Gallygirl's "A journey of 121,226.67 pounds begins with a single penny" diary

maggiem

Great news, when I saw your diary at the top I thought "oh no GG is closing her diary down" - very pleased to hear you are staying. Happy New Year - sadly can't say that in Spanish though

themadvix

Glad you're sticking around GG, you've got to show us lot what the benefits of being mortgage free are!

Happy New Year!!

AlexLK

Glad to hear you're staying, Gally. This place would be a lot duller without you.

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Very glad you are staying. Happy new year!

TallGirl

I'm also glad you're not retiring your diary (as I'm also hanging out on the MFW board). Your goals sounds perfectly doable I'm sure you'll be able to achieve them but also you are retired so you are allowed to take it easy and also spend some money as you say.

As for the investment side the savings board on mse is great I've learnt so much. Also have you signed up for the £12k in 2017 you can include interest and obviously set your own goal. Might help motivate you to get the best out of your money.

Fortune_Smiles

Happy New Year Gally!

Fortune x

gallygirl

maggiem wrote: »

Great news, when I saw your diary at the top I thought "oh no GG is closing her diary down" - very pleased to hear you are staying. Happy New Year - sadly can't say that in Spanish though

Feliz año nuevo maggiem

gallygirl wrote: »

2017 Goals

House

• [STRIKE]Get foldaway bed that can be used in house or apartment. BY END OF DEC 16 [/STRIKE] ACHIEVED
  

OK, bit of a cheat really as I knew I was going to see one yesterday with a view to buying - but hey, it's my diary :rotfl:.

Had a lovely New Year's Eve with friends - dinner then out to a Spanish bar then back to theirs. Em........ I might have travelled home in the car in my PJ's

misscousinitt

Happy new year GG!

So glad you are not retiring the diary yet - really like reading about your adventures and I just loovvee your turn of phrase - always makes me smile.

MCI x

gallygirl

Don't be afraid to spend some of my own money - I've taken (and spent/reinvested) the 25% lump sum but need to overcome my fear of touching at least some on an annual basis. To stop Mr GG moaning about me buying unnecessary things for the house as much as anything :rotfl:. CONTINUOUS

DOING - just ordered these for next year, had been looking before Christmas and couldn't find any, stumbled across these by chance :T :rotfl::j.

Inspired by NG, walk 3,000,000 steps :eek:. This is less than 10,000 a days so perfectly doable. CONTINUOUS, BUT NEED TO GET AHEAD AS WILL DROP OFF IN SUMMER

Have upped it to 3,650,000 steps :eek:. Averaging over 13,500 so far :T.

gallygirl

gallygirl wrote: »

2017 Goals

Financial

• Keep to our fairly generous household budget. Continue to monitor spending and try to build a small surplus. I've rejigged how I keep track so hopefully it will be easier. CONTINUOUS Monitoring Ongoing
  
• Don't be afraid to spend some of my own money - I've taken (and spent/reinvested) the 25% lump sum but need to overcome my fear of touching at least some on an annual basis. To stop Mr GG moaning about me buying unnecessary things for the house as much as anything :rotfl:. CONTINUOUS Three Kings arrived and are packed away for next year
  
• Look at how our cash is invested. At present we have a small amount in P2P, a small amount in 5% accounts, 20k getting 3% and the rest is getting 1.2%. Need to think about what to do. BY END OF FEB 17 Oops, no progress
  
• Tax - we're Spanish residents and I need to find someone who can properly advise us, especially as we became resident in September, the Spanish tax year ends 31st December and the UK tax year ends 5th April. BY END OF FEB 17 Oops, no progress

Health

• Research going onto the Spanish NHS and register (we have to pay as we're so young ). BY END OF JAN 17 Oops, no progress
• Get a grip of my weight (there's plenty to grip ). Stop acting as if we're on holiday - eat out less and drink a lot less. Lose 2.5 stone. 1 stone by Easter 17 1lb off, it's a start
  
• Inspired by NG, walk 3,000,000 steps :eek:. This is less than 10,000 a days so perfectly doable. CONTINUOUS, BUT NEED TO GET AHEAD AS WILL DROP OFF IN SUMMER Average is over 10,000, but only just. Combination of bad cold & cough coupled with very cold weather and rain have kept me in. Going out today and will do 10,000 - hopefully
  
• Get Well Woman/Well Man checks done. AT LEAST BOOK BY END OF JAN 17 Oops. No action. Want to sort out health service 1st.
  

Spanish. We are probably in the top 5% of Spanish speaking ex pats but sadly that's a reflection on the others lack of ability rather than our progress.

• Continue with Spanish lessons and practice when we can CONTINUOUS Not exactly rocking it and missed Spanish lesson as unwell
  
• Join the 3rd Age bar (though we're officially too young ) to give us access to more Spanish speakers - that is our biggest problem here really. BY END OF JAN 17 Will aim for Sunday
  
• Investigate intensive courses (I don't think we're ready but no harm in starting to look) BY END OF JAN 17 Have started to have a look
  

Culture

• Explore more of Spain, a new town or city each month. So far booked: January - Almeria, February - Antequera and Sevilla Almeria was a write-off - came back early as unwell. Next time we'll sneak up on it without warning - last time we went to explore Mr GG was unwell!
  
• To visit as a minimum: Granada and Cartagena and at least a three day trip elsewhere. Planning a summer road trip :T
  
• Find out more about the local area. Start by reading the book I bought Mr GG for Christmas last year, which neither of us have read . BY END OF JAN 17 Oops. I could have read it this week
  

House

• Decide what to do with lower terrace - then do it!! END OF SUMMER 17 No action
  
• Lighting for roof terrace and main terrace - I have some strong and not so strong solar lights which we will probably move round - but need to put hooks up for them. BY EASTER 17 No action - also need to factor in the lighting for the Three Kings.
  
• Sort out drains - previous owner is paying but need to get it done. BY END OF MARCH 17 (let's be realistic here!!!) Action on this :T - taking signed agreement to solicitors today
  
• Utility room. DK what, just do something with it!!!!! It's too big and characterless. There is room for a temporary bed so need to make sure I leave room for that but I would like a big armoire for linen. That will probably end up being an upcycled wardrobe . BY END OF SUMMER 17 No action
• [STRIKE]Get foldaway bed that can be used in house or apartment. BY END OF DEC 16 [/STRIKE]Achieved
  
• Finish painting and recovering stool (abandoned by someone at the bins ) BY END OF FEB 17 No action

Not exactly rocking it so far, must try harder