NST: February: Back to Basics.

Fmess

Hi all,

I'm like the buses aren't I?! Misses posting for a day or so and then posts several times in one day!

Two quick updates:- good news is the ex gave me the money and I have cancelled the direct debits and told him they are his responsibility and he has to deal with them. I've paid another £44 off the debt Bad news is, he collected about half of his belongings and then announced he wouldn't be coming straight back for the others as he was busy! Its only taken 8 months for him to come for the first lot!


Anyway off to ponder your questions apple

Fmess

Thanks apple, I really needed something like this to focus on today


Where do you want to be this time next year?
This time next year, I want have paid off my current debt and ideally I will have ventured into the world of dating again.


How much do you want to have paid off your debt or your mortgage?
I have £4928 to pay off and I intend it all to be gone by Christmas.


Do you have plans and schemes to keep yourself on track?
I intend to keep taking on extra work wherever possible and use it mainly to pay towards the debt but also to allow for the odd treat/pay for a hen do I am organising etc.


And a back-up plan for when life gets in the way?
My main back up plan is to do examining work in the summer which will effectively add 50% to my income for 2 months. This will allow for smaller payments in other months, if necessary, or to be debt free earlier.

What do you also want to have achieved/completed/done by the time we are in February 2017?
This year I intend to start making the major changes to my home that living with my ex meant I never had the money to do. The annoying thing is that I won't be able to save the money in advance as, for instance, the roof needs replacing as soon as the weather improves. So this year I will go into debt again, however these will be debts that I really have something to show for. Going forward I will have a house fund which I pay into each month so that I can save up for other improvements.

stewby

Rightio... here we go:

Where do you want to be this time next year?
* I would like to be in a new house (hopefully one that is more of a home).
* The mortgage will be larger but I am hoping to still be overpaying by £200 a month.
* I am really really hoping to be in a much better mind set. Either that or in a job which makes me feel better.
* Remain debt free.
:embarasse

How much do you want to have paid off your debt or your mortgage?
* Hoping to have paid off approximately £7000 although this might change based on what the future holds.
* If I haven't moved house (depressing thought) then I will be under £40,000!!
:undecided

Do you have plans and schemes to keep yourself on track?
* Pester everyone on here.
* Keep up to date on my diary and also on my cash plan paperwork.


And a back-up plan for when life gets in the way?
* There is no back up plan.
* If something goes wrong then (hopefully) the new emergency fund will cover it.
* By next February, I will hopefully have over £600 saved which should cover most emergencies.



What do you also want to have achieved/completed/done by the time we are in February 2017?
* Number 1 is to be in a better condition mentally. My brain has taken a bit of a battering recently and I really need to do something.
* A new hobby - currently toying with learning a foreign language again.
* Cook more regularly and try different things. I want to try making stuff that I would normally buy in. The last takeaway I had was disgusting so that has put me off buying any for a while. Going to try fakeaways instead.
* Along with stopping the takeaways, also hoping to lose weight. OH's sister gets married in August so I would love to drop three or four stone before it (then lose some more afterwards). Going to achieve this by exercising more (on my birthday present).

My hope is that by doing all these things, it will improve my ability to deal with things as I won't be so work focussed.


Wow... another huge post. Thanks for giving me stuff to think about Apple.
:eek:

Hugs to everyone.

crazy_cat_lady

Bob - hope you're feeling better soon. Sorry you're so wiped out.
I've had quite a productive day today - spendy but ok. I did a little top up shop and filled the car with petrol at Mr S to get some of their bonus n£ctar points, and bagged 1500 which is £7.50.
Feeling ok as well - pretty decent sleep last night. I think I can hand on heart say that giving up alcohol has done me the world of good.

Where do you want to be this time next year?
I want to be less stressed and healthy, with savings in the bank, enjoying work with a happy family - and loads of cats!

How much do you want to have paid off your debt or your mortgage? Or how much do you want to have saved?
I am thinking about setting up an overpayment to the mortgage, but life has gotten in the way. At the moment it's about balancing the books rather than saving.

