Goodbye February! I am honest – I am glad the month is over. I have been poorly for the past two weeks and it has been tough. Tough to keep trying to keep up with a four year old and a two year old when all you want to do is be in bed and asleep. It doesn’t happen! I am so fed up of being ill or under the weather. I keep wondering whether I should go to the doctor but then it feels like I’m being overdramatic so I don’t go. But, with February being over that means that the second month of 2020 is already over! Going fast, so far 🙂
In terms of our spending, I have confession to make. One of the rules in our No Spend Year was to have no takeaways. However, Mr FC and both boys have been away this last week and I have stumbled. I confess to having a Chinese takeaway on Wednesday night. And you know what? It wasn’t worth it. I didn’t particularly enjoy it and it wasn’t as tasty as I had been expecting. Very salty and just not worth the cost. I was so disappointed in myself afterwards as well. But, I intend to keep on with our No Spend Year and follow the rules. If that’s the only slip up I have in twelve months, then it will be good!
I have continued to fill in my budget planner religiously every day and the impact over the month is clear. I have only just finished the first page of the expense tracker for the second month running. I have managed more NSDs in a month than I have for a long time again. Even in a shorter month! The savings aim seemed straightforward but that’s because our spending in other areas has been lowered. I have managed to overpay significantly more than what my aim was. Just because of not spending in other areas.
And, I’m also prepared for March. I have got my budget planner all set up and my cash envelopes at the ready. These two things combined have absolutely transformed our finances and our spending habits for the better. We could not save nearly so much as we do without tracking our spending and using cash. I recommend downloading the planner in time for February and start tracking your spending! It will transform your finances for the better 
My Financial aims for February were:
– Have 18 No Spend Days (NSDs)
– Overpay the mortgage by £185
– Put £700 into savings
As of today, I have managed 20 NSDs in February. In a shorter month as well! I must admit that being unwell has helped this – a silver lining perhaps – but I’m pleased with this outcome. I am hopeful to continue the trend in March but we shall see. I am so pleased with that though of course, not spending has a positive impact on finances over time. I love tracking it in my NSD tracker too. Visual aids definitely help me! We have also had a great month in terms of our mortgage overpayment. Each month the aim will be £185 but I have overpaid our mortgage by £336.88 so again, passed that with ease I don’t expect to be able to continue with such high overpayments but I am happy with the first two months the year. Finally, I have put £700 into savings this month so a nice round number to end that with. Happy with that
My Personal Aims for February were:
– get ahead with blog posts
– plan out YouTube content for the month
– be organised!
Again, being ill has scuppered my plans for this month. I have just not had the energy to think about writing as much or posting as much. It is disappointing! I feel like I’ve lost my blogging mojo a bit as well; its you find it please give it back.
The top 3 posts on The Frugal Cottage during February were:
How has February been for you? What has been the best thing that has happened to you during the month?
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