What do you want to achieve in 2015?

FlacosFloozie

Long time no update from me
Well done to all those making progress on their goals and massive congratulations to NYD on the arrival of Mini NYD.


1) Stay debt free About £200 on CC, can pay back this month
2) Save 12k towards house deposit £4500
3) Start investing for long term No progress
4) Run 5k in 30 minutes Have managed 5k in 36 minutes
5) Run 10k without stopping Have managed 6k
6) Run in an organised race Nothing to report
7) Keep on top of housework Has been a disaster with being ill but am slowly getting back on top of things
8) Declutter the house Nothing further
9) Be more organised about life in general Work in progress
10) Be more sociable Had tea at a friend's last week, sending more texts
11) Look more put together Managing fairly well
12) Finish my course module Have finished the first draft of an assignment, hopefully submitting it next weekend
13) Start my next course module
14) Get my course log up to date
15) Have a holiday abroad


Nothing on the last three goals so far. I've been reading some interesting articles on line about procrastination and they seem to have given me a bit of a kick up the proverbial. Not sure how long the motivation will last but I intend to make the most of it.

Newyorkdreams

Last Friday my drivers side windscreen wiper failed to work. And it was raining and I had mini NYD in the car. Scary. I waited it out and managed to get the car home when it was dry. I've just been to see about getting it fixed and it's going to cost me close to £200! Apparently its the linkage or something like that that's gone. Why is it so darn expensive? I tell you, if I could start over, I would train to be a mechanic and open up my own garage. They make a killing. Anyway, just ranting because the £250 EF I have saved since the start of the year at £50 a month has just ben wiped out. I had to get new tyres yday at a cost of £120, but that wasn't an emergency as I knew they needed replacing so I had ring fenced money in our budget. At least on the bright side, I had saved it and didn't need to find out or worse still, use my credit card, and that feels kinda good. It's exactly what the EF is for but I do feel a little disappointed that I have had to use it so soon!!






I'm feeling a little fed up with my debt today so just needed to get it out. I feel that I would have taken more time off with mini NYD if I didn't have so much debt, but I can't and I hope that I don't live to regret it. I guess it's more than some people can afford, I'll be off for 8 months in total and my husband for 3 months so we wont need to put her into daycare until she is 11 month old. I'm managing to do this without taking on more credit or debt and keeping up the payments on my debts, albeit not paying them off sooner by making additional payments. Also, we have been wanting to move for years but can't because our debt is stopping us from getting a bigger mortgage and just recently two of our friends have announced that they are moving to bigger properties. They are younger than us by quite a stretch (at least 10 years) and it just made me reflect quite deeply on what terrible choices and decisions we have made with our money. We have no savings to our name and still a ton of debt. Yes we have had a great life experience, but what does that count when you hate where you live???


Sorry, it's not like me to be so down about it and pointless post really, just wanted to vent.
NYD xxx

in_need_of_direction

Vent away. As shrek would say, better out than in. Apart from silly regrets, what you have is a beautiful baby and the knowledge of how to make a great life for your family. Just stick with it.

northerner999

I've been putting off updating this after feeling like I wasn't making any progress this year on debts despite lots of approved moneysaving practices, but after looking back at my monthly finance tally over the past 12 months realised just how well I was actually doing.

My credit card debt still stands only marginally less than this previous update. This is still £1,000 down on May 2014 (LBM was summer). I was feeling this was not great, but the main reason this has not been reduced more is remortgaging in January - had I not done that, I would almost certainly have paid it all off.

I remortgaged when I thought deals were going to worsen, which they haven't, but am still happy with my deal which took me below 60% LTV (should always guarantee access to best rates until paid off), secured a really affordable minimum payment which was £80 less a month than before (£200+ PCM less than renting identical property in same building) and, most importantly, ensured budgeting security until early 2019.

The payment took out my emergency fund and vital repairs to car and flat, which I pre-empted in the last update, meant I then couldn't pay off a Barclaycard balance when it came up earlier this month, and instead used their offer of cash to a bank account at 0% until Dec 1 to buy more time.

So while I am frustrated the c-cards are not being paid off quicker, the figure which I am happiest about is the combined mortgage + c-card debt is down EIGHT THOUSAND POUNDS on this time last year.

May 2014: 97,742.64
May 2015: 89,759.21
(Property worth anything from £120-£140K)

So definitely feeling more upbeat after viewing my finances through this viewpoint. The same kind of combined debt repayment would have even my mortgage paid off in 11 years - when I'd be 42. Don't want to start letting myself believing I'm actually in strong financial shape, but definitely allowing myself positive thoughts - celebrating my making my sandwiches for packup at work this afternoon/evening!

northerner999 wrote: »

Prompted by the prompt from NYD:

My target has changed slightly. I have just re-mortgaged (probably should have been in my financial aims!). After doing some research I realised I'd get a much better deal if I used money I had in my savings/emergency/repay c-card pot to make a lump payment and get me below 60% LTV.

I used up pretty much every spare penny not budgeted for, and had a thrifty couple of weeks but payday next week will sort everything out again. My monthly minimum mortgage payment is reduced by £80 PCM, which effectively goes straight back into rebuilding the savings.

It means that if I have any emergency I'll struggle to re-save the full amount needed to wipe the c-card that's coming off a 0% deal (£300 a month), but even if that happens I'd be prepared to go for another 0% deal (currently got two letters offering me this, though mid March is the "cut off" point on one) or snowball for a month or two if needed. So my aim is now to save up the full amount, or if that is not possible just as much as possible - my car is due for MOT in next few weeks, and I've had boiler issues since the day after I made the overpayment (typical) so preparing myself for some extra costs.

