greent's mfw journey

Suffolk_lass

Yes well done you. Onward and upwards, as they say! Happy 2021

killerpeaty

I love that you had a good christmas!

Your 2020 was very productive, although it's a shame that you didn't get to go on your holidays and your son's girlfriend. Can't wait to see what you get up to next year

greent

Looking forward to 2021........ Some goals/ plans for the year (very much influenced by previous years' plans, which themselves are influenced by @apple_muncher's 'Health, wealth, a life well lived'

Firstly (again!), it has to be to post on here more regularly - I've been posting elsewhere, but have been a bit rubbish about posting on here and other MFW diaries. 

FAMILY
* Make Memories - the perennial favourite! No idea if we will have any holidays in 2021 - am very unwilling to book anything abroad until C0vid is much more controlled - maybe we can manage a week in Oct half term? Events happening - hopefully some wider family meet-ups once we are allowed to mingle - there are new babies to meet for the first time and lots of face-to-face catching up to do (skype and messenger only go so far) Plus the plan is to scatter my Nan's ashes at some point (March? - her bday month) and also DH's mum's ashes (she died in 2015 - planning on hopefully end of March - what would have been her 70th bday) which will involve some family meet ups The big news should be 2 graduation ceremonies in the Summer - DD's for her MA and DS1's for his BSc - fingers crossed they are not on the same day, as they are not at the same unis!!
Definitely some day trips to various places at the very least
* Family Events - wider family are planning some get togethers if we are allowed!  And see above re: graduation ceremonies. 
* Continue to support  DS1 whilst at uni (financially and otherwise!!), DS2 in y10/11 (GCSE years!), DS3 Y7/8 - and DD in starting her first 'proper' job   DS1 may do either another degree (post grad med) or a MSc, so the support won't be stopping! 
* Weekends - one a month to be DIY/ decluttering/ garden project based. 2 to family and 1 floating to whatever - will attempt this again, seeing as it was a non-starter in 2020! 

HOME
* The House - update the spreadsheet of jobs to be done around the house . 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, boys bathroom. More Fencing. Internal doors. Lots of electrical work (outside lights and sockets, new consumer unit, new lights in most of downstairs, maybe CCTV)  Update DS2's room - hardly changed since he was 4... he is 15 in 8 days!!! Mostly c/f from 2020
* Garden - finish removing 2 fruit trees and offer wood on freegle. Get front strawberry bed under control. Possible railings to be made and fitted to edges, separating from neighbours. More new pretty lights. WOuld love to re-do back garden hard landscaping and new driveway but suspect not enough money to do everything I want, so will have patio professionally cleaned. New fencing along 1 front border (at least 3 rotten fence posts) Redo front lawn where caravan was. Probably only looking to grow fruit (already in garden) and tomatoes. 
* Maintain decluttering - loads of stuff gone in 2020. Just need to get rid of some other stuff in 2021 - like 2 caravan awnings found in the garage loft...... Will put any funds received to BTL until it is sold (fingers crossed) and then to ISA (have set net £500 target for the year, which includes selling things of the kids which they then get the money for, so am not expecting a lot!) Am also volunteering in local CS, so will be taking things there
* Sort photos out and finish off the frame sets we have for various rooms

FINANCES
* Pensions - need to increase DH's monthly contrib to e'er scheme. Also investigate how much to put in as lump sum to SIPP(s)
* Do tax returns quickly after April - ideally by mid June. 
* Extra funds (sales of items, surveys, cashback, £2 coins, invigilating money) to be paid to BTL - and then added to ISA if BTL sale goes through
* Hopefully get BTL sold! - once we have sale proceeds can revisit works planned on house. Add lumps to ISA and SIPPs
* Make our money work harder (eg: e'er scheme vouchers for shopping, look at switching a couple of old accounts for easy cash, look at CCs, look at savings rates) Plan on getting £300 Tesc0 and £100 Sainz discounted vouchers at start of month and use A1di/ L1d1 more than I have been doing of late (partly down to pandemic, I don't want to go to lots of shops) - will review amount of discounted vouchers on an ongoing monthly basis. Need to get rid of Debnums CC after next bill and I think I have an old Amaz0n one technically still live......
* Make sure all insurances are reviewed and switch energy suppliers at end of fix. - will look at multi policy providers
* 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) - CF from 2020!
* Look at kids' stuff - made a start on this in 2020, but need to investigate S&S ISAs for youngest 2

HEALTH
* My fitness levels to be improved - plan= walking, Zumba, c25k, using gym equipment which we have here and going to the gym (seeing as I've paid to join!).... 
* Lose weight/ reduce dress sizes - would love another 2 stone off in 2021. At the very least minimum another stone
* Get family more active - esp DS2 for his DofE Silver! - smalls noticeably less fit after lockdown......

debtfreeoneday

Loving these goals!  

Karmacat

Really good - I like covering the whole range of things in my goals, though like you I haven't even thought about plannng holidays yet.  I have a wish list, but thats all.
Can I check what "e'er" is?  As in this quote: "need to increase DH's monthly contrib to e'er scheme".  It occurs somewhere else too, and I just can't figure it out, sorry

Legs21

Karmacat said:

Really good - I like covering the whole range of things in my goals, though like you I haven't even thought about plannng holidays yet.  I have a wish list, but thats all.
Can I check what "e'er" is?  As in this quote: "need to increase DH's monthly contrib to e'er scheme".  It occurs somewhere else too, and I just can't figure it out, sorry

Employer?

apple_muncher

Or is it oooer?!

greent

Ah - sorry, Kc - @Legs21 is correct - it *is* employer. I may also have referred to e'ee? - which is employee

Most positive thing about today? (seeing as we've gone into tier 4 and schools return has been delayed - meh meh meh) - I can fit into (and comfortably squat whilst wearing them) size 14 jeans - I started the year wearing rather tight size 18 jeans Now can I get into size 12 in 2021....?

f0xh0les

yay!  well done you on the size 14s.   Looks like we lost the same bits in 2020.

I have ds 4 going back on the 5th, ds1 and 2 possibly on the 11th, and ds3 back on the 18th.

Honestly there is going to be mutiny in the hallway every morning. 

killerpeaty

Well done on the weightloss! You must be very excited about it!

Love your targets for the new year, hope decluttering goes well!