeful vibes, a quick way to work out the Vat on top is to times it by 1.2 but I am sure you know this, a lot of individuals display the vat this way to appear that you have a lower quote, it is a good job you double checked this, at least you now know what to look out for. I don't like it when they do that either, I know they don't get the money (Technically they do because they can claim the tax back on purchases) but I would still have to pay it! annoying very much so. It looks like you are being seriously organised, good job. 😊❤️😊🏋️‍♀️❤️🏋️‍♀️

Oh thanks Hotdog, I didn't know that. I am not very good at maths. I can do the working out but lawdy it takes me an age. I am praying for an Aug move still but not holding out a lot of hope. Our buyers are being quite firm on the fact they will not hand their notice in on their rental until everything is back (understandably actually as I would be the same) but also a little strict on flexibility around moving on any other dates other than when their tenancy is up- at least that is what the EA have told us.
I will let the EA and solicitors figure it out. We really aren't too bothered either way all that frustrates me is the not knowing. Thankfully being in the middle of the chain we are the most flexible and can go to either parties wishes. DP is holding back all his holiday so he can have a break to coincide with the move and help me out with packing and unpacking.  
I try on the organisation part...I really have to try hard though it doesn't come naturally this diary and my budget keep me mostly on track though.

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all,
yesterday after I finished on the laptop (managed to get a few short surveys) I made my frugal meal plan and shopping list with my £95 budget in mind!
I made a leftover dinner of pasta & pesto (GF for me & DD said mine looked better so she shared mine) with a veggie burger (ones made from veg) and peas oh and a garlic bread for those who could eat the gluten. It looked so random on the plate but everyone polished it off so good job me at clearing random bits from freezer and cupboards

In between doing the dinner and dishing it out I managed to give myself concussion...only mild...but it nearly knocked me out. Knocked me flat on the floor. Being mum I just kinda got up, cried about it whilst putting on pasta. I have a large bump there today and a mild headache. I seem to have been last in the queue for spatial awareness. So my plans to drive myself over to the shops and pop into see my sister ended up being DP coming with me as he was worried it would turn into full blown concussion, then both kids wanted to come as well (sis has new puppy and OMG it is so cute and gorgeous and cuddly!) we left the kids at my sister's house. DS wanted to play PS5 with his cousin as he doesn't have one. And DD sat with the puppy the entire time playing. We popped into B&m first so I could finish off DD presents. DP does not walk around with a budget in his mind then taking off each item he picks up off that budget until he gets to zero- unlike me............... so my budget of £20 to spend on DD to finish her hamper off ended up being £28.74 but never mind it could have been worse. I actually put a couple of things back when he wasn't looking He also picked up items not on my list for the house so £7.93 spent there which has been added to the food budget (batteries, foil, cleaning items). I picked up a box with a lid for a broken metal file I have, the contents of that needed a new home and I didn't want to spend money on another metal file (it is all kids old pics and school reports). That was £5. You can see where this is going right...
Then we went to Mr Al, and spent a pretty good £70.95 I thought. We got a lot of stuff for that including a cake for DD so I was happy enough there. I said to DP we only have around £10 to spend in Mr T now. Yeh right..... £29.30 later........to be fair though we got screenwash for the car, also a new washing up bowl as our one cracked somehow and has been leaking all week and a couple of other small "needs" which we have been putting off buying. We also got some vegan cake for when DD & DS are eating the normal cake for DP & I. We spent over a tenner on just those few items. And I also picked up a loaf of GF bread which as any of us who eat GF know is just extortionate prices! So anyway that is my full confession.

All receipts picked apart this morning:-

Food budget running total now sits at £417.16 (leaving me £82.84 left for one week).
DD birthday spends sit at £93.44 (I'm a bit naughty and buy things they need as well as want in birthday presents so there is toiletries and clothes in this so I am happy with this amount).

I could have taken out the misc. spends on things like washing up bowls and also the screen wash and other little bits that aren't necessarily food BUT I had no misc. budget this month so it has to come from somewhere...so the food budget it is.

I am making stuffed peppers for DP, DS, & myself on Monday. I gave DS the option of pizza with his sister or stuffed peppers and he chose stuffed peppers. He takes after me more than I thought however this is good news as I have put aside £50 for takeout and it won't cost that now so I can use the left over money towards something else (probably paying back the account I nicked the money from for the painting ) The food ended up being slightly more actually because I picked up a few extras for the stuffed peppers- olives and some other bits we would have gone without.

I checked my bank account this morning and even after all those spends it looked far too healthy considering all that is in that account is food & pocket money, everything else resides in pots elsewhere, so I went back through the statement and would you believe I had forgotten to pay the gas & electric bill. So I did that this morning and the account sits more at where I would expect it to be considering I have all but spent my pocket money and the food budget is pretty low! 

