Get a grip woman!

In terms of breakdown - first my work-related, I can claim all of it except my season ticket, which is down to me but only while I continue to work. Unfortunately, at £713.50 from 16th April to 24th May it is high (that is Easter to half-term - both planned breaks with the forthcoming one so DH and I can do a bit at home together (garden and tidying I expect).

Payments is all of the direct debits and standing orders. I am tracking the individual ones in a spreadsheet rather than an app (still using a full-size MacBook in our study with a lovely big screen!)

My breakdown so far is:
Union 14.91
ISA 260
Union 13.86
Council Tax 200
Health 30.75
TV Licence 12.37
Mortgage 500
Holiday 483.21
Loan 397.98
Water 25
Life Insurance 91
Mortgage overpayment 626.35
Mobile phones (3) 110.16
Donation 5

I could split out cost of living from payments on debts and savings I suppose but they are all automatic. I have taken out the three credit cards but realised as I was capturing these that I have also double entered water and Life insurance so off to remove these now. I will report again next week.

I normally use the debit card for my shopping, work-related meals, and fuel, rather than credit card, but this will probably change when I retire as my favoured CC for domestic spend is my JL card which gives me vouchers and once the travel costs drop off for commuting these will slow (and the bill will reduce)

"Other" is my category of shame. I might look at that next week.

The loan runs until November - it is a two year 0% interest loan for the double glazing. Planned to end before my work does. I've just popped back to put the shopping in and checked DH's credit card. Mmm, there are a few hidden treats in there. I don't mind, as long as I account for them. I have split out his April statement and all the May spends now so it really is a double month.

Our life insurance is for £250,000 until my 70th birthday or first death and was taken out when our Son was still in school. It was designed to allow for a live-in support if one of us died, or to pay everything off and pay towards Son's guardians extra costs if we both died. If we were doing it now with a dependant it would have to be a million I suspect. We wouldn't get anything like this value-ratio if we cancelled and took out something else now. I guess if we get to 70 we will pre-pay for funerals and reduce our finance complexities, rather than go for a big policy again.

Got the letter from the BS noting the OP on Thursday. Really disappointed that they have recorded the balance at still £74,000.10, whereas their website shows £73,999.69. On the upside the balance is 10p away from the interest rate and now just £61.05 a month - or £2 a day (whereas the website has it as £62.35 per month. I might have to track that figure.