Changing for good...a new start!

Baldybear

Good morning Finished work and now taking advantage of time off, been pro-active last few days housework up to date, ready for christmas and catching up on recorded programmes.

Thanks for dropping by Caz will look into the grass things. Still havent had my vet bill but the ball is in their court.

Few spendy days, mainly groceries but all in budget.

Small amount received from quidco and survey co plus minimum payment means Bcard now stands at £5324 so heading in right direction

Starting to think of goals for 2015, some probably unachievable but will keep re-assessing and get them down here in the new year.

Baldybear

Good afternoon

Hope everyone had a good christmas, I did lots of fun and time with family. OH and I split up again but its for the right reasons, there are too many issues with staying together so makes sense for us to be apart. To be honest I need more than he can give, the distance thing was annoying and neither of us prepared to compromise so its best if we are not together. We will still remain good friends which is great as we get on well and would hate to waste 10 years of friendship. We broke up just before xmas so xmas has just been about me and close family

Am taking advantage of the 2 week break and catching up on boring things in the house, doing a bit more tidying, spending lots of time with the hossie and sorting out my goals and what I would like for 2015.

Lots of NSD so far, eating from stores, had turkey over xmas and lots of leftovers portioned up in the freezer to use in the months to come

Baldybear

So finance wise no more new payments until next year so can take stock and work out final figures of 2014.

Signature has been updated including my new financial goals of 2015.

So what I need for 2015:-

£260 car insurance
£110 car tax
£55 MOT
£250 service (guess)
£200 building/contents insurance
£150 annual vet bill
£150 life insurance

Total £1175

I have £134 saved already for vet bill and £404 in my car fund (from my xmas bonus). My parents will give me £200 for my birthday and always put that towards car insurance so I need to find £437. So thats my first target.

My second target is to try and reduce my overdraft, it doesnt cost me a lot, approx £5 a month. I have 2 options can take up offer on Bcard to transfer cash to current a/c, will be on 0% so in theory will save me money but need to check on fees. The second option is to spend less than my budget each month and this will reduce automatically. I think this will be the sensible thing as I think fees will counteract anything else on the card transfer.

My third goal is I would love to go on a foreign holiday this year. I would probably go on my own unless some miracle happens and I have an OH but I will plan to go and sit somewhere in the sun for a week or 2. I have no idea where but have had rough search and some rough costings so need to save approx £1k to cover all bases. The start of this before I can do anything else is to renew my passport which runs out in June. This is £72.50 so thats my first target.

All my other goals are still ongoing, I still want to clear my debt, I still want to sort the mortgage, do my house up etc etc. Yep all ambitious but I like to challenge myself. Its just me so I have nothing to lose

I think to start with all overpayments need to be divided into 2, to debt and to the savings goal as this payments need to be done no matter what. Once I have reached my savings goal, then will divide into 2 and do debts and holiday fund. Will see if this works, watch this space.

Some costs may go up/down like insurance etc as just rough figures so all can be adjusted. I have some savings already and hopefully will earn a few pence interest too so that will help too

Baldybear

So to start of with dont plan on spending anything this side of new year. Am out on 3rd Jan for ex's birthday, £50 needed for cinema, dinner and train. I have £50 misc spending money in budget so this covers this straight away.

I need £12 for yard owner for some hay, have enough in budget from hoss food. Again will need some fresh groceries to go back to work on 5th, again plenty in budget for this, have a full stocked up freezer and store cupboard so hope minimum spend so this will help my overdraft goal.

Just a thought dont pay council tax and water rates in feb and march so that will be £294 towards my savings goal straight away Will put this aside on the payday equivalent so doesnt get swallowed up in general spending.

My parents are still happy to subsidise my current shortfall but the house is nearly in a state of half tidyness so will definitely investigate a lodger and that will give me spare income each month as well as covering all outgoings

Lots and lots of things to think about and do in 2015. BRING IT ON

mfmaybe

Good luck for 2015. I see a very positive attitude

LAM2011

Hi BB

little hossie not looking so little anymore - she looks ace

Just wanted to wish you all the best for 2015 - I am sure a lodger will be a big help. x

Baldybear

Good afternoon

So eventually my vet bill has landed, £278 Cries. So re-jigged budget, worked out what getting from parents this month and have paid my bill. I have taken some out of the car savings so have had to update my savings targets to meet them all.

I now need £579 - updated signature to show correct figures.

Been food shopping today, all fresh stuff bought and should hopefully last me till payday on 24th, all in budget. Have 30 meals in my freezer so again plenty to last. Have checked my hoss food stash, need to get few bits but should be under budget. Will get next weekend as have plenty till then.

Am trying to be really good this year and not go over budget at all, trying to minimise everything but still have some sort of a life. Doing well so far and its not even 2015 yet, but my mindset is in the right direction

Have just ordered some vouchers and paypal money from survey sites so that can help with paying of debts and savings totals. Have amazon voucher too so that can go towards presents for next year

Baldybear

Good afternoon

So another no spend day, am organised for back to work on monday, oh deep joy :cool:

So hossie sorted, fence fixed, hay made up for week, home pretty tidy. Have done some booring surveys, sorted my inbox (yawn) yep I really know how to live :rotfl:

Friend (ex) over tonight ready for night out tomorrow, have got pizza out from freezer and food for brekkie

Baldybear

Good afternoon Last day relaxing before back to work tomorrow.

So spent some pennies on friday, bought a phone case but used amazon vouchers so no hard cash spent.

Overspent yesterday though Was fab night out with friends and worth every penny but looks like have overspent my about £30. So I can recoup this cost by not having hossie trainer for january, I can do work myself. I have enough for one session before 24th but I am getting some extra winter hay as having to put some in the field, luckily getting cheap as yard buying in bulk but this will eat up hoss trainer money. Am lucky I have it so not overspent in budget per se. Still need to work on my budgeting skills but least I have leeway this month one way or the other.

Have sold a couple of items on ebay One has paid and waiting for other to pay so can update spreadsheet shortly and should be a few more pounds - can go straight to savings fund, first few pennies in

Checked bank today and the measly savings I do have for car etc as earnt me 7p in interest, still 7p left to find First time someone has paid me interest for ages lol.

Sofa payment out as well so another £30 chopped of the debt Good start to the new year. Checked whats remaining and sofa debt will be gone in 9 months by october ish so thats great.

mfmaybe

Sorry about the scary vets bill. They are never little are they? But you've identified the impact on finances and are figuring a way around it.

Your horse is gorgeous, love a skewbald but not sure I could keep those white bits white :eek:

Oh, and Happy New Year. Glad you had a fun night out. :beer: