greent's mfw journey

debtfreeoneday

Well done to DD. That’s really great. 

Moneyfordreams

Congrats to DD and DS1

newgirly

Happy Xmas greent 🙂

rtandon27

🎄❄🎅 Happy Holidays to the GreenT family! xxx 🎅❄🎄

greent

Hello everyone! Well - that was Christmas 2020! Tbh, it wasn't very different from our usual Xmas in the gt household - my mum visited in the morning for a couple of hours for present swapping (and brought washing with her, as her machine isn't working and engineer can't come out until 31st!) and the rest of the day was just us, as per usual. I napped in the afternoon in front of a D1sney film (got D1sney+ free for 6 months with mobile phone) , we ate (too much) and played games. Mostly repeated yesterday, too

Present wise I got lots of consumables of one sort or another - lots of smellies, N0 7 face stuff and make up, 2 vouchers for afternoon tea, lots of chocolates. Also a handmade glass Xmas ornament (truly lovely) and a beautiful Dart1ngt0n vase (I may have chosen that one myself......) And lots of socks.... which are always handy   Not too much 'stuff' , which is good - as I'm still generally looking to reduce 'stuff' here - and the stuff which stays has to be truly joyful/ useful  

Storm Bella was very noisy whilst I was in bed last night - but doesn't appear to have done much here (although clearly there was a lot of rain...) DH did have to take down a large inflatable Xmas decoration from the garden last night, though (No loss - I don't like it) I suspect it's a very different story elsewhere in the county - there was a lot of rain on Xmas Eve Eve and various areas were flooded/ roads shut/ homes & businesses flooded and even a couple of pubs/ restaurants flooded out, meaning people's Xmas dinner bookings were cancelled More flooding has occurred since due to water coming down the Severn from other areas and last night's rain will have just exacerbated the issue for many. 

I will revisit this year's plans some point this week - just to see how far adrift things went! And then it's time to come up with something for 2021, I guess. A bit different to normal - I'm not sure what holidays we will do/ be allowed, for starters. For now, though, I need to do some planning to get rid of all the yummy food which I'm eating way too much of..... far too tempting!

I hope everyone has had a lovely Xmas as possible in whatever circumstances they are in  xx

Suffolk_lass

Such a great post @greent - wishing you and your family a contented and happy 2021

Karmacat

I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselves in full, greent, how lovely that it was just about normal for you.  I've done a big 2021 planning post, but I haven't revisited last year's ... hmm, I liked it when Cheery did that, maybe I'll need to take a peek. 

Have an equally wonderful time during the rest of the holidays  

greent

greent said:

Firstly, it has to be to post on here more regularly - I've been rather remiss of late, and it *does* make a difference, so I should get back into the habit! - hmmmmm. Didn't do brilliantly at this in 2020. Perhaps 2021 can be the year?  

I'm going with similar themes to 2019


FAMILY
* Make Memories - a perennial favourite! The big one in 2020 is our 3 week Summer holiday - with DD now 22 and DS1 will be 20, there can't be too many more of these! This one will also have DD's boyf and my bestie and her hubby with us. Other things happening in 2020 are a big birthday for me and DS3 starting secondary school in Sept.
The Summer holiday will take up a lot of OH's annual leave (and a lot of money!) but I'd still like some days out/ nights away around half terms. DD will also finish her Masters in Sept - so will hopefully have a job sometime soon thereafter....  OK - so 2020 is memorable for different reasons!      C0vid put paid to Florida holiday plans, and the (as then unknown about) NY Easter weekend trip - and possible replacements trips to CParcs and Swansea in Oct half term. However, teh weather this summer was mostly fantastic. We had BBQs in the garden, lots and lots of local walks, the smalls and I went up the hill a few times, we went out to the forest a couple of times, so all was not lost.    DD finally finished her MA in Nov and has a job which will hopefully start in Jan (awaiting clearance/ vetting)
* Family Events - my 50th birthday (March), our 25th wedding anniversary (Aug), a new baby in the family (May - to one of my cousin's who got married last year), my Nan's 90th bday (March), my Mum's 70th (May) - all need marking in some way! My 50th present was NY trip, so that was a non-starter!   My nan died before reaching 90 - but (on a positive note) before C0vid was an issue - so we managed to all see her and have a proper family funeral/ wake . My mum's 70th was during lockdown, but she did come here for cake in the garden (was allowable at that point). The new baby is super cute from the look of the pics on Fb00k - looking forward to meeting him hopefully in 2021! We also had another baby in the family (to my 36yo cousin's 18yo daughter....) Oh - and my uncle got remarried a couple of days before Xmas. Our anniversary meal was during 'eat out to help out' so we had a gorgeous meal at a local independent restaurant for an amazing bargain price  
* Continue to support DD and DS1 whilst at uni (financially and otherwise!!), DS2 in y9/10 (GCSE options!), DS3 Y6 into the start of secondary  As above, DD has finished and is just about to enter the working world   DS1 is looking at studying grad med for the next 4 years starting Sept 2021 (very ££££ ouchy)  They struggled coming back here in March, and we had the added complication of DS1's gf dumping him and going off with another housemate (who was DS1's friend originally) - meaning new accom needed to be found for DS1 - he was very mature about it all. DD and her bf have hardly seen each other in person since March - thank goodness for technology!  DS2's options went well (although home schooling from March to July was not well done by his school - has been better since then when required again) and his parents evening was brilliant (mostly predicted 8s and 9s with 1 7 from memory)  DS3 really missed out on the end of Y6, sadly - but has settled into secondary school brilliantly and seems to be doing well, thankfully   And DH has been homeworking since March with a handful of visits to the office - saves petrol costs, but he works some very silly hours....
* Weekends - one a month to be DIY/ decluttering/ garden project based. 2 to family and 1 floating to whatever - yeah.... this didn't happen! 

