Cherry takes the reins

A quick catch-up post:

7/1/18
Spends:
Donation £2.00 (this is the above-mentioned knitted Christmas decs - the money goes to charity and I really couldn't decide what other category they go in even though I benefit).
8/1/18
Spends:
Entertainment (lunch with friends) £9.44

I had another look at the remainder of our mortgage and think I had the approach wrong.
If I fix the rate on the largest of the three parts I can overpay the smaller parts and get them completely out of the way in a year by snowballing. I worked out I can get the smallest out of the way by June, easily. However, that would tie me in to the largest for at least two years, by which time I may already have the money through from Mum's estate enabling me to pay the rest off.

It's just occured to me that I could significantly cut the interest payable in the meantime by throwing as much as possible at the largest part before fixing the rate. If I used my credit card, which is on 0%, I could pay off a quarter of the largest part and should be able to repay the CC by the end of the 0% period, or if that weren't possible (would take focus), I don't think I'd have any difficulty getting a balance transfer. I don't want to take risks with borrowing though as I don't really know what I'm doing.

Another financial thing to get out of the way is to check which of my train fares I have still to reclaim from the estate - I think I paid them all from the other account so they wouldn't go to the mortgage-paying account but they could go into holiday funds.

I hate wading through old accounts - its so tedious! Can you tell I'm still putting it off? :rotfl:

A bit of a hurried post as I'm back at work in 45 minutes.

9/1/18
Spends:
Download £2.16
Housekeeping £17.76
Medical £4.00
Household £6.75
Piano lesson £10.00

So not a cheap day. Quite a lot of the housekeeping was fruit which was extravagant but I wanted to take fruit kebabs as my share of 'nibbles' at a friend's house: I knew we'd all be post-Christmassy when it came to food! We had a lovely time together and ate far too much (post Christmas notwithstanding) and the rest of the fruit is doing us good at home. DS got half a mango and some blueberries, I've had blueberries and apple in my porridge, banana for break... very healthy but it's so expensive! It's true food prices are rising quite noticably.

10/1/18
Spends:
Book £4.29
Housekeeping £1
Entertainment £1.40 (coffee shop).