One step at a time

sunshineli

June was a successful month for money saving mainly because my ill health made me feel like not spending very much. 

At the beginning of July I had my urgent tests at the hospital which thankfully came back as negative. So the symptoms I was experiencing are just part of my normal autoimmune disease rather than the C word thank goodness.

The recent health issues have changed something in my mind, and now I feel more determined to live a simple life which prioritises my health. I’ve also had a bit of a wake up call to advocate for myself better, put myself first and ask for help when I need it. 

In June we spent £350 on groceries and managed to eat at least 5 portions of fruit and veg nearly every day. I think there were a couple of days when I didn’t manage it, but most days I was eating over 5 portions so I see this as a success. £350 is our monthly budget for groceries so I’m pleased we stayed in budget whilst also prioritising fresh fruit & veg. 

The new mortgage rate has now started and our mortgage has reduced by £120 per month which is such great news. The downside is we now have another £999 product fee to pay which is frustrating when it takes so long to overpay the mortgage by that amount! We are in a 5 year fix now so at least there will be no more product fees for 5 years. Now the new deal has started we can start making mortgage overpayments again. These will just be small amounts for now as we are also saving up for a new fence and gate in the garden.

sunshineli

The new mortgage deal has finally started which means I got to make my first overpayment of £150! We’re still a bit of a way from our overpayment target of £1200 in 2026, but this is because our current focus is replenishing our savings which have taken a bit of a battering this year. DH took some money out for private healthcare which he is repaying into it once he receives his bonus. We’ve also taken some money out for some furniture for the house.

We are getting our new fence and gate fitted in September, which is going to cost £490 and coming out of the savings. Once the fence is fitted we will have a little enclosed patio that the dog can enjoy off lead which I’m so excited about. We are going to get a bench and some plants to make it a lovely peaceful place for me and the little dog. I can see myself spending many mornings out there even in winter wrapped up warm with a hot drink.

I’ve now been at my new job for a few months and I’m starting to really enjoy it. I’m feeling more settled and looking forward to developing myself further in my new organisation.

Health wise I’ve recently started some new medication (again) which is taking some getting used to! I only need to take it once a fortnight but in the days following it I feel absolutely dreadful (it’s immunosuppressants). I just hope I start to get used to it soon.

Now we are in August I’m going to start thinking about getting prepared for the winter months and Christmas.

sunshineli

Over 2 months since I last posted! I’ve had some health complications in recent months and chronic infections as a result of the new medication I started. It’s been a scary and difficult few months and I’m not through the other side yet. Despite that I’ve been continuing with MSE ways where possible and overpaid the mortgage by £110 in September. 

Total savings are currently around £9,000 as we have recently paid out for the car service and MOT and a new garden gate. Some of these savings will be going towards some works on the house and garden at the end of 2026/beginning of 2027. I will also be taking a chunk out of savings at the end of the year to overpay the mortgage so we meet our goal this year to overpay by £1200.

I’ve been really needing to simplify my life recently because I just don’t have the energy to do a lot. I’ve been finding a lot of joy in reading and have been utilising 99p kindle books which has kept it affordable. I’ve also started a support group for my health conditions which is generously funded through a charity and free of charge for me. 

beanielou

I love reading on my kindle. Especially the 99p books. Hope the support group goes well.

Sammie_1985

Sorry to hear you’ve not been well 🙁

I’m another 99p kindle book lover! You can get some really good bargains. X

sunshineli

Thank you both! Had a lovely weekend and I tried to pace myself as much as possible.

I got to see my mum, sister, brother and niece which was so nice as I haven’t felt well enough to see them all together for a few months. My mum and sister also bought me some beautiful roses 😊. I felt totally exhausted afterwards but managed to not end up in a really bad fatigue crash.

DH and I also got to celebrate our wedding anniversary today. We went out for lunch and used a voucher I got for my birthday, taking £30 off the bill and only cost us £27 after the voucher. We also bought each other a book and some chocolate for our anniversary gift. It was a big weekend for me having 2 trips out of the house and life almost felt ‘normal’ ish! I hope this is me overcoming the worst of the illness now but we will see. I’m hoping to be well enough to return to the office at work soon. 

I’m spending the evening with my autumn candles lit, reading and relaxing before the working week restarts again. I hope everyone has had a great weekend. 

sunshineli

Half way through the week. Some updates from the past few days -

• I’ve set aside £100 for this months mortgage OP. I will make the OP just before the end of the month and I’m hoping to increase the amount before then. 
• I’ve had a nice cosy few days after work , reading lots, watching bake off, and attending my support group and an online social event. It’s really nice having these online events to take part in when chronically ill, because it can be hard to get out and about. The support group is free and the social event cost me £2.80 and the funds raised go to a charity. 
• We received some great news that DH has been promoted resulting in a £2,000 pay rise! 

I hope everyone is having a good week and staying well. 

rtandon27

Fabulous news all round and 100% agree that online meet-ups are amazing - I dial into a book club at my uni in a different time zone from the comfort of bed! Keeps me in touch with what folks are reading across the pond.

sunshineli

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82168867#Comment_82168867

I love this! I need to find myself an online book club!

sunshineli

It’s been a good week. Last weekend I managed a day out with DH and my brother which was really nice. I mostly felt well for the whole day too which was such a nice change!

This week has been pretty busy, with work and a hospital appointment on Tuesday (£6 spent on the bus to hospital), working in the office Wednesday (£8.50 on the train), and my Covid jab on Thursday.

I almost didn’t get the Covid jab as the pharmacist was worried about giving me it with my suppressed immune system (I thought the reason I was getting the Covid jab was because I was immunosuppressed! 😂) Anyway my consultant had given the go ahead so I got it and the side effects weren’t too bad.

I’ve set a further £60 aside for mortgage OPs which means I currently have £160 to OP this month. I’ve got £50 per week to live off for the next 3 weeks until payday. This doesn’t include groceries which are already covered by another pot so it should be manageable. I do have DH birthday to consider in that time though but I don’t think we will be spending too much. I’ve already got his gift.

This weekend is going to be spent mostly at home due to the impending storm. I’m already cosied up with a book, coffee, hot water bottle and incense burning whilst the rain is pattering against the window. Lovely and relaxing. I don’t plan on moving very far.