Statement of intent

keld

Hi Stuart - thanks very much for your spreadsheet :T - it's very detailed. I'm keeping a spending diary, to try to see where all our money goes. Anything out by DD is fine, the rest disappears:o and therefore every month we seem to start from scratch.

We were thinking of a family Wii for Christmas or maybe for mum and dad and the children might get to use it if they're good.:D

StuartGMC

Thanks all for the positive comments on the Wii; looks like a good decision I think.

Keld, hope the spreadsheet helps, simply start populating the grocery spend etc. If you, put spend on the credit card (if you pay in full) or debit rather than cash so you'll then build a record of where the money is going. My cash use is restricted to the staff restaurant at work and the pub, and OH tries to similarly keep tabs too. If you can, for the cash spends ask/keep receipts just as if you were having to claim them as expenses for work. I think you'll soon have a very good set of data to "start" your campaign. Good luck! :beer:

StuartGMC

Well I just had to post a quick update.... we have just hit 80% offset :j:j:j

It will be short lived as this is a combination of salary in for me plus some works expenses which are sitting on the credit card and will thus be part of the large amount leaving the current a/c on 10 December, but what the heck it means if (and when will NatWest announce the new mortgage rates???) our rate is dropped to 4.45% on Monday, then our equivalent rate will be 1.37% :D:D

This will be transient and we'll drop back but it is a nice thing to focus upon at this time of bad news. (I've edited the signature though for now)

Hope to bring our costs in on target in December although my car tax is due which will be £210 I think. We "should" be able to save some cash this month, but with the Christmas expenses this will be less than the £812 scheduled so we'll have to make up for this with improvements in Jan-Mar 09.

Saved about £16.70 in petrol this week as I was away on business so saved 4 journeys (gallon each way), plus I didn't drink alcohol at home which saved a couple of bottles (and I was good, no alcohol in Norway either but not sure if it helped the waistline ).

evab_2

:Twell done stuart that's fantastic!

StuartGMC

If you thought I was posting a lot, I don't normally spend a Friday evening here, but, DD is having her 11th birthday party and I'm obviously not "required" so have been banished to the study for the evening; thought I should catch up on the posts here having been away.... amazing that girls of that age can make so much noise when they're having fun

Just pondering who will be awake first tomorrow, me, or all the girls on the sleepover.... :rotfl:
... time for another beer I think!

EssexHebridean

Well done Stuart - that's great news!

StuartGMC

Well I am a bit tired, girls finally went off to sleep 0145, "sleepover" is such a misnomer! Have picked up new specs and am trying to adjust to the varifocals.... I don't think it helps being tired though :rolleyes:

Checked bank accounts etc and although the monthly DD has transferred into our 1st Reserve from the current a/c at £101 to get the £50 bonus next summer, I doubt much more will be saved with the £2500 credit card bill to cover.

So, to ensure the full mortgage OP went in, (£158 OP is part of the DD each month, whilst the other £200 is transferred manually) I've just done it online (love instant banking especially when the funds move instantly!).

So a total payment of £650 means the outstanding mortgage is £20,493.81 plus about £40 interest which will be charged in the middle of the month i.e. £20533 looks like year end situation (I really will have to find a few quid to drop in to round it once NatWest have updated the account).

Looked back at my first page and I can't believe I didn't note the mortgage remaining when I started this thread on 30 May; it was I think in the signature! However spreadsheet shows it was £24013 in June, decreasing on average by £580 per month, but the increased OP should improve that and get us to 100% offset next summer.

We'll ignore the S&S ISAs for now which remain 48% down over the amounts invested... :eek:

Finally, wife just called from an animal shelter where she and DD are looking at cats; they are bringing home a 3-yr old male. DD has been waiting for more than a year for this, so I feel confident she will care for it. Of course, I will now need to recheck the best pet insurance policies and make a monthly allowance on the spreadsheet for this and general vet's costs... (I guess the latter is about £200 per year?) although the food etc will simply be part of the routine shopping.

gallygirl

StuartGMC wrote: »

Finally, wife just called from an animal shelter where she and DD are looking at cats; they are bringing home a 3-yr old male. DD has been waiting for more than a year for this, so I feel confident she will care for it. Of course, I will now need to recheck the best pet insurance policies and make a monthly allowance on the spreadsheet for this and general vet's costs... (I guess the latter is about £200 per year?) although the food etc will simply be part of the routine shopping.

Aw good luck with puss, hope he settles quickly. Re the insurance & spreadsheets - wasn't life so much simpler when we just went out & bought stuff? I'm currently looking at computer monitors and fighting the urge to say 'stuff it' & head for PC World.

setmefree2

Stuart did you book your holiday? Wondered if I'd missed it.

StuartGMC

SMF2, no, we've not booked the holiday... I think with the present climate it has been somewhat "difficult" to go for several thousand pounds spend. However OH has checked prices and they've not changed. Anticipate pay rise information soon so this may convince me to go ahead....

Meanwhile, re-homed cat is settling in, he is very affectionate but this means "having" to sit around of an evening while he is fussed over and made to feel safe and comfortable in his new home. Three weeks before he's allowed out of the house, which will fit well with our Christmas break to be around outside.

Turning to MSE things, NatWest have at last updated their website with new rates and wider range of mortgages; awaiting formal notice on our offset interest rate as that online is 4.95% but I was expecting 4.45%... mind you, it makes little difference on our effective interest rate, it's just psychological, (Now, what on earth will I do once MF.... actually, probably be even more focused on the investments etc - there's no hope for me!)