Downloaded YNAB for phone but yet to register. Not stressing - think this is shown above! On job front are good rumours re possible new work for us, but acting role is in place until May and will be nearer then when anything will happen.

in_need_of_direction

1. Improve sugar control, get at least 1 reduction in diabetes meds in 2015
i know this is an issue
2. Keep up my £100 a month saving plan
yay - aren't direct debits wonderful
3. Build up a one off saving pot of £1k for use in July
it'll be close so fingers crossed
4. Total mortgage payments by 31.12.2016 of £26805.30
see sig for update, plodding along
5. Lose half a stone by 30 June 2015
Currently 14st 11lbs. 4 lbs heavier than the start of the year
6. Declutter
ongoing. had stalled for a bit but back kondoing
7. Run a 5k
participating in a programme aiming for 27th June
8. Continue wardrobe overhaul
two more items identified today
9. Be less wasteful
not good
10. Exercise at least twice a week
ongoing since last week of April
11. Only eat out / take away food we want or while socialising. No more takeaways cos we can't be bothered to cook.
not good
12. Pay rates in one go to gain discount (may2015)
did it by credit card to get the points and cleared credit card without any interest being charged:T

Knit_Witch

Round up for the end of May

1. Save at least £215 in my ISA (50p per day) - £70.00/£215
2. Save at least £215 in general savings (50p per day) - £70.00/£215
3. Pay off at least £1k (£85 per month) - £320/£1000 a bit behind on this
4. Read 215 books (4 per week) – 96/215 currently 8 books ahead of target!
5. Read first 10 Kathy Reichs books – done
6. Finish 2 colours on tapestry (at least!) - done
7. Stitch the Winnie the Pooh year – 0/13 does a nonchalant whistle! :rotfl:
8. Knit 12 squares – 4/12 just a bit behind on this - I need to get two done in June
9. Knit at least another 10 rows on the sweater – done!
10. Learn Welsh - more nonchalant whistling! :eek:
11. Lose 12 pounds in weight – +10/12 aaargh!
12. Wear make-up 52 times – 14/52 behind on this as well - just had no energy recently
13. Do 4 recipes from cookbooks not used before – 3/4
14. Do 13 new recipes – 13/13
15. Make some mead – honey got! Just need to get some Champagne yeast and I can start this off - but getting that is proving tricky!

Newyorkdreams

Glad to see that there are still some updates here. Keep up the good work folks!


Pay off 2 credit cards, 1 loan and £5,000 of debt. All achieved! :j YIPPPPPEEEEE! £5, 904 PAID OFF so far in 2015.
Save £500 for emergency fund. £50 saved. Had to withdraw £200 for car repairs.
Sort out mortgage. COMPLETE YAY!! mortgage all sorted and final 25% of house purchased and second charge removed. So relieved.
Finish Mini NYD nursery. COMPLETE! YAY!!
Begin Mini NYD memory book (got the book, just need to start). Ive made a start! It's something...
Go away for our first weekend/mini break/week as a family in October 2015 paid for by cash, not credit. We are going away to Haven in June for 4 nights! Paid for by cash, not credit! It was awesome and felt great that we did it all using cash, not credit.
Write business and marketing plan for life coaching business with clear milestones, to start in April 2016 by September 2015.
Spend quality time with my daughter when on maternity leave, make an effort to go to classes, walks and activities and not dwell on things that don’t matter (as much) e.g losing weight and getting fit from week 6. Monday - lunch with friends. Tuesday - dentist for me which is free (yay!) but Mini NYD having a day with daddy. Wednesday - walk in the grounds of Beamish Museum then docs. Thursday - baby massage and a date with aunty T. Friday - baby sensory and cake with Aunty L.
Continue to support my dad 100%, research rehabilitation techniques and never give up hope. Ongoing.
Read the influence blog and apply it to my professional life. Started an e-book on the topic and read 2 chapters so far. Putting this on hold for now.

FlacosFloozie

I'll do a full update later this week but I just wanted to say.... I've finally submitted my first assignment!!!!


:j :j :j

Knit_Witch

FlacosFloozie wrote: »

I'll do a full update later this week but I just wanted to say.... I've finally submitted my first assignment!!!!


:j :j :j

Woo hoo!!! Go you :beer::beer::beer:

Newyorkdreams

HI everyone. Been a wee while since I updated so here goes:


Pay off 2 credit cards, 1 loan and £5,000 of debt. All achieved! :j YIPPPPPEEEEE! £5, 928 PAID OFF so far in 2015.
Save £500 for emergency fund.£100 saved. £200 spent on car repairs.
Sort out mortgage. COMPLETE YAY!! mortgage all sorted and final 25% of house purchased and second charge removed. So relieved.
Finish Mini NYD nursery. COMPLETE! YAY!!
Begin Mini NYD memory book - have printed all the pictures and have started to put them into the memory book.Not finished yet.
Go away for our first weekend/mini break/week as a family in October 2015 paid for by cash, not credit. Achieved.
Write business and marketing plan for life coaching business with clear milestones, to start in April 2016 by September 2015.
Spend quality time with my daughter when on maternity leave, make an effort to go to classes, walks and activities and not dwell on things that don’t matter (as much) e.g losing weight and getting fit from week 6. Continue to do this. have started baby signing and just signed up for Messy Play. Started mums and babies exercise class and church messy play.
Continue to support my dad 100%, research rehabilitation techniques and never give up hope. Ongoing.
Read the influence blog and apply it to my professional life. Started an e-book on the topic and read 2 chapters so far. Putting this on hold for now.