LJ's Mortgage free road to early retirement

LouiseJ

financialbliss wrote: »

So, what was actually spent was: magazine 1.00, clothes for #1 child 9.00, clothes for #2 child 2.00, clothes for mrs bliss 14,50, wine 6.98, wet wipes 21.00 (on offer - not a typical weekly spend), nappies 3.97 and food was a mere 38.50. Yes I analyse like this myself now and as you I used to put it all down as food.

So, I'd say, analyse the spend, try and keep to a budget, try to reign in the high spend areas, but also be aware we're in it for the long haul. Many of us here are wanting to clear our mortgages in 4, 5, 6 or more years, so the odd treat such as a meal out or take away every so often isn't such a problem - well all in my humble opinion anyway. I agree!

Thanks again for sharing that with us,
FB.

Thanks for that FB.:D

LouiseJ

Can I just say thankyou to everyone who has contributed to this thread and those who lurk!

I am off to see Morrissey tonight (did I mention that)? but have decided to drive! Therefore:

Cancelled Travelodge room £61.00
Cancelled Indian Meal £40.00 ish (I am cooking dinner before we go)
Wine with show £7.00 (I know from experience that its £3.50 a glass so I'm taking my own bottle of water).

I have taken this decision as we live within 45 mins drive from the gig and we had booked the room on the notion that we would go there straight from work and have a nice meal with a bottle of wine but I still feel unwell and really dont feel like having a drink or a large meal so it really does seem a shame to pay for a room when we can be tucked up in our own bed by 11.30pm.

I have also had problems with getting the boys looked after overnight.

Sooo

Saving of £108 - £3 parking = £105:T We both don't mind and don't feel like we are missing out at all.

Would you lot have done the same??

LouiseJ

Have a Mystery shop to do today and one on Monday so a further £20 for the cause!

I have had a quick tot up and as of today I have £350 to send as an overpayment + £40 increase in the DD on 25th so thats £390 for this month so far. I am over the moon with this as I still expect to scrape together about another £100 by the end of the month. But we will see, best laid plans......as you all know!

LouiseJ

P.S I wont update my signature until I actually make the overpayments! Otherwise I will confuse myself and it doesn't take much!

Cazzdevil

I'd definitely have done the same LJ. I drove from Newcastle to Carlisle some time last year to see my favourite band play, a journey of an hour & a half, then drove all the way back after the gig. I got back home at about 2am (and it was a week night - I was knackered at work the next day!). It was so worth it though.

BACKFRMTHEEDGE

Great thread:D

LouiseJ

BACKFRMTHEEDGE wrote: »

Great thread:D

Thanks for that backfrmtheedge.

Moz was absolutely brilliant!:T

We were five rows from the front and could see the whites of his eyes.

Made the right decision to cancel the hotel and meal as I was ready for home as soon as the show ended. We only ended up spending £13.50 on drinks and parking.

Relaxing today and cruising the forums. Need to go shopping so will write up my weeks meal plan in a bit, need another cup of tea though before I feel up to that task.

P.S. Setmefree2 His last song of the night was Please, Please let me get what I want.

setmefree2

Glad you had a great time - watched him last night on J Ross...well done on saving a packet too:D...I'm due to get (a surprise) i pod soon (Long story) and I must download that track!.....:T

LouiseJ

The rest of the Js are still asleep so I am grabbing the PC while I have the chance.

I have just checked my electricity meter reading which I do at the end the month now due to Southern Electric failing to read our meter for two years resulting in an underpayment by us to the tune of £480:eek: .

Like alot of people I would not take any interest at all in the amount of units we used and would be happy to let the direct debit clear every month, no questions asked.....until the £480 shock!!

So we are now paying £76 a month to cover our current usage and arreers. It goes without saying that the less units we use the quicker the arreers will be gone so we can reduce our DD amount to a less that ridiculous level.

Our current tariff is 8.29p per unit plus a 14.01p per day standing charge plus 5% vat we also get a 6% discount for paying by DD.

Our consumption has been

October £48.96
November £51.61
December £58.94
January £64.02

As you can see from December and January figures I am not a happy bunny and I know exactly who the culprits are!

We have a converted garage which now is used as a play room for the boys and we have a Dehlongi Dragon heater in there, which on several occasions I have found to be left running all night. Also my OH, when on the PC (he spends alot of time in the office as he watches films and plays games on the PC too) he has a small halogen heater pointing at his feet and legs at all times of day and night despite being sat next to a huge radiator!

I have also found the immersion heater left running twice for goodness knows how long!

I think I will have to don my electricity police hat for the next few winter months.

setmefree2

-my sister's husband once switch the emersion on by accident - he didn't know what it was:D - and it was on for months....the resulting bill was 4 figures:eek:. However, same sister - in her previous house - had free gas for about 10 years;) and she moved and no-one was any the wiser. We still wonder if the people who bought her house have free gas too:cool: