Focus, Action & Consistency is the Key!

MuffinTops

I definitely agree with making time for you! That's a great rule to live by.

Sick pay is a major shock. It's something like £12 a day, isn't it? I'm sorry you've had ill health slowing you down. Hopefully you're on the mend now?
MTx

MuffinTops

I'm much more conscious of what I spend again. Looking back at YNAB I waste such a lot of money, mostly on food. I'm always going for the easier and fast option, which comes at a price. Starting from this weekend I'll be doing some batch cooking so that I have lunches to bring in and evening meals pre prepared. Other than that I'll stock my fridge with ingredients for quick and healthy meals. This will obviously help my weight situation too.

I'll add another more detailed post tomorrow about plans I have for 2019.

Let's get this day started!

another_casualty

Hello again MT Hope you are well.
You seem to have plans ? I could get some but I would have to see a good architect for advice there I think
Hope going part time works out for you . If the city is like how I remember it , then that's one good reason right there

A rainy weekend is forcast , but next week promises to be rain free...

MuffinTops

Hey AC,


I'll catch up with your up to date goings on shortly. The City is as you remember it. I don't think it's changed much at all. Where I live seems to be changing rapidly, I feel. Not for the better either.


I have a busy weekend but all indoor activities so rain is good. It's nice having dry days in the week as the commute is bad enough without it.

MuffinTops

I looked at my first ever update on this forum way back, and although I'm now in a good place financially, my life seems to be pretty much on hold. I've started to make updates in my life but never on a deeper level. Never really thought through properly, so they've not really taken off. So ....


Next year, 2019, is going to be all about foundations. Creating a good foundation which will mean that I'm prepared for whatever comes my way. That's mostly about my house, if I'm honest, as that's my biggest hold back. I seem to have accumulated way too much stuff again too, so that has to go!


Literally everything in my home needs a really strong update. The heating is too old, electrics, windows, decorating, roof, everything. So that's going to be an ongoing work in progress until it's all back up to a good standard. Then I will either rent my house out and go somewhere further out and cheaper, or I'll sell it. I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.


I do have a small amount of savings, but I don't want to clean out my bank account, so I'm going to keep that where it is and start saving as soon as I can. A new boiler is first on my list. I have a few holidays between now and Christmas, I also need to get through Christmas so January will be the beginning of the saving plan with a view to getting work started on a few things in April.


The other thing to note is that although I'll keep a tight rein on day to day expenditure and keeping wastage to a minimum, I'm not going to refuse any exciting experiences. I live for my holidays and travels at the moment, and I'm not compromising there. If I tighten my belt on the amount I waste on unnecessary items that either become dust collector or get thrown out without being eaten or used then my house and holidays won't suffer.


I have some other ideas niggling in the back of my head, but I haven't made any solid plans on those yet. I'll let them continue to swim around for the time being.


The time until I actually start getting stuff done seems far away, but it's all about the planning and laying down good foundations.


Happy Friday everyone. Have a great weekend.


MTx

MuffinTops

An expensive weekend, but I've got more Christmas gifts bought now, and more ideas for others and I'm feeling quite organised.


I met up with a friend yesterday who I've not seen in a while and has moved too far away. We met half way and had lunch. She bought the main course and I bought dessert and drinks.



Today was another long drive to a duty free sale and that's where I bought a few bits and pieces. I arrived there around 10:50am, as planned and so wasn't driving for the Remembrance 2 minute silence.



I also had to fill my car up with diesel, which I've already burned through most of due to how much driving I've done this weekend! It's shocking how much it costs now.


So a lovely weekend, spending time with lots of lovely people and now it feels like it's gone in the blink of an eye and I've spent more than I expected to. All from the budget but have cleaned out most of my diesel budget and have another long journey to do before pay day!!! Looks like I'll have to shuffle things about a bit.


I hope everyone had a great weekend.


MTx

another_casualty

Hi M T:)
Glad the weekend was good . I would say that regarding the boiler, avoid British Gas . Keep an eye out for Black Friday bargains , and Christmas bargains and hopefully you'll save some cash and get good deals . Not sure if you know any tradesmen . I got lucky with james

The only thing to be aware of if you do sell , is that it seems Brexit seems to be upsetting the sale of houses etc. Pretty much the same situation I was in two years ago:rotfl: Having said that, you may decide to let it out . You'll know more obviously when the time comes.

Seems like I've not missed much in the city then. Yes, part time all the way if it works out for you

MuffinTops

Another little delay in posting, although I have had 2 getaways in that time. I've been to Florida for a couple of weeks and now back from the German Christmas markets.

Not much really going on other than that. I've managed to keep spending down, and hardly bought anything on either trip. I came home with half of what I left with for the American trip, and I had 100 euros from a previous trip, and still have 50 euros of that.

My goals now are to end the year on a high, both in getting my home sorted as well as financially. It's looking like a lot of changes are about to happen at work so I need to make sure I'm in the best possible position for when they do.

I've looked into boilers and found a company with good reviews and a reasonable price so that will be my first job in the new year as my boiler is surviving on a lot of tinkering. It either doesn't hold pressure or suddenly rockets up, so I'm either letting air out or bleeding radiators to keep the pressure at a decent level. I also only switch it on when I'm home and awake, just in case, so the house is taking a while to get comfortable.

Lots more thoughts to process and go through on here, but I'll save that for another update.

I hope everyone is well.

MT xx

another_casualty

Hello again m t
Good to see you have the mini breaks . Unfortunately , it's a case of being wary these days as to when to go to Europe around Christmas time . Having said that , whatever happens happens :rotfl:

Boilers and me have been a sore point also , plus thousands of others
In the beast from the east last winter , I had to get one or two issues sorted . There is nothing worse than an " engineer" being indecisive in their answers as to how bad is the boiler/ does it need replacing etc
I've taken out a monthly plan , a few months back with somebody I found . My radiators in the bedroom / living room are more cold than hot . I gave them a call on Friday afternoon . I await the appointment with this engineer. Hopefully it won't cost much as I have a monthly plan ..

Are you still aiming to go part time with your employers ?
Fingers crossed ,it works out . Seems like the best thing to do is relax until January regarding everything and things hopefully will fall into place for you .

MuffinTops

Hello AC. It's always lovely to see you on here.

It was crazily busy, so I think you're right to be wary of travelling so close to Christmas. Not sure I'll do that again. My Florida trip is also too close to Christmas because I get myself all relaxed while away and then have to ramp up to full pace again as soon as I'm home.

I've not had much luck with boilers either but hopefully with your monthly plan your outlay will be minimal. I always assume that cold radiators just need bleeding as there is air stuck, but maybe that's not the case if there are a few like that. I hope you get it sorted soon.

I have decided to stick with the part time plans to give me a chance to catch up on a few things. I think I'll know more about the changes at work around April time so that should give me 4 months of less hours. I'll need to remain open minded about it all though.