Keeping up with the Jonesy

Jonesy88

Well hello 2016!

I'm feeling very positive about the coming year. Hopefully this year will be the year we pay off the (bigger) debt, continue to improve the house and fingers crossed start a family.

2015 had a lot of changes and achievements, from buying a house and doing it up to promotion and passing exams. It also ended with a bit of drama - on Christmas Eve eve, our boiler broke! Everyone was due to come round, food had been bought, house tidied, presents wrapped and Christmas Day planned. But it all had to be changed and we ended up at the inlaws.

That brings me to the now bigger debt. Me and OH now have a loan - we've taken the extra to allow for a new boiler and to change the heating system to a more up to date (and more reliable!) modern system. Not an ideal end to the year but it's something that is an investment to the house and not a frivolous expense.

So, what do I have planned for 2016?

Things to finish:
£3k baby fund
£9k Loan (Loan 1)
£7k Loan (Loan 2)

Things to achieve:
New sofa ✓
New Boiler
Chimney Work ✓
Carpet the 1st floor (currently laminate)
Lose weight
Become a fully qualified accountant

Things to start:
Saving for a master en-suite and fitted wardrobes
Saving for a new kitchen

I've made a start already!

Finances as at 01.01.16:

Loan 1: £0/£8000
Loan 2: £0/£7000
Emergency Fund: £1500
Baby Fund: £2000/£3000
VSP: £4.92

I've declared a target of £15000 to be paid off by Christmas 2016, which is the 2 loans. This is definitely a stretch target and is fully dependant on no more house disasters!

Jonesy88

Happy February! :smileyhea

I seem to be so busy in 2016! Hopefully this wont affect my MSE ways too much (she says having booked a holiday for September:cool:).

So far 2016 has been positive, the boiler was repaired, despite the original engineer saying it was broken. I am determined to lose weight and so plan to join the gym once my exam is out of the way. I might join SW, it depends on the class times and work. Bit of a quick update, promise to be back soon!

Goals for the month:

1. Revise
2. Join Gym
3. Lose 9lbs

Finances as at 01.02.16:

Loan 1: £100/£9000
Loan 2: £5000/£7000
Emergency Fund: £250
Baby Fund: £2250/£3000
VSP: £53.01

Jonesy88

Hello diary! It's been a while!

2016 has gone by in such a blur and so has most of our money still, onwards and upwards! I am determined to get back to my frugal ways and keep a closer, more managed eye on the pennies in 2017.

I'll report back with my 2016 results and goals for the year ahead shortly.

Current ideas include a round down/ eBay proceeds account for holiday and Christmas, increased savings (aiming for £5k), a plan for what we'll do with our car when the PCP expires and a much needed detailed budget per month. And some challenges of course!

ETA:

Challenges joined:

• Debt free before Christmas 2017
• VSP 2017 (saving for holiday/Christmas)
• January NSD challenge

Jonesy88

Happy New Year! :beer:

I lost my way slightly in 2016, my work/life balance wasn't balanced at all and so I let my MSE ways slip. This year I SHALL do better and reduce, if not completely clear our debt. Our debt has reduced by about a third so positive steps were made, we just need to build on this with a more focused approach.

Exciting (and slightly scary times) lie ahead - I start a new job on Tuesday! I'm so nervous, mainly because the company and position seemed totally right for me, almost too good to be true.

Current Debts:

• Loan: £9500
• Overdraft: £500
• Credit Card: £2000

Savings Aspirations:

• Baby Savings (£5000 target)
• Emergency Savings (£1000 target)
• Round down account (£250 target in June, £250 again for December)

Goals for the month:

1. Clear overdraft
2. Put up mirror
3. Lose 9 pounds
4. Exchange coins for notes from change pot
5. List 20 things on eBay.

Wish me luck!

Jonesy88

Evening,

I'm currently sitting on 4 NSDs for the month so far and starting to wonder what I really want (and need) to spend my money on.

I returned some clothes to N3xt today - 2 items I definitely would've taken back anyway but there was also a dress which was nice but too tight and some sandals. Previously I might've kept the dress to "slim down to" and the sandals I just didn't need. In fact when I came to put them anyway I saw a pair I'd bought in the summer sales already in my wardrobe that I in fact preferred. So, slightly trivial, but I think an important shift in mindset.

Clothes wise I have plenty, my new office is very smart so I will have to think about investing in some more items but for now I'm absolutely fine. If I can lose some weight I have some older items in my wardrobe that would be perfect so I should use that to spur me on. (Although we still have Christmas chocolate!)

I know this post sounds materialistic but it really helps me to write things down and then push on to achieve my goals. So with that in mind, in 2017 I would like... (Santa listen up)...

• A size 12 Barbour jacket
• Tooth whitening
• A new(er) car
• An ottoman/ blanket box - purchased in Jan, an eBay bargain I can do up
• Work Clothes

The jacket I've wanted for years. I've promised myself when I finally send my accounting log book off I shall get it. But only if I'm not fat :rotfl:

Car - massive maybe. Will depend of how well the debts are going down. NOT an essential.

Jonesy88

Checking in with NSD 5.

MUST motivate myself to move my bum a bit more to shift some weight, so I'm currently sat going through my local gym timetable and working out what classes to attend. Wish me luck...

Ps I want to try spinning, but it sounds terrifying! Worried I'll pass out or something!

Jonesy88

Logged on to find an MSE message telling me I've been on here for 4 years! Debt wise, I'm in a pretty similar situation to when I started but my life is completely different so I consider it money well spent. Especially when I know I will be debt free at the end of this year.

January is going well, I'm settling in at my new job, I've started to go to the gym and I'm currently at NSD 9, on target for 15 by the end of the month. I am lacking on the eBay listings front, and we have the annual TV licence DD due so I really should step it up.

The OD is staying for another month though courtesy of my old work wanting repayment of some exam fees.

Jonesy88

Clocking in with NSD 10. You know you're trying hard when you think if buying new pants as a "treat"! Even just the cheap multipack ones!

Jonesy88

Must resist... Must resist the MSE voucher code for that everyth1ng 5 pounds website in the weekly email. It's a good offer so I had a look on the website (never been on before) with the view of getting a black work cardigan. Instead I added a work shirt, going out dress and a jumper to my basket!

I stayed strong though and didn't checkout. Declaring a hard fought NSD.

littleskintdragon

Well done, i love january, its a great time for a fresh start.

dont worry how long youve been here, at least you havent given up and gone back to old ways!