A question about : Enjoying the Sunshine whilst Saving for the Rainy Day
Some people are making such thorough preparation for rainy days that they aren't enjoying today's sunshine. William Feather
I'm finally debt-free after many years of being in debt and 2 and a half years being on a dmp with SC 
. Like most new debt-free people that have done it the hard way I'm keen to get started on saving for the future . However as my diary title suggests I'd still like to be enjoying life, as a great lady once said, Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. (Mother Theresa)
I already have savings pots in place, one for emergency funds which I'm aiming to get up to Ј6,000. I have a rental property which has cost me dear before now with awful tenant, after awful tenant *sigh*. I intend to put some savings away for this in case of the worst case scenario (can I really be that unlucky again though?). I have an ISA fund too, this is my future savings fund. The one for the big house in the country -it'll probably end up being a barn (without conversion) on a field more like but I have always been a dreamer . I would like Ј25,000 in this one (please universe, are you listening )
I have started getting the house in order & intend to continue doing this as the house we are in has zilcho storage, no room to put bought storage and there are probably too many of us in here hence why I always feel cramped ! Have started fly lady and hope to continue with it. It's really helped so far, I might even pluck up courage to post on the actual thread too .
As far as budgets go mine has been cut as far back as it will go in terms of bills, insurances and everything else that can be shopped around for. I've allocated myself and DH a pocket money fund each month. Mine has been absent for a long while now, DH, well you'd have never thought we were in debt if you were to ask him (i.e his pocket money never stopped!!!) I have a part time job which I started on the day my youngest started school and whilst I have it I intend on saving every penny I possibly can as you never know what is round the corner and you never know how long the job might last . 
Whilst the weather has held out so well this year i've been making the most of fun free days out and I hope it continues for a little longer!
As for living for the present (my old diary title) I intend to try and carry on doing so. I smile a lot more these days and it's not down to the prozac anymore (yay) life has become much simpler, and also happier.
That's enough from me for now I do like to ramble. I'll be back with some more posts!
Link to diary number 1: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=3011024
Link to diary number 2: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=3928785
Best answers:
- So my savings plan for the next 5 years:
Emergency Funds i'm aiming for Ј6,000-
currently Ј1020.29
18/11- Ј727.20 ,
15/01/14-Ј950.91
Saving for the Future Fund I'm aiming for Ј25,000. My first target is Ј5,000, currently at Ј962. 18/11- Ј2653.64
15/01/14- Ј3325.59
Rental Property- Ј3,000 target.
18/11- Ј455 (and about to be wiped out!)
15/01/14- Ј585
I put Ј150 into the emergency funds each month. Ј60 into the rental property fund, and whatever I can save during the month into the future fund! Whilst I'm working it's Ј650+ each month.
My money matters:
I round down my bank accounts each time I log on and transfer the pennies into my emergency fund. I've been doing this a while now and it really makes a difference. I have all my accounts in one place so I can see them all when I log online.
At the beginning of the month I transfer out direct debit money into a savings account. I then transfer the money in the day before it's due out. If i'm going away I will transfer the money across before I go so I avoid bank charges. I take cash out for grocery, petrol, pocket money & kids clubs. I try not to use the bank card at all. I've bought a cash box and some strong ziplock bags, i've separated money into each budget and it stays in the box until I need it. I keep Ј20 in my purse tops if i'm not expecting any spends. That way it's Ј20 tops damage
Signature:
Savings #1= Emergency fund
Savings #2= House buying fund
Savings #3= Rental house fund - Meal Plan:
September: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bwfp...dUk/edit?pli=1
October: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...3c&usp=sharing
Long Term Goals: So this is it, my 5 goals in 5 years:
1) Save Ј34,000
- Ј25k for a mortgage
- Ј6k towards a contingency fund
- Ј3k for the rental contingency fund
(works out to Ј567 per month I need to save for 5 years)
2) Buy a newer more economical car (happy with 2nd hand again but preferably a car to suit us a little more!)
3) Take the kids to Euro Disney before DS1 leaves home! (he's 15 in October, time is ticking it feels like )
4) Find a long term job to suit me/children (in an area that I enjoy I hope)
5) Re-locate nearer family/friends/country (happy to rent to begin with so long as it doesn't hinder savings plan too much)
Personal goals: (as I realise all the former relate to money saving of some kind!)
1) To start Yoga again regularly and also meditation (good for mind body and soul!)
