It's not a lot, but it's enough

louby40

My age of money is rubbish. Most it's ever been is 9 days. I'm hoping once I'm debt free I can build it up. I'd love it to be 30 days and have a whole month sitting there!

What's yours?

Drawingaline

My age of money is up to 29days, but only because the tax credits that pay my monthly bills is paid four weekly and therefore moved closer to the beginning of the month each time :rotfl: eventually I will have a month with two lots of tax credits (may be June time) and it will be totally reset to about 3 days as I will chuck one of the payments into savings and use the one closer to the next month :rotfl:

SpekySquarehead

As of today I’m on 44 days. I don’t think it’s really a true reflection though as I think it counts the money I put away into my savings account, which I hopefully won’t use until later this year.

First day of the month and so it’s time to review my yearly goals and to see if I’m still on track;

Career
Goal: Achieve my bonus targets in work
Next step: Divide my target into monthly, weekly and daily chunks and evaluate with my manager every Friday morning
January steps: I’ve had a good month of sales and exceeded some of the expectations set. Due a meeting on Friday to discuss further with boss but I’m sure he’ll be pleased

Goal: Build a stronger network of client
Next step: Take more time to know them on a personal level and just say “hi, how’s things”
January steps: Have been slowly getting know my clients a bit better although January is a quiet month to do so.

Goal: Have a new job title
Next step: Continue to accept work in different fields so as to extend my areas of knowledge
January steps: See above.

Goal: Attend at least 1 new training course
Next step: Research the options available and propose to manager
January steps: I found an online training course which is £70. I’ll speak to my boss on Friday about it



Relationships
Goal: Spend more 1-2-1 time with my gran
Next step: Agree a day each week where I can see her after work and we’ll have dinner together
January steps: I’ve had 3 dinner dates with her and got another planned for tomorrow.

Goal: Visit my Dad at least 6 times
Next step: Put time in my diary and don’t postpone it!
January steps: Visited him earlier this month for his birthday and scheduled to see him again on the 19th of Feb.

Goal: Organise social events with my cousins
Next step: Propose dates far in advance so we can all attend and budget for it
January steps: I started a group chat with them all and was open and upfront saying that I wanted to make more effort. Dinner is booked for 25th February and money is put aside for it.

Goal: See my friends children more often
Next step: Let him know I’d like to do various activities with them and suggest some things in the coming months
January steps: Popped by one Sunday during the month which was nice. They’ve a lot on their plate at the moment so need to tread carefully and not impede. I’ll try and swing by one Sunday in February.



Self
Goal: Start learning Spanish (again)
Next step: Download the Duolingo app log on each day before bed
January steps: Downloaded it and I’ve used it a few times, not as much as I should admittedly. Will make a more conscious effort in Feb.

Goal: Live on a ketogenic diet
Next step: Buy ketogenic cook books and test strips to get me started for January
January steps: Didn’t buy the strips but I did dive head first into it and I’m really enjoying it. Super healthy and feeling and seeing the benefits after only 3 or 4 weeks.

Goal: Buy a house/flat
Next step: Save at least £5k by July
January steps: Put away £550 of my December pay into savings and I’ve put away £750 for the month ahead which will be difficult.

Goal: Save an emergency fund of £1k
Next step: Budget for this in YNAB
January steps: Stuck to this and I’ve got £162 put away already so well on track so far.

Goal: Cut back on coffee intake
Next step: Limit myself to 1 bulletproof coffee each morning
January steps: Major fail. I’d actually like to reverse this and almost increase my coffee. The ketogenic diet means I need to up my fat intake, and so cream in a coffee is the easiest way to do so.

Goal: Read 10 books
Next step: Write a list of books I wish to read and check with local library before buying
January steps: I bought “Tools of Titans” by Tim Ferris and I’m half way through and I love it!!! Very inspirational.

Goal: Eat out less
Next step: Budget for less each month and stick to it!
January steps: Didn’t eat out in January once and I’ve put that much away in February into savings, I can’t afford an impromptu meal out.

