Balancing not just the budget

RosaBernicia

Hello lovely people, sorry I haven't been on for ages! 

Christmas was very quiet, not really a problem as I expected it and fortunately had posted everything before all the arrangements changed.  I'm still unpacking and sorting the house so did a bit of that and lots of phone chat and eating 

I have been doing extra shifts for work so that is a bit of a PITA but should be a bit extra in the bank. 

Hope you all had a good break, will catch up on diaries in a bit. 

RosaBernicia

So, rather belated shuffle report. 

Things are actually looking better than I expected money wise, as the house costs are now being spread out more than I originally planned.  CC stands at £3,820 but a lot of that is available in other accounts, just not paid over there yet as it's currently still 0%.  There should be about £600 coming back from the pet insurance.  About £450 of it is also furniture, so expected and not really avoidable. 

I also paid out almost £500 on the car this month - not ideal, and I did consider either giving it up or replacing it but decided to keep it.  It's worth more than I thought and has very low mileage compared to the others for sale, and it is simpler for times I don't actually need the van.  Also the van absolutely munches fuel so using it all the time would cost me a good chunk of what I'd save on the car's road tax and insurance.  So it's fixed by a garage literally minutes away - very pleased to have found them, they seem brilliant and have even said they want it back in for a free check over to ensure everything has settled right. 

I think most of my moving costs are now sorted and the first mortgage payment went this month, so from January I will finally, hopefully, be back to predictable monthly costs.  At present there should be a nice chunk of available money from each paycheque, plus I will have a bonus and some overtime, so all of those will go towards decorating the house for the next few months and once it's sorted I will start saving again.  Oh, and I must do a tax return - that should be a bit of money for the decorating pots too. 

It's a weird feeling to realise I have finally arrived somewhere steady after the move, and also to realise that I'm not quite sure what my goals are now.  I've got the job I thought I couldn't have, have a campervan sitting in the driveway that I thought was going to help with my alternative and is now a bonus, and have a house with plenty of space and a great location.  I'm deeply grateful for this and very aware that although the pandemic has prevented me doing some of the things I wanted, it's mostly causing me disruption and delay rather than disaster.  I think it's time to allow myself to focus on fun and relationships - even if it does have to be online for a while longer 

Hope everyone is well and safe out there

RB xx

RosaBernicia

And as I'm back MSE ing... have checked all 3 of my credit reports and updated them to the new address (which I thought I'd done weeks ago, but clearly hadn't) and also registered to vote at the new address. 

Isn't it weird how the different agencies judge you?  I have an almost perfect score with one, and only fair with the others.  Particularly unimpressed with ClearScore, which tells me I have closed and opened various accounts this month - fortunately I can tell from the redacted numbers that this is nonsense and it's just the change to the new address on established accounts. 

moneyonmymindsam

Same thing happened to me when going to plus ones. One is still out (clearscore) but I think it will resolve on next month's update. 
I will keep an eye that it gets corrected/updated. 

Glad to hear all is on the positive and lovely to have the van on the drive. 

Exciting times - not sure what my 2021 goals are yet either to be honest. 
Much love to you and stay warm :-) 
Sam x

RosaBernicia

Happy new year everyone - I hope it brings you joy 

RosaBernicia

Belated shuffle report...

Pet insurance have confirmed they will pay up, so that's a big chunk of money back in the pot. 

Planned spending on decorating is all now on hold    as I can't get plasterer etc in.  I could paint some of the rooms and redo bits later, so may start to do that once I've finished reorganising/ decluttering, but I also have quite a bit on with work so it may just have to wait.  Peeved tbh as I wanted to get the kitchen rearranged a bit so I could have a dishwasher.  I suppose it does mean the cost is being spread out, so I will pay a chunk off the CC on payday. 

I have bought some extra bits for the house but it's fairly small things.  I only need a couple more things as I already had most of the furniture etc I need.  Quite a few things I wanted are out of stock and only reported this after I ordered - I'm hoping this is new year sales not impending Brexit disasters.  Living room, kitchen, office and one bedroom are now mostly furnished and organised though not decorated, and I will be working on the last bedroom shortly (it needs furniture building, storage stuff organising into boxes and charity shop stuff removing - I was wondering how on earth to get things donated but it looks like the British Heart Foundation have set up a courier option so will look into that). 

I have now rounded up all my clothes into one place for a sort out... haven't been buying any as not going anywhere.  I did order underwear and I might get another couple of pairs of B0den leggings, but I can't really justify much else. 

It's a bit of an odd feeling finally being able to unpack after so long and settle a bit. It's lovely to have all my stuff around me and rediscover things I love and remember things that have made me who I am.  Very disappointed to realise it's been nearly a year of lockdowns though, I have been lucky with my situation in many ways but it does feel like lost time.  Hoping to have a bit of meditation and thinking on the weekend about where to go from here. 

RB xx

RosaBernicia

Oh, and I did just spend a mad amount on food - a friend reminded me about a frozen meal company I love and it turns out they do deliver here... so I've ordered enough to fill the freezer and be my takeaway equivalent and long work day saviour for a while 

moneyonmymindsam

Pleased you have a full freezer especially when you are working so hard. A year of lockdown not great but when we finally get our freedom perhaps it will be more cherished and more enjoyable.
Sounds like home is looking good. You have a lot on so don't forget self care is key for 2021.
Sam x

RosaBernicia

Well being on track didn't last - I have ordered a whole bunch of stuff so am well over budget for current input, but then again it will be fine on payday.  Part of the spends was IT stuff I managed to get through the rainforest warehouse for £150 off, so figured it was worth putting it on the CC.  For the rest, I've got the last bits of furniture I need ordered and coming next week; storage boxes; and some supplements and body creams etc that I had got behind on.  I think you're right Sam, I could do with a self care night for a bath, lash tint and face pack - I haven't taken time for such things while unpacking and I'm kinda low maintenance to begin with!  also need to go through my clothes at some point but funnily enough, not feeling motivated to do that while stuck in the house . 

Pleased to have got sorted with weekly orders for food, I always meant to do that just to save on time and I suspect it will save money too.  I'll be ordering more of the frozen prepped food as well to minimise cooking time while studying. 

So plodding forwards, it feels like the house is nearly organised if not decorated and I'm getting sorted - feels like progress. 

moneyonmymindsam

You are house building and if you are going to buy then January with all the sales is the best time to do that 😀😁. Not really a spend as building a future life! Yes think we all must get better at forming a self care /pampering habit - we are worth it. 
Sam 
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