2) Keep exercising (staves off depression)
3) Smile more something i've not done enough of these last few years
4) Spend more quality time with the kids separately (not sure how I will manage this but I feel it's important)
5) Spend more time with OH (no wonder our relationship suffers we haven't been out alone in months)
I'll use this post to update with meal plans as I keep losing them! And Also for progress on my goals that have been copy and pasted from my last diary
- So today's update! I had a quick look at the flylady earlier on kerri's thread but I don't think i've done an awful lot of it I will go find it again in a mo and see what I have done!
I had a friend round for this morning and so spent the morning nattering, as you do . She's buying a house and showed me the plans and prices ouch. Expensive! Especially considering she doesn't have any savings I'm utterly confused as to how she's paying for it especially as she has Ј20k worth of debt and her hubby is on the same wage as mine! Ho hum, when I find out I shall see if I can do the same .
Today i've cooked spaghetti bolognese in the slow cooker and made 3 lots so have used up one lot today and split the other 2 portions into tupperware to freeze. That's 2 meals sorted for lazier days . I also made 2 banana & raisen loafs, 21 cupcakes (in my new cupcake maker). The dishwasher has been on 3 times today and I don't feel like i've stopped all day really! I'm exhausted and say roll on the weekend!!!!!! 6 kids to look after is tiring
My front room is a tip and i'm hoping tomorrow's fly lady is going to sort it out . I wonder if one of the jobs will be to pick up 10 million pencils and scraps of paper after the kids got hold of the scissors (don't panic they are plastic kid proof ones )
Today I had some spends, I bought a mini cupcake maker on sale in ald1 for Ј6.99 A WANT, not a NEED. oops. Also bought a new bin & shower curtain for bathroom, a NEED not a WANT total costs were Ј17. Right off to find flylady or kerri's thread to copy and paste the things i should have done today - Whimsical Wednesday ~ Barnacled Bathroom
15 minutes...
Empty binsdoes buying a new one and throwing the old one out count?
Clear all empty bottles/toothpaste tubes etc.. Do we really need to keep that empty box of q-tips. I do this daily as I hate empty bottles lying around
Change flannels/spongesI throw them in the wash straight after using the once
30 minutes to spare..
Clean sink and bath
Shine the taps, don't forget to get underneath the taps with a toothbrush.
Clear floor of any stuff that shouldn't be there - towels if they are dirty should be in the laundry bin.
Got an hour...
Hoover/mop floor
Clear out the medicine cabinet - if you have any out of date medicine make sure it's bagged up properly and either bin it securely or take to the nearest chemist for disposal.
Replace those manky towels for lovely fresh towels.
Clean windowsill
Extra challenge: - Clean windows
- Wash curtains
- HHI
- Excellent - a happy, new diary.
You've got some great goals there and I'm sure you'll hit them.
Definitely agree to make hay while the sun shine with jobs, life has ways of throwing up "little challenges".
As for having 6 kids to watch, I take my hat and anything else not too revealing off to you. I've the patience of a ritalin defective gnat and would strangle the little angels by 4:30 daily - Subscribed to the new diary. No show without Punch!! Xx
- whoop, whoop shiny new diary
Good luck with achieving your new goals, I'm sure you will do it
Off to subscribe. - Wishing you the very best of luck, support and anything else that you may need on the chapter of your life. Well done on becoming debt free, your plans sound great I hope everything goes the way you want it.
C x - I'm here, I'm here, will catch up when I've taped the LR skirting board in a minute
- *Subscribed*
Interesting to see you use cash instead of bank cards, this is what Mrs. K. and I have started doing in our attempt to become debt free.
You still need to make me that pizza! - Thank you Chrysalis and hello Kerri
I'm naughty and opened my Pinot that I had saved for Saturday currently supping on a wine spritzer Did I say I went to the park after school with 6 kids (eldest came along to play rugby with them) and I ended up with 2 of the neighbours kids as well? 8 kids is ruddy hard work. Funny thing is I know of someone who has 10 children how she manages on a day to day basis without a drip going straight into her with 40% alcohol is a wonder to me ???! Sheesh! And there was me thinking of becoming a teacher............I best leave it to the professionals I think! - DFW321: No slow cookers here, we're poor don't forget. Send me the recipe anyway, we may improvise.
LOL, reply received and I've already gone whining to Mrs. K. "but sheeee gets wine, look!" Of course, Mrs. K. is a hard task master who says "No".
Ditto on the bank cards. - Hi DFW,
Happy shiny new diary!
*subscribed*
..Your mate with ten kids? Big ones will help entertain / supervise little 'uns - guess the six you're keeping safe are much closer in age = much harder work so well done!
You deserve a drop o' good cheer - in fact, think I'll join you in a tipple [cider for me]; cheers m'dear! - Bread maker! That's even more middle class, my dear.
We still work in pounds and ounces here up north!
I must will do better tomorrow
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