Looking back, it’s been a good month and I’m on track for most of my goals which I hadn’t really realised.

I’ve had a notion lately, which has rumbled away and with each passing day it becomes more and more present…I’m considering starting a blog. Now, this isn’t to take over and become my full-time job, nor it is meant to be time consuming at all, but it’s actually writing this diary that’s inspired me. Money can be made from it further down the line, so why not? Although I might not have a specialist subject or niche in the market, being me and doing my thing might be enough. Ultimately though it’s for my benefit, like this DFD is. It’s somewhere where I can keep myself accountable and track my progress on all aspects. Food for thought.

Anyway, a spend day for me. Had to nip into Asda this morning for some things I needed (toothpaste, more veg, hair product etc). I’ve got football tonight too, so was always planned to be a spend day. Confident the remainder of the week will be cheap for me.

CP2016

Wow, that's a lot of goals - makes me tired just looking at it. My money is 19 days old today - it will get older until I get paid then it will get much younger overnight, too bad I can't do the same.

SpekySquarehead

CP - Yep, plenty on there for me to work on, but in the grand scheme of things by the time it's spread over a year, it's manageable.

Yesterday was a productive evening in which I made kale, mozzarella and egg bake for dinner and leftovers for lunch today. I played footie which cost me all of £3.50 and came home to update my music and read a bit before nodding off around 11pm.

I've been to the gym again this morning and I've got a dinner date with my gran again tonight which I'm looking forward to. So today should be my first NSD of the month. The first of many I hope.

SpekySquarehead

Good morning all,

Yesterday was another dinner date with my gran. She made tuna steaks with a mango salsa and veg, really nice and I really appreciated it. I left stunned though.

She handed me a cheque for £1,000. I argued with her but she wasn’t having it and I remember having this dilemma before because I feel enormously guilty. I ultimately lost the argument, but that wasn’t all. She told me that my late grandad put money on shares when I was born (26 years ago) and it’s since grown to just over £5,000 and it was always to be used to buy my first home! Astounded. I sat in silence with my head in my hands, so close to tears. I can’t put into words how I feel as it’s just a mix of emotions so I won’t waffle on here trying convey them.

Before she gave me the news, I was explaining that I was skint for February because I’ve put away most of my money into savings. Once she handed me the cheque she said I can now maybe take some money from the savings to live a little but that was something I’m not prepared to budge on. I need to learn to live within my means and I won’t be getting random gifts like this again. In saying that, I need to show her my gratitude so I think I’ll take her to lunch in March or buy her a nice bouquet of flowers – maybe both.

I’ve been to the gym already and I’ve had a productive morning in work. I’ve got a good feeling about today. I need to take the subway into Glasgow and hand in this cheque as I feel uneasy with it in my wallet (the subway journey will ruin my NSD). Tonight I’ve got no plans apart from making a healthy coconut cake as I need to satisfy my sweet tooth somehow.

Tomorrow I’m working during the day. To be in for 10.30am and I recon I’ll be home for 6.30/7.00. My friends were talking of doing something in the evening but I’ll see how I feel and if I join them. I should manage a NSD.

On Sunday, my friend moves out of his parents and into his new flat and I offered my services, so I’ll help him for a while then I’ll spend the day preparing for the week ahead.

Chandelier.

That truly is wonderful news Speky and so kind of your Nan. They always manage to do something.

I think an afternoon tea and a bunch of flowers would be lovely. Even more MSE you could make your own afternoon tea at her house ha ha!

SpekySquarehead

Chandelier. wrote: »

That truly is wonderful news Speky and so kind of your Nan. They always manage to do something.

I think an afternoon tea and a bunch of flowers would be lovely. Even more MSE you could make your own afternoon tea at her house ha ha!

A terrific idea actually Chandelier. I get my thinking cap on.

crazy_cat_lady

Aw, I love reading about you and your gran. Sounds like such a lovely relationship and you both clearly love each other so much.

louby40

Ahhh your gran is so wonderful! What a fantastic gesture.