My Journey To My Pot Of Gold

MuffinTops

Thank you for the chocolate recommendation, Rosa. I need to check that out!!!

I did find some Lindt strawberries and cream balls on sale, so I've bought some of those to try. I love the milk chocolate and the white chocolate ones, so I'll report back on these ones! I'm scared to open them though in case they are as nice as they sound.

MTxx

MuffinTops

I've had so much to think about this weekend. One of the things the Director has asked me is if I'd go full time. I've said I'd talk about it, as it needs to be worth me giving up those 2 days, but as work could potentially soon have most of the bad things removed, I would definitely consider it.

Which would mean me not moving to Norfolk for the timebeing. It would also mean me needing to consider how to extend the investment I have in my home to it's best potential. If I were to be kept on and also go full time then I think I'm going to need to buy something with a better commute than I currently have. My journey is 2 hours each way, which won't be acceptable for me anymore. I was looking at some riverside apartments online this weekend, and some look absolutely amazing. So it's another option to consider.

I've kept up with my swagbucking this weekend, and am half way to a £25 voucher. So I'm hoping to have earned enough for a £50 voucher at least, by the end of the year.

On Friday evening I did a big shop, which I'm really pleased I did as the shops were closed yesterday and the roads are horrendous here today. So it's been lovely not needing to go out. 3 NSD's without even trying. I was meant to visit a friend's house today, but she lives over an hour away along the M25 and I just couldn't get there with the storm damage and bridge closures.

I feel that I've neglected my journal a bit recently too, so I need to sort that out today.

I hope everyone has had a lovely Easter and that you are still enjoying the sunshine, this afternoon.

I'm off to update YNAB now as I've been a bit neglectful recently!!!

MTxx

MuffinTops

Good morning and happy short week to you all.

YNAB is now completely up to date and I've added a few more little categories as I waste so much money on incidentals, so I'd like a better and bigger picture of those exact spends rather than bunching them together.

I also need to start splitting my grocery categories as sometimes I may buy a box of chocolates or something as a gift in the superstore but then I just put it in the grocery category. I think keeping organised and updating YNAB as soon as I can is the key.

Back at work today and it's not too bad. Lots of information is coming out about how people are feeling with the changes and from the past, so that's quite interesting to hear other perspectives on what we've all experienced at work with the previous management.

I bought myself a muffin on the way in to work today!!! They recently changed the recipe of the only one I like and so I'm not so keen anymore, plus it was dry, so I really don't know why I harbour that habit!!!! It has to stop!

I'll be paying that last half off my day to day credit card today too. Just to get that to zero and then it will only be used for my commute spends.

I'm also starting to think about a possible mortgage again! If my work situation turns out well and I want to move into London then I'd like to push my investment a bit more if I can. So I'm going to look online and get a guide price of what a mortgage would cost me each month and then I'll make sure I save that or more each month now. If I buy a property just outside the congestion zone then I'm hoping it will continue to rise in value better than the mortgage interest rates, bearing in mind I'd have a good mortgate : value ratio.

Getting back to being really organised again is what I need to focus on!

No more storm chaos today so I hope everyone is enjoying the calm and the blue skies.

MTxx

SpekySquarehead

Good morning,

I just read through a lot of your posts and you seem really focused now which is always good. Very well done on all the progress made.

A while ago I used YNAB, or sorry, I tried to use it but I failed to really get to grips with it. I see that you set aside some time to update YNAB whereas I was updating as and when I paid for something. Like literally standing at the till, adding in a purchase. Do you find your technique works? What's the pro's and con's of using it?

Keep up the good work!

MuffinTops

Hello SS,

Thank you for your post.

I find that your way with YNAB is better, in keeping it up to date as you go along. That way, you know exactly where to put that payment. Recently I'd been putting things to "stuff I forgot to budget for" and then I have to spend time working out exactly what I bought and which category it should go to. That's too laborious in the long term, especially as my home pc can be a bit slow at times.

I think the pros and cons are based on what sort of person you are. I'm better at doing things as I go otherwise I can get a bit overwhelmed with a big job, whereas others may feel that they just want to put an hour a week aside and are disciplined in keeping track of spends and receipts etc.

I love YNAB though as it encourages me to really look at where I'm spending money and also to think about long term financial goals.

Thank you for reading my posts.

