Just wanting to say hi!

setmefree2

on your progress so far :T

atypicalblonde

Hi everyone, shy little voice creeping back in here

I have been MIA for a while now, and haven't wanted to post much because I have had to cancel our OPs entirely for a couple of months, for the following reasons:

• Veeerrry expensive family wedding that we attended - there were stag and hen do's (both abroad :eek:) present, outfits and a veerrry expensive hotel to pay for on the night of the wedding (the location of the wedding meant it was either said hotel or a park bench due to a total lack of choice, I couldn't convince OH to choose the bench :rotfl:);
• The recession has hit OH's company, and his hours have been cut, resulting in a loss of wage of £500 per month; and
• We went on our fabby holiday, which was truly fabby , and I don't regret the cost one bit. It was our first proper holiday together, and we didn't want to be worrying about money. We have not got into any debt because of it, just used what would have been the OP to fund it instead. As StuartGMC has quite rightly pointed out to me before, we need to have some fun on the MFW journey, and our hol was a whole lotta fun

So, back to the present. Our SOA currently shows a surplus of around £300 a month once all bills, living costs and fun money is accounted for. Whilst I could immediately start OPing again by this amount, I am holding back to find out if I have successfully got a promotion that I am going for at work (£10k increase, please cross all fingers and toes gang!). If I get it, quite frankly, I will be thrilled. We will be able to make OPs of circa £800 per month, which would put us well back on track for our MF dream date of before I am 30. I should know in about 4 weeks, and then I can do a revised budget to make firm plans whatever the outcome.

Aside from the costly wedding and hols, we are still maintaining lifes day to day essentials at a frugal low, cooking from scratch all the time (our monthly grocery budget is circa £100 now), and all utility bills and insurances are as low as they can be through Quidco and comparing prices til I am blue in the face (not this blue though :eek::D).

Well, that's it for now folks. I promise to update more often, and feel free to give me a general boot up the backside if I am quiet for a while!

ATB xx

gallygirl

Sometimes it just has to be done/spent so you might as well enjoy it!

Good luck with the promotion, that would make a real impact

atypicalblonde

Thanks Gallygirl, here's hoping!

evab_2

Good luck with the job and glad you had a lovely hols x

SmlSave

Good to hear from you ATB. I hope you enjoyed the wedding after all the expenses.

Good luck with your promotion Let us know how it goes

atypicalblonde

Thanks SmlSave. The wedding was lovely, but I am very glad that we haven't got any more to attend this summer, or else overpaying would go out of the window completely! Why do mine and OH's family have to have such blooming expensive taste!

Managed a NSD today, which I am pleased about. Plan of shuffling over £150 'spare' money from my wage to the bills account, so it is ready and waiting for when the OPing starts again xx

Edited to add: Please can someone help me edit the title of my post? I have no idea how to do it!

hypno06

Fingers well and truly crossed for that promotion ATB!!

atypicalblonde

Thanks Hypno - it will be virtual champagne all round if I get it! :beer: x

atypicalblonde

Afternoon everyone! :hello:

Well, I couldn't resist. I have just called up and put in place an OP of £100 per month as standard. We can afford it, and I don't want to wait to hear about the job before setting up an OP - I can always call up and amend it if needed. £100 overpaid is better than nothing right?! x