The "Grand Plan" - Phase One well underway!

StuartGMC

EssexHebridean wrote: »

I've also just had a happy thought - I'm now aiming to pay the loan off two months earlier than the settlement date I have been working on, meaning that the figure I'm working on will actually come down slightly. A quick calculation suggests it will knock an additional £130 off the final figure to be paid. Nearer the time I will contact Northern Rock to get an exact figure for settlement.

Great to hear you are exceeding your targets, well done

EssexHebridean

Well, back from a week at the Beer festival and time to knuckle down and get back on track with this. I've just transferred the last lot of cash over to the ISA so the balance in there is now a touch over £2400.

I got back £11 from some printer cartridges we'd got for my aunt last week so that was fed to the pig, along with the refund from a disgusting bottle of squash from sainsbury's this morning. Not much saving other than that for the last week what with having to buy meals, travel etc. Having said that at least the beer didn't cost us anything! We tried to keep our travel as budget as possible and used either Oyster Cards or a railcard wherever possible.

I did my monthly "stock up" shop this morning and spent the lowest amount I have for the past three months - am well on target to come in at under £100 for the supermarket spend for August. No farmers market this month either (although there is a new one opening locally so I might wander along to that and see if it's any good - don't intend to make much in the way of purchases though as I want to eat from the freezer for a bit to try to get it a bit emptier.) It'll be handy if the new market is any good though as it might even cut back the Tesco spend a bit further!

alfiesmum

I just wanted to say that this thread is fantastic!! It's an inspiration that you're doing so well with this, and soooooo focused. I remember adding a reply early on, and I've been following it whenever I get on the forums.

So now I think I'm going to spend this morning, writing down everything I've done so far to get us to a step nearer our goal - and hope that if it looks half as impressive, I'll be pleased with myself!

Well done. Brill.

alfiesmum
xx

evab_2

Well done with your progress, excellent work!

EssexHebridean

Thanks Ladies!! The really tragic thing is just how much I'm enjoying the whole process too!

setmefree2

Well Done:T

elantan

i really liked the idea of the farmers market so i went to see if we had one close no chance lol ..just to let you know i do lurk and get inspiration from both you and stuart and your both very impressive thanks

EssexHebridean

Hi Elantan - shame about the farmers market thing - we've just gained one the other side of the town we live in which is handy, although we'll most likely still go to our regular one. We find that although not everything works out cheaper than the supermarkets, the higher quality of almost everything we buy makes it work out more cost effective.

New markets are opening up all over the place all the time - fingers crossed you might gain one locally to you before too long.

SingleSue

Rather than a farmers market which in this area are held once a month, we have discovered buying direct from the farms themselves, of which we have loads!

After being convinced they would cost the earth, I was pleasently surprised and am now an eager convert to buying direct. I even went fruit picking this week which the kids loved and it worked out way cheaper than buying the fruit in the supermarket. Very handily, our local farm also sells a host of other things too, all home made and at very decent prices...the pain au chocolat's were very nice tonight. :T

It's your fault EH, I hadn't thought about it until I read your thread!

EssexHebridean

Well done to you Sue - LOL - I bet the kids loved the fruit picking - have you managed to get the stains out of the two younger ones yet?!!

Of course all this saving is all well and good but I'm REALLY wishing I had gone to Eastbourne tonight now!!! :rolleyes: Ah well, Coventry on BH Monday instead......!

Our "regular" farmers market is held on a farm - they started off with "farm gate sales" - then were joined by a couple of other producers - now they hold 10 markets a year and it's a thriving and very profitable part of their business strategy. I think it's something that more and more farms are doing now as well so you never know Sue, some of yours might eventually grow into something bigger as well. I guess round your way eggs are easy to come by too.