Don't hit me with those negative waves Moriarity

Humdinger1

Happy birthday and congratulations!  Love Humdinger xx 

jwil

Happy Birthday!  Hope you have a lovely day x

FootyFanDan

Happy Birthday!

LzzyIsGod

Thank you everyone! Another year closer to retirement!   Sometimes I've found when you get a bit older these things can be a bit of a damp squid but I had a really lovely weekend. A little spendier than anticipated but really very enjoyable.

And so today was pay day woohoo. Mine was a good one as I had a lot of petrol money from work and 2 weekends - dh though got underpaid on his overtime although they've apologised and will rectify this 😂 poor dh. He really did put the hours in last month and he was mildly miffed at not seeing the benefit of it.

I've added up the pots from Oct and I am super pleased to report that we managed to save £1134 last month! Some of this was additional side hustle income, some was joint savings, some is for Christmas and I had an underspend on petrol for some reason so I saved that too 😂. There were significant spends on school trips for both yoofs (3 between them!) and we've started paying towards a summer camp for one of them. 

Being realistic, I would be very surprised if we manage to save that amount every month (especially as some of my side hustles are  sporadic) but it gives me hope that we've made the changes we needed to in order to live within our income. Just need to stick to it now.  Even the yoofs are now into budgeting with their pocket money 😂 I'm also trying to avoid "lifestyle creep" after this year's pay rise - month by month it wasn't massives but over a few months it'll add up and every little helps. 

Off to catch up with everyone else's diaries now. 

Sun_Addict

Glad to hear you had a great birthday. 

Well done on the very impressive savings amount. I know what you mean about the pay rise lifestyle creep, it’s easy for it just to get absorbed and disappear. I get paid on Friday and it’s the first pay rise month without the back pay lump sum. Not a fortune but enough to do something with over the year. 

That’s great that the yoofs have got into budgeting, a good life skill to have for the future. 

Humdinger1

Happy birthday @LzzyIsGod.  Congratulations on all your progress and the children's too! I hope DH's overtime is resolved in record time.  Love Humdinger xx 

LzzyIsGod

Thanks @Sun_Addict and @Humdinger1. I still get this knot of fear and anxiety in my stomach about money -  i used to get it frequently then after LBM last October its plagued me continually. I'm hoping getting a proper EF and starting to overpay the mortgage will help settle it down.

Eldest yoof had an orthodontics check up today - 100 quid lighter for hygienist appointment and likely needs new retainers in a months time at 300 quid. I am definitely coming back in my next career as some kind of dental professional.

However - Today's very important question is ...... does a heated blanket count as an emergency fund worthy purchase????? This is the kind you turn on to heat the bed before you hop in so its toasty and warm. Mine has stopped working although I've worked out it's possibly about 25 years old 😂😂 coz you know I never chuck anything out unless forced to. I'm missing it already and it's been 1 evening. Given I already go to bed in enough attire that would impress a Dickens character I may have to concede that a replacement is worth it.

warby68

Its an appliance , of course it does

Plus, you can get a basic one for not very much these days, £30 or so.

jwil

An emergency fund is to cover things breaking so yes, it's not a frivolous purchase.

LzzyIsGod

Bad moon rising -  creedance clearwater revival

Having spent the last few days sorting out clutter from the house I managed to get 10 things listed on v#nted and have sold 2! Just small amounts but better than a kick in the teeth! Big box destined for the recycling centre (sadly wasn't open today) 2 boxes for donation and 1 box gone to the rags recycling bin locally. 

Like most places in the current climate,  there is an element of uncertainty looming workwise which is really unsettling. Not unsurprising I guess and nothing immediate but enough to make me want to tighten our belts further and shore up as much cash as possible. Christmas is definitely looking like its shaping up to be a more frugal affair than usual although certain family members will be disappointed (and no not the yoofs! They will be far more understanding) I have some ideas for options workwise if the worst happens - I've always been a bit of a Diasater Planner 😂 my nickname as a kid was Chicken Licken as I was always convinced the sky was falling in. 

Dh has opted to change his phone sim to an alternative provider after hearing a certain MSE statement about phone providers (thanks Martin L) which is going to save £9 a month - every little counts

Love Chicken Licken aka Lzzy