Do you have plans and schemes to keep yourself on track?
Well being on here really helps - and writing my diary - so I don't intend on giving that up. Maintain my budgeting and spending diary and keep my tired and frivolous spends to a minimum.

And a back-up plan for when life gets in the way?
Unfortunately, life is well and truly in the way at the moment. But like Fmess I mark exams. My life is not worth living over June and July but it really helps me out financially and I intend to not fritter it over the 6 weeks this year like I did last year.

What do you also want to have achieved/completed/done by the time we are in February 2017?
I want my dh to be well and in a job that he enjoys. I want the kids to be happy, and me to have achieved a decent work life balance. And it would be nice if I wasn't having to constantly worry about money. I've been 'debt free' for 3 months and still scrimping and saving everywhere. I wish I could enjoy the finances for a little while...:p

Calling14

Thanks Xspender feeling bit better after a lazy day.


Fmess hot on my heels again, got under 5k quickly.

Apple thanks for making my fuzzy head think.

This time next year I would like enjoy life more with out any debt repayments to worry about.

I hope to clear my credit cards this year but like Fmess I Have unknown cost of some building repairs to keep my house watertight.

My plans to keep on track are
1. Race my fellow turtles to the finish line.
2. Stay off naughty step
3. Have some little treats now and again.

Back up plans eek

Find rich guy or try and save £20 per week to Emergency Fund.

February 2017 - be skinny and lying on my yacht. No idea head too fuzzy to think now. X

Fmess

calling thank you. Seeing you moving towards debt freedom is so motivating and I keep racing to try and catch you

FunBrum

Evening folks.:hello:

I've just got back from bowling with my family for my GS1 9th birthday, and had a fab time, especially as I won in my team! Not bad for a 57 granny, although I was playing against 2 9year olds and 43year old with a dodgy leg!
The game was paid for me, and and also was my kebab and chips. I feel quite stuffed now!

I coloured my hair today, and saved myself a small fortune in salon fees. I normally trim my own hair but my sister has pre-paid for me to have a cut and blow dry on Wednesday, bless her. Do you think she's trying to tell me something?!:think:
The weather has been dreadful here all day so I've read quite a bit and have listed all my books ready for sale. I will list them online and see how much I can make for them.


NSD today, and as I'm visiting my niece in London tomorrow until Tuesday, I doubt if I will spend whilst I'm there...I don't usually.:)
Hope you all have a lovely Saturday evening

Bobarella

Fmess wrote: »

Hi all,


calling - congratulations on getting below 4k :j


bob - have you tried eating iron rich foods now you are eating again? Your body has to constantly make new red blood cells to keep up with the old ones which keep dying and maybe your iron levels have dropped with you having 7 days of

No I hadn't even considered that. Thanks so much for that advice. :A

mothernerd

Sorry, got distracted by llamas.

I have a clean kitchen. Not done any of the diy bits yet and haven't got everything where I want it - spent first couple of hours removing things from flat surfaces which meant shuffling more things onto the cube shelves. Had put tea and sandwich ingredients for lunch in the fridge before I started so food sorted.

Piles of dry bedding and clothes up here and loads of recycling into various bins. Dried all the plastic tubs ready to sort into pairs and sat at the table rubbing away at small marks on the toaster, kettle,clock and scales. I keep going back to look at it.

Plans for the next year.

I have worked out that I could potter along for the next few years adding £100 pcm to my modest savings. But I want more than that. I am self-employed so standing still is not an option, business either develops or dies. Need to work at increasing earnings to cover the contribution currently made by DS3 (in case he leaves - I know it's more likely that he and his gf will both end up living with me) and for the end of WTC (probably in 3 years unless I massively increase my earnings).

I will probably need an operation some time in the next two years. Not urgent but with a recovery time of 6- 8 weeks so would need to be able to cover for lost earnings.