Planning a NSD today as we have food and it is miserable out...I do need to get DD a card still the selection at Mr T & b'n'm was rubbish. 
I have the removals guy coming around after lunch for the quote so will whizz around with hoover quickly as it is looking messy.
I made date balls and falafels yesterday. Ran out of chickpeas for the humus so I might put some more in to soak for that. DP is out all day again today as he has been all week so it feels very quiet as both kids have turned nocturnal.
I have already exercised this morning, meditated and brought all my big house plants outside for a shower (in the rain). I decided I wanted to spend some time reading but I didn't want to spend any more money so I downloaded the kindle app again last night and found two books I like the look of that I can read for free on there. So a few quid saved there! Right off to start one of them I think with a hot cuppa then wake the kids!

dawnybabes

Being a dunce here, how do you make the celery juice ? Just liquidise the celery with water ? 

debtfreewannabe321

dawnybabes said:

Being a dunce here, how do you make the celery juice ? Just liquidise the celery with water ? 

Yes that's how I make it I only have a cheap blender so just cut it up put half a glass of water in and blend! 😁❤️

debtfreewannabe321

Morning all, well I had a thought yesterday my prime is due for payment for the year on Monday....so I tried to cancel it with thoughts of reinstating it on payday to make it a little easier on myself.
I couldn't do it on my phone it wasn't letting me.
So went on the laptop and it wouldn't sign me in without verification with my phone. I've changed my phone number....I couldn't upload documents for some reason.
So it wasn't playing ball and I couldn't get in and to be honest I gave up about an hour after that initial thought.
So I need to find 95 quid by Monday 🙂🙃

I mean we use it a lot. And my eldest son uses it too, he's the second adult on the account so it services two households ... I will message him today and expect a response within 21 working days (sons hey is anyone else's the same or just mine?)

I started saving money for this would you believe but kids expenses once again drained the account..... 

So will sit with budget today and try to somehow factor in misc kids spends (99% of the time the extra spends each month are theirs). So I might be back with a budget later a new and improved one I hope. 

So need to find money for....
Prime 95
Food shopping 95

Total:- 180...

I have half of this so will see what I can muster up to pay the rest.

debtfreewannabe321

Just had second removal quote in.
It's my preferred company if I'm honest they have a long standing reputation round these here parts and have been in business over a hundred years....I knew they would be the most expensive too 🤣
I'm quite pleasantly surprised though that they're only around £100 more than the other quote we had. So I'm not dismissing them like I thought I'd have to. -£1434 as opposed to £1314 (1st quote).

One more quote booked for Monday now and then I think we'll make a decision. We've got ages until we need to instruct one anyway so can have a good think about it.

beanielou

My son can be the same. 

I hate Amazon that you can’t do everything on the app. Not everyone has access to laptop or whatever. I mean you can’t always buy a book on the app. It drives me nuts. 

debtfreewannabe321

It does me too Beanie. I threaten to leave and cancel it probably at least once a month . But we have no access to a lot of things in this little town so I keep it for convenience......I wonder if I will feel the same when I move though? Might be the time to cancel it then, but I know for a few weeks yet I will need it for getting DS2 birthday presents and a few things for the move...so I will think about cancelling (once again ) when I move... although we also use the free books on kindle and the amazon tv a lot.

So this morning I have gone back through my budget and would you believe I did put some money into the budget for misc. spends!! Whoop...! Some of it has been swallowed up with all the kids costs but I didn't budget the child benefit so that is an extra £42 per week. yay! I have cashed out just under £10 on a survey site so that is sitting in my bank, I have also cashed out £5 amazon voucher. so that is £15 towards the 95...42 child benefit that hasn't been committed anywhere on Monday so that is 57/95 scraping it together here. I do have the extra to pay it in the current account......it is obviously accounted for already (food + small bit left of misc spends) but at least it is in there to use. So it will get paid. Then I will have to basically get 3-4 days of food at a time as I won't get the other 42 child benefit until Monday 22nd...still with me? Probably not. Makes sense in my head though. I have lots of surveys still pending payment too, perhaps they will pay out over the weekend, at least £15-20 worth. DS1 usually pays half too but he will probably need to wait until his payday as he probably hasn't budgeted for it this month. 

Not a NSD I am going to get DD card this afternoon. Hopefully a LSD though (under £10) I just need card, wrapping stuff...she is off into town with a friend. DS2 has moved his computer into the dining room, it's nice to see him out of his room albeit only a few yards away and still attached to the computer. They are both eating at AC tonight so I have put a JP in for DS, DD is eating out and DP & I will have a JP too later, nice and easy.

I've done my yoga again this morning and lifted some gentle weights. I am trying to tone up a few flabby bits but also build a little muscle in my upper body and tummy area as that is where a lot of my pain is (sciatica/ dodgy hip and I have an old rotar cuff injury) and I know that by strengthening these areas it might help, and in the long term very money saving as I won't need chiropractor right after moving again like usual. So I will see the delay in exchange / completion as a chance for me to get myself a little fitter again. 

My friend finishes radio and chemo therapy today so I am going to see if I am able to go see her soon.....she's very tired though so I will let her dictate when she's willing and up to it.