Twinklie returns to the property ladder

twinklie

becky170 said:

Just wanted to send you a big hug twinkle as it sounds like you could do with one at the moment x

Thank you it was very much appreciated. 

twinklie

End of Year Round up

DEBT 

Car Loan - Was £8,602 - Now £5,067

DH's Phone (0% interest) - He got a new phone - Now £365
My Phone (0% interest) -  Was £27 - Now £0 

Total debt at the start of 2021 = £6,842.25, Now = £5,432 

SAVINGS
Aim to save £400 per month to build emergency fund and for rainy day expenses (car, house maintenance etc.). OVERACHIEVED on this one. 

 

MORTGAGE 

Current daily interest at the start of the year was £14.95, it's now £14.11.

We now own 23.20% of the house - current rough valuation actually puts us as 33.47%.

3 rooms owned (5 if I go with the higher valuation).

Paid off 14.22% of the mortgage. 

Current MF date - Oct  Aug 2037.

I'm pretty happy with this as I kind of set targets for myself without actually knowing if it was achievable. I've managed to save a good chunk of my bottom line emergency fund and have knocked 2 months off my MF date. 

twinklie

Sorted the annual breakdown cover out. Reduced the cost by £88 thanks to TopCashBack. We got a slightly more comprehensive cover than we normally do because it was only £7 difference and we have a few big trips coming up in the car this year. 

Exciting things in 2022
1. Kids bunk bed's are coming in Feb - so I can finish doing their room. 
2. Trip to Glasgow for a family wedding and holiday - worked out before we've not all got together with the Scottish family for 6 years! Which reminds me I need a form to ask for the kids to miss a week of school for this. 
3. Summer Trip back up to Scotland to try to take the trip we got sent home from in summer - fingers crossed. 
4. Birthday trip for DS1 to The Dragon Tower. 

Possible additional things to look forward to if the cost is right
1. Beach hut day. 
2. Thomas Land Trip. 
3. Researching taking the kids on their first ski trip. It would be a very last minute booking though and we are aiming for 2023, but I'm going to keep my research head on. If it happens, it happens. If not, we'll have additional money to add to the savings pot! So win win. 

There is possible talk of DH being put forward for a promotion but I'll believe it when I see it. I've not planned or budgeted for it as nothing is a given in those instances is it. But it would be a nice bonus as there would be a decent salary increase attached. 

savingholmes

Hugs about family matters. 

Well done on doing what you can control. Hope you have a Happy and prosperous New Year 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

twinklie

savingholmes said:

Hugs about family matters. 

Well done on doing what you can control. Hope you have a Happy and prosperous New Year 🎈🎈🎈🎈🎈

Thank you. Same to you. 

Happy New Year to all who read. Let’s hope 2022 leads us to better times. 

SandyShores

Happy New Year to you too Twinklie

twinklie

So I spent a blooming fortune yesterday. Turns out DS1 hasn't been to rugby since the whole meningitis thing and he has grown...who knew kids grow!! So none of his base layers, shorts or rugby boots fit him. Which then led me to check his school shoes which also didn't fit him. A billion pounds later and it's all been ordered. 

DS2 is out of COVID jail today. He's gutted he doesn't miss any school. We are having a quiet day today - last day we are all off. Then tomorrow I'm taking the kids to an outdoor play center just for some holiday fun. I'll be freezing, but they'll have a great time climbing, sliding and jumping in foam pits. 

twinklie

I'm dreading the return to work on Wednesday. I really, really need to make some changes to improve my health. I've been struggling with serious backaches/pains for a couple of months now due to all the sitting whilst working from home. If any of you have any top tips to improve this I'd be grateful. 

My thoughts are: 
1. Walk the boys to school and extend the walk back so I get a little additional exercise - sit at desk for 9 am. 
2. 11am - take a break for back exercises as advised by OH (5/10 mins). 
3. 1pm - lunch, take dog for a walk (30 mins). 
4. Between 2.30pm and 3.30pm depending on day - break for back exercises as advised by OH (5/10 mins). 
5. Mon & Tues - 5pm walk to pick the boys up from school. 

Obviously there's other natural beaks such as going to the loo, kitchen etc. However, 10 years of teaching and I'm still terrible at being able to go to the loo in the day. 

I've approached work for a sit/stand desk and there are sooo many hoops to jump through in order to get one, I don't want a 'chair' from work because they are manky and would come from my office which frequently when we were in it was fumigated for fleas and had rat issues (we haven't been in since the start of the pandemic. I do wonder if a better chair might help, but I don't want to buy one if I don't have to. 

I should probably add I don't currently or in the near future appear to have an office to go back to and I'll be working from home a good chunk of the week for every more I think - certainly more than I expect I will be in the office anyway. 

twinklie

twinklie said:

I'm taking part in the Octopus energy challenge to save gas. They are estimating that I'm currently using over 30% over estimate. How rude. 

Latest estimate has me at 21.46% over estimate, so I think the few changes I've made have clawed back some energy usage. I'm aiming to make a 5% energy saving over 12 weeks. Hmmm...I'd now be happy just to break even and make zero savings. 

SandyShores

Twinklie, your office sounds rather interesting (fleas and rats?)!! 

I'm a back pain sufferer due to sitting in the wrong position at work and am a regular visitor to the chiropractor who gives me lots of advice about how to avoid it, which I keep forgetting to follow.  But I need to start following the advice as I'm yet again in pain due to sitting for one too many hours staring at the screen.

First step is to do a desk assessment - there's a hse one here if your work haven't provided one:  https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm). 

Second is to check position regularly.  I used to set my phone alarm hourly to remind me - I was advised to get up from the chair and just walk in a circle at minimum, then sit down and re-set your position.

The chiropractor gave me a few exercises, but I think any will do (its my neck and shoulders and shoulder blades that suffer.   - there's some seated ones on the Bupa website here: https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/desk-stretches. I've also got a pair of dumbbells by my desk to use.

I think what you've suggested in your post will work, just try and get up in between and check you are in a good position.  Standing desks are good for a change of position, but you still need to check your posture is right, otherwise it will cause similar problems.  Can you move your set up onto a chest of drawers or worktop to have a go at standing?  I've got a fantastic chair, but sometimes other people sit on it and I don't always adjust it back.

You've motivated me to start taking this seriously again, and I'm going to restart the routine I had last year.  Good luck.