Getting it together...one £ at a time!

[Deleted User]

Making excellent progress! Great news on the promotion!

Homegrown0

Hi everyone - thanks a lot for the kind messages after my last post. I did read them, then fell into the abyss and never got round to replying.

However, I've taken an hour for myself this afternoon, which I've spent reconciling and updating my budget spreadsheet and thought I'd come on here before picking the kids up.

So...

in exciting news, i DID get the promotion that I was going for. Starting the position before Christmas and it's quite a significant leap in salary (but also stress, commitment, travel) so it's got some good with the bad.

I just started working out what that means for our budget going forward and it's basically allowing us more breathing room with paying down the debt, increasing our monthly spends slightly (maybe an extra treat/ family day out) while still covering our renovation costs next year (and for the forseeable).

It's just a nice sigh of relief knowing that there's a bit less stress around the money side.

Ultimately, we still have debt and we want to continue ploughing on with getting rid of that and not put that on hold to build and pay for our renovations. Need to remain focused.

All is well here, other than the busyness of the last couple of months. I feel like i really need to take some time to relax but that seems almost impossible lately. Might try to get all my ducks in a row with work and home then take a day's annual leave and book myself into yoga/ spa for the day or afternoon. I'll see what budget-friendly option i can come up with.

The budget is still looking ok so far this month - we're not doing too badly. My meal planning and shopping routine has gone mostly out of the window the last little while so i need to get back into that. It just breeds temptation, spending and bad eating habits when I skip it.

Christmas has also been pretty neglected lately. I'm usually super organised but the kids haven't really made noise about what they'd like from Santa and I'm loathe to buy things then they decide on something else. I want to get a move on soon though. I need to be done BEFORE December so that I can enjoy the festivities and not be harassed at the shops.

Hope all is well in your world?

Days until pay day: 21
Monthly nursery payments left: 8
Loan payments left: 3

Homegrown0

abba1772 wrote: »

We are hosting again this year for Xmas they'll be 10 of us and last year it cost an abolsute fortune..........this year we've asked everyone to chip in with some money as it's not fair it fell on us last year xx

It's not fun catering for the masses! Our family Christmases on my side (every alternate year) are generally 18 people which is just nuts. :eek: You're right to ask for a contribution - this year I have agreed to bring the prosseco and the cheese (+ accompaniments) to our family Christmas. Someone else will do starters, someone else will do desserts so it's just the main meal that the hosts need to focus on.

It'll be on us before we know it!

monz

Not many payments left to go !!!x

Homegrown0

I know, Monz. Super exciting!

Ultimately, it'll be replaced by an even bigger loan to pay for a chunk of our renovations, but getting rid of this outstanding one just opens up doors for the next works in our house. Plus, i'd rather pay it over 5 years in a chunk than taking equity out of my house and paying that over 20 years! Excited for the next steps.

Today is cold but sunny and i love these days. Autumn/ winter is my favourite time of year (but only when it's like this, not raining...). It gives me a good attitude to start the day - i feel like the weather really affects my mood and motivation levels. How strange!

I've got a shortlist of things I want to achieve today before the weekend, so i'd best get cracking!

Homegrown0

This time of year is tricky - I'm always swinging from the high of being busy and productive to the low of procrastination and borderline hibernation. I'm in the latter phase at the moment, and i need to drag myself out of it.

I think the fact the heating is always turned up while i'm working is hard because the false heat makes my skin dry and makes me sleepy. But because I have a pretty sedentary job, i get cold if i don't have the heating on.

Ah, it could be a lot worse i know. I just wish i could have a nice burst of motivation to just get sh*t done! Any tips?

Money-wise
I feel like i always say this, but it's been a busy and expensive month and it's only set to continue! We have a night out Friday night (which will involve dinner, drinks and breakfast - hotel and evening entertainment paid for already) and a birthday dinner for a family member's special birthday.

However, I paid £105 to the credit card last week and £526.41 to the loan (2 payments left now...eek!) so things are still on the downward trajectory.

Income
As i mentioned, I've just been promoted and the role begins in a couple of weeks so my first wage on my new salary should be the end of December wage. Until then, it's just a bit of guesswork and the help of an online calculator that can help me to see what my take home pay should look like.

I don't want to get too hung up on actual numbers but even with a bit of fluctuation, it's a really good rise and will make a huge difference to our home plans. And although it will temporarily increase the debt, it'll make us far more likely to be able to overpay and continue to clear off the bits that we still have outstanding.

For the last two years, we have received a bonus through my work and last year it was enough to book the travel and accommodation for our summer holiday. I'm not sure whether we'll be getting a bonus this year but if we do, we should find out in the next 2-3 weeks.

Getting sh*t done!
Right! Now i've rambled on, there's 45 minutes until the washing machine has finished so i'm going to do as much as possible off my to-do list then hang that up to get me moving around. And i'll aim to have finished the pint of water that's on my desk too so i can refill. GOALS!

Maybe i'll even come back to update/ confirm what I achieved? Real accountability!

[Deleted User]

Well done on the promotion x

doingitanyway

All looking good.
I am rubbish at motivation as you know but I have found exercise (of any sort even a walk) before the business of the day works really well for me. Also I find moving and not sitting too still for too long helps too. Let us know how you get on.

Homegrown0

Later than normal, but I haven't forgotten! As per usual, life has been taking over but I'm determined to not let the finances and these updates disappear entirely.

New job has started and so far so good.

NOVEMBER2019 ROUNDUP!

Balances and paid amounts
Loan: £1,052.82 / £15,792.30 (£14,739.48 paid off - 93% paid)
CC1: £4,523.61 / £4,736.59 (£262.98 or 5.5% paid off) - this has had the bathroom balance added on so reset it Sept 19
CC2: £3,464.58 / £5,031.14 (£1,652.38 paid off - 33% paid)

Total: £9,041.01 / £25,619.44 (£18,015.52 paid off, 70% paid)

It looks like my total has gone up, but my numbers were out last month because one of my formulas were corrupt... Should be back on an even keel now!

Good things:

• 1/3rd paid of CC2
• 2 payments left on the loan :j (93% paid!)

Pay off your debt by Xmas 2019

• January - £854.92 (£218.51 overpaid) - 8.6% of challenge total
• February- £1,012.27 (£375.86 overpaid) - 10.1% of challenge total
• March - £919.99 (£283.58 overpaid) - 9.2% of challenge total
• April - £1,113.78 (£477.37 overpaid) - 11.1% of challenge total
• May- £686.41 (£50 overpaid) - 6.9% of challenge total
• June- £636.41 (£0 overpaid) - 6.4% of challenge total
• July- £636.41 (£0 overpaid) - 6.4% of challenge total
• August- £669.63 (£33.22 overpaid) - 6.7% of challenge total
• September- £636.41 (£0 overpaid) - 6.4% of challenge total
• October- £836.41 (£200 overpaid) - 8.4% of challenge total
• November - £691.69 (£60 overpaid) - 7% of challenge total
  
  Total so far: £8,802.03 / £10,000 (88% of challenge total)

Savings

• £1400 in savings (but MOT, new brake discs and factor bill coming up!)
• £0 in clothing/ gifts account...it gets spent as soon as it comes in these days
• £50 in Christmas saver (restarted in November)
• £50 in credit union (restarted in November)
  Expected to be able to save around £800 at the end of December but it depends what my new salary looks like as take home pay. This is not including any bonus that i may or may not get

Days until pay day: 21
Loan payments left: 2
Childcare payments left: 8

enthusiasticsaver

Great news that the loan almost gone.