I need to have some things done to this house which I can't do myself - repair to DPC (hopefully covered by guarantee), chimney flashings, pointing. March looks like a good month (5 'pay day's for me and DS3 pays me twice - he pays me every four weeks which means that there is a bonus 13th month with no bills at the year end). This means I will probably have the money I think I need by next month - could use the savings pot if I have to, then pay back after. Some jobs weather dependent.

I want to be fitter, lighter (need to - I was shaking the toaster to dislodge any crumbs and my stomach was wobbling too:eek:) I have lost 3 stone in a year before and I really do want it, just need to do it.

I have already said that getting rid of the clutter is top priority this year (alongside losing the pounds and rediscovering the 'real me'). Ploughing through the detritus at the hovel (25+ years of hoarding) has reinforced this. I should be able to choose some things for the house which suit me rather than living with everyone else's cast offs. As usual I will be very cautious about what I spend. But the charity shops have stuff that is better than mine.

I want a life. I have spent many years raising my sons on very little money. Now they are more or less off my hands (DS3 is a work in progress but needs less by way of daily care than the average pet - he just tends to leave a trail of mess wherever he's been) and I am no longer limited by debt (though still living frugally) I need to get out of the house.

I think I am due a holiday - I went on holiday when I was expecting DS3, we went again when he was 10 and I went to Italy for 10 days with college (just had to renew my passport so that will be 10 years ago at Easter). DS3 is nearly 26.

Not going to rush into things but did enjoy an hour at the City Art Gallery last year and have promised myself to go back for the day, I have been promising myself a day on the 'Witchy bus' forever (11- 12 years at least) and I am still keen to do the Blaenau-FFestiniog trip that I felt would be too much last year (was still on crutches). :)That's when I got distracted by the llamas :rotfl: One of the nearby attractions is a day with the llamas.

I Loved Edinburgh when I was there for a conference and would love to see the pandas and I love owls and have seen Birds of prey and Owl sanctuary experiences advert.

Speaking of dating - not something I've ever done and wouldn't have a clue where to start but I would like 'something'. Maybe.

So lose three stone, walk 2+ hours a day, dance more, fix the house, have a living space that is comfortable, easy to maintain and which suits me, earn enough at least to pay NI but keep things within my control, have steadily increasing savings, produce more food from my back yard, have a day out once a month and possibly even a holiday, enjoy life and have lots of s*x:eek:

Today I am grateful for having a clean kitchen with bare surfaces, for enjoying the third part of the drama I was following, for good food from stores and for apple giving us something to think about.

XSpender

Cleaned the kitchen, more washing done, dry cleaning dropped off and picked up. DH and DS dropped off and picked up, gym used for first time this year and money spent on snacks I didn't need and wonder web I did.

Apple's questions couldn't have been better timed as I have been number crunching our post move budget and savings goals for the next year or so. Here goes:

Where do you want to be this time next year?

• In the house we put an offer on, settled and happy as pigs in muck
• Still doing the job I love
• Have completed the bathroom and dining room makeover planned
• Everyone happy and healthy

How much do you want to have paid off your debt or your mortgage?

• At least £3000 off the mortgage (including £200/mth op)
• Reduced the debt on the 0% cards by 50%

Or how much do you want to have saved?

• £1000 in an emergency fund to cover white good blow ups etc.
• £8000 in an emergency fund to cover 6 months mortgage payments
• An amount towards a 2 week holiday in the sun
• An amount towards long term/pension savings

Do you have plans and schemes to keep yourself on track? And a back-up plan for when life gets in the way?

• Continue to budget using YNAB and stick to the budget
• Achieve savings goals each month
• All bonuses split 4 ways towards savings goals

What do you also want to have achieved/completed/done by the time we are in February 2017?

• Doing a job I love even if I get made redundant in 2016 from current role
• DH healthier and a bit thinner
• DS continuing to be happy at school and more involved in clubs and activities
• Completed 2 half marathons
• Have a place in London Marathon 2017