MuffinTops

I meant to put my bike up for sale at the weekend and totally forgot about it!!! How did that happen?? I've researched the specs etc, so just needed to take photos and add it online! I think I need to start diarising events now, especially if I'm going to be moving as well. What with those changes and the work turmoil I could start to make my life that bit more difficult.

On a plus, the girls are all dry cleaning their outfits and hats ready for a good ol' dance off tomorrow.

I had to buy lunch again as I left my salad pita in the fridge! I'm not sure that's the sort of dinner I'd like, but I may not have a choice now.

I'm feeling the need for a few challenges to really push me into specific habits. It's purely the fact that I'm not used to looking in my fridge before I leave for work that's holding me back. If I leave my purse at home and just carry £1 emergency money I think I'll very quickly get sick of biscuits for lunch and will remember that I need proper food.

The guy I sit next to at work is also trying to get healthy so we've said we'll swap techniques and tactics together. If my job is going to change in any way (and it will, whether it's here or in another company) then I need to know I have my head on straight (I'm sounding like Worzel Gummidge with his going out head!!!) as sometimes I can be a bit ditzy if I'm not fuelling my body correctly. I've also started to feel a need for exercise, so that needs to be encouraged. I think I'll figure a few things out and then post up my plan on here, to give me something to refer back to.

I've also been watching some videos on how to style longer hair, so I'll spend some time working on those. I can already french plait my own hair and some of the styles include a little of that, so I should be ok.

April YNAB is all set up and good to go. I've created a new main category for areas I think need work, so that I can see all the sub categories in one area. It's mainly picking up snacks while I'm out. I'm a terror for that and it all adds up. I also buy prices rather than items. If there's a big bag of chocoalte for £1 it's scanned and paid for before I've really thought about it! One of the supermarkets sell a bumper 12 pack of value crisps for 66p and I can never seem to resist them! So when I consider those little spends piling up along with the larger credit card spends I've done this month I need a slap!


So operation "figure your stuff out" will soon be on!!!

Have a great evening everyone!

MTxx

RosaBernicia

Hi MT

How about hanging your lunch bag on the door handle? I do that for anything I need to take with me the next day, otherwise I will completely forget! (then again I have a very small flat, so if you have a hallway table or somewhere else you will see a reminder, you might want to do that instead)


Rosa xx

doingitanyway

Wow MT, you have so much going on. The possibility of working F/T, selling, buying property. Moving closer to work. It's all happening. It all sounds like progress and momentum and that's a good thing.

I think Rosa has a good point about remembering lunch. When I swim before work I have to prepare EVERYTHING the night before. I get the 06.12 train so when I'm up I can't think for myself. i also have a post-it note on my front door that says lunch, keys, travel pass, have you locked up?

Have a good day tomorrow
And don't forget your lunch

MuffinTops

Thank you Rosa. That's a great idea. I'll figure out a system that works for me and implement that because last night I didn't "bother" to make lunch as I figured I'll just forget it anyway! I also need to have a look at the types of foods I'm eating again as I have this uncomfortable bloated feeling again!

Thank you DIA. It does feel like I have a lot of options to consider, and it's a great place to be, although it's feeling a bit overwhelming at times as I don't really have anyone I can call on for help with a lot of this stuff. I get scared I'll make a wrong decision so I just need to make sure that I keep the emotion out and try to think about the logic of some decisions. Moving closer to work and going full time would be an investment in my future, so if I keep to those cold facts I should make the right decisions. Then I can just add the sugar on top of having somewhere that I like and feel comfortable.

I had a little online look yesterday and have seen a couple of beautiful places too!

So, it's midweek and I've heard that there should be no rain in London today so ..... hit it .....



Have a great day everyone.

MTxx

SpekySquarehead

MuffinTops wrote: »

Hello SS,

Thank you for your post.

I find that your way with YNAB is better, in keeping it up to date as you go along. That way, you know exactly where to put that payment. Recently I'd been putting things to "stuff I forgot to budget for" and then I have to spend time working out exactly what I bought and which category it should go to. That's too laborious in the long term, especially as my home pc can be a bit slow at times.

I think the pros and cons are based on what sort of person you are. I'm better at doing things as I go otherwise I can get a bit overwhelmed with a big job, whereas others may feel that they just want to put an hour a week aside and are disciplined in keeping track of spends and receipts etc.

I love YNAB though as it encourages me to really look at where I'm spending money and also to think about long term financial goals.

Thank you for reading my posts.

Thanks for getting back to me. Good to hear from other users on what works best.

Keep up all the hard work!