HOME
* The House - update the spreadsheet of jobs to be done around the house (I've done it - just need hubby to agree/confirm). Aim to achieve something each month from there, especially if little/ no cost, just time.! Big jobs (time and/ or money) = family room and office. Poss boys bathroom. Fencing.  Struggled getting trades in to quote (still struggling) Did get fencing done, though (although not all) - cracking job    Other jobs appeared along the way - such as plastering the kitchen ceiling and new lights in there after wiring on several burnt through in the ceiling space! - that happened in Jan/ Feb and it took until Nov (?) to sort....  So most of this is now on the agenda for 2021
* Garden - probably won't grow anything other than the fruit already in the garden this year, due to 3 weeks away. New fencing needed (sigh) Some more new lights and lots of pretty plants again - was lovely last Summer and I'd like it to be lovely again this year. Get rid of the caravan..... which will then mean a patch of the garden needs redoing where it has been stood for the last few years..... Fencing done and Caravan sold at start of lockdown to someone who needed an extra room for isolating family member (whoop!) - grass is still a bit duff where it was, but it has improved.... Garden had lots of pretty plants and solar lights again - and we ended up growing the usual fruit plus tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, courgettes and basil. 
* Maintain decluttering - see above re caravan for a biggie (in terms of sheer physical size! ) Lots done on this in past few year, so it's more a case of just making sure it doesn't build back up. Any sales first half of year will go to hol fund. After holiday any monies will go to BTL mtge.  Lots done - very successful and will continue in 2021. Monies split as planned.

FINANCES
* Pensions - check out my new one re above post. Look at transferring NEST ones. Maybe look at increasing OH's contribs (esp as he is HR taxpayer)   Both NEST pensions transferred to V@nguard SIPPS, along with DH's Av1va one. Additional lump sum into both V@nguard ones. 
* Do tax returns (will be back to me to do them once we get rid of accountant in around E weeks!) quickly after April. Done. Tax bills paid. 
* Extra funds (sales of items, surveys, cashback, £2 coins, invigilating money) to be added to 2020 holiday fund - and then paid to BTL after holiday over.- Pretty much did this. 
* Reduce outstanding capital balance on BTL mtge by £6K over the year as a first target - will increase this to 8K if easily achieved. Done. Plans changed after tenant gave notice and we are now hopefully selling the property
* Maybe increase S&S ISA monthly payment - will review in new tax year, as will have better idea of monthly budget then. Increased at end of year (Nov?) due to crazy world situation
* Make our money work harder (eg: P**kb0x vouchers for shopping, look at switching a couple of old accounts for easy cash) Hmm. Used lots of reduced vouchers from DH's work scheme for places like JL3wis, Curry5 but still are rubbish at using them for smkt shopping....  No account switching, but did manage to get some fixed rate accounts open (for 12 months) before rates dropped
* Get rid of old/ unused CCs (I personally will never get rid entirely - we do use them responsibly and pay them off and benefit from reward schemes) and investigate if any new/ better ones out there. Did a couple. Now need to review (will get rid of my Debnums mastercard now they are closing, as no benefit in having it)
* Make sure all insurances are reviewed and switch energy suppliers at end of fix. - yep. As per. 
* OH has 2 old 're: ……..' bank accounts which are very likely dormant (re family members who are now both in their 20s!) - get these closed off and money sent to the respective family members (one of whom is the cousin expecting a baby) Not touched at all

MY HEALTH
* My fitness levels to be regained to minimum where they were a few years ago. - plan= walking, Zumba, c25k (assuming Achilles ok), and using gym equipment which we have here.... - some zumba, some gym, some rowing - but not enough, really, Did ok, but could do more.....
* Lose weight/ reduce dress sizes - big 5-0 and holiday coming up, after all....  - total of 2.5 stone lost in the last 12 months (well, I suspect a couple of lbs are back on from Xmas, but they will go in Jan) A success.

Soooo.... 2020 wasn't too bad, according to the above! Now to think about 2021......

apple_muncher

That's a pretty spiffing 2020, greent. I love reading your plans and reviews!

Karmacat

You've got so much going on with there being six of you, but you've done *so* well.  And you're sneaking in the confirmation of your huge weight loss too, that's very